SOCCER /DISGUSTED
My Views on Soccer!
As far as I am concerned, give me Aussie Rules Football... anyday!!! & nbsp;
After the fiasco with the Socceroos in the World Series. Boy! Never was I so disgrusted! outraged! &nbs p; Over that Italian faking it, and it was fake.
I mean our umpires would pick that one up a mile away.
What's to do with kicking a ball up and down a field like that anyway with no body contact? Where are the real men? Oh sure, there maybe talent, but anyone can practice , and yes there are the Beckham's and oh yes before I forget, the other's too who are experts at the game and overpriced. Maybe price themselves out of the game(smile) eventually. That would be a laugh.
Those PENALTY KICKS are a con as far as I am concerned. The player's can't kick a goal even... so they had to find another way for them to do so... what a rip off...without so much of a competition... and so close to the goal even. Well Really! What next!
If our forwards can kick a goal from 50 feet out which I must add is rare but can be done, what's the problem with your players. You put the goalie in an impossible task in soccer with those penalty kicks.
DO AWAY WITH THE PENALTY KICK is my motto. PRONTO!
Modern Supermarket
Subject: modern supermarket
The new Supermarket near our house has an automatic
water mister to keep the
produce fresh. Just before it goes on, you hear the
sound of a thunderstorm
and the smell of fresh rain.
When you approach the milk cases, you hear cows
mooing and witness the scent
of fresh butter fat.
When you approach the egg case, you hear hens cackle
and the air is filled
with the pleasing aroma of eggs frying.
.....So far I have been too afraid to go down the
toilet paper aisle.
Man of Peace
Well today thought I would mention a book by a Palestinian called "Blood Brothers" by a Father Elias Chacour.
It is a book that has revolutioned my thinking of the Palestinian situation in Israel. Elias Chacour shares his life experiences in the land the Jews call Israel, but the Palestinian's still call the Holy Land. He shares the behind the scenes politics which started off the Israeli and Palestinian conflict. Also what does Bible prophecy has to say? Can bitter enemies ever be reconciled? Here is one man who believes so. Why? Because of the Man of Peace. Who is the Man of Peace? Jesus, the Christ/ Yeshua, the Messiah.
In James 3:18 it says "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace".
I would like to ask my fellow Christian believer's are we showing the fruit of righteousness? ; I have read so many letters to the Editors of our newspapers here at times, where christian have written in their opinions regarding certain issues and of course the opposion have theirs because they are offended. I would like to ask my fellow christian's, is what they are writing or saying, honoring Christ or bringing dishonor to His name? I believe we do not think about what we write or say, I mean we mean well at the time, but is what we are really saying or writ ing honoring Jesus. Where is the fruit of righteousness in what we say or write? Is not The Word of God, a Living Word? It creates and gives life in the believer, but also can create death too. It says in Proverbs: 18:21. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit there of." That comes from the Old Testament and still goes for today. What one writes or says will bring life or death, the consequences of what we say or do. So which do we choose? Spread life or death.
Proverbs 14:34 it also says, "Righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people".
Update on my Activities
Hello there, what have I been up to? Nothing much, been listening to the soccer some, not that one has much choice here. But really am glad about the Socceroos. Yay!!
I am Aussie born, true blue aussie. Like Aussie Rules Football 
which is national also, our 2 teams from the west are not doing that well, groan....
would like to see them put a spoke in the Vic's pride for once, though. Now Cricket! International Cricket games that is, the one day matches are alright
, but the Test Series bore me
. Basketball, our team in the west is not doing that well nationally either. Groan.... wonder why?
Guess what? Washed my dog, wasn't that bad after all
. How we like to magnify or exagerate things, he was as good as gold for me. Then blow drying him afterwards, that wasn't as easy done, he didn't like the sound of the motor and kept running off
. Finally got him dry enough, his coat is now soft as silk and still is growing which reminds me he is in need of a trim.... Never ending ..... moneywith him, snuffy nose, infections etc, off to the Vet. for anti biotic's etc. T o have him shampood and conditioner as well as a trim, costs a small fortune. But ah! I wouldn't be without him now. I have trimmed him myself at times, just kept giving him a treat now and then to bribe him to stay put. Only way to do it. Have 2 cats too, and guess what? Have to 2 males, dog and cat animals vieing for my attention, jealous, 
horrible word. But back to the 2 males animals wish they were human sometimes.
