Israel Becoming Popular Source For TV Shows In US

Is this one more thing that can be blamed on the Jewish lobby?

From Newsweek:

Borrowing television formats isn't new; some of our most successful franchises—"American Idol," "Survivor," "The Office," to name three—started in Europe. But with two shows hitting TV this year and another two in development, it's Israel that is fast becoming Hollywood's cheat sheet. "B'Tipul," a drama about a therapist and his demanding clientele, was adapted into HBO's critically acclaimed series "In Treatment." Premiering this fall on CBS is "The Ex List," which was adapted from the Israeli series "Mythological X." "List" is a romantic comedy about a woman who learns from a psychic that she has already dated—and broken up with—her soulmate, and if she can't narrow him down from her lengthy roster of suitors, she'll spend life as a spinster. It's no wonder Israel is such a close friend of the United States. To judge from their television shows, the Israelis are just as neurotic as we are.

...Israeli shows still have to be tweaked to appeal to Americans. "Israel's stuff, understandably, has a lot of darkness to it," says Jonathan Levin, executive producer of "The Ex List." "It's wonderfully entertaining and funny, but theirs is a society with a lot of stress, and that does manifest itself in their entertainment, even in the comedies."

I guess there wouldn't be much of a market in the US for the kind of programming that Hamas is currently putting out.

Besides these 2 shows, there are more Israeli shows on the way:

Also forthcoming are adaptations of "Merhak Negia" ("A Touch Away"), a story of forbidden love between an Orthodox Jewish woman and a Russian immigrant, and "Loaded," an "Entourage"-like comedy about a quartet of dotcom millionaires. And as long as Israeli television shows combine high quality with low price tags, it doesn't take a psychic to predict that more television executives will be making pilgrimages to the Holy Land.

If they're interested, I have an idea for a show: "All In The Knesset"...

[Hat tip: Noah Pollak]

Technorati Tag: Israel.

Another Way To Target Hamas and Hizbullah (Updated)

By monetary if not by military means.

In Israel:

Israel cracks down on Hamas institutions

Israel has decided to increase its efforts to topple the Hamas civilian infrastructure in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and, on Monday, IDF troops stormed Nablus, shutting down a girls' school, a medical center and two other facilities of a Hamas-affiliated charity.

The operation came after Defense Minister Ehud Barak signed an order banning 36 charities - based across the globe - due to the alleged assistance they provide to Hamas's terror operations.

Officials said that the order signed by Barak was the most comprehensive directive issued in Israeli history in the war on terror financing and was a continuation of previous bans imposed on the Interpal Charity in England, the Al Aqsa Fund in Europe and the Holy Land Foundation in the United States as well as other funds and charities in Holland, Italy, Denmark, Sweden and France.

In New York:

NYC Lawsuit claims Lebanese banks helped enable Hezbollah to kill civilians

Dozens of Israeli victims of terrorist attacks in Israel have filed a lawsuit blaming some Lebanese banks for aiding Hezbollah and abetting its ability to kill civilians.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan on Thursday, seeks at least $100 million in damages on behalf of 57 victims. It notes that the Lebanese banks maintained relationships with various U.S. banks.

It said the Lebanese banks used those and other relationships to provide Hezbollah with "regular, systemic and unfettered access to U.S. currency," enabling it to buy missiles and other weapons to terrorize civilians.

...The lawsuit said a fundraising form of the organization asks donors whether they wish to fund specific items such as missiles or small arms.

In Canada:

Canadian Victims of Hizbollah Missile Attacks File Historic Civil Action Against Lebanese Canadian Bank

Canadian victims of Hizbollah terror attacks have filed an unprecedented civil action in the Quebec Superior Court (docket number 500-17-043962-086) against the Lebanese-Canadian Bank (LCB) in Montreal. The plaintiffs, all of whom were injured in Northern Israel in Katyusha rocket attacks, allege that LCB unlawfully provided financial services to the Hizbollah terrorist organization by allowing charity groups
affiliated with Hizbollah to transfer funds prior to and during the attacks on Israeli cities in 2006.

Putting terrorists on trial is not working so well either, but going after the money trail and where it leads may be more successful.

UPDATE: Media Backspin thinks this might work:

There's reason to be optimistic. In 2005, a US court fined the Jordanian-based Arab Bank $24 million for when it was caught paying "life insurance" to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers.

If it works, this might be the way to go.

Technorati Tag: Hamas and Hizbullah.

Tony Blair's Record Thus Far

Now that he is no longer Prime Minister, Tony Blair is now the Middle East's problem:

His job is to help prepare the Palestinians for statehood; since he has been in place, Palestinian per capita income has fallen, roadblocks and support for Hamas have increased.

