January Roundup

Forming a coalition

It's almost official: President Peres is now expected to ask Netanyahu to form the coalition, he's completed his consultations with various Members of the Knesset and party leaders. As I wrote a couple of days ago, this is not news, everyone has already starting jockeying for position and Bibi has been offering up portfolios.

 

Syria

I cannot say that the IAF attack on Syria's Jamraya military research center has become water cooler conversation yet, but I guess we'll see.

 

Weather

Winter returned yesterday. It's cold and raining (cats and dogs!). We were close to snow this morning. On the ride up to campus, the bus windshield was thick with slushy lumps. And, our living room is a pool again! Four, maybe six, more weeks of winter. It won't rain continuously, but we will be subject to these nasty outbursts. I cannot wait to stop wearing 3 layers of shirts and fleece and a down jacket inside all the time! And, I definitely won't miss my shift with the squeegee in the living room!

 

Gatekeepers

The first time I tried to see this movie, we had hoped for the early show; it was sold out, so was the late show. Extra screenings have been added at the Jerusalem Cinematheque, everyone wants to see it and lots of folks are talking about. What's it about? From the Cinematheque's website:

Charged with overseeing Israel's war on terror-both Palestinian and Jewish-the head of Israel's secret service, is present at the crossroad of every decision made. For the first time ever, six former heads of the agency agreed to share their insights and reflect publicly on their actions and decisions. The Gatekeepers offers an exclusive account of the reasons that each man individually and the six as a group came to reconsider their hard-line positions and advocate a conciliatory approach toward their enemies based on a two-state solution.
The Gatekeepers is nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary.

The secret service is called Shin Bet -- basically they are the FBI equivalent. (Mossad is like the CIA.)  If you do go see this movie, I'd recommend brushing up on your history from the Six Days War of 1967 forward. Those of you who lived through that time as adults might find you remember enough -- the movie assumes a fluency with, and detail of, Israeli history that I just don't have yet.  For that reason, and that when you read subtitles it limits how much time you get to take in the film, I'd like to see it again.  My landlady, Hedda, saw the film a couple of days before I did.  When I told her I'd seen it she asked what I thought. I said, "Umm...it's profound and I don't think I've processed it." She said, "Ken, whywhywhywhywhy." Which is Hebrew for "Yes; I was overwhelmed in a negative way." Yup, it's a profound film. I saw the movie with an Israeli friend who said, about the movie, "It makes me want to cry." And, it makes the current government's position (and the likely new coalition) on the Palestinian issue all the more frustrating.

The Gatekeepers is a unique and profound comment on the Israeli-Palestinian situation. See it if you can.