I've been a busy bee these past few days.
I had a fairly large exam today and handed in the paper I stayed up all night doing (same course, BTW). If I never touch this material again it will be too soon.

In two weeks the second semester exam season is to commence.
*glomps*

Monday and Tuesday there was a bunch of activity on campus planned and arranged by the Student Coalition (with your truly being one part of the planning and arranging team. Yes, I'm touting my own horn) regarding the Occupation, as June marked 41 years of the Occupation in Gaza and the West Bank).

On Monday we arranged an open discussion regarding the One State Solution and the Two State solution. It was great, as a whole bunch of opinions were heard and discussed.
The majority were Leftists, obviously - though the posters and fliers were worded to not be too demagogic or partial, we wanted the Mainstream student body to come a listen - of which there a few but out of thirty or so people that quickly dwindled to twenty to fifteen there weren't a whole lot of Liberals, though those that were there spiced things us a bit.There were no outright Rightists, as they know us and hate us... that's okay, we don't like them much either.

On Tuesday we had a myth busting session; an ICAHD activist gave a hugely informative lecture about the population control that goes on in the West Bank (specifically East Jerusalem, which is a world in and of itself within the Occupation discourse) under the guise of Security and how that word is used as a motivation for a whole slew of attacks against civilians in the West Bank (these attacks include House Demolitions, "Check Points", the Separation Wall etc. etc.).
After the ensuing discussion and break we had MBC reporter Qasem Hatib who came to talk to us about the "No Palestinian Partner" myth and discourse. We discussed how that particular discourse became prevalent in the Barak and Camp David years (and following) and how it has been used since then as a political tool by Israel to keep the status quo (not what he said, but what I gleaned from his very cynical journalistic words - such a pessimist, made us idealists all sad... kidding, I don't think I've ever met a bigger bunch of cynics than those in the Coalition).

Very successful half week so far, I'd say.

So it was a good, if stressful week on campus.
Wednesday was a bad day for Jerusalem.
A man went on a killing spree on a tractor. ( Read more about it, there is a plethora of links to be found behind )

The two alleged violent offenders that were arrested today.
Have been remanded to house arrest for three days.

A truce between Israel and Hamas is just two days away so I've been informed by Ha'aretz and Al-Jazeera.
These announcements were made just a few hours before six Palestinian militants were killed by IAF forces.
None the less, despite the ongoing carnage being pelted at Gaza and the Western Negev, a simultaneous and mutual truce is set to commence on Thursday at six of the AM.
Leaving another 36 hours in which each side can do as much damage as possible.

Oh, I'm optimistic.

What is that you say? I didn't hear you because my cynicism is laughing in the background.

Sometimes I just feel old.

The Israeli Jews living in Hebron are such charming fella's.
So charming that at one of them poured boiling water over a Meretz member on a "Break the Silence" tour through the city.
This of course comes after yesterday's News in which Hebron police department released to the medias that Leftist activities are deliberately provocative and that "Break the Silence" "Bnei Avraham", "B'Tselem" and other organizations go there for the express purpose of causing trouble.

It's nice to know which side the police takes in that area of Hell.

As for the claims of the activities being provocative; anything that goes into an intense area like Hebron with an agenda that wants to show that the Status Quo is really not of the good is going to be considered provocative.
The less legitimacy the Settlers have for what goes on there and what the IDF has to to in order to "protect" the Settlers from their Palestinian neighbors (though more often than not, the soldiers have to restrain the Settlers and protect the Palestinians), the better.

My big bro suggested that I translate my previous entry as would be of interest to my f-list that doesn't read Hebrew.
I though about and so here is the translation. I hope I manage to put some of the metaphors and idioms forth strongly enough, as the entry contains quite strong language.

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As it's said: You don't say!*
Our foreign minister, "suggested" that there may not be a peace agreement with the Palestinians by the end of 2008.

Did it actually cross somebody's (anybody's) mind that there would be the slimmest of chances to reach an agreement by the end of this year?
With the detention, the siege, the dis-communication between the Palestinian factions and the building of settlements and outposts in the West Bank. Was there any kind of hope, that even if Abu-Mazen [Mahmoud Abbas] had some kind of political clout, that something would come out of it? In any event he's in Israel's pocket which in the USA's pocket, for the next ten years at the very least. Israel, that doesn't give a toss out of its National Erection about the residents of Sderot and the Kibbutzim that surround Gaza, isn't even interested in the Palestinians because, Oy Vavoi, Iran is threatening us, with A-Bombs! A-Bombs they will develop in the next decade, five years, next year! רחמנא לצלן [GD forbid].
Never mind that the USA has a clear economic interest in Iran (and is using Israel as the ultimate weapon against, well, anyone they want), after they lost the country following the Islamic Revolution (and all its wonderful oilfields which are nationalised and can't be invested through the Free market, sanctions or not).

Of course there won't be an agreement, not this year, not next year and not in two years time (I'm willing to pay money to whoever bets against me and wins) because Israel isn't interested in changing the status quo - so rockets are falling in Sderot, so what? It strengthens the citizens and they are a good example to the state of Israel.
Who cares about a few Towel-heads swimming in sewage, they're future terrorists any way, we don't need no agreement with them! Gilad Shalit? Yeah, sounds familiar. So do Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, aren't they overseas?

The war in Lebanon wasn't Entebbe 2 like Halutz, Olmert and probably Peretz as well, hoped for. Gilad Shalit will remain as Ron Arad 2 for a little longer.

An agreement with the Palestinians, yeah right! At least minister Livni gave a proper disclosure... with suggestions and guesswork, but c'mon... it was clear from Annapolis, wasn't it?

*It's important to note, that the Hebrew news update was much shorter and didn't mention the French foreign minister, Hamas, Haim Ramon or anything other than what Ms. Livni said to Ms. Pelosi.

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I suggest you read the comments from my previous post, as the discussion between me and hemlock_sholes is not badly written: here.

So Lebanon.

Talk about a big fucking mess.

No doubt that as soon as something stabilizes there, somebody will invade it... just to make sure that the "right" man is in power.

Am I right?

Mean time, I'm not sure the Lebanese knew what hit them. You can just hear a parody of SNL going "Good Morning, Beirut... I love the AK-47 you're sporting!"