No one said the job would be easy, but there is good reason to be pessimistic aside from Blair's failure thus far--as reported back in February:

Saudi Arabia's rulers threatened to make it easier for terrorists to attack London unless corruption investigations into their arms deals were halted, according to court documents revealed yesterday.

Previously secret files describe how investigators were told they faced "another 7/7" and the loss of "British lives on British streets" if they pressed on with their inquiries and the Saudis carried out their threat to cut off intelligence.

Prince Bandar, the head of the Saudi national security council, and son of the crown prince, was alleged in court to be the man behind the threats to hold back information about suicide bombers and terrorists. He faces accusations that he himself took more than £1bn in secret payments from the arms company BAE.

He was accused in yesterday's high court hearings of flying to London in December 2006 and uttering threats which made the prime minister, Tony Blair, force an end to the Serious Fraud Office investigation into bribery allegations involving Bandar and his family. [emphasis added]

The Middle East does not need a peace envoy who is that malleable.

[Hat Tip: Noah Pollak]

Technorati Tag: Tony Blair.

Iran Wants Israel To Release Kidnapped Iranians

Iran is incensed by what it calls illegal kidnappings. Go figure:

Iran called on the United Nations on Monday to help secure the release of four Iranians kidnapped in Lebanon more than quarter of a century ago, whom Tehran says are being held in Israel.

Key paragraph:

It urged Ban and the Security Council "to live up to their responsibilities under the UN charter without further delay by reacting to the illegal abduction and continued unlawful detention of Iranian diplomats and journalist by the Israeli regime, and by helping secure their safe and immediate release."

It's a fine line between irony and chutzpah.

Technorati Tag: Iran.

So Now There Are At Least Two Chassidic Police In The US--And One Of Them Is A Woman

From February 1997: "Wearing a badge and a beard":

Rockland County Police Academy in New York had never seen anything like it.
"A guy walks in with a bowler hat on, a beard, a coat coming down to his knees," says Sheriff James Kralik. "He looks like something out of 'Fiddler on the Roof.' "
It was Shlomo Koenig, now Deputy Shlomo Koenig, perhaps the only Hasidic police officer in the nation.

Not any more:

Ramapo gives new Orthodox Jewish cop the Sabbath days off pending review

...Glauber, an ultra-Orthodox Jew who married under the Hasidic beliefs, graduated last month from the Rockland Police Academy. She completed the six months of physical training and educational classes to become a police officer.

She asked for the Sabbath off.

For now, her request has been granted, although they are still looking into it, and expect her to come in on Shabbos should the situation call for it.

Technorati Tag: Jews.

The Difference Between Neturei Karta And Satmar

That is the title of a post by Life In Israel, describing how despite sharing the rejection of the modern Jewish state, there is a fundamental difference in their approach.

The difference was enough that it led Satmar to cancel a protest in England.

Check it out.

Technorati Tag: Israel.

Live Aliyah Webcast--Thursday, July 10

From an email:

Watch LIVE as your Friends and Family arrive on their Aliyah Flight!
LIVE ALIYAH WEBCAST: Watch your loved ones arrive in Israel to an
emotional Welcoming Ceremony!

Live from Israel…Nefesh B'Nefesh introduces our new worldwide summer
ceremony broadcast. Simply log on to watch your friends and family
land in Israel as new olim, and view the festive Welcoming Ceremony
where we celebrate their Aliyah together with hundreds of flag-waving
guests and dignitaries. Tune into www.nbn.org.il/2008arrival on July
10 for our first welcoming ceremony of 2008!

Technorati Tag: Israel and Aliyah.

When It Rains It Pours

From Israel Matzav:

A 43-year old Lebanese man has been freed from an Italian jail where has been held since 1985 for his role in the hijacking of the cruise ship Achille Lauro (pictured) and the murder of wheelchair-bound American Jew Leon Klinghoffer, who was shot and pushed into the sea off the Syrian coast. The Italian authorities have given Ibrahim Fatayer Abdelatif fifteen days to leave the country. His request for asylum was turned down. Abdelatif's lawyer says that the rejection of his asylum request will be appealed because Abdelatif has no place to go. He was born in a Lebanese 'refugee camp' and Lebanon refuses to take him back.

Read the whole thing.

Releasing terrorists seems to be becoming increasingly popular.

Odd about not being taken back by Lebanon--you don't hear about Lebanon refusing to allow Kuntar back into the country. Even if you say that the reason is that Hizbollah is calling the shots on that one--why would Hizbollah not push to allow Abdelatif back into the country.