Well thats it for now, byeeee.......
ISRAEL
Israel Air Force fires missile at metal workshop in Gaza Strip
Mon Jun 19, 2006 3:52 pm (PST)
Israel Air Force fires missile at metal workshop in Gaza Strip
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=727912&" title="http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=727912&" target="_blank"http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/...;
By Avi Issacharoff, Gideon Alon, Yuval Azoulay, and Mijal Grinberg, Haaretz
Correspondents and Agencies
An Israel Air Force aircraft fired missiles at a metal workshop in Gaza City
early Tuesday, residents and Israel Defense Forces sources said.
The IDF said the workshop was run by Hamas and used to make rockets and
other weapons. Residents said no one was hurt.
Palestinian militants have been pelting Israel with rockets fired from Gaza,
aiming many of them at the southern city of Sderot.
Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Monday that a sharpened military response to
Palestinian rocket fire would lead to intensified bombardments of Sderot.
"I will do everything possible in order to avoid an escalation because it
would lead to days of Qassam barrages," Peretz said during his meeting with
President Moshe Katsav in Sderot on Monday afternoon.
Peretz was joined by President Moshe Katsav for a meeting Monday afternoon in
Sderot with bereaved families and city officials, including Mayor Eli Moyal.
The "Red Dawn" Qassam early-warning system was tripped a short time before
their meeting.
"After our withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, all military operations are
legitimate," Katsav said.
"Ahead of my visit today, I spoke to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense
Minister Peretz, and IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz. All believe that we will
not accept continued rocket fire. The defense establishment has targets, and
we will hit them. We'll certainly do everything so as not to harm women and
children," Katsav said.
Katsav met with hunger strikers protesting Qassam rocket attacks on the
southern city Monday afternoon and called on them to halt their protest and
give the military time to deal with the Qassam attacks.
The nine-day old hunger strike was halted after leaders began fearing for the
health of the eight protesters.
Peretz said that Israel's message to the Palestinians vis a vis the Qassam
attacks has been absorbed but that a number of extremists organizations have
yet to respond to the demand to halt the fire.
Israel will take further action if the terror groups do not halt their rocket
attacks shortly, Peretz said.
Sderot, which has borne the brunt of the Qassam strikes, prepared to seal off
its entrances and exits for 24 hours starting Tuesday to protest the ongoing
Palestinian rocket attacks.
Peretz under fire from the right
Peretz on Monday came under fire from right-wing legislators at a Knesset
Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee session, over his policy to combat
Qassam rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.
MK Effi Eitam (National Religious Party-National Union) dubbed Peretz's policy
as "cowardly," adding that the Israel Defense Forces were not producing the
necessary deterrence.
According to Eitam, Hamas and Hezbollah realize it is possible for them to
launch Qassam rockets at Israel, without incurring an appropriate IDF
response.
Peretz reiterated at the meeting that if the Qassam attacks persist, he
intends to employ harsh measures to create a complete cessation of rocket fire
on Israel.
Earlier Monday, Moyal called on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his government
to resign in the face of their failure to put an end to the Qassam attacks on
the southern town.
Speaking on Israel Radio, Moyal said that if the government is unable to
defend the town it must step down.
Justice Minister Haim Ramon, who spoke on Israel Radio after Moyal, said that
if rocket attacks were to continue, the IDF would step up the measures used
against those launching the Qassams.
Ramon said that the IDF has killed hundreds of militants engaged in firing the
rockets, but it will take more time before the attacks are halted altogether.
Sderot strike
Sderot's municipal council decided to completely bar anyone from entering or
leaving the town limits on Monday, including longtime resident Peretz.
Moyal postponed the strike, originally scheduled to begin Monday morning,
until after the Peretz-Katsav visit.
Sderot, which has been the target of sometimes daily Qassam attacks from Gaza,
was hit by another rocket Sunday evening. The Qassam landed near the town's
public library, and did not cause any casualties, according to the Itim news
agency.
Three other rockets fired from Gaza on Sunday evening landed in Palestinian
territory, Israel Radio reported.
