TRAVELER

Aynak - Insightful Post

Many thanks for such an insightful post with ordered points.

I would only add that it is near impossible for a foreigner to visit Gaza - Gaza is cut off. A visitor should try to take in Hebron, and consider the restrictions under which the residents live. A visit to Kahane Park, where a shrine is maintained to Dr Goldstein, is also instructive.

Israel tries to keep foreigners out of this area, and it is worthwhile for a visitor to consider why. 

Finaly, if you talk to high level Mosad officials, please ask if Ahmadi Nejad is on their pay roll? 

Wham! LOL!

Not a good start

Very unlucky my friend. Being your luck I bet you go there and all prophets go on strike.

Ari jaan, please don't put iranian jews in the same catagory as

the israelis. I consider iranian jews as iranians. I have wonderful iranian friends who happened to be jews (two of whom are working for me). When i kiss them, I don't think I am kissing Israelis. They are my iranian friends who happened to be honest and hard working. Of course, they played a big role in iran's economy. More power to them! They are good businessmen. Baazaar was where many of them have worked and they now have been mostly replaced with Azaris.

I have no problem with the jews. They are human beings like anyone else. Zionism is a totally different animal that I don't see a need to be discussed in these postings. As long as the israelis think that they are better than palestinians and they treat their own semite kins worse than dirt, I have no respect for them.

This goes back to the essence of being persian. Treating all human beings with respect and dignity regardless of their race, color, religion, and nationality. The original Affirmative Action. If Israelis  treat others including not limited to palestinians fairly, I would treat them with respect. Peace on earth!

Obama

 "God is love!"

Where does Iran fit in?

I do however feel that Israelis have a right to participate in this bazaar as much as any other nation. To think otherwise drifts towards discrimination. If their success at the power trade seems to be pushing out their competitors, the solution lies in smart competition, not in discriminatory calls for boycotts. 

Once again, I find myself responding to matters that have nothing to do with my focus on this trip. It is about Iran vis a vis Israel--culture in particluar. Write comments or articles about the Rothschilds in a direct and specific context with Iran, and it will likely be fascinating.

I'll even tip you off in the interest of exploring Iranian history: Iran had her own brilliant Jewish financiers. Research them and write about how they participated in our Iranian economy.

There is a tradition of "loyalty to israel" test in the US.

(I am not suggesting you are that important to them.) However, whether it is congressmen, senators, US presidents, mayors, governors, At some point in their careers mostly must visit israel to show their loyalty otherwise they would be accused of not loyal to that the place, worse anti semite etc lable. AIPAC is in charge of all that.

I personaly heard it from my friend (american) who ran for US congress against a jewish american (AIPAC) and how he was pressured to interview 2 rabbies for 8 hrs! Unbeliable!" You live in a different plantet if you don't know that they got money and influnce and they use it.  And a posting heresays that I just came to this country ha? May be he did! that's right in this country you shouldn't openly talk about these things! United States of Israel! Money talks and Rothchild family still lives on!

here's my couple of cents Ari

When you look at Islamic Regime, they have a notion of "Khodies" vs "Na-Khodi".   Israel, it seems to me, abide by the same rule.   Except for them the Khodie is the --none trouble making Jew--.   That is why, someone so bright and talented as Finkelstien, is mis-treated also.   But when it comes to treatment of Na-Khodi, heck the treatment of Palestinians by Israel is no different than Na-Khodie or a Khodie who has turned Na-Khodi by Islamic Regime.

Even in Islamic Regime, you see more tolerance for Mousavi/Karoubi than say someone Na-Khodie like Foriuhar or Bakhtiar.   Jews tolerating other Jews in Israel is not really that different.

But it is the treatment of Na-Khodies in either system.

Frankly, I don't know which one I would like better:  To live as a Palestinian in Gaza? Or as a Na-khodi under Islamic Regime?   And that is the real issue.   Otherwise the Talebeh in Fezyyeh is enjoying the full experience of a Moslem in Moslem land as a Jew in Israel.

I hope you can go, and tell us all about it, but here's a few points I hope you can bear in mind.

1-Please try to visit Ghaza if you can and interview a few people there if you find it safe to do so.   The ease with which you can do that should shed light into true democratic nature of state of Israel.