You can never have too many heroes.

Technorati Tag: Ibrahim Fatayer Abdelatif and Achille Lauro Abdelatif and Leon+Klinghoffer.

Haveil Havalim #172: The Old Fogey Edition

It's been about a year and a half since I last hosted Haveil Havalim, and when I looked through the bloggers who sent in their posts, I noticed that there were a number of blogs I had not heard of before. Actually, it seems that alot of the blogs I am more familiar with don't seem to appear on HH anymore and as I looked through my blogroll, it seems that the reason is that they are not blogging anymore or just not regularly.

Be that as it may, alongside the whippersnappers who sent in their posts, I've added a heaping helping of "my crowd" as well.

For information about hosting, email Jack at talktojacknow-at-sbcglobal-dot-net.
You can submit your post to the next edition of haveil havalim using the carnival submission form.
Past posts and future hosts can be found at the blog carnival index page.
Listed at the Truth Laid Bear Ubercarnival.

Enjoy!

ANTI-SEMITISM

Avraham Rephael (aka Bar Kochba) presents Closer than you think posted at The Truth About Moshiach.

Sammy Benoit presents YID With LID: European Football a Hotbed of Anti-Semitism posted at YID With LID.

BLOGGING

Dan presents Tzipiyah.com - A little update posted at Tzipiyah.com, saying, "Reminding everywhere what Tzipiyah.com, a religious zionist blog, is all about and how we try sharing the relevant torah of Religious Zionism."

Jewish Blogmeister presents J Blogger Interviews: Dixie Yid posted at Jewish Blogmeister

Rabbi Neil Fleischmann presents 10 posted at NY's Funniest Rabbi about a new meme making the rounds--consider yourself tagged, if you like.

Jack presents Anonymous Blogging posted at Random thoughts (look out for his banana launcher!)

GoyisheRebbe presents Bad Timing: The Internet Fast posted at Shiloh Musings

CULTURE

The Babysitter presents "I Don't Care" --- The 'Perfect' Defense posted at The Babysitter Writes.

Schvach Yid presents Happy Anniversary posted at Schvach - פני דל.

Schvach Yid presents O' Revolution posted at Schvach - פני דל.

Yaldah Publishing presents Weird But Interesting in the Publishing Biz posted at Yaldah Publishing, saying, "Behind the scenes of Jewish publishing"

FACEBOOK

Jacob presents My Hebrew Name on Facebook passes 100,000 installations posted at Good News from Israel. It allows you to display your Hebrew name on your Facebook account.

FINANCES

Michael presents The SKAAFTJ Israeli 10 - The 10 Most Valuable/Promising Israeli Internet Companies posted at Six Kids and a Full Time Job

SephardiLady presents Life Insurance and the Kollel Family posted at Orthonomics about a new life insurance program for the yungerleit of the Lakewood Yeshiva


HISTORY

Sammy Benoit presents Germany's Release of Terrorists in December 1924 posted at YID With LID.

Rick presents Two Nakbas in One posted at Jewish Current Issues

HUMOR

Heshy presents When people don?t lock the bathroom door posted at Frum Satire.

Heshy presents The shidduch crisis is getting so bad? posted at Frum Satire.

Heshy presents No I don?t know you, but you invited me on Facebook posted at Frum Satire.

Yaakov presents OU Initiates Literary Kosher Certification posted at Beyond BT

SnoopyTheGoon presents On possible asparagus evolution posted on SimplyJews

Jameel presents Duping the Mossad posted on The Muqata

Heshy presents Just got this Shidduch Resume via email posted at Frum Satire.


ISRAEL

Ben-Yehudah presents Mehadrin Buses posted at Esser Agaroth.

ari kinsberg presents Israeli Musicians Sing and Rap for the MIAs posted at Ari's Blog.

Ben-Yehudah presents Missionaries in Sderot-What do they expect posted at The Key to Redemption.

Ben-Yehudah presents Another Bloody Rosh Chodesh posted at TOMER DEVORAH.

Avodah Ivrit presents Palestinian Truck Seen Leaving Eli posted at Avodah Ivrit עבודה עברית.

Harry presents A city of many neighborhoods posted at Jerusalemite blog.

Mordechai Torczyner presents The Increasing Irrelevance of the American Jewish Community posted at Rechovot: A Place to Expand.

Avraham Rephael (aka Bar Kochba) presents Murder in the Jerusalem posted at For Zion's Sake.

Sammy Benoit presents YID With LID: PA Says Baby Killer is a HERO posted at YID With LID.

