Ist es noch gut, für unser Land zu sterben?

Some of you have been kind enough not only to notice that I have not written for a while but also to say that they missed reading my blog. The reason for my silence was that I had been busy with the last corrections to my new book that is due out at the end of September.

In case you have always asked yourselves this question, whether it is still good to die for your country, you will soon be able to get my book on the subject.

The book with monologues of 27 young Israelis deals with their attitudes to the military service and possible moral issues connected to their service in the army.

The book, which is published (in German) by Nicolai Verlag, Berlin is coming out just in time for the Frankfurt Book Fair.

Please let me know if you would like to be invited to the book launch that will take place in Berlin on Monday, 26 September.

Bibi and the Hamas

Recently, Israel too has enjoyed its own version of popular revolt. The most vivid representation of this unrest are the tents set up by the mainly middle class youngsters in Tel Aviv’s Rothschild Boulevard to demonstrate the lack of affordable housing in the country.

The continued occupation of the West Bank and the building of Jewish settlements by Israel sadly only produces occasional one-off demonstrations and has no chance of turning out a rebellion with similar stamina.

In the last few days, terror attacks that killed 8 Israelis have brought about Israeli retaliation as well as threatening declarations by Israeli politicians competing with each other in their bravado. Former Labour leader and Bibi Netanyahu’s Minister of Defence, Ehud Barak, informed us that those who act against Israel “will have their heads separated from their bodies.” Nice language Mr. Barak.

It may be that deterioration into another round of slaughter will be avoided this time. However, politicians of the extreme right in Israel and their brothers on the Palestinian side will do their utmost to prevent any agreement or compromise. This is the real purpose behind their actions. This time there is an added bonus: the recent round of fire may conveniently get the social demonstrators off Bibi’s back. Instead of sending the air force, he should really have sent the Hamas leaders a thank you note. Flowers perhaps?