I spent 5 weeks in Israel for my 8th trip there. My brother has lived there since 1986. I would like to report that Israelis are understandably in a "siege mentality." Their farmers' livestock are being stolen by the Arabs and Bedouins, and Israeli law does not allow them to defend themselves against the theft. Israelis cant wear Jewish symbols or head coverings WITHIN Israel in certain areas without Harassment or physical attack in their own country, by Arabs. If Israel atte... read more

My great contribution to the Jewish State is............ ..........when I pee........I don't flush..........to save water. Perhaps this will help save Israel..................and will hasten the coming of the Messiah.... read more

There is a more chaotic, take the law into your own hands here in Israel. I recall getting my camera stolen by the teen next door in an apartment. I called my Israel friend Avi and told him that i knew the kid in the next apartment had taken it. He said not to call the police but simply to knock on the door and when they open the door, go inside and look for it. That would not fly in the US. In the USA your home is your castle. Your property is sacro-sanct. Anyone who forces entr... read more

Joys and sorrows of Israel. Israel spends about 20% of its GNP on defence. USA spends about 3 to 5%. No choice. At the Canadian-Israeli Sport Center in Metula, north Israel, I went downstairs to the bowling area. It was a riot to watch these religious Israeli kids, somewith long earlocks...payesses...trying to bowl. They were totally untaught. Holding the ball wrong....bowling it wrong etc. Sometimes 3 of them would be at the line goofing off together. At times, I offered... read more

More things you don't see in the USA that you see in Israel........... a guy shopping in the supermarket with a pistol in his belt. guys hitch hiking with machine guns/ M-16s dogs walking in the city........alone people yelling at cops and gesturing aggressively *********************************************************************************** The Land of Milk and Honey.................is giving me gas. *******************************************************************************... read more

Ice hockey: Israeli team with Canadians and Americans and Canadian refs, and a Russian announcer..................now I am really confused. So I make this beautiful trip from Carmiel in the Nortwest of Israel to Metula, the farthest north place in Israel........ I find this cute bed and breakfast right at the border (I drove along the barbed wire fence). A guest, American lady who made Aliya with her 11 year old son from Manhattan, tells me that the Jewish World Championship Ice Hockey... read more

1) Israeli guy taking a lead on the sidewalk, about 3 feet from the curb. He faces away but pees none the less. I was driving by with avi driving and I said to the guy who peed.... "Sir, you can't pee like that on the sidewalk in America." I said it with a smile and he smiled back and kept walking. Avi laughed. 2) 2 handles/buttons on each toilet. One for pee and a little flush one for poop and a big flush..........only in Israel ! 3) Arguing with major use of hands. Talking ... read more

I have finally achieved the status of an accepted guy in Israel. I was called a "son of a bitch" yesterday. Now I can relax and feel at home here. I am proud of myself. I was driving around with my best buddy Avi Babyiof, with his work putting in closets in peoples homes and he delivered some materials to an industrial area.....someone he knew. These guys are all tough dudes...working class Israelis....macho fearless tough guys. So Avi got into an argument with the guys over a ... read more

Sitting with a bunch of Israelis, drinking coffee, beer and smoking cigarettes .... never been with so many people who smoke........shmucks. Just tonight I sat listening to a 90 minute conversation about the price of underwear. Some guy had some new undies in his car and people at the table were picking out undies and paying the guy 12 shekels (3 bucks) per undie. Only in Israel could you have a 90 minute discussion of the price of undies. All with chain smokers. In the backgrou... read more

The water level in Israel is extremely low. Most water comes from the sea of Galilea and it is below the "red line" now. They drew a new red line below it...which is crazy. Israelis are allowed to water their plants/outdoor irrigation/hose system 3 times per week from about 2am to 2:30 am. If the situation gets worse they may have to bring in water in barges from Turkey. Ironic that a Muslim country would help Israel through such a crisis.... read more

I am staying in a beautiful neighbourhood outside Jerusalem in the west bank. It is on the edge of a canyon like grand canyon, except smaller. To the north east is Jericho, which I can't go to because with Israeli license plates, I would be dragged out and killed. The desert air is pleasant. It is very hot during the day and the night breeze is cool. Stars appear so close that you can touch them.... read more