Palestinians in Gaza fired two Qassam rockets at southern Israel in predawn
attacks Sunday, leaving parts of Sderot without electricity for several hours.
One of the rockets hit several electricity poles in the southern town,
temporarily disrupting the power supply to the Rabin neighborhood.
The second Qassam was fired at the western Negev and landed near the border
fence. No damage or casualties were recorded in this incident.
Two Sderot residents were evacuated to Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva Sunday,
after collapsing during a mass hunger strike in protest over the government's
inability to halt the rocket fire. The two are said to be receiving treatment
for dehydration.
Sderot's local council decided to end the school year on Monday, starting the
summer vacation earlier than planned. The council also decided to step up its
protests and camp out in front of the government offices in Jerusalem.
"None of the government ministers care for Sderot," Moyal said. "If the
government cannot provide the city residents with security, it should resign
or say [it cannot provide security] out rightly. The resident's are exhausted
and they cannot continue living like this without the government doing
something."
IDF Lieutenant colonel jailed declares his innocence
IDF lieutenant colonel jailed for 15 years for spying for Hezbollaha
Mon Jun 19, 2006 2:33 pm (PST)
IDF lieutenant colonel jailed for 15 years for spying for Hezbollah and
drug dealing
By Yuval Azoulay and Amos Harel
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/728311.html" title="http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/728311.html" target="_blank"http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/...
A military court in Tel Aviv sentenced Lieutenant Colonel Omar al-Hayeb
to 15 years in prison yesterday, after he was found guilty both of
spying for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and of drug trafficking.
The former tracker for the Israel Defense Forces' Northern Command
continued to assert his innocence after the verdict was handed down,
charging that he had been framed and was a victim of persecution because
he is an Arab.
"I didn't confess, I won't confess," al-Hayeb told reporters. "I didn't
do anything. The only reason they are coming after me is because I am an
Arab. I have been framed. I did not betray the state, but the state
betrayed me. I am innocent and I will prove it."
One of his attorneys, Amnon Zichroni, said that his client is likely to
appeal the sentence. "The sentence is too harsh," Zichroni said. "I
doubt very much that his personal circumstances were taken into account."
The head of the prosecuting team, Lieutenant Colonel Einat Ron, said
that "the trial was about the individual and not al-Hayeb's community or
ethnic group. Furthermore, his contribution to the state is known and
undoubted."
Ron also rejected al-Hayeb's claim that he was discriminated against in
contrast to Elhanan Tennenbaum, a reserve officer kidnapped by Hezbollah
under questionable circumstances and later released in a prisoner
exchange with the group.
"Elhanan Tennenbaum was not sentenced in a military court, and therefore
there is no room for any sort of comparison," she said.
Al-Hayeb, a resident of the Bedouin village of Beit Zarzir, was arrested
in 2002 as a result of a broader investigation into drug smuggling. The
six-month investigation also led to the arrest of 18 other IDF soldiers,
some of them members of the career army.
Al-Hayeb was convicted of contacts with Lebanese drug dealers, smuggling
drugs into Israel, spying, and contacts with enemy agents with intent to
pass on classified information. His initial meeting with Hezbollah
representatives took place at a Lebanese friend's request.
The tracker was on his way to a meeting on the Lebanese border when he
was arrested with classified documents in his possession, including
military maps and a list of IDF communications frequencies. Al-Hayeb
allegedly planned to hand these over to Hezbollah in exchange for money
or drugs that he could then sell.
As the highest-ranking Bedouin officer in the IDF, al-Hayeb was
frequently cited as an example of the possibilities for advancement for
Israeli Arabs serving in the military. He was seriously wounded by a
Hezbollah roadside bomb while serving in Lebanon in 1996, and surgeons
had to remove one of his eyes. The injuries left him partially paralyzed
and with shards of metal still lodged in his head.
A.A.A.D.D. Dignosis
Subject: A.A.A.D.D. DiagnosisRecently, I was diagnosed with
A. A. A. D. D.
Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.The name should be changed to B.A.A.D.D.
Birth Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.
For the many of us who have given birth and don't have the mind we used to.
This is how it manifests:
I decide to water my lawn.
As I turn on the hose in the driveway, I look over
at my car and decide my car needs washing.
