A Brand New Look
Coming to visit Israel this summer? Planning a trip to the Israel Museum? Better call ahead, as the museum has just begun to undergo renovations, which will take an estimated two-and-a-half years to complete. According to this Ynet article, approximately eighty percent of the museum will be closed to the public, with some exhibits being shipped abroad and others moved to either open spaces within the museum or to other locations around Jerusalem.
According to museum director James Snyder, “the open space of the campus will be exploited in a new way, and all means will be taken to present the collections in the most effective way, including lending collections to museums abroad. At the moment there is an exhibit about the cradle of Christianity being shown in Atlanta, and we intend to move additional exhibits abroad.”
Costs for the renovation are estimated at 80 million dollars, with the sum being covered by various donors, as well as 10 million dollars from the government. I’ve always enjoyed the Israel Museum, and look forward to seeing its new and improved look.
No Satisfaction this Year
It looks like Rolling Stones fans in Israel won’t be gettin’ no satisfaction any time soon. The highly anticipated summer visit by these aging rock superstars has been cancelled, reportedly due to astronomically high insurance costs resulting from various security-related issues.
I must admit that I’m rather disappointed, though not at all surprised. In an interview that veteran concert producer Shuki Weiss gave to Ynet, “the truth is, that during the past ten years, bringing performers to Israel has been like a kind of mission. There’s no economic justification, absolutely none.”
Despite this cancellation though, you can still get your fix of foreign artists this summer, with performances by the likes of Tori Amos, Evanescence, Blonde Redhead and Nine Inch Nails, to name a few. For those of you who prefer classic rock by the Stones, though, all I can say is, well, you can’t always get what you want.
Foto Friday #11
Hey again. Welcome. Enjoy.
Ramallah Shopping….Ola Hadasha
Death Song…OCCUPIED
Just Beachy….anglosaxy
Doggone it!
According to this article on Ynet, a convict placed under house arrest was able to run away prior to sentencing by attaching his electronic monitoring tag to the family dog. The tag is designed to give off a signal when opened, and authorities have yet to uncover how the convict succeeded in transferring the device without being discovered.
“Policemen arrived at his house and didn’t find him. We then consulted the security company who said that he was at home and the tag was working,” said Chief Superintendent Yoram Daniel.
“We started searching and found that the detainee had somehow managed to remove the cuffs from his feet. To conceal his trick he tied the handcuffs around his dog’s neck,” said Daniel.
The convict still hasn’t been recaptured, and rumor has it that the dog is being brought in for questioning.
Plea Bargain for a President
Given the way that political games are played here, I think that most Israelis have reached a point where nothing really surprises them anymore. Nothing until today, that is. Apparently, Suspended President Moshe Katzav has signed a plea bargain, clearing him of rape charges, and instead, an indictment including seven counts of committing an indecent act using force, sexual harassment and harassing a witness will be filed. Katzav will not serve any jail time and nor will he be performing any community service. In exchange, Katzav will receive a suspended sentence, will resign from his presidential post and will pay compensation to original complainant A.
Katzav allegedly told his associates, “I am tired, my family is wrecked, I do not have the stamina for a battle in court, so I admitted to hugging and kissing out of affection.”
Attorney General Menachem Mazuz has said, “There was also the consideration of the public interest in reducing the harm caused to the presidency, and not to President Moshe Katsav, and to the State of Israel’s image due to a trial which would have been held for a long period of time with unflattering headlines to the presidency in Israel and in the world.”
Frankly, I’m thinking that the presidency can’t really be harmed anymore than it already has been, and the message this agreement sends out is that once again, Israeli politicians are above the law. And what kind of message does this send out to victims of sexual violence, especially those who have the misfortune of being assaulted by public figures?
Bloggers from the Anglo-Israeli blogosphere have been strangely silent on the issue. Perhaps they, like many others, simply can’t be bothered to summon the energy to deal with yet another chapter in this saga.
Come on, leaders – take responsibility for your actions!
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