The exchange deal worked out between Israel and Hizbullah this weekend which will see some 430 terrorists released in return for one live Israeli and three presumably dead IDF soldiers has provided Hizbullah with a major public relations victory and split Israeli public opinion over the rectitude of the unbalanced exchange. Given that Israel was unwilling to take military action to free the prisoners and hostage, we still believe (as we did several months ago - see "A Hizbullah Victory," Archives, November 10, 2003) that it was the least bad decision the government could make, and we are not happy about it.

Tonight there was supposed to be a mass rally in Tel Aviv in support of the Geneva Understandings brokered by Israel's hard line Left opposition. Due to bad weather the demonstration was cancelled but that does not stop one from considering the peace initiative once again.

Crime is infiltrating the halls of power in Israel, more than anyone previously thought. Not only are several parliamentarians under investigation for financial irregularities and double voting in the Knesset but Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is suspected of having taken bribes by businessman and Likud financial powerhouse David Appel. Already last year Sharon's sons Omri and Gilad faced police investigation for their part in obtaining illegal funding for their father's 1999 campaign for the Likud party leadership.

Israel is under pressure to halt construction of the security-separation fence that runs along the 1967 border and just east of it. The Arabs and especially the Palestinians have always objected to the barrier, and not only because much of it runs across the border into the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) but, because where it exits terror attacks have decreased greatly. (Even if EC claims "we" are against the fence, this writer sees it as a necessary part of an integrated pre-emptive defense and not just as a static line.) Turning to the International Court in The Hague, the Arab/Moslem world and their allies are hoping for a condemnation of the fence and economic sanctions as punishment, should Israel not tear it down.

Upon hearing the news this morning, the artist and sculptor Alfred Nossig came to mind, as did an antisemitic poem from the late 1960s.

Yesterday in Stockholm, an artistic presentation by ex-patriot Israeli artist and musician, Dror Feiler, was damaged by Zvi Mazel, the Israeli Ambassador to Sweden. Freiler's artwork compared Hanadi Jaradat, the female suicide-homicide bomber who killed 22 Israelis at Haifa's Maxim Restaurant in October, to Snow White. Mazel was enraged, turned off the lights and knocked one of the lamps into the water surrounding the exhibit. He is in for a reprimand by the Swedish foreign ministry.

Two weeks ago the Israeli press revealed that secret contacts were taking place between Libya and the Sharon government in an effort to establish diplomatic relations between Jerusalem and the Benghazi regime. Libya was known for its extremely radical anti-Israel and anti-American policies for over 30 years. Now there was a chance for a breakthrough, provided the discussions were kept secret. Muammar Ghaddafi was known for his support of terrorism (including the downing of the Pan American "Lockerbie" flight over Scotland), his support of Islamic fundamentalist groups and his opposition to the moderate Arab regimes, especially Egypt. He had particularly detested Anwar Sadat and the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt.

"Women and children first!" was the traditional cry when passengers on a stricken vessel were ordered to go to their lifeboat stations. Even in an emergency in which all were equally threatened and in which men were no better able to protect themselves, women and children were viewed as deserving greater protection.

Rim Salah A-Rish is the first female suicide bomber in the ranks of the Hamas. Ahmed Yasin, the wheelchair bound Hamas leader sees the suicide-homicide bombing by A-Rish at the joint Israeli-Palestinian Erez industrial zone and check post (for workers going into Israel) as a new stage in the battle against Israel. Although there are plenty of male suicide bombers available, Yasin believes the attack, which left four Israeli soldiers and police dead, will catalyze the Hamas activists into further attacks against Israel. It is also reported by Israel’s Channel 2 TV that he personally gave the orders for the attack.

Western leaders tend to assess the intent behind actions at face value. While not simplistic in their approach, and certainly understanding that there may be ulterior motives behind actions and gestures, the Western thinker analyzes a situation in a rather linear fashion.

Syrian President Bashar Asad has just completed a "successful" trip to Turkey. The two countries have been at odds over border issues for years, especially in the Alexandretta area (ancient Antioch), which Damascus claims for itself but which became part of Turkey in the late 1930’s when the French still held the Syrian Mandate. Traditional Syrian support for terrorism, the sharing of the Euphrates waters and the joint interest in preventing the establishment of a Kurdish state were also on the agenda. Border disagreements were not raised and Asad made sounds of conciliation concerning the terror issue. Positive moves were made over water.