Sunday July 12, 2009, 7:07 pm
Are their any muftis/Imams/Ayatollahs fasting for citizen of Sderot living under falling Hamas rockets? If religious leaders on BOTH sides will learn to recognize each other pains, we may see an excellent beginning leading to truce!

Monday July 13, 2009, 4:19 pm
3quarksdaily: The Israeli thought-police is here

The Foreign Ministry unveiled a new plan this week: Paying talkbackers to post pro-Israel responses on websites worldwide. A total of NIS 600,000 (roughly $150,000) will be earmarked to the establishment of an “Internet warfare” squad.

The Foreign Ministry intends to hire young people who speak at least one language and who study communication, political science, or law – or alternately, Israelis with military experience gained at units dealing with information analysis.

Beyond the fact that these job requirements reveal a basic lack of understanding in respect to the dynamics of the online discourse – the project’s manager argued that “adults don’t know how to blog” – they are not too relevant either. An effective talkbacker does not need a law degree or military experience. He merely needs to care about the subject he writes about.

The sad truth is that had Israeli citizens believed that their State is doing the right thing, they would have made sure to explain it out of their own accord. Without being paid.

Foreign Ministry officials are fighting what they see as a terrible and scary monster: the Palestinian public relations monster. Yet nothing can be done to defeat it, regardless of how many foolish inventions will be introduced and how many bright communication students will be hired.

The reason is that good PR cannot make the reality in the occupied territories prettier. Children are being killed, homes are being bombed, and families are starved.

More here.

Tuesday July 14, 2009, 6:36 am
Blue, you forgot to anwer my question:

Are their any muftis/Imams/Ayatollahs fasting for citizen of Sderot living under falling Hamas rockets? If religious leaders on BOTH sides will learn to recognize each other pains, we may see an excellent beginning leading to truce!