Israel’s News Blog Magazine: Daily Stories Video and Photos

Boaz Mauda, a young 20 year old singer of Yemenite extraction, won Israel’s 5th Star is Born song contest Wednesday before a live crowd of more than 40,000 and a television audience of at least 3 million. Produced this year as an outside venue, on the placid eastern shores of Lake Kinneret; Boaz finally won the songfest, after receiving the largest number of phone-in votes from the more than 900,000 who participated in a one hour phone-in voting for the three finalists, who also included Marina Maximillian Blumin, who came in 2nd, and Shlomi Barel., who finished 3rd.

This year’s contest, which began with literally hundreds of young (and not so young) singer ‘wannabees’ signing up, seems to be turning into a bigger and bigger “hype-fest” by the program’s producer Zvika “Jo-Jo” Hadar, whose overall TV ratings must have soared even higher as a result of this 8 week program that has captured more prime time viewers that just about anything else on Israeli TV.

Boaz, who had well known singer and guitarist David Broza as his mentor and accompaniment on the first song number that he performed, appears to continue a long list of Israeli singers and entertainers of Yemenite origin who have become successful in the entertainment world. A few of these include Yaffa Yarkoni, Ofra Haza, Ischar Cohen, and Gali Atari. What was interesting in this year’s competition what that the three finalists represented three distinct segments of Israel’s multi-ethnic population. Besides Boaz Mauda’s Yemenite background, Marina Blumin hails from Israel’s million-plus Russian population, and Shlomi Barel from the country’s large Moroccan origin population; most of whom immigrated to Israel in the early 1950’s.

All three finalists have been promised recording and stage contracts; but obviously Boaz came out with the best deals which also included a new Chevrolet car. It might of have been nice to have seen a woman win the contest this year as this hasn’t been accomplished since the first Star is Born contest when Ninate Taib, then a 20 year old army corporal, came out of nowhere, and not only won the contest but launched a singing and acting career that has already catapulted her into Superstar ranking.

In fact, Ninate is the only contest inner who has really made something of herself in the music and entertainment world. The only other contestant who has embarked on a successful career as a result of “Chochav Nolad” (the Hebrew name for the songfest) was Shiri Maimon who placed second behind Ninate in the original competition.

Still, despite all the hoopla, Star is Born, Israel’s equivalent to American Idol, has been a welcomed diversion to what might otherwise be boring summertime television re-runs. The contest also shows that young people with talent can enter this event with the hope of perhaps making their entertainment career dreams come true.

Anybody in Israel who watched the news clip a few days ago about the current situation of the fishing industry in Israel, can see that it has definitely seen better days. Shown on Channel 2, the section included interviews with several commercial fishermen at both the Kishon and Jaffa fishing ports, Israel’s two main fishing ports. The story of the fishermen who berth their boats at the heavily polluted Kishon River (pictured) was especially sad as this port used to provide incomes for both Arab and Jewish fishermen who had sailed into the Mediterranean daily for decades, and perhaps hundreds of years, to catch a variety of fish that were sold in open air fish markets in both Haifa and Acre.

Those few remaining “Diagim” (fisherman) said that their daily catches are now a fraction of what they were even 20 years ago, when fishing was still an economically worthwhile endeavor. Even the types of fish being caught are fewer and fewer, and due to the dangers of the pollution literally pouring into the Kishon from both industrial and municipal waste are making the remaining fish unsafe to eat. It’s understandable that anything being caught in Haifa Bay is contaminated, due to the ‘pristine’ waters of the Kishon flowing into the Mediterranean containing high levels of chemical and metallic substances, including mercury, lead, arsenic, cyanide, and a number of petroleum based pollutants, as well as pesticides. All of these pollutants are in addition to ‘normal’ river pollutants such as detergents, human sewage, and other ‘lovely’ substances such as wastes from food and beverage processing plants.

The situation at the Old Jaffa Port, one of the oldest fishing ports in the world still in operation, is not much better. This port, which has been in existence for perhaps 3,000 years, used to support a large number of families living in historic Jaffa; now a part of metro Tel Aviv. Though there is not the Kishon River to contend with, there is a serious pollution problem from both the Yarkon river, in North Tel Aviv, as well as wholesale dumping of sewage and other pollutants into the Mediterranean from industries who connect their waste piping to the already overloaded municipal sewage disposal network, with frequent disastrous results. Many of the fishing boats in this port sit sadly moored to their pier, and wholesale fish markets located nearby offer less and less varieties of sea fish, with much of their offerings consisting of pond raised fish such as carp, grey mullet, and St. Peters fish (also called ‘musht’ or Amnon).