As I start toward the garage, I notice that there
is mail on the porch table that I brought up from
the mail box earlier.
I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.
I lay my car keys down on the table, put the junk mail
in the garbage can under the table, and notice that the
can is full.
So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take
out the garbage first.
But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox
when I take out the garbage anyway, I may as well pay
the bills first.
I take my check book off the table, and see that there
is only one check left.
My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go
inside the house to my desk where I find the can of Coke
that I had been drinking.
I'm goin! g to look for my checks, but first I need to push
the Coke aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over.
I see that the Coke is getting warm, and I decide I should
put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.
As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke a vase of
flowers on the counter catches my eye - they need to be
watered.
I set the Coke down on the counter, and I discover my
reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning.
I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first
I'm going to water the flowers.
I set the glasses back d! own on the counter, fill a
container with water and suddenly I spot the TV remote.
Someone left it on the kitchen table.
I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I will
be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's
on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the
living room where it belongs, ! but first I'll water the flowers.
I pour some water in the flowers, but quite a bit of it spills
on the floor.
So, I set the remote back down on the table, get some
towels and wipe up the spill.
Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was
planning to do.
At the end of the day:
the lawn isn't watered,
the car isn't washed,
the bills aren't paid,
there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter,
the flowers don't have enough water,
there is still only one check in my check book,
I can't find the remote,
I can't find my glasses,
I don't remember what I did with the car keys,
and my neighbor called to tell me he turned off the hose
that was flooding the driveway.
Then when I try to figure out why nothing got done today,
I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day long,
and I'm really tired. I realize this is a serious problem,
and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail.
Do me a favor, will you? Forward this message to everyone
you know, because I don't remember to whom it has been sent.
Don't laugh -- if this isn't you yet, your day is coming!
GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY.
GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.
LAUGHING AT YOURSELF IS THERAPEUTIC
Bilateral Ceasefire
Well, I had a really good week and this past week has been a bad week. Had to close my inbox at MSN, cos of hacker not too sure how but could have been through Share Messenger. Would advice anyone to stay away from the place period. The stress took its toll on me, not nice people there.
Bilateral ceasefire
The use of force has not proven itself effective. We must try other solutions, to save Israeli and Palestinian lives
Gershon Baskin
The current temporary calm in the shooting of qassams ordered by Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh is a convenient opportunity to re-evaluate Israel’s tactics in dealing with this acute problem. The reality of the heavy toll that the Palestinians have paid in the past week has hit home and the conclusions and lessons learned should point in the direction of the possibility of reaching a longer-term bilateral ceasefire.
Down the slope
Without reaching this kind of bilateral ceasefire, there are real chances that we are may continue to slide rapidly down the slippery slope to total security deterioration and instead of self deceiving attempts that we are defeating the Palestinians; it would be preferable if the Minister of Defense and the generals would find a way to prevent us from going over the edge. The leaders of Hamas, including Prime Minister Haniyeh, have expressed their readiness to reach a ceasefire, but unlike the tahdiya – the calm reached 16 months ago, which was one-sided and Israel continued its military campaigns against the Palestinians, this time it must be bilateral.
From Israel’s side there must be a commitment to stop all of the artillery fire on Gaza, to end all of the so-called “targeted killings”, and to stop the massive arrest campaigns in the West Bank, because all too often these end with people being killed. The Palestinians, Abbas and Haniyeh together, must agree to stop all of the Qassams and all other attacks against Israel, including those done by all of the factions – not only Hamas and Fateh. In the past the Islamic Jihad refused to be part of the tahdiya because it was one-sided while Israel continued its military actions against the Jihad. Through a bilateral ceasefire it becomes possible to demand from the Palestinians leadership that they reach an internal understandings with all of the factions and forces and that they will fully enforce those understandings.
Egyptian involvement
It would be wise to involve Egypt in weaving the understandings between the Palestinians and Israel. The Egyptians have proven their ability to mediate between the Palestinians factions. Egyptian involvement could also assist in establishing a mechanism for transferring intelligence information from Israel to the Palestinians regarding real “ticking bombs” which would enable the Palestinians the ample time and opportunity to prevent the ticking bomb from exploding against Israelis. If the Palestinians fail to prevent the “ticking bomb” from leaving the Palestinian territories, Israel will be more than justified to take immediate action, even in violation of the bilateral ceasefire understandings.
