The Day In Israel: Wed May 20th, 2009
Click refresh to see new updates during the day
According to an American official, the US is expecting Israel to make concrete concessions to the palestinians before US President Barack Obama’s visit to Cairo on June 4, such as easing restrictions on imports and exports of goods to Gaza, and easing restrictions on movement in the West Bank.
No word yet on whether or not the US is expecting some concessions from the palestinians, such as refraining from firing rockets at our civilians.
Updates (Israel time; most recent at top)
10:30PM: Laughably biased photo caption of the day: courtesy of Hatem Moussa, with whose work we are already familar.
In this photo taken Sunday, May 3, 2009, Suhaila Kahlout, head of the women’s section of Taysir Association for Marriage and Development based in Gaza City flips through a folder containing dozens of applications handed in by women to try find a partner. Over 270 women have applied through the association to try find husbands. Many single women in Gaza say it’s becoming more difficult to find a husband as a economic hardship in Gaza increases amid a harsh Israeli blockade of the territory. They are relying more on matchmakers, and the Tayseer Association, run by Hamas loyalists, is the best in the business. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)
Yes, we are supposed to believe the cause of Gazan women’s alleged difficulties in finding husbands is Israel’s restriction of supplies to Gaza in light of the constant terror attacks emanating from there.
Here’s a thought. Perhaps Gazan women find it difficult to find a husband because more and more of the men have a problem with premature explodation, or otherwise prefer to spend their time with 72 virgins instead of just the one. Alternatively, the men aren’t attracted to women who resemble Hoth storm troopers.
10:12PM: US defense officials have decided to continue funding Israel’s Arrow anti-ballistic missile system.
8:13PM: Quote of the day:
“This idea of two states for two peoples is a stupid and childish solution to a very complex problem”
- Ron Dermer, senior aide to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu
6:38PM: The Middle East peace plan of US President Barack Obama reportedly includes an independent, democratic and contiguous palestinian state without its own army and which would be forbidden from making military agreements with other states, in order to provide for Israel’s security.
6:35PM: Here’s more on Israel’s war against…swine flu.
2:43PM: Iranian President Mahmoud “Gorilla Boy” Ahmadinejad has announced that Iran successfully test-fired a new advanced missile with a range of about 1,200 miles, far enough to strike Israel and southeastern Europe as well as US bases in the Gulf.
He reportedly added “Bwa-ha-ha-haaaa.”
12:15PM: CAMERA is claiming credit for the AP caption correction I blogged about yesterday.
While I applaud their initiative in approaching AP about the caption, I think they are being too generous regarding the corrected caption.
In fact, anything short of “A Palestinian protester lies down after being overcome by tear gas fired by Israeli troops holds a key symbolizing the keys to houses left by Palestinians in 1948 and poses for a contrived photograph” is a dishonest caption.
11:40AM: Yesterday, Mahmoud Abbas swore in palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
As you can see, it was a joyous occasion for them.
Aren’t they just frickin’ rays of sunshine?
5:52AM: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Al Jizz.
Yes, we are seeing the Hillary Clinto who hugged and kissed Suha Arafat, as opposed to the Hillary Clinton we saw during the Democratic primaries.
About the Author
An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.Filed Under: General
