media vs. reality

It’s been quite a while since I’ve updated this blog - due to the semester break and subsequent inertia - and as most readers are probably aware, the political scene in Israel has changed pretty dramatically in the meantime. Ariel Sharon remains hospitalized; Ehud Olmert has become acting Prime Minister and is favored in next month’s elections; and Hamas won the Palestinian elections to the surprise of the Americans and Europeans (if not so much to the Israelis).

Despite the media bonanza, life in Israel doesn’t actually seem different now as compared to a couple months ago. It’s surprisingly easy to forget sometimes that Israel is in the Middle East. Israel may seem like a frightening place to Americans who only see news clips or read front covers, but I think the media presents a pretty distorted image of life here. I don’t mean to minimize the threats that Israel faces from some of its neighbors; I just hope people abroad realize that life here is far more “normal” than they might imagine.