This plan may force Israel to face a dilemma of reaching understandings with Hamas prior to Hamas recognizing Israel or meeting the international demands. It is clear that there cannot be a direct agreement between Israel and Hamas, and therefore; there is a need and another good reason for Egyptian involvement. Egypt can speak directly with Hamas and the other factions. Egypt can diplomatically finesse the reaching of indirect understandings between all of the Palestinian factions and Israel for a full ceasefire.
It has been proven that Israel does not have military tools to stop the qassams. Military incursions to Gaza that will only place Israeli soldiers at high risk of casualties will not help either. Not too long ago Israel was in complete control of all of Gaza with thousands of armed settlers and soldiers and attacks and qassams continued right under the nose of the IDF.
International monitoring
Under the current situation, it is clear that there is no guarantee that a bilateral ceasefire would actually work, but there is far too little to lose by trying it. It would be wise to reach a bilateral ceasefire for a period of six months that could be renewed for additional periods following. Because we are dealing with an agreed process and not a unilateral one, it would be advisable to request that the United States and Egypt function as a Ceasefire Monitoring Committee to which the parties can bring claims of violations and determinations of violations can be judged. Likewise, the Monitoring Committee could work to prevent spontaneous mutual violations of the ceasefire understandings that could far too easily lead to rapid escalation.
The generals and the right-wingers are likely to say that this proposal is surrender to terrorism and goes against Israel’s need to create military deterrence. They will say that the Palestinians are unable to enforce the understandings with the various factions. They will say that this plan endangers Israel and the security of its citizens. I have not yet heard even one proposal from these critics that would prevent bloodshed – of Palestinians and Israelis alike. Their use of force has not proven itself and their “decisive” suggestion is only to use more force. This will only bring more disasters upon us and upon the Palestinians. The time has come for us to engrave in the brains of the Palestinians that the State of Israel is capable of “changing disks” and to work is a more conciliatory way instead of always demonstrating our aptitude as warriors.
Dr. Gershon Baskin is the Co-CEO of IPCRI – the ;http://www.ipcri.org";;return true" onclick="if(event.shiftKey) {window.open(";http://www.ipcri.org";);return false} else {if (!is_ie5) {x=txt_link("externa l",";http://www.ipcri.org";,"width=800,height= 600,toolbar=1,scrollbars= yes,status=1,resizable=1, location=1,menubar=1,left =0,top=0")} else {this.target="_Blank" ;this.href=";http://www.ipcri.org";}}" onmouseout="window.status="";retur n" href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-326 3177,00.html#n#n"Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information
What's On
This week in Palestine….. Behind the news with Hanna Siniora
Israeli Shelling of Gaza
A serious tragedy took place in Gaza when seven members of a family last friday were killed by a tank shell fired on the Beit Lahia beach. Targeted killing a day earlier caused the killing of the secretary general of the Popular Resistance Committee Jamal Abu Samhadana who last April was appointed inspector-general at the Ministry of Interior and the commander of the executive force created by the Minister of Interior Said Siam.
This escalation led Hamas military wing Izzidine Al-Qassam to abruptly call off Al-Tahde’a which Hamas observed for the past 16 months, and fired 7 Qassams on Israeli areas next to the Gaza strip. Tensions are at the breaking point in Gaza, and the exchange of shelling and Qassams might escalate to a war of attrition with many victims.
Abbas Declares a Referendum
President Mahmoud Abbas at the end of the extension period to the national dialogue declared on Saturday the 10th of June in a press conference held in Al-Muqata’a the Presidential offices that on July 26 a national referendum will take place over the prisoners’ document. Abbas added that the internal dialogue will continue until the referendum deadline, if it succeeds, the referendum will be cancelled, if not it will take place as scheduled. After the announcement, Abbas left for Gaza, and had a meeting with PM Ismail Haniyeh, but both sides held to their convictions, with Haniyeh continuing to reject the referendum, at the same time declaring a new round of talks will take place with President Abbas.
