I was sent a link to this interesting History Channel report about the Israeli airstrike on the Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1981.
At the time, the operation was internationally condemned. Today, most of the world is quietly thankful for Israel’s actions, as it is known that the reactor was indeed being built for the sole purpose of creating an Iraqi nuclear bomb. It is impossible to know how history would have been different had Israel not destroyed this reactor, but it’s very clear that it would have indeed been very different
This piece of history seems more relevant today than ever, given North Korea’s and Iran’s nuclear ambitions; and the recent operation Israel carried out over Syria (of which many details are still unknown):
We are telling our people that the past era has ended and will not return. The era of justice and Islamic rule has arrived.
– Islam Shahawan
a spokesman for Hamas’ militia, 2007
Source: Ha’aretz
Oh boy, this is going to be fun. Now it’s only a matter of time before they open a Disneyland clone in Gaza city.
Other interesting notes:
Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman, heralded what he called Gaza’s second liberation, after Israel’s 2005 evacuation of the coastal strip.
Fatah officials said seven of their fighters were shot dead in the street outside Preventive Security building. A witness, Jihad Abu Ayad, said the men were being killed before their wives and children.
“They are executing them one by one,” Abu Ayad said. “They are carrying one of them on their shoulders, putting him on a sand dune, turning him around and shooting.”
The rival factions have been engaged in bloody battles since Sunday, resulting in the deaths of at least 70 people. By noon Thursday, at least eight people had been killed. Al-Jazeera TV reported early Thursday afternoon that the death toll had climbed to at least 16.
Meet Farfour Mouse, who from the looks of it is Mickey’s evil twin brother. His topics are way more exciting than anything ever touched by Pipo, Juan Pestañas or El Duende Bubulín (played by former Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de León. It’s now been taken off the air but I’m sure it will come out for DVD soon. If not, who’s going to educate all those children?
Ok, I’m about a week late… but still I hope you had a chag sameach and especially good presents and that none of your bones are broken. For those who couldn’t care less about this whole thing have a Merry Christmas.
Right before midnight on Sunday I landed back in Austin. The trip was loooong (11:45 hours from Tel Aviv to Newark plus another 4:30 from Newark to Austin). On Monday morning I was back at work.
Due to technical difficulties I could not upload any trip photos until now. Here they are. I still need to upload the photos from Budapest though.
I had an awesome time in Israel. Seeing all the family in Haifa was great, the UEFA game was awesome (thanks Feingolds), the outings in Tel Aviv, the visit to Jerusalem, the food, and seeing somanyfriends I hadn’t seen in so long (Adi, Ziv, Sebas, Oron, Itay, Daniela, etc). Hopefully it won’t be another eight years until I return this time. Only regret is that I didn’t stay longer.
To take advantage of the fact that I’m all the way in this side of the world, I decided to take a short, three-day trip to Budapest (originally to be Istambul, but they were sold out). In any case, the Histadrut decided to go into a general strike that could be over “within a few days” while I was here. I’m not sure if my flight to Tel-Aviv will leave later tonight at all. I wish they would have just done something a little less drastic, like losing my luggage.
As a present to my cousin Jacobo, to pay him back for his help with my move on June 2005, I have set up an online album for him to upload all his photos from his Shnat Hachshara. Looks like he’s taking advantage of it, as he has already uploaded 160+ photos, mostly close ups of mostly fully dressed ugly, awkward, hairy teenagers who are going to become more ugly, awkward and hairy as the year goes on (been there, done that). Man, I wish I had a cousin like me back then… See album here.
Have a very happy New Year. May all your dreams come true (but only if they didn’t last year). I hope you have a year full of fun, happiness, success, and love from your friends and family… shitloads of money doesn’t hurt either. Shana Tova!
Here’s an old one from Dry Bones, whose blog I just found:
