Click here to view the embedded video.

See, this is what I love about corporate capitalism. The total absence of shame. This commercial is telling Israelis that when you use AIG insurance, everything is “under control”.

This coming from the company who received the largest bailout after the 2008 financial crisis: 182.5 billion dollars. Sure, their numbers have improved since then. And they’ve paid back some of the money.

But come on…

“Honesty is such a lonely word
Everyone is so untrue”

— Billy Joel

When lying is something to boast about

Don’t get me wrong – there are a few things that could be good about the Bibi Netanyahu-Shaul Mofaz move that stunned us all this morning.

For example, it will give some more time for the opposition to get its act together, most probably bring about the evaporation of the pseudo-party known as Kadima and basically get rid of Yair Lapid. I can’t be honest and say these are bad things.

Remember that word. “Honest.”

But if that’s why you’re OK with this move, than you’re just not looking at the big picture. The big picture isn’t about which guy won and who made a more brilliant move. The big picture is the ever-widening gap between the public and the politicians it elects.

The big picture is the disgusting politics, reaching a new low. A political sphere that has lost any credibility whatsoever.

To think that the head of the opposition (for only a few days) could go on a rant in the Knesset calling PM Netanyahu a liar in March, and then join forces with him in May is simply outrageous.

And here’s what Mofaz wrote on his facebook wall on March 3 (my translation):

“Listen closely: I will not enter Bibi’s government. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not after I take the leadership of Kadima on the 28th of March. This is a bad, failing and deaf government, and the Kadima that I will lead will replace it in the next elections. Clear enough?”

To think that the head of the opposition can write that on his Facebook page in March and then sign a deal with Netanyahu in May – is spitting in the face of the public.

And Bibi, as prime minister, talking to the public, the press and during the Likud conference a few days ago about the elections – all the while never even intending to go to elections? You have to not give a hoot about the public to pull a trick like that. What a poker face. What hutzpah a guy has to have to even be able to do that! And not crack under the pressure!

The damage these two have done is irreparable. How can anyone take any politician, even those with good intentions (and there are a few!) seriously now?

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#J14 and #Occupy

It’s this gap between the public and its elected officials that is precisely what #J14 and #Occupy are about.

Let me tell you something: there are a lot of analysts out there who are going to tell you, “Hey, calm down! It’s politics! This is all fair and square, it’s how you play the game!”

Bullshit. Sure, politics are dirty – but even politics have to have a limit, a red line, a certain connection to reality. It’s not some kind of different planet where other rules apply. Where you can lie and be considered savvy at the same time. Where the better liar you are, the farther you go. Where the more you disrespect the people, the longer you rule.

What is this, Russia?

And no, I’m not being naive. Because this is exactly what #J14 and #Occupy are coming to change.

While a whopping 80 percent of the Knesset is now sitting in the coalition, people may soon be surprised to find out that the opposition in the public, outside, is a lot higher than 20 percent.

Now we’ll have to see how this move will affect the renewal of #J14. Will it become more political? Will it be led by Labor? There were those who thought this summer would be smaller – but will people now even be angrier? And if it does turn political, is this a good thing? These questions will be answered sooner than later.

But there is a sense that now that Kadima has joined the coalition, the only ones left in the opposition – are the people.

——————————————————————————————

Spitting in the face of women

Any person who gives a damn about women’s rights should be outraged at this deal, seeing as how Natan Eshel was the main architect of this fiasco. For those of you who forgot, Eshel was removed from his position as head of the Prime Minister’s Office after he admitted to holding “too close” a relationship with a female colleague, photographed beneath her skirt with his cellphone (apparently during Netanyahu’s speech in Congress) and went through her emails.

This man, despite everything, is still calling the shots.

And a lot of people are just, “oh well, whatcha gonna do?” with it.

I’m not “oh well” with this at all.

Spitting in my face, in the public’s face – and most of all, Bibi is spitting in the face of women.

Hopefully, the women of the opposition will spit back.

Not literally, of course.

Shelly Yachimovich leading Labor, Zehava Galon leading Meretz, and Tzipi Livni (who may join somehow, one way or another).

I have my issues with all three (quite a few, actually), but after last night, this trio looks like a dream compared to the disgusting male, macho, Major Lt. General, Chief of Staffs, good ‘ole boy politics of this morning.

—————————————————–

If you’re so smart?

Netanyahu is proving to be one of the smartest and slickest politicians this country has seen since it was born. With his latest moves, he’s leaving Ariel Sharon, Shimon Peres and others in his tracks.

Which makes you wonder – if the guy is so smart, so wily a politician, getting whatever he wants, how is it that he is so weak on the diplomatic front with the Arab world?

If you ask me, it’s just further proof the guy can – but just doesn’t want to.

And it doesn’t end there: Now we know that Netanyahu could not only care less about Palestinians, he couldn’t give a hoot about Israelis, either.

——————————————————

Winners, losers

There was a widespread assumption that these elections were a done deal, that Bibi would stay in charge. But, some polls were showing a slight movement. Lapid was biting a bit into Lieberman’s base, the right wing bloc was losing 1-2 mandates. Not enough, of course. But in four months in Israel, with the social protests coming – I think anything could have happened. Don’t know if I would have put my money where my mouth is, but still – if last night proves anything, it’s that nothing’s a done deal in Israeli politics.

But that’s old news now.

Yair Lapid must have had a hissy fit this morning. This is good. We like to see Yair Lapid have hissy fits.

He might still try to make it till the elections in Fall 2013, but I doubt he has that kind of strength to last it out. But who knows…?

Same goes for Aryeh Deri. Can he hold it out? Probably better chances for him than Lapid.

Anyway, Lapid out of the game is a good thing. Because he’s all hot air. Yet, I still would have preferred him in the Knesset to a 96-seat coalition led by fascists. (Did I mention you only need 80 MKs to overturn a Basic Law? Yeah, very positive, this move of Bibi and Mofaz. Go on, show me how this group of fascists, who went on a total assault on democracy when they were only 65 MKs is now a good thing. Show me!)

Kadima will lose even more. The similarity between this move and the one Netanyahu pulled earlier with Defense Minister Ehud Barak’s Haatzmaut is striking. Both were done because Barak and Mofaz saw the end was near – and they did all they could to delay it just a bit longer, no matter what the price. To credibility, to truth, to integrity.

Kadima will vanish into thin air, or be gobbled up by the Likud. Either way, the Big Bang of Israeli politics that Ariel Sharon began is slowly coming to an end.

——————————————————

More taxes

The agreement between Mofaz and Netanyahu calls for “an emergency budget.” That’s finance lingo for “more taxes.”

Yippee!

——————————————————————————

The Yom Kippur of Israeli media?

You have to hand it to Netanyahu and Mofaz – they kept it silent, according to some reports, for at least a week. Not one reporter managed to get a sniff of this one. And this isn’t some military action, some kind of secret intelligence operation – this is politics. Where everybody talks. And leaks (and reeks).

I’ve heard some colleagues call it the Yom Kippur of Israeli media. I wouldn’t go that far, but… it’s pretty embarrassing.

——————————————————————–

To sum things up…

For me, this is the slimiest move I’ve seen in Israeli politics.

Ever.

It literally made me nauseous.

And as I said above, there may be some good things that come out of this. But ultimately, the price we, the citizens, the people, have to pay for merely a possibility of a stronger left-wing bloc, the possibility of a louder opposition, the possibility of a stronger #J14 – that price is too high.

Buying possibilities by giving up on the credibility of the whole system?

I’d rather gamble in Vegas.

Click here to view the embedded video.

As someone who was born in Israel and happens to be a Leo, I take personal offence to this.

h/t Itamar Shaltiel

Apparently, Oren took it even further during the interview. After much persuading, I got Simon to give me the unedited segment of him grilling the Israeli ambassador in D.C.

You gotta see it to believe it.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here’s how we treat people who dare cycle where they’re not supposed to.

Yes, I said “cycle.” For this you are punished with a rifle to the head, in a bunt move that would make most major league baseball players jealous.

According to the WAFA news agency, “Israeli forces Saturday broke up with force a cycling tour around the Jordan Valley and assaulted the participants injuring and arresting a number of them.”

In this album of pictures on Facebook, one can clearly see this officer seemed to be in a pretty aggressive mood with more than one activist while walking around with his rifle in bunt position and a look that could kill.

17:05: I have requested a comment from the IDF spokesperson unit.

17:10: Just got this link, which shows a few 15 seconds before the hit:

Click here to view the embedded video.

17:40: According to this video from December 2011, the officer is the deputy commander of the Jordan Valley brigade, Shalom Eisner. In this clip he is thanking volunteers who help out in rescue operations.

Click here to view the embedded video.

20:17: Another picture from the event yesterday:

(photo: Hamzi Zbidat)

22:07: The IDF response:

The IDF Spokesperson’s unit said in response the event was very serious and that the Central Command chief had ordered a thorough investigation. “The inquiry will examine the circumstances which led to the incident documented in the video. Lessons will be drawn and the necessary steps will be taken.”

22:15: Praise for Lt. Col. Eisner is flooding the Israeli social media, here and here [Heb] for example.

22:30: A source who approached me and wishes to remain anonymous at this point has informed me that Lt. Col. Eisner is set to be the next deputy commander of Bahad 1 – the IDF’s training base for all of its officers. This piece of info could not be confirmed.

The IDF spokesperson in response: “We do not discuss IDF appointments in the media until they are signed and sealed. When appointments are confirmed, the media is notified.”

Leading Bahad 1 is considered to be one of the most prestigious jobs in the IDF. Some of its former commanders were Shaul Mofaz, Giora Eyland, Matan Vilnai, Elazar Stern and others who later became high-ranking generals or Chiefs of Staff. If Lt. Col. is reprimanded by the IDF for his conduct, this incident could block any future promotions.

The IDF might want to think twice if this is the kind of officer they want as an example to others.

22:35: Lt. Col. Shalom Eisner is the son of late Rabbi Benny Eisner [Heb], an icon of religious Zionism who also lived in th “Jewish House” in Abu Tor, East Jerusalem.

23:15: Haaretz brings response of National Union MK Michael Ben Ari:

“Well done to the IDF officer who did what Bibi and Aharonovich have no brain or courage to do,” Ben Ari said. “Radical leftists must be handled with a heavy hand. There was a tangible threat to the lives of the soldiers and the officer had no other choice. If it was a settler who was beaten we would not have heard the cries of the hypocrites on the left. Turns out they are not interested in human rights but the rights of terrorists and pro-Arabs.”

23:24: Amos Harel of Haaretz reports that Lt. Col. Eisner is to be suspended, yet says that in other similar cases a suspension does not necessarily mean the end of the officer’s career [Heb].

23:33: Lt. Col. Eisner responds: “I shouldn’t have raised my weapon like that, but those were 6 seconds out of two hours. Of course they didn’t show the part where they attacked us with sticks.”

 00:07: PM Benjamin Netanyahu: “This behavior is not characteristic of IDF soldiers and commanders and should not be allowed in the IDF or in Israel.”

Paul Revere's Ride (photo: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)

Listen my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Bibi Revere,
On the fifteenth of April, 2012
(but meanwhile don’t take your hand off your helve)
Who remembers that famous day and year.

He said to his friend, “If the leftists march
By land or air from Ben Gurion airport
Put a policeman aloft in the arrival hall arch
of Terminal 3 as an attempt to abort,
One if by land, and hundreds if by air
And I in my office will continue to scare.

Ready to ride and spread the alarm,
through every Jewish village and farm
For the country folk to be up and arm.”

And certainly, writing about McDonald’s isn’t the best comeback post, but hey – maybe it’ll get me back into the food-groove.

Anyway, it’s Pesach. The holiday I hate the most. Because of that whole bread thing. Pointless.

McDonald’s, though, doesn’t agree. And McDonald’s would know. They know a thing or two about… money. So, what do they do during Pesach, when it comes to buns? Well, as you may or may not know – McDonald’s is divided into Kosher and non-Kosher brancיes in Israel. But most of them offer Kosher buns. In fact, they limit the menu to meals with kosher buns. So, you can’t get a Big Mac, for example. You can only get a Royal (Quarter pounder in the States).

But — you can get it with cheese.

So you can keep Kosher, but not really Kosher.

I always find this little ritual that McDonald’s does every year to be very telling of Israeli society. And corporate capitalism, too.

Nonetheless, critique-wise this bun is actually pretty good for a Kosher for Pesach bun. One usually expects something chewy that doesn’t digest well, but here, the McDonald’s scientists have done it again. Light, fluffy – and none of that Pesach smell and aftertaste of the usual dodgy buns. Bravo and Chag Sameach!

The Royal (called the Deluxe during Pesach) (photo: Ami Kaufman)

The somewhat over-brown Kosher for Pesach bun. No sesame seeds... (photo: Ami Kaufman)

Kosher Deluxe - with cheese (that yellow plastic square on the right) (photo: Ami Kaufman)

If you’re happy and you know it, rule more lands!
If you’re happy and you know it, rule more lands!
If you’re happy and you know it,
then a UN poll will show it,
If you’re happy and you know it, rule more lands!

The UN published a report last week, called the ‘World Happiness Report”. Scandinavians came in first (boring…).

But how did the two main protagonists in our little theater fair?

Israel (fabulous in the role of “Occupier”) came in at a surprising 14th place. For a country of professional complainers, this fact is not only astounding – it puts the whole survey’s credibility into question.

The Palestinian Authority (in an emotional, unforgettable role as “the Occupied”) came in at 119. Out of 155 countries surveyed.

So, what makes people happy?

“While basic living standards are essential for happiness, after the baseline has been met happiness varies more with the quality of human relationship than with income,” the report read. “Policy goals should include high employment and high-quality work; a strong community with high levels of trust and respect, which government can influence through inclusive participatory policies; improved physical and mental health; support of family life; and a decent education for all.”

Oh, and a few less checkpoints. Just a tad.

February 16, 2012. A bus full of kids north of Jerusalem hits a truck and turns over. Kids are burned to death in the fiery crash.

As the reports start to surface, so does the ugly Israeli. On Facebook, on the news sites. In the street. You can’t miss it. First it starts with an exhale of relief that they aren’t Jewish. Next comes the sorrow that more of them weren’t killed.

“Sure,” you say, “but these don’t represent Israeli society.”

Well, I beg to differ. I think the teenagers shown in the Channel 10 magazine item below (my translation) are actually quite representative of your average Israeli teenager. Nothing scientific on my part. Not backing it up with data, so you can go ahead and take a jab at me for that. Just backing it up with the daily doses of racism I see every day when I enter my social media, my news sites, my streets, my supermarkets, my clinics, my kids’ ballet classes, my work place. So many places. Those are my sources.

Sources of disgust.