2-As far as Iranian-Jews living in Israel, I think it is a shame that our people (including our minorites) are treated such that they would try to  find shelter outside Iran.  I believe unlike some others Jews (for instance Ashknazis) who  need a permanent home because of their experience, Iranian Jews belong to Iran not Israel, and one day I hope they can all return to their real home, Iran, without any fear.

3-On the same light, I hope Iranian-Jews in Israel, would do the outmost they can to prevent a war with Iran, as I agree with Dayan Iran is on the verge of democracy, however a war can set everything back by another 50 or 100 years for Iran, U.S would also suffer indirectly and I don't see how Israel would survive.

4-You mention the right of return, as an sticking issue while dismissing the ever expanding settlments.   To me, for the right of return, some financial insentive must be factored in, if Israel does not want these homeless people back in their homes.   From  what I know , neither the Lebanense nor Jordanian nor Kuwaities really want these refugees.   In Lebanaon, they are still not integrated and live in camps.  What should they do?  With no money?    Who is responsible for them regardless of if they are over 60 or under 60? Why is there never even a discussion about compensation package for them?

5-Israel and Jews can not depend on U.S forever.  Israel is in middle-east and it should look at a blue-print for middle-east as a unified zone like Euro.   This is how it was in the past, when all lived together, of course with some problems but not as much as now.   NO amount of Nukes or force will make Israel safe as it is a tiny land.   So better accept this reality now, and work toward a middle-east economic zone than needless fighting.   I have a feeling a just settlement to Palestinian-Israel conflict will unleash the democratic demands in Egypt, Jordan and elsewhere in the region.

6-Finaly, if you talk to high level Mosad officials, please ask if Ahmadi Nejad is on their pay roll?   I would not be surprised if Liberman is on Sepah's pay roll to tell you the truth.

A foreign ministry dispute

A foreign ministry dispute is holding up your trip?

Let me get this straight, you are working directly with and are relying on the government of Israel for this trip?

Hmm.

So I guess visiting Israel is more important to you than ever going back to Iran for a visit of any kind. Because that's the law, that's the choice you are making.

Hmm.

Do you have any independently established contacts set up in the Iranian Zionist community in Israel?

Is there by any chance an IRI stamp on the US passport you'll be using?

A lot of peculiarities to this venture, which appears to be getting off on the wrong foot. 

Jonny Dollar

What the hell are you talking about?  You don't make any sense.  Did you just came from Iran?  It sounds like you have been brain washed for the past 20 or 30 years.  Who do you think Ari is?  Do you think he just fell off of the turnip truck?  

Ari jaan, all I can say is Bon Voyage!

MIDOONAM SHOMA ADAM KHOOBI HASTID VA MANZOOREH KHOOBI DARID. MAN SAY KARDAM KEH CHEEZI NAGAM VALI DIGEH NATOONESTAM. VALI BARAADAREH AZIZ KHOSHHALIEH ZENDEGIEH KHOOB SAREH DELETO ZADEH? DIDI KEH OON TEFLI KEH HAMIN KAARO KARD CHEH DARDEH SARI BARAASH DARAMOOD RAFT TO ZENDOON? ALBATTEH SHOMA BARNEMIGARDID TO VATANAMOON, VALI BEGHEIR AZ CHANTA LENGEYEH HAMOON KEH FAGHAT MIKHAAD BARAAT NOOSHABEH BEKHAREH (GEDA VA DOROOGH-GOO (MIGEH POOL NADAARAM!)), CHIZI BEDESTET KHAAHAD AMAD?  FAGHAT AZ SAADEH GIYEH AADAMAAYEH KHOOB ESTEFAADEH MIKONAM. HICH BARAAYEH DOOSTI BEDAR NEMIKHORAN. OONAA BEH CHESHMEH IRANI VA DOSHMAN NEGAH BEMAA MIKONAN VA MIKHAAN AZ SHOMAA SUE ESTEFAADEH KONAN. VALIKAN OMIDVRAM KEH BEHET KHOSH BEGZAREH.   

SHAAYAD YEKI AZ DALILAYEE KEH AGHAB ENDAAKHTAN INEHