Diplomatic traffic

December 24, 2006 - 3:08 PM by David Brinn

Former Americans who move to Israel always cite that one of the attractions to living in the Jewish homeland is ‘when you hear news on the radio, it really means something – it affects me personally’.

I’ve always kind of liked that aspect of feeling part of the society I’m living in as well, but it never hit home like it did last night.

I had to drive my daughter into Jerusalem to pick up a math book from a friend because she had to study for a test which was taking place Sunday – on the first day back after Hannuka vacation (why she didn’t have the book home to begin with is another posting and another blog).

After borrowing the text book, we were driving through Rehavia when the 9pm news came on about the meeting taking place between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas at the PM’s residence.

Cool, I told Sarit – they’re finally meeting, explaining to her that dialogue – even with perceived enemies – is better than no communication. She interrupted me, “Doesn’t the prime minister live in Rehavia?”

Before I had a chance to respond, the light bulb went off in my head at the same time the brakelights in the cars ahead of me flashed on… we were in the mother of all traffic jams a block away from the prime minister’s house, caused by police barricades and massive media presence.

A half hour later, we drove past the throng of humanity outside the barricades, waiting for a glimpse of the leaders. And I had learned a valuable lesson of just how relevant the news really is in Israel.

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