After more than two weeks of national dialogue, the two major political blocs, Fateh and Hamas, are miles apart, and despite that both sides are in agreement that a continuous effort has to be exerted to avoid an open rift, the realities on the ground indicates that Fateh and Hamas might fail to arrive toward an understanding.
Already the friction internally had led to shootouts and kidnappings and if the political leadership is unable to reach an understanding, the internal disputes will lead to more shootings and a civil war. Abbas and Haniyeh are trying to avert such an outcome.
Olmert’s Declaration
Israeli PM Ehud Olmert commenting on the prisoners’ document and the referendum equivocally said that the prisoners document is unacceptable to the Israeli side and would not lead to bilateral negotiations. Dr. Azmi Bishara MK (member of Knesset from the Balad Party) accentuated to Palestinian friends that Olmert and the Israeli Cabinet are not ready to recognize Palestinian national rights even if Hamas accepts the three international conditions (recognize the state of Israel, dismantle the military infrastructure and accept previous agreements that the PLO and Israel ratified). Even a mandate for unilateral convergence, has no Israeli public banking, the latest poll indicates about 37% of the public supports such a development.
The policy of targeted killing, and the indiscriminate shelling of Gaza in retaliation to the firing of Qassams, has led to a break in the ceasefire that Hamas militants have observed, an escalation of violence that would lead to the estrangement of the Israeli public toward disengagement. PM Ismail Haniyeh publicly said that the Tahdi’a should be resumed, and he still insists that a long-term ceasefire should be negotiated between Israel and the PA. Under present circumstances a step that would lead to a ceasefire observed by both sides, is more urgent and important for the short term and will open the way for more ambitious steps in the future. Sanctions against dialogue with Hamas should be reconsidered.
Is it Possible to Break the Impasse?
In the Palestinian camp, the positions are clear: Hamas is not willing to accept to go the referendum way, at the same time, President Abbas has announced a date to hold the referendum. Those positions would lead to national suicide; both Hamas and Fateh would lead their followers to a civil war. Fateh and Abbas want to resume bilateral negotiations with Israel, under the road map process. Hamas is only willing to discuss a long-term ceasefire. The national dialogue should concentrate on the effort to reconcile these two positions. At this stage, the holding of the referendum will only had to civil war. The alternative is to mandate Mahmoud Abbas by all the Palestinian factions to negotiate with Israel and allow Hamas to negotiate a long term ceasefire. Such an internal understanding will pave the way for President Abbas, with the support of the Quartet, to put life in the road map process. If such a step would lead to a bilateral agreement, then Abbas can call a referendum on such an agreement.
If the dialogue, which has not stopped, would go in such a direction, neither the Presidency nor Hamas would lose face. Hamas leaders have said in the past that Mahmoud Abbas as head of the PLO is able to negotiate with Israel.
It is thus impossible to give Abbas a mandate by all the factions to attempt to negotiate. Hamas by being allowed to pursue a long-term ceasefire will not alienate its public, more than that, a cease fire observed by all the parties, can meet, to a certain extent, the first clause of the road map, the unification of the Palestinian security forces.
Fateh has to understand that it important to allow the internal democratic process to proceed. Hamas won a mandate to govern and only the people can take away the mandate. Fateh should lick its wounds and work to reform the movement. It is still one of two most important parties in Palestine, and if it can control the urge to govern now, it will have the chance in three years.
Hamas in the meantime will have to face the reality that Israel exists, that the international community supports Israel, and that to serve the Palestinian people it has to face the reality on the ground with courage. A dialogue with Hamas is the only course that would lead in this direction.
Civil society in Palestine and Israel should not be bystanders; the area will explode under the feet of the two peoples, and, only through doubling and tripling the efforts can we prevent the slide toward disaster. The international community, through their civil societies, can assist and help in advocating and supporting such a course.
Mr. Hanna Siniora is the Co-CEO of IPCRI – the Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information. http://www.ipcri.org" title="http://www.ipcri.org" target="_blank"http://www.ipcri.org
A Few Thoughts not Considered Before
Canine Wisdom
Who Is Behind the Keyboard:
Who Is Behind The Keyboard: Fantastic Author Unknown
Do you remember sitting in a chat room, watching people chat, or even chatting yourself? Do you remember receiving so many forwards that your mailbox was ready to explode? How about receiving an e-mail from someone just searching for a friend. Did you wonder who these people might be that are behind the keyboard?
