Homosexual activity cause of earthquake, Shas MK says - Israel News, Ynetnews

Homosexual activity cause of earthquake, Shas MK says'The Gemara mentions a number of causes of earthquakes, one of which is homosexuality, which the Knesset legitimizes,' Benizri says regarding last Friday's tremor The recent earthquake that was felt across Israel was the result of the "homosexual activity practiced in the country", Knesset Member Shlomo Benizri said Wednesday.

"But I no of another way to prevent earthquakes; the Gemara mentions a number of causes of earthquakes, one of which is homosexuality, which the Knesset legitimizes," Benizri said.

During a special Knesset session on Israel's preparedness for the possibility of another earthquake hitting the region, the Shas member said "the Gemara refers to earthquakes as disasters, but you are searching only for the practical solutions how to prevent and repair.

Last month fellow Shas member Nissim Ze'ev stirred controversy when he referred to the local gay movement as a "plague that could destroy Jewish Israel," adding that it should be treated "just as the Health Ministry dealt with the bird flu epidemic."

Mike Hammel, chairman of the Israeli Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Association commented on Benizri's remarks saying "it is sad that a religious MK in Israel doesn't think earthquakes are God-made.
"On the other hand, I suppose we should be flattered he attributes us with such magical powers," he added.

"One must wonder why Shas MKs are so obsessed with the gay community… we can all recall the case of the American senator who fiercely spoke out against gays until it was found he himself was gay."

Homosexual activity cause of earthquake, Shas MK says - Israel News, Ynetnews


I wonder what Prof.Benizri thinks about reasons for other natural disasters,I'm waiting for other "pearls" of his "wisdom".

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Negev residents demand secured rooms - Israel News, Ynetnews

Southern residents demand security: Residents of the southern Negev desert will be holding a demonstration outside the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on Sunday. Local residents, headed by regional council head Alon Shuster, will be protesting while a ministerial committee headed by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert convenes in order to rule on fortifying Sderot and Gaza-region homes.

Shuster said that more than a year after PM Olmert promised immediate fortification for area residents, "we hope that proper decisions will be taken tomorrow and that the ministerial committee will adopt the IDF Home Front's decision to set up secured rooms, rather than all sorts of partial fortification solutions."

"We will not accept any solution except for secured rooms," Shuster said

Negev residents demand secured rooms - Israel News, Ynetnews

Alon Shuster happens to live in my kibbutz so it's nice spreading his word from time to time.

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SDEROT...and the (not-so-sexy) rest...

While reading the English edition of Ynet I stumbled upon this:

A group of tourists from the United States and Australia who recently arrived in Sderot, found the visit to the police station to be "an eye-opener," and vowed to spread the word of what they saw, heard and experienced in Israel back in their home states.

Tourist says Sderot visit 'an eye opener' - Israel Activism, Ynetnews

It's a nice thing that people from abroad are interested in what's happening around here,but couldn't them (and the media as well) take a little more time also to visit the rest of the region as well?
You know,the western negev is not only Sderot,but also lots of kibbutzim and moshavim suffering too,kassam rockets hurting livestock,barely missing playgrounds and kindergartens,but I guess we're not that important for them because: a.we're too humble to mention it and b.Sderot,being a city,gets hit almost daily in houses and public places while the rest of the region,composed of small communities,get mostly hit in open grounds or agricultural fields,with the occasional casualty every now and then.

When the media will to recognize us too and how it's still a mystery to me...

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AG: Single-sex couples may adopt child not biologically related to them

Same-sex couples can adopt children who are not biologically related to either partner, according to a recent ruling by Attorney General Menachem Mazuz. advertisement the decision means that homosexual and lesbian couples will be able to adopt children through the department of child welfare or a third party.

Mazuz's decision marks a watershed in granting equal rights to gays and lesbians in the sphere of family law. Until now, Mazuz had confined his activities to social and financial areas only.

In a discussion of the issue initiated by Welfare Minister Isaac Herzog and reported in Haaretz two months ago, it was determined that the term "ben zug" (partner, or spouse) in the Adoption Law includes a partner of the same sex and that it follows from this that a same-sex partner can be permitted to adopt the biological or adopted children of his or her partner.

AG: Single-sex couples may adopt child not biologically related to them - Haaretz - Israel News


May this be another small step forward towards a more tolerant and understanding Israel.

