Where are our thoughts ?
My inbox is being flooded daily with articles from all over the world on the pro’s and cons of the up-coming Annapolis conference. I have found myself wondering if this is not just another smoke screen being used by the powers that be, to cover up the real issues of importance in Israel.
This past week we experienced 3 minor earthquakes and the last one struck in an area that usually escapes even the slightest tremors. Of course those who are anti- conference use these signs as a warning to those who are promoting dividing up the land as God’s hand of judgment towards them. On the other side we hear it said that the earthquakes are a sign from God, saying “If you are too stubborn to divide the land, then I will”
Earth quaking events have been taking place in Israel even before the recent natural quakes were felt. For the past 42 days High school teachers throughout Israel have been on strike demanding serious reformation in the education system and an increase in salaries and work conditions. The average class room in Israel has 40 students and the average teacher’s salary is $1,500 a month. The education budget has been slashed by millions of dollars over the past 6 years in order to shore up shortages in the defense budget. Until now, the Prime Minister has refused to meet with the representatives of the teachers Union, despite numerous requests. He ignored a signed request by 64 members of the Israeli parliament, to intervene personally and keeps telling the teachers to return to work and then he will talk to them about reforms and pay increases. His words have fallen on deaf ears, as years of neglect and false promises have turned dedicated teachers into disillusioned and angry people.
Nearly 600,000 high school students are suffering together with their parents and teachers. They are enraged by the snub given education over snuggling up to known enemies of Israel. Olmert has used the flurry of diplomatic activity building up to Annapolis as his crutch and excuse in avoiding dealing with the severity of the education issue at home. One parent asked “Why is the school strike that is affecting hundreds of thousands of Israeli’s not being given its true priority on the political agenda of Israel’s Government?” A teacher from Jerusalem, Amiad Meltzer, said “if the prime minister had taught Israel’s management and business leadership how to solve a crisis, the lesson would have been on how to identify a crisis, and education is in deep crisis today”
After living over 30 years in Israel I have seen Prime Ministers and their Governments fall over and over again, mainly due to their arrogance, egocentric attitudes and their blindness to burning issues at home. They seem to have learned nothing from the past and continue to make the same mistakes, assuming that they know better. Abraham Lincoln’s words ring true “You may deceive all the people part of the time, and part of the people all the time, but not all the people all the time”
Olmert and his advisors may be able to fool themselves in thinking they are making progress in winning over the confidence of the Palestinian leadership, but the man in the street only sees a King with no clothes. The Palestinians have a proven track record of failure in keeping their word or written agreements and yet Olmert recently rewarded them with prisoner releases, armored vehicles, weapons and millions of bullets. The true backbone of Israel, the educators, who instill Zionist and moral values into our young people and who urge them to fulfill their duty by serving their country, are not being given the time of day by Olmert. The burning issue in Israel is education, or rather lack of it. If Olmert does not wake up from his self induced trance he may find he has on one to lead and he will hear them shouting ‘’look the king has no clothes”!
Meanwhile I am joining the protest, I will not remain silent. I encourage every teacher I meet, I honk my car horn as a show of support to the protestors, daily lining Jerusalem’s streets. I give them a thumbs up and a big smile and they eagerly respond by holding up their placards and blowing their whistles.
This past week we experienced 3 minor earthquakes and the last one struck in an area that usually escapes even the slightest tremors. Of course those who are anti- conference use these signs as a warning to those who are promoting dividing up the land as God’s hand of judgment towards them. On the other side we hear it said that the earthquakes are a sign from God, saying “If you are too stubborn to divide the land, then I will”
Earth quaking events have been taking place in Israel even before the recent natural quakes were felt. For the past 42 days High school teachers throughout Israel have been on strike demanding serious reformation in the education system and an increase in salaries and work conditions. The average class room in Israel has 40 students and the average teacher’s salary is $1,500 a month. The education budget has been slashed by millions of dollars over the past 6 years in order to shore up shortages in the defense budget. Until now, the Prime Minister has refused to meet with the representatives of the teachers Union, despite numerous requests. He ignored a signed request by 64 members of the Israeli parliament, to intervene personally and keeps telling the teachers to return to work and then he will talk to them about reforms and pay increases. His words have fallen on deaf ears, as years of neglect and false promises have turned dedicated teachers into disillusioned and angry people.
Nearly 600,000 high school students are suffering together with their parents and teachers. They are enraged by the snub given education over snuggling up to known enemies of Israel. Olmert has used the flurry of diplomatic activity building up to Annapolis as his crutch and excuse in avoiding dealing with the severity of the education issue at home. One parent asked “Why is the school strike that is affecting hundreds of thousands of Israeli’s not being given its true priority on the political agenda of Israel’s Government?” A teacher from Jerusalem, Amiad Meltzer, said “if the prime minister had taught Israel’s management and business leadership how to solve a crisis, the lesson would have been on how to identify a crisis, and education is in deep crisis today”
After living over 30 years in Israel I have seen Prime Ministers and their Governments fall over and over again, mainly due to their arrogance, egocentric attitudes and their blindness to burning issues at home. They seem to have learned nothing from the past and continue to make the same mistakes, assuming that they know better. Abraham Lincoln’s words ring true “You may deceive all the people part of the time, and part of the people all the time, but not all the people all the time”
Olmert and his advisors may be able to fool themselves in thinking they are making progress in winning over the confidence of the Palestinian leadership, but the man in the street only sees a King with no clothes. The Palestinians have a proven track record of failure in keeping their word or written agreements and yet Olmert recently rewarded them with prisoner releases, armored vehicles, weapons and millions of bullets. The true backbone of Israel, the educators, who instill Zionist and moral values into our young people and who urge them to fulfill their duty by serving their country, are not being given the time of day by Olmert. The burning issue in Israel is education, or rather lack of it. If Olmert does not wake up from his self induced trance he may find he has on one to lead and he will hear them shouting ‘’look the king has no clothes”!
Meanwhile I am joining the protest, I will not remain silent. I encourage every teacher I meet, I honk my car horn as a show of support to the protestors, daily lining Jerusalem’s streets. I give them a thumbs up and a big smile and they eagerly respond by holding up their placards and blowing their whistles.
posted by Christine | 3:22 AM
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