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Dateline Jerusalem — The supermarkets are unusual. The major chain is Super Sol.
Besides a great variety of fresh and frozen foods, and delicatessan counter, it also sells clothing, dvd players, ovens, refrigerators, flat screen tv’s, washer/dryers, computers, small appliances, microwaves, patio furniture, and specialty sale items that could be anything.
It is great for one stop shopping. It is kind of like having a Costco every couple of miles but without having to buy in great quantities.
If you go to a mall or large market, there is a security guard that checks your car trunk before you can get into the parking lot.
Different Reactions
Then before you can enter the mall or market, another security guard opens your purse and also scans everyone with a metal detector. I find I am not offended by these procedures in Israel even though I tend to complain about them in the States.
Here it is part of daily life, while in the U.S. it is a result of 911.
I met someone on Shabbat who works in the security field and travels the world advising other countries on transportation security measures.
He indicated that although many countries are taught techniques by Israel, they do not implement the security measures because they feel that they are safe from terrorism and therefore it is not necessary.
Is that naive or what?
Here both boys and girls are required to join the army, though some choose air force or navy. Most do this immediately after graduating high school and attend college afterwards.
Sadly, people say that almost every family has lost a least one relative in one of the many wars the Israelis have been forced to fight to defend their tiny nation in the less than 60 years it has been in existence.
This does not include those who have lost their lives due to terrorists, suicide bombers, and daily rocket bombardment. When we read about cease fires in U.S. newspapers and hear about it on tv news, the "cease fire" is a political one, on paper only.
For example, one of my friends who lives in an area near Jerusalem has bullet proof windows on his car. The papers and news here in Israel tell of the several terror attacks that are prevented on a daily basis, and of the daily rockets being fired on Israeli cities from Gaza.
In fact, the same day that the Jewish families in Gaza were forced to leave their homes due to the Disengagement, Israeli cities were hit with rockets.
What Sense Does This Make?
Now these same terrorists are being released to show Israel's good faith in making peace with the Palestinians.
It is totally a unilateral gesture on the part of Israel. "Land for peace" does not work, and releasing hundreds of terrorists in exchange for 1 captured person only tells the terrorists to keep capturing soldiers and kidnapping civilians.
But who am I ,just an outsider looking in, with an opinion on everything! LOL. But, at least I don't claim that my opinions are the only correct ones.
Unfortunately, I have come across some people who believe that they are right 100 per cent of the time. What happens when two or more 100 per centers disagree? A balagan (mess).
L'hitraot, Shachar
Shachar is the Hebrew name of a California-based attorney and former Los Angeles County deputy sheriff, who recently moved to Israel.
