A Turbulent Week In Israel Ignored By The World Once Again

As always, when Israel is attacked, nobody mentions it, because media all over the world create the image of "opressed Palestine" and "brutal Israel". So this is what’s going on:

On 01.08 (Sunday), a rocket fired by Hamas from Northern Gaza hit a hydrotherapy centre for disabled children outside Sderot, in southern Israel. Noone was injured, but the bulding is completely destroyed.

On 02.08 (Monday), a salvo of rockets fired from Sinai hit Eilat, in southern Israel and Aqaba, in southern Jordan - one person died and four were injured. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "We investigated both incidents and proved beyond a doubt that a cell of Hamas's military wing in Gaza, launched the rockets in both cases." The information was confirmed by Egyptian security officials. Hamas denies involvement in Eilat.

On 03.09 (Tuesday), three Lebanese soldiers, one Israeli officer and a Lebanese journalist were killed when the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) came under fire from Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). IDF soldiers were working to cut down a tree when shots were fired in their direction. Lebanese troops opened fire, as they thought that the IDF crossed the border (both sides claimed that it’s their territory). The UN said today that Israeli soldiers were operating on the Israeli side of the border.

You didn’t see it on the front page, did you? But if Israel responses, the usual will start – anti-Israeli protests, comments and temporary love for Palestine…

Israel - Heaven For Vegetarians

Israel is a perfect place for vegetarians. Kosher laws help people who don’t eat meat – diary and meat products can’t be stored in the same place or eaten at the same time. Real kosher restaurants are separated into dairy and meat restaurants, so the choice is easy. There are also a lot of strictly vegetarian places in Israel. People who don't eat meat, but want to enjoy a good meal and spend little money, don’t need to dine in restaurants. Israeli cuisine has many delicious, vegetarian dishes to offer and most of them can be found on every corner. For those who aren't familiar with Middle Eastern cuisine:

PITA AND HUMMUS

Pita is a round pocket bread, which can be eaten with many dips, but the most popular choice in Israel is hummus. It's a dip made of chickpeas, blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic. It's good starter choice.

BABAGHANOUSH

Babaghanoush is a dip that can be served with pita as well. It's made from mashed eggplant mixed with various seasonings and tahini.

BAGEL

Bagels are donut-shaped pieces of bread. They are traditionally served with cream cheese and smoked salmon or other fish, but in every bagel restaurant in Israel you can choose from plenty of things. I tried different vegetarian bagels in Israel and the one that I liked the most was a whole-wheat bagel with cream cheese, rucola, lettuce and grilled eggplant.

SHAKSHUKA

Shakshuka is a good breakfast choice. This dish consists of fried eggs cooked in a sauce of tomatoes, onions and different spices. In most restaurants in Israel it comes with bread.

FALAFEL

Falafel is a vegetarian kebab. Falafel balls are made of beans or chickpeas. They are served in a pita and topped with a salad, pickles, hummus or other dip. A good dinner choice when you don’t have much time – you can grab it in any place that serves kebab.

EGGPLANT SALAD

Eggplant is definitely one of the most popular vegetables in Israel. Therefore there are plenty of eggplant-based dishes. This salad is usually a little spicy and consists of couscous, dried tomatoes and sometimes other grilled summer vegetables apart from eggplant. Perfect for those hot days when you’re not very hungry.

Israeli Food Recipies

http://jewishrecipes.org/

Vegetarian Kosher Food Recipies

http://www.jewishveg.com/recipes.html

Best Hummus Recipe

http://humus101.com/EN/2006/10/14/hummus-recipe/

Vegetarian Restaurants in Tel Aviv

http://www.happycow.net/asia/israel/tel_aviv/

4 Random Things About Israel. In a Random Order.

UNO: I know it perfectly as a Pole living in Britian, that the word "immigrant" has negative connotations. In Israel the term "OLEH HADASH" is used to describe immigrants to the country. The word "oleh" comes from "aliyah" which means "going up" and therefore carries many positive connotations with it. On the other hand, the word "YERIDA", which is used to describe emmigrants, means "going down". Those Jews, amazing word choice.

DOS: Jewish men are very good looking - that's what everyone knows. The thing I noticed is that they all have great bodies as well (young men. YOUNG men.) "Is it the mandatory army service" I thought to myself. Maybe it is, but while doing my research I found a girl who might know best! Hilarious: "Why are Israeli men so good looking? Is it the military training or their diet of falafel and hummus? Is it the fact that they do army training that keeps them nice and trim? I have been wondering if it is what they eat, all the falafel, the schwarma, the hummus, the tehina and chickpeas. Is that responsible for their good looks?"

TRES: Very few Israeli women wear shorts. I see plenty of girls in jeans and I thought that I am a hero surviving the heat in shorts. I don't believe that you can get "used to the heat" - people in Middle Eastern countries have been looking for ways to hide from the heat for ages now, nowadays obviously the answer is the air conditioning, but I hear people complaining about the heat a lot. If Israeli girls don't feel like showing their legs, fine, but why sweat it out in denim? Not very hygenic...

CUATRO: I went to the supermarket to buy Coca-Cola. I payed 5 NIS for a 0,33 l can. The day after that I bought a 1,5 l Pepsi for 5,5 NIS. In the same supermarket. I love you Israel, but you confuse me OH so much sometimes.

Random.