Sammy Benoit presents YID With LID: Abbas Orders Troops To Disrupt Hamas/Israel "Cease-Fire" posted at YID With LID.

Sammy Benoit presents BBC's First Report Was "Israel bulldozer driver shot dead". posted at YID With LID.

Eric Rosenberg presents Labor, Kadima Afraid To Lose to Bibi posted at The Israel Situation, saying, "A discussion on why Kadima will not oust corrupt Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, which can be summarized in one word: Bibi."

Adloyada presents Telegraph romanticizes Jerusalem's rapist terrorist on how terrorist's murder spree is being ascribed to a broken heart.

Media Backspin presents 'Catastrophe' For Google Earth Users on how preference is given to Palestinian activists over pro-Israel users.

Anne presents Where's the Israeli Defense Minister?, which includes information about a new project by The National Council of Young Israel regarding Sderot--in Boker Tov, Boulder.

Cosmic-X presents Terror Victim Jan Relevy about a profile of one of the victims of the terrorist attack in Jerusalem this week.

Elder of Ziyon presents PalArabs: Keep away from our keffiyehs!

Vic presents My worst nightmares are their reality posted on FresnoZionism.org about the Kuntar deal.

Omar presents Iran and the Coming War posted on IRAQ THE MODEL, presenting the viewpoint of an Iraqi Arab.

Barak presents Winograd Member Savages Olmert posted on IRIS Blog.

Carl presents Shimon Peres: 'No chance of peace with Palestinians' posted on Israel Matzav

Judy presents My Jerusalem Bus Line posted on Jerusalem Diaries:In Tense Times about #13 Egged bus--the one she rides, and the one attacked by the terrorist in Jerusalem this past week.

JoeSettler presents Poor Driving and Gas Guzzling posted at JoeSettler about how to get Israeli drivers to drive more safely (but there's a catch)

Jeffrey presents A Remarkable Department posted at My Obiter Dicta about the uniqueness of the Bar Ilan Talmud Department despite the disadvantages it faces.

Smooth presents Iraelis Contributed to Daring Colombian Hostage Rescue posted at Smooth Stone

Soccer Dad presents Sneaking peace about a new bill that might keep Olmert's largess in check.

Sultan Knish presents There Can be No Peace with Terrorism

Yoni presents Knesset Bans Membership for Visitors to Enemy Countries posted at Yoni the Blogger (something about blind squirrels...)

Meryl presents The utter denial of the Arab mind posted at Yourish.com

Dan presents Rav Kook's answer to the Zohan posted at Tzipiyah.com, saying, "Why is Secular Zionism losing it's idealism? What does it mean to our process of redemption?"

Yitzchak Goodman presents More on the Jewish Refugees . . . er . . . um . . . Immigrants to the Zionist entity posted at Judeopundit.

JEWISH MUSIC

A Jewish Music Insider presents Shloimy Tosig: Exclusive! posted at A Jewish Music Insider.

Elie presents Musical Monday #50 on Elie's Expositions. No, it isn't really about Jewish music, but it is relevant to this past week.

Yitz presents A Great Threesome! posted at Heichal HaNegina, featuring a video of a Shlomo Carlebach dance niggun.

Psycho Toddler presents Ain't No Cure for the Summerfest Blues with video of his band's gig at Summerfest.

JUDAISM

Gil presents July Fourth posted at Hirhurim - Musings about the Jewish view towards celebrating the 4th of July.

Rachel Barenblat presents A morning at the Leader Minyan posted at Velveteen Rabbi, saying, "The chronicle of a morning at the famed Leader Minyan in Jerusalem."

Schvach Yid presents What We Have Here Is A Failure To Communicate posted at Schvach - פני דל.

Child Ish Behavior presents The Davening Firefly posted at Not Just Typical, saying, "What happens when a firefly comes for Marriv."

Pillage Idiot presents The use and misuse of Tikkun Olam posted at Pillage Idiot

A Simple Jew presents "I Want To Go Outside!" posted at A Simple Jew.

Mordechai Torczyner presents I'm sending my children to Jewish Hogwarts posted at Rechovot: A Place to Expand.

Chaim presents The "Take 1 On" Mitzvah Campaign. posted at Chaim Rubin.

Rivster presents Ethical Quandry posted at Frume Sarah's World, saying, "What happens when one's belief in a principle is challenged?"

Avrohom Adler presents CAN’T BE ANSWERED IN MIDDLE OF THE PRAYER posted at Daf notes, saying, "Thank you so much"

Dixie Yid presents Achieving a Harmonious Shabbos Table - Part 6 - Guest Post

Harry presents Belief and Science posted at EmesVe-Emunah.