Even local sport fisherman are complaining that they do not catch nearly what could be found by fishing off the quays and jetties of both Jaffa and Haifa; not to mention numerous locations along Israel’s long Mediterranean seacoast. Many species of fish that were once quite common are now rarely seen or have disappeared altogether.

To combat the substantial decrease of fish along Israel’s seacoast, Ministry of Agriculture and Nature Protection authorities are seriously considering placing a one or two year moratorium on commercial fishing; or until the numbers of local salt water fish can recuperate themselves. This might be a partial solution; but what really needs to be done is find better ways to combat the pollution in a body of water that is almost completely enclosed; and whose only link to the Atlantic Ocean is the very narrow Straits of Gibraltar, making the Mediterranean one of the most polluted bodies of water in the world. Though Israel isn’t entirely responsible for the marked decrease in the “Med’s” marine life, Israeli authorities, and the general public, are responsible for the amount of pollutants which are dumped daily into the sea.

There has to be some way for both Israel and other nations who share sea coasts on the Mediterranean to find ways to restore this body of water to what it was in former years. The fishing dilemmas that our country faces is no less urgent than other Mediterranean countries as we’re all fishing in the same ‘pond’.

It’s a Tuesday. This has nothing to do with anything going on. At all. Just maybe that we should appreciate the world we live in, the life we have and the people we love.

Oh, and hand puppets !

The ’surprise’ announcement by exiled Hamas leader Khalid Mashaal that captured Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit is “alive and well” makes man wonder just what the radical Islamic organization is trying to do in regards to again “dangling the bait” in front of the Israeli public. Speaking from his headquarters in Damascus, Mashaal said that Schalit is “alive and well and being treated very humanely by those who have been assigned to care for him”. Mashaal also went on to say that Gilad has been given a pair of spectacles that had been supplied by Israel to the Red Cross office in Gaza City, where Schalit is rumored to be held captive.

Does “being treated humanely” mean that Schalit is being kept in a dark, possibly underground chamber, with perhaps constant death threats and other forms of intimidation? For a young man, aged 20, who appears to have been a quiet, sensitive boy and not an aggressive warrior as many young Palestinians profess to be, this year+ consignment to solitary confinement must be nothing short of being plunged into the depths of hell.

The Hamas leader went into some detail as to what might be ‘acceptable’ to gain the young solder’s release, and who has now been in captivity for 428 days. Aside from more than 1,100 Palestinian Hamas prisoners being held by Israel, Mashaal also mentioned that he is seeking the release of West Bank Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, who was given no less than 5 consecutive life sentences for his responsibility in the deaths of numerous Israeli soldiers and civilians.

Now here is the intriguing question: why would Hamas, who are now still at odds with Fatah since the Hamas takeover in Gaza, want to have a potential political and security adversary like Barghouti released? Barghouti has often been tapped as a future Palestinian Fatah leader, despite the fact he may never be released from Israeli custody. But here is where a clever person like Mashaal, and perhaps his proxy in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, are ‘investing’ in a future “Sulha” between Hamas and Fatah by being the ones who may be responsible for Barghouti’s release. If Hamas can pull off this coup and Barghouti is included in a prisoner swap for Schalit’s repatriation, the possibility of Fatah and Hamas’ reconciliation is that much closer to being reality.

Asking for the release of all 1,100 Hamas prisoners, many of them with “blood on their hands”, like Barghouti, may not be a foreseeable accomplishment; even for an expert ‘fishermen’. But if, say 400-500 are released, including Barghouti, this would give Hamas a lot of credibility clout with Palestinians on both sides of the political and Islamic spectrum.

With the continuance of Hamas and Islamic Jihad launched Qassam rockets into Israel from Gaza, however; plus attempted terror infiltrations as what happened over the weekend when two Palestinians with explosive belts climbed over a security wall at the Eres crossover point from Gaza into Israel, Hamas and Company might use a bit more prudence when fishing in “Israeli waters”. The ‘bait’ they appear to now be dangling in front of the Israeli government may wind up not being taken.

