Lisa,
Be careful, be safe. Can't wait to see your report.
Keith

Dear Lisa,

it was just yesterday when I discovered your blog and I like the way you describe "haMatzav" very much. I have been to Israel three times and actually I was planning to come over from Germany with two friends on next Wednesday for some weeks. So you see that I am a little bit used to the "normal" situation in Israel but now I am really worried. Perhaps you could help me to get a more realistic impression of what is going on as the media does provide the same information all over again.

Thanks in advance and the best wishes from Germany,

Anna

I can't wait to see the report either! Thats my hometown & am anxious my daughter is supposed to go there at the end of the month, am definitly worried! The news is on in my house all the time.

Hi Lisa,
good luck and try to stay safe.
Will be waiting for the updates and photos.

A.T.

hi Lisa
Just got a quesion on a different topic. I really enjoy reading your blog, and I find you have a good perspective on most events. I see you link to a-mother-in-gaza or raising youssuf. When you have the time and if there is an interesting reason, could you maybe explain why? I first visited her blog after reading yours, but I find I can't really read it without my blood pressure going sky high. It is full of bias, sometimes outright lies as in her current post when she talks about the Palestinians who died on the Egyptian side today and why, and she censors her comments - if you're a yes man you are allowed to comment, if you remotely support Israel or don't support the Palestinians, you are not.

Do you think a link conveys some sort of rubber stamp - I.e. do you have some sort of linking policy or do you try to include an all round picture including the nutters?

Be careful when you are up north!
Katherine

Hi Katherine,

Interesting question, about my blogroll. I guess blogroll policies vary from person to person. For me, inclusion is deifnitely not a rubber stamp. Basically, I link to blogs that pique my interest, even if I disagree with most of the content - as long as the blogger does not link to hate sites or espouse racist views.

Laila and I disagree profoundly about a lot - probably most - issues related to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, but I respect her as an individual and I think she writes well. When she was in Gaza, she often provided an interesting window into reality on the ground. I really cannot stand most of her commenters because they tend to be reactionaries and extremists from both sides. They tend to be uncivil and hectoring, which I hate. Also, I am tired of the rehashing of history. I prefer to deal with what is, then what was. So I'll leave that unending argument alone. ;)

I agree with you, Katherine. It is nothing but a propoganda site, without any interesting personal insights. I peeked at it once or twice and shan't bother with it any more

Esther Welch

salut lisa,
c'est cecile! as you know should be coming on the 20th...what do you think!? well hope to hear your adivce!
LOVE
cécile

Hi Lisa,

With everything that is going on I am hitting you site every couple of hours. I'm on the edge of my seat what with the dogs of war barking. I hope you are safe.

Bill

Hey Lisa,

Give a big kiss to my beloved Haifa and stay safe!!

Bisous,
Al

My, for a "propaganda site" I sure arouse a lot of interest. And Katherine, have you tried a beta-blocker for that high blood pressure problem?

Happy blogging-
Laila (Um Yousuf)

No Laila, for a journalist, you sure do write a lot of lies. I'll cope with my high blood pressure, will you cope with your conscience eventually? Or is your self denial never ending?

Oh well, I can just stick to good writing, fact checking, no lies kind of blogs written by others, like Lisa.

Katherine,
my life, my reality. And I guess I can't deny what doesn't even exist to start with, right?

And for your satisfaction, here is some "fact checking" of the so-called "lies" I was propagating about Palestinians dying on the border crossing while waiting to get in.

"Eight Palestinians died in the past week after staying at the border without proper medical treatment, shelter and water supplies. Among them were 19-year-old Muna Ismail who returned from surgery in Cairo and died after her condition deteriorated and Hamza Abu Taleb, an 18-month-old toddler who died of a heat stroke. "

Source: Haaretz

Hi Katherine, hi Laila,

Since this exchange is turning into a personal one between the two of you, could you continue it via email or your own blogs please?

Many thanks, in advance

Lisa