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2 brothers injured in rocket attack on Sderot

"Eight-year-old boy sustains serious injuries to his legs, 19-year-old adolescent light-to-moderately hurt when rocket fired by Palestinians in north Gaza lands near residential building in western Negev town; Islamic Jihad's Al-Quds Brigades claim responsibility"

Taken from Ynet

IDF Chief Halutz resigns

An earthquake in the military and political echelon: IDF Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz resigned Tuesday night. This was reported by the IDF Spokesperson's Office. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed deep sorrow over the decision. Olmert, who knew beforehand that Halutz was going to resign, asked him to reconsider, but according to the PM's Office, Halutz's decision was decisive and as such, Olmert has no choice but to accept it. Despite vast pressure exerted on Halutz recently, pursuant to the second Lebanon war, the general originally seemed poised for the opposite action. In a press conference presenting the post-war investigation findings, Halutz said "I haven't heard calls from my superiors for me to leave. When they tell me to, I'll respond." Halutz addressed the imminent report by the Winograd commission, expected in February, and stated that if the commission took a different stance, he would comply "as it required." "I chose to take responsibility," said Halutz. "There are those who interpret responsibility as running away. I chose to deal with the investigation and a nation demanding a solution. That is responsibility."

IDF Chief Halutz resigns - News from Israel, Ynetnews

Athlete stripped of Bahraini citizenship for competing in Israeli marathon (Ynet News)

Here's something i've found in the Ynet News website:

Authorities have revoked the Bahraini citizenship of a Kenyan-born athlete who ran in an Israeli marathon, the nation's athletic union said Saturday. Bahraini runner Mushir Salem Jawher competed and won the Tiberias Marathon in Israel on Thursday, ending the race in just over 2 hours and 13 minutes. Most Arab states do not recognize Israel, and the Jerusalem Post newspaper said Jawher was the first athlete from an Arab country to compete in an Israeli marathon. Jawher was born in Kenya in 1978 and moved to Bahrain in 2003, according to the International Association of Athletics Federation. The Jerusalem Post cited Jawher as saying he was "very proud" to have run in Israel. Even though Bahrain has no official ties with the Jewish state, "It is a free country," the athlete was quoted as saying.

Athlete stripped of Bahraini citizenship for competing in Israeli marathon - Ynetnews

Yes,as bizarre as it may sound,an arab state punished an athlete with the sole charge of being a true sportsman...

Another color in the rainbow

In an unprecedented event in Israel, seven secular Jews who view Judaism as a culture, as opposed to a religion, will be ordained as rabbis Friday in Jerusalem.The ceremony, which will be held at the Israel Museum, comes after the ordainees completed three years of study at the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism in Jerusalem. Twenty five additional students are currently studying at the program.The organization, which promotes "secular humanistic Judaism," is closest to the Reconstructionist Judaism movement in the United States, said Oren Yehi-Shalom, 35, who will be ordained at the ceremony. Yehi-Shalom said that the participants do not pray to God, but believe in man's humanity.The group's Web site lists the belief in God "as a literary character," citing the Dutch philosopher Spinoza, who is recognized as the founder of modern Biblical criticism.

Secular rabbis to be ordained in J'lem | Jerusalem Post

It's always interesting to get to know other currents in the jewish spectrum,other ways to express jewishness according to one's beliefes,but ironically Israel,the state of the jews,doesn't recognize nor tolerates this diversity,one can only look at that fact with disbelief...

Today's Song: Blood Meridian - Hope of the states

Today's Quote: The only reason that I talk to myself is because that I'm the only one whose answers I accept.

We made it! (and we're lucky to have survived to know it)

It's funny,i always complained as a kid about the lack of media coverage about our region,and now,with the cordial help from our neighbors from the other side of the fence we're almost "media darlings",pity that the only thing the interests the media is our struggle and nothing much more than that:

Hanukkah celebrations in Negev kibbutzim and communities surrounding the Gaza Strip took place as scheduled in protected buildings, with most kibbutz members said routine was important for the children. “There is a feeling that as long as the rockets land outside the community, then everything is okay and we can go on with our lives,” Shaar Hanegev Regional Council Head Alon Shuster said. “We will continue our struggle to protect kibbutz members’ homes.”

No Hanukkah celebrations in Sderot - News from Israel, Ynetnews

...and happy hanukkah to you all...

Today's Song: Frightened - The Fall

Today's Quote: You tried, and you failed, so the lesson is, never try. - Homer J. Simpson