We had a “great” few days on the road in Israel again.. EIGHT PEOPLE DIED IN ACCIDENTS SINCE LAST THURSDAY…
This week alone we had 14 killed, and this month there were 40 people killed in car accidents. This morning there is an emergency government session to discuss the carnage on the roads and what our political leaders are going to do about this crisis. I can’t wait.

On Thursday 3 people were killed in the North on highway 805 when there 7 passenger SUV crashed into the side of an 18 wheeler (Ynet picture). The road crosses several local villages in half and is a notorious death track. Despite local residents complaints to police and the Road Safety Authority nothing was done.

Over the weekend a family of 4 was killed when their car lost control on a northern highway. A 23 year old was driving his aunt, uncle and their son back home when for some reason he lost control over the car. Police say that speed is a factor in this accident.

Speed and reckless driving are the cause for many accidents. As the number of Israeli drivers and cars increases, we see worse and more frequent accidents. What are the reasons for them? We are an undisciplined, disrespectful and lawless people. We have no respect for the law. We are aggressive in our daily life and the road is no exception. Couple all of these wonderful traits with a weak, poorly managed, poorly planned, poorly run government agency that is supposed to combat the massacre on the roads, and you get the kind of numbers we see here every day.

This morning I was standing first at a red light in a busy intersection in Tel Aviv (near Azrielli). Waiting for the lights to change. A traffic cop on a scooter wiggled by the waiting cars and came to a stop in the middle of the pedestrian walk right in front of me. By any traffic law in any civilized country this would be considered an infraction. A pedestrian walking across the street pointed this out to the traffic cop and she ignored him. This is a major cause for our disease. How can you respect an officer of the law when you see them breaking the law so blatantly? Where is the shame of getting caught breaking the law you’re supposed to uphold? Where is living by example - at least when you are wearing the uniform?

Today’s government meeting promises to be interesting to say the least. Shaul Mofaz, Minister of Transportation, stormed out of the budget meeting last week when he was told that 150 Million Shekel was going to be trimmed off his budget for the Road Safety Authority (RSA) office. He left a note for Olmert saying that “this was national irresponsibility and I will not be a part of this”.
The Ministry of Treasury “boys” said the reaction was not justified. According to them, they postponed to 2008 this proposed increase of 150M in light of the current balance. Apparently the office has only used 20% of its 2007 budget to date. They also said that they offered to supplement the RSA budget if needed at any point during the next fiscal year.

Olmert on his end called for the immediate resolution to this crisis. His people sent a message that there was not one office “guilty” for the current condition but that all differences must be put aside to resolve the crisis. This political crap is also a factor in our crisis on the roads.

No one authority or ministry will make this stop. The change needs to be done all across the spectrum and it comes down to the basics. These are just some personal experiences from the last little while and a “shopping list” of the factors in our high kill rate on the roads:

- Road Safety Authority - try driving down a street where there is construction. These people can actually have a dead end road (this happened in my neighborhood) without a single sign warning local traffic. Instead of allowing people to avoid the area by placing a sign when you enter the area, maybe a detour sign, they let you get right up to a backing up construction bulldozer and then have someone pointing you down a street so backed up that you regret leaving the house. This is all part of a morning commute before you actually leave your neighborhood. In this case the budget is not the issue but basic courtesy, professionalism and someone with a brain in their head managing the project.

- Police - Driving to Eilat is a harrowing experience on a good day. The road is not the best to start with, there is one lane through a boring prairie and traffic sometimes slows down because of a slower driver. I actually watched a police man with his family on the way to Eilat driving and passing cars at 160 KM/Hour. He was cutting, bobbing and weaving all the way causing other cars to honk and hi beam their fellow drivers in panic. This was a man going on vacation, in a marked Police car and 2 kids in the back seat. This again is living by example!

