Meanwhile, Back in the Middle East

Annapolis, Annapolis, that's all we've been hearing about for the past ten days. The media is obsessed: will they issue a joint statement, will the Arabs show, will they shake hands with us - endless conjecture that fills reams of newspapers and hours of airtime, day after day. The pundits' din is so loud that it's impossible to know what's really going to transpire there, although yesterday's cartoon in Haaretz said it all: Ehud Olmert and Abu Mazen stand before the gate in an imposing wall around the Naval Academy, where the conference will take place. The balloon reads, "Let's ring the bell and run away!" Amos Biderman is a genius.



Amidst all the hype, here are a few things that happened here this week, most of which were not reported by the press:



-'Avodah Aravit,' (Arab Labor), a new tv show, premiered on prime time last Saturday night. Written by the Arab journalist Sayed Kashua (whose weekly column in Haaretz I have enjoyed for a long time and whose book I loved), it protrays an Israeli Arab who works as a reporter for Jewish newspaper and who is continually conflicted about his dual identity. Politically incorrect stereotypes abound on both sides and their portrayal seems to ironically serve the noble cause of political correctness. For example, the journalist's father berates him for being seen wearing a seatbelt in the village but when he is interviewed for a radio program on the subject of the unusually high rate of Arabs in traffic accidents he blames the state for neglecting the road infrastructure in Arab villages. It's clever and thought-provoking and just might have a chance at bringing us closer together by forcing us to laugh at ourselves.



-M., A close friend of mine from Jerusalem, flew out to Brazil recently to be with her sister, who was diagnosed with cancer. By the time she was able to book a flight her nerves were completely frazzled, so when she missed her connecting flight in Madrid by moments, she fell apart in the aiport. Weeping miserably in a chair at the locked gate, she was approached by a man who offered to help her. Despite her refusal of his assistance he accompanied her to the ticket counter, took care of her bags, arranged for a flight the next day and drove with her to the hotel. "He was like an angel who was sent to take care of me," M. explained breathlessly. When she finally calmed down enough to have a friendly conversation with him she asked where he was from.
"The West Bank," he said.
Tell that to the guys in Annapolis...



-A., a Palestinian Moslem, regaled me with the following story: at work he happened to walk by the secretary's desk when she was out and the phone was ringing. He answered it and attempted to help the young woman on the line. After discovering that the person she was seeking wasn't in, they kept talking.

"You have such a nice voice," she said to him. "Why don't you come and visit me at work?"

Never one to turn down an opportunity for a romantic adventure, A took directions and promised to come the next day.

"But don't be intimidated by my headcovering. I wear it, but I'm not committed to being a religious Moslem."

"That's okay," A. assured her. "I have a beard but I'm not committed either."

"Is it scratchy?" she inquired.

"No," said A. "I use conditioner."

For all those of you that thought the Hamas takeover was complete: Don't lose hope!