Online we meet new people from all around the world. Some we chat with just once and then we go on. Others we chat with time and time again, and a friendship is made. Others become our e-mail buddies, and we look forward to their e-mails each day, but have you ever really wondered who was really behind the keyboard?
So often we meet a friend in chat we stay up all night chatting, sometimes we laugh so hard we cannot type, other times we cry and our keyboards are stained from tears. We chat about our lives and help solve each others' problems, we lend a shoulder if we can. Did you ever think to yourself, who is really behind that keyboard?
Did you ever chat with someone that promised you the world and that your friendship will be forever, and then they are gone? Do you forget about them and move on, or do you wonder "who was that person really, that was behind the keyboard?
Have you ever hid behind your keyboard, pretending to be something you are not, just to boost your ego? As you sat there and typed have you ever lied, thinking "who cares, the person behind the keyboard, it is only a fake person?" Did you ever hurt someone thinking "it's only a game"?
Well, behind each and every keyboard are very real people, some might be heartless cold people, not caring who they hurt, but then there are people that are caring, loyal, honest and all kinds of people hoping for some companionship online.
Behind the keyboard can be someone who is seriously depressed and their only hope is to make a friend, maybe an aging person who once had a family, but now they live too far apart to see one another, perhaps there is someone that cannot walk anymore or a person so ill they are in the house forever.
As we enter the world of the Internet we should remember, it is a very real world and behind each and every keyboard is a person who has a heart. No one has a life that is pain free, so as we go online whether in chat or just e-mailing, we must remember to treat each person the way the we want to be treated, to respect each others' feelings, and to offer friendship, because the truth is we really do not know who is behind the keyboard or what kind of hurt someone may be feeling. To be the best to others that you can be should be the "key" to a good, honest life.
Hugs -
Aurel's Very First Summer Camp
Aurel's Very First Summer Camp
Aurel Cocos aged just 4 years old was the youngest child who attended our Summer Camp in Romania last year. The camp was at a hill resort near a forest and monastery. There were 45 children aged 4- 16. They stayed in wooden cabins with 4 bes. gas heating, toilets and showers for each room.
This was Aurel's very first summer camp. He comes from a dysfunctional family. Last year, his mother was killed with an axe by his father. The greatest tragedy was that Aurel and his sister Maricica 6 saw the whole event. Their father was arrested and will spend 12 years in jail. Aurel has four siblings: Maricica 6, Costel 7, Vasile,10 and Ion 12. They live in a Placement Centre.
At camp the children were placed in age groups. Aurel was in the first group with Maricica and Costel. He spent 8 wonderful days full of sun., fresh air, games and happiness. The children learned many games, Bible verses, and Christian songs. One of their greatest joys was to sing Christian songs every evening at chapel.
Aurel was one of the most playful and spoiled children. As he was the smallest child everyone took care of him. The camp workers were impressed by his story and his innocence especially when he was talking about his parents. "My mother died because my father hit her with an axe". This memory will follow Aurel all his life because it is obvious that he is suffering. During the camp he lived in the same cabin as his brothers and they won the prize for the cleanest cabin in the camp. Aurel enjoyed the food, the fruits and the sweets at this camp but said his favourite meal was French Fries with barbecued chicken. He knew that "the person who eats, grows up faster? and without being greedy he ate everything he was given.
The teaching topic for the camp was "Feelings". The children learned about anger and self control, fear and faith, selfishness and generosity, pride and humility restlessness and contentment and about anxiety and patience. Every lesson linked the Bible to the children's lives. There was much fun, games and competitions for every lesson. Every day started wtih a prayer and morning exercise. Aurel enjoyed art and playing. He tried to be very quiet during lessons but preferredplaying with balloons and toys.
On the last day our MWB Romanian mission staff visited the camp with a special treat for the children. They performed a special puppet show . Aurel enjoyed this puppet show because he had never seen one before. He attached himself to Nuti Macavei out Bible Correspondence Course Co-ordinator and she spent a lot of time with him. Aurel is one of the hundreds of children who need much love and care in the supportive envirement of summer camp.
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