- Ministry of Justice - There are so many examples of the lack of backbone in this ministry its not even funny. Not counting political persecution , the way traffic offenders are handled in the courts is a joke. Three weeks ago a truck driver with 190 traffic infractions was allowed to get back into his truck and squash to death a family of 4, killing the father and his 5 year old boy. Four different judges suspended his license NINETEEN times and not one of these “judicial experts” thought that maybe it was time he was taken off the road. These are the people who are in charge of applying the law of the land to deter criminals…

- Political Rats - They are everywhere and we all know that. There is no long term commitment by the minister to the office. Getting the job depends on who you know not by what you know (look at Peretz our ex Minister of Defense). Once a minister comes into office they are not going to be there long enough to put a plan together and see it through. Ministers are just passing through on their way to the next big gig. There is no commitment, consistency and follow up. It’s always easy to blame the problems on the previous putz.

- Manners & Respect - Wikipedia says this about them:

In sociology, manners are the unenforced standards of conduct which show the actor to be cultured, polite, and refined. They are like laws in that they codify or set a standard for human behavior, but they are unlike laws in that there is no formal system for punishing transgressions.

and this

Respect is an assumption of good faith and competence in another person or in the whole of oneself. Depth of integrity, trust, complementary moral values, and skill are necessary components.

so we obviously don’t have either of these. You need to be taught these things at home, and for the majority of us this apparently stopped happening a while ago.

I just saw a news bulletin. Olmert, political animal that he is, quickly opened the meeting by announcing that there will be no cuts to the RSA budget. Is this the answer ? Who cares, as long as it looks good…

Netanya has always been a popular resort city as well as permanent domicile for English and French speaking people who love its relaxed atmosphere and numerous beaches. More recently, however, this city of 120,000 and located only 30 kilometers from Tel Aviv, has become especially attractive to British Jews who are purchasing apartments from the many new building projects that have been going up all over the city.

Why is this city so attractive, as compared to others? For one thing, it’s close proximity to Tel Aviv, as well as being a straight commute route for those who take public transport make the city convenient for those who either do not own a car or prefer to take a more relaxed form of transport such as an air conditioned bus or train straight into the “big city”. Another thing that for years has been a drawing card for Netanya has been the many active immigrant organizations for English speaking people. Some of these include the Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel (AACI) and the Hitachdut Oleh Brittania (HOB). Both organizations accept English speakers who are not originating from a particular county, so “Anglo Saxons”, as English speakers are called, often belong to several organizations in order to take advantage of the social and cultural programs being offered.

As many Anglo Olim are also religious or traditional (Masorati) Jews, they like to be situated near a synagogue so they can walk there on Shabbat. For this reason, many of these English speakers like to live in the center of the city where a number of synagogues that are popular with ‘Anglos” are located; including the New Synagogue on McDonald Street, the Young Israel Shul on Shaul Hamelech, and the Masorati Beit Yisrael Synagogue on Yehuda Hanasei Street. Any one of these synagogues are readily accessible for people living on popular “Anglo Saxon streets” such as Nitza Blvd, Mohl, or Shlomo Hamelech.

Other areas of the city, especially in Netanya’s new southern districts are fast becoming popular with new, English speaking arrivals. These areas include the sea front section between the Carmel Hotel (where a new “Anglo” Synagogue is situated) and the Beit Goldmitz soldiers’ rest house. A variety of new projects are going up in this area, with apartment prices beginning at $300,000 for a three roomer. Many French speakers are also buying in this area as they love to be close to “La Mer”.

A third area that is presently undergoing a virtual building boom is the neighborhood known as Ramat Poleg. Ramat Poleg was the first luxurious neighborhood of private and semi detached homes which has always been heavily occupied by English speakers as well as many well known Netanya “personalities”. The neighborhood has grown considerably in size with the addition of multiple high rise building projects. Presently, a new series of building projects are going up on what was once a vacant area facing the sea. At least 12 new projects are currently under construction, and planes for the area also include luxury hotels and a new shopping mall complex. Rumor has it that scores of Anglos have already purchased apartments in these new projects, particularly ones like “Ir Yamim” (Sea City) and “Dankner on Sea.”

Another popular area, especially for younger Anglo Olim with families, is the new area in Eastern Netanya near the city’s academic college.

Netanya’s municipal authorities are doing their utmost to promote their city; and this includes a number of new parks and other attractions to make these newcomers feel “at home”.

For young, campy Israelis who want to live where the action is, nothing beats Tel Aviv, often billed as the ‘Non-Stop City’, or ‘The City That Never Sleeps”. As both sale and rental properties continue to surge, however, many Tel Aviv wannabes are finding it harder and harder to find a place to call home; especially in highly desirable North Tel Aviv.

