Israelity’s top 10 stories of 2009

December 31, 2009 - 7:20 AM by

What a year. We started with the war in Gaza, and ended with a rash of terror attacks in the West Bank. And in between there was the water shortage, the Goldstone report, posturing and threats between Israel and Iran, and endless and bitter bargaining over the release of Gilad Shalit.

It was also, however, a year in which the Israeli economy weathered the global financial storm in extremely good shape, when new Israeli innovations in health and technology made good on the world markets, when Israeli charities gave life-saving aid to developing nations, and when Israel’s financial and technological success was finally recognized worldwide.

shankbone

So what did our viewers enjoy reading the most in 2009? Well, the choice was as diverse as the year, ranging from the serious – the humanitarian aid webcam at the crossing into Gaza during the war, to the sublime – a YouTube mash created by an Israeli musician, and of course the ridiculous – the Bollywood style advert created by missile maker Rafael for the Indian market.

And, let’s face it, you all love to read about sex, scandals and supermodels as well.

Check out Israelity’s top 10 stories of 2009 below.

1. Foto Friday – Sexy Tel Aviv
In July, Rachel wrote a piece about gay clubbing in Tel Aviv during the hot summer months. The city has a lively gay scene and it abounds with great dance clubs and bars. Combine that with the great weather, and you’ve got a wild night out. Check out David Shankbone’s pictures in this post to see for yourself.

2. Israeli model Esti Ginzberg shot in New York
Fed up with all the hype about Israeli supermodel Bar Refaeli (yes, yes, the one who dated Leonardo DiCaprio), in March Harry decided it was time to write about a different supermodel – an upcoming one.

Esti Ginzberg, is a Tel Aviv teenager who featured in 2009′s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, and carried out modeling campaigns for international chains like Tommy Hilfiger and Pull and Bear. She’s been featured on the cover of the French version of Elle Magazine, and this year also became a Victoria’s Secret model.

Not long ago, Ginzberg joined the IDF for two years of army service. Check out our video interview with Ginzberg in uniform on YouTube.

3. Human body parts invade Haifa

It’s created controversy wherever it went on show. Israel proved to be no different. As David pointed out in March, the exhibition, Body Worlds, by German anatomist Gunther von Hagens, raised hackles with Israel’s religious community the moment it went on show in Haifa.

The exhibition, of human anatomical specimens which use plastic to replace the fat and water in human body parts, has been seen by over 26 million people around the world. In Israel, the Haredi population protested the opening, and rumors abounded that Michael Jackson had asked von Hagens if he too could be plastinated when he died – an event that most likely came much sooner than he expected.

4. Humanitarian aid webcam Gaza
In January, right in the midst of the Gaza conflict, the IDF decided to start operating a live feed of the Keren Shalom border crossing – the largest checkpoint between Israel and Gaza – showing humanitarian aid being transferred to the Palestinians.

Karin, who interviewed Peter Lerner, an IDF spokesperson working at the border crossing, wrote a blog post on the news with a link to the webcam, which operated for three hours every day, during the daily ceasefire.

5. Bar Refaeli proof that Israel is a land of wonder
She’s inescapable. Bar Refaeli made the headlines again and again and again this year. Either for upsetting the Haredi with her revealing ad campaigns , for appearing on the side of an airliner, or – in May –, for being voted the third “hottest” woman in the world by men’s mag Maxim.

Under her picture, the editors wrote: “If there’s any evidence that the Middle East is a land of beauty and wonder – not just unending turbulence – Bar is it.” Amazing what a pretty face can do. Not sure Refaeli is the right ambassador, however.

6. Ahmed and Salim – Israeli satire stretches the limits of taste
What happens when you cross irreverent South Park-type animated humor with the Middle East conflict? The no-holds-barred provocation of Ahmed and Salim. In April, David introduced us to the animated web series developed by two 20-something Israelis, which has attracted a cult following and is causing a storm on YouTube.

This sitcom about terrorists is guaranteed to offend just about everyone, and tells the story of two Arab teenagers who keep being sent off by their father on terrorist missions that inevitably go wrong. Some call it humorous, some call it racist (the duo even had death threats).

Check it out for yourself to see what you think.

7. Israeli musician creates red hot YouTube mash

David wrote about him first in March, and in November his work was voted one of the top 50 inventions of 2009 by TIME magazine .

Israeli musician and producer Ophir Kutiel – nicknamed Kutiman, took a wild mix of music videos from YouTube and remixed them to create a completely new and unique album of cohesive and soulful songs. It caught on like wildfire.

This is wild, imaginative stuff and Kutiman – who put this music together in his bedroom studio – has been hailed as the architect of psychedelic funk.

8. Sex and the Israeli navy
In March this year, the country was snickering about a report in the newspaper Yediot Ahronot, reporting that Major General Eli Marom was seen at a strip bar in Tel Aviv.

The question on everyone’s minds was should the head of our navy – trusted with the security of the country – really be patronizing the kind of places where he might find himself compromised?

9. Putting the Z5 to the test
Karin is one of those reporters who won’t settle until she knows the truth. When she wrote an article for ISRAEL21c about an 18-year-old whiz kid who had invented the Z5 – a small add on to your car’s air filter which could save gas – she was disturbed when a number of readers began writing in with complaints that this device simply couldn’t work.

So she decided to see for herself. She took Israeli energy expert Gal Luft with her and together they tried out the Z5 at an Israeli garage to test emissions and power before and after the Z5 installation.

So how did it go? You’ll have to read about it yourself.

10. Israeli arms dealer goes Bollywood – uh oh
Ah yes. We end on the ridiculous. This must be the crummiest marketing video ever made. The fact it was made by an Israeli company just goes to show – unfortunately – how much more we still have to learn here about marketing.

Military defense company Rafael decided to take an imaginative approach to selling its missile systems, with a Bollywood style dance-a-thon, where Israeli and Indian actors sing about security, protection, defense and perfection while skipping suggestively between missiles. Dinga, dinga, dee.

Rafael was unperturbed about all the fuss, however, and promptly came out with another dreadful video for the Paris Air Show that involved a mime artist dodging missiles .

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Comments

One Comment on Israelity’s top 10 stories of 2009

  1. David-Joe on Fri, Jan 1st 2010 5:59 AM

    2. Maybe its because I was born and raised in Israel – but I do find the immigrant’s “wonder” in things that Israel does to be puzzling.

    I just dont get it. Israel is Israel and its always been that way. Like all other countries it has its strengths, its weaknesses, problems and successes.

    No big deal.

    Maybe I have to be an immigrant to understand. Happy new year .

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