Dan presents The All-Spiritual Afterlife, the Torah, and Me. Part Three posted at Tzipiyah.com, saying, "The World to Come (Olam Haba), the Afterlife, according to Judaism - Part Three"

Ezzie presents Curious Evolution posted at SerandEz -- do frum Jews really care?

Jamie presents The Bible and Conservatism posted at The American Thinker.

KASHRUT

Cynthia Samuels presents WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN'T EAT IN MY HOUSE? posted at Cynthia Samuels, saying, "It's tough to tell a friend you can't eat in their house - at least on the family china."

Rafi G presents Short stay on Death Row for Billiam the Turkey posted on Life in Israel

muse presents KCC Updates posted at me-ander, saying, "Important jblog news!"

PERSONAL

Soccer Dad recommends Krav Maga posted at Dr. Helen.(Dr. Helen is the wife of )

Kosher Cocktails presents New York New York posted at Kosher Cocktails, saying, "This is a blog for all those who want to try something new or are hosting a party/sheva bracha and want ideas or just want some good old fun."

Soccer Dad recommends Blogging Hiatus Update posted at It's Almost Supernatural. [Mazel Tov!]

Robert J. Avrech presents Ariel and Daf Yomi posted at Seraphic Secret.

Aliyah Step-by-Step has bought a condo! (for her cats)

David presents Yonah 2.0 posted on treppenwitz

West Bank Mama presents Summer Vacation is Just Starting, But the “Search” Is Already Looming

Mottel presents Let's Do Coffee Sometime posted at Letters of Thought.

Mottel presents Sitting in My Brooklyn Garden posted at Letters of Thought, a poem

Lazer presents Angel from Alabama posted at Lazer Beams about a non-Jewish woman donating a kidney to a Lubavitcher Chassid.

POLITICS

Soccer Dad recommends Israeli Prisoner Exchange posted at the Dry Bones Blog.

David presents Thousands Use Facebook to Celebrate Today's Terrorist Attack posted at The Jewish Internet Defense Force.

Jill Miller Zimon presents Josh Mandel faces ?tough odds?? Needs $400,000 to win 17th? Who knew. posted at Writes Like She Talks, saying, "There are few Jews in Ohio's legislature, but the one from my district is not someone I'm feeling very good about right now."

Joe presents Sudanese Find Refuge In Israel posted at The Israel Situation, saying, "An article about Sudanese refugees finding sanctuary in Israel."

LEL presents Why Jews Should Vote For McCain posted at Fiery Spirited Zionist.

Aussie Dave presents Gotta Love the Gillerman posted at Israellycool

Freedom Fighter presents Separate But Equal Terrorists posted on J O S H U A P U N D I T about Mandela and friends.

Space Ramblings presents The 2008 Presidential Election in Battlestar Galactica terms

Avi presents British judges help terrorists go free posted on Tel-Chai Nation

Don presents Have American Jews Been Duped? posted on Writing The Wrongs about whether
American support weakens Israeli resolve

Pamela presents Schoolboys punished for refusing to pray to Allah in schools at Atlas Shrugs.

TORAH

Dan presents The All-Spiritual Afterlife, the Torah, and Me. (Olam Haba in Judaism) Part Two posted at Tzipiyah.com, saying, "Part 2 of a great series about the afterlife, why we are so intrigued by it, and why it isn't even mentioned once in the Torah!"

ari kinsberg presents Pesach vs. Pasach (and other leining miscellany) posted at Ari's Blog.

Uriah presents Facing the giant posted at Kumah about what can be applied today from this week's Parsha.

Rafi G presents Chukas: resting on your laurels posted at Torah Thoughts

Technorati Tags: Blog carnivals, haveil havalim, Israel, Judaism.

In A Word, Ban Ki-Moon, It's A Hudna

News flash from The UN News Centre:

PRESENCE OF ARMED GROUPS THREATENS SOUTHERN LEBANON’S STABILITY – UN

Sure, that's the headline, but according to the text--this is just an occasion to pat the UN on the back:

Southern Lebanon has witnessed the longest period of relative stability in many years as the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hizbollah following their 2006 war continues to hold, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has stated, while voicing concern about the presence of armed groups and record levels of Israeli overflights in the area.

Apparently it does not occur to the UN that Hizbollah prefers not to allow anti-Israel violence to interfere with the re-armament that it is doing under the noses of the UN peacekeepers, not to mention the Hizbollah-inspired in other parts of Lebanon, as detailed by Michael Totten here and here.

Southern Lebanon has all of the "relative stability" of a bridge ready to collapse.

Technorati Tag: Lebanon.