People who are considering purchasing a property, even in buildings more than fifty years old, and without a parking place or elevator, the prices can run in the neighborhood of $3,500 to $4,000 per square meter. For this price, you may wind up with an old, crumbling 3 room flat in a fourth floor walkup with a possible renovation project of at least $25-30,000 to make the place livable, according to today’s standards. If the building is located in what is known as “Little Old Tel Aviv, near Streets like Nordau or Sokolov, these “minor inconveniences” may be well worth it as this area is “hot” as far as desirable properties go.

For renters, finding an available apartment in just about any part of Tel Aviv is a challenge, and in the above area, or near historic Shenkein or Dizengoff streets a virtual impossibility. Any real estate broker who specializes in rentals in these areas can tell you that there is a yard long waiting list for rentals; and for the property owners, it’s definitely an “owner’s market”. T.V. shows such as A Star is Born (Israel’s equivalent to American Idol) is causing thousands of young people from all over Israel to flock to Tel Aviv to live for a period of time. For these kids, The City has everything they can ask for: great night life, restaurants, beach fronts, shopping, and a vibrant pulse that seems to never cease.

Though not having the same atmosphere as Little Tel Aviv, Old Jaffa is also booming, both from a purchase and rental basis. Many old buildings have either been completely renovated, or torn down, and new, very expensive residential projects erected in their place. Projects such as Andromeda Place, just a stone’s throw from the historic Old City and Flea Market, is now one of the city’s most exclusive neighborhoods with even two room studio apartments going for more than $450,000 and renting for $1,200 per month or more.

Location is everything in every type of property market; and Tel Aviv is no exception. But if one can get a great sea view and be only a block or two away from that favorite pub or Sushi bar, then even a 5th floor “roof top” with an asbestos shingleie cover to keep the elements out may be well worth it.

Oh, to be young again!

Boaz Yona, the fugitive CEO of the now bankrupt Heftsiba Construction Company is still on the lam and is suspected to be hiding out in Romania. This person, who has allegedly defrauded thousands of home buyers out of millions of dollars, disappeared two weeks ago after the police issued warrants for his arrest.

Reports now indicate that Yona has been seen in restaurants in Bucharest, in the company of a well known Romanian ‘businessman’. In one report a local factory owner told police that Yona was negotiating for the purchase of his factory. The man said he saw the notices and contacted police.

Israeli news programs have had a field day during the past few weeks showing scenes of distraught apartment purchasers being locked out of the construction company’s main offices in Tel Aviv. Private property purchasers weren’t the only ones taken by this character, and large contracting companies, including Electra, have been fleeced for millions. Electra, who contracted to supply central and split-level air conditioning units to Heftsiba apartment purchasers claims that Yona owes them more than 170 million New Shekels ( $40,476,000).

Heftsiba’s empire began to crumble several weeks ago when rumors began circulating that the company was reneging on promises made to many of it’s subcontractors who were doing the actual construction of the many building projects bearing the company’s name. The photos afterwards of heart broken purchasers standing on the balconies of half-finished apartment buildings in Jerusalem and other cities remind many of a similar incident that occurred during the 1980’s when another well known builder, Abraham Ghindi, defrauded hundreds of home buyers in cities like Netanya, Raanana, and other locations when he used monies collected from apartment purchasers to speculate on stock exchanges in Tel Aviv and abroad.

Ghindi’s company also went bankrupt, and many people lost considerable sums of money, most of which was never recovered. After trying to escape being indicted for these crimes, Ghindi eventually returned to Israel where he stood trial for his crimes. He never went to prison as he later committed suicide by immolating himself in his own swimming pool.

The examples of the actions of both Abraham Ghindi and Boaz Yona indicate a serious need to re-examine the way that people purchase new apartments from large construction companies with whom they put their trust and their life savings. Owing one’s own property is very important in Israel; as for most people, it is the only way for them to survive the fluctuating economic tribulations which are a day to day reality in the country. It is also the only way one can survive on the ridiculously small pensions that people receive form both the National Insurance Institute and from their places of employment (if they are lucky enough to have this benefit, that is).

No doubt, Boaz Yona will eventually be apprehended as the Israel Police have already been in contact with Romanian authorities on this matter. And as the old saying goes: “you can run, but you can’t hide”. Boaz is still running, and will one day have to “pay the piper”…

Shiran Shirazi is only 21, yet she is already making a big splash in Israel’s music industry. The daughter of Rikko Shirazi, whose recent run-ins with the law were noted here recently, Shiran’s continuing success as a singer and entertainer have been noted recently in such media publications as Barak Rom public relations network, NRG, and Yediot Ahronot. Shiran began her career as a teen model in a modeling agency owned partly by her father, Rikko. She also was discovered to be very talented as a singer and composer of pop songs that are becoming very popular with kids her age.

“I really don’t know what my father does, other than he is a ‘businessman’ who has a lot of connections” she was recently quoted as saying. Regarding Rikkos brief incarceration on a number of counts, including extortion and money laundering; “My father is a very strong person and took what happened to him very well. After all, a jail cell is no Five Star hotel. I would have gone to pieces (like Paris Hilton did) if they (the Police) would have put me there. Dad is very tough.”

Despite her dad’s ‘colorful ‘ occupation, Shiran seems to have no problem making it on her own in the very tough and competitive music and entertainment world, without having to go through the grist mill of talent competitions such as A Star is Born, Israel’s version of American Idol. The girl seems to have it all: a sensual and provocative appearance, a good singing voice, and a talent for composing her own songs. “I wrote a special song dedicated to my dad when he went to jail” she added.

Besides her looks and talent, this girl also has a lot of “moxey” or hutzpah as Israelis would refer to her being able to handle herself in the tough entertainment world.

Shiran had become a well known status symbol, driving in her black BMW ragtop in the Ramat Poleg neighborhood where she and her family lived until recently. This car appears to have been ‘totaled’ in an accident and she is now driving “something else”.

Shiran didn’t do army service, perhaps because she didn’t want to be there as “the daughter of Rikko Shirazi”. She appears also to have accepted her parents divorce about a year and half ago, and still has good relations with Rikko despite this “change”.

Many are comparing Shiran’s family to the immensely popular American TV series The Sopranos, which recently completed a six year stint on the Home Box Office cable network. The only “similarities” between the Sopranos (all Italian) and the Sirazi’s (Jewish of mixed North African and Southern European background) are “business enterprises” that both family heads are involved in. The Soprano family managed to stay together throughout the series, despite Tony’s constant philandering with a seemingly endless array of women, most of them of ill repute.

“You know, men who are divorced go out with a lot of girls” Siran said regarding her father’s recent social life. That’s nothing to make a big deal out of as far as Shiran is concerned. She is happy that he father is letting her do what she loves, and that is her music and lifestyle.

“My dad says that I am very smart and will go far with my career. We are alike in many, many ways; and both of us like to stand for hours in front of a mirror to admire ourselves.”

And judging from the way Shiran looks, peroxide blond hair and all, why not?

Recently we had a Non Smoking Law finally passed in the Knesset. It basically made it illegal for restaurants to permit smoking in non designated areas, made it illegal to keep ashtrays in Non Smoking areas (obviously) and if customers were not complying then calling in inspectors from the city who would fine renegade smokers. Okay, so this is where our social, legal and health awareness ends…

Yesterday, a member of the Clean Air Society (yes we have those, they are endangered species, but we have them) went out to a known pub in Tel Aviv with his girlfriend and sat in a non smoking area. He noticed there was a table of 6 puffing away and complained to the shift supervisor. The shift manager asked one of the smokers to stop, he did, but the rest kept smoking. When the Clean Air customer asked for the reason there were ashtrays in a non smoking area, the response was that they were used for table garbage. Our Clean Air enthusiast didn’t give in and began taking pictures of the illegal smoking going on when he was bounced out of the place.

I remember working for a while in San Francisco and looking for a smokers bar one evening. I had to pay the cabby extra to take me to one of only three “underground” smoking bars in the city. People there looked around as they puffed away on their smokes, looking anxious about getting caught. Non Smokers are a protected majority and try finding a restaurant or bar that allows Smokers.

But we are above all that Non Smoking Law nonsense, if you want to smoke in Tel Aviv go right ahead. Yes, we have a Non Smoking Law but well we can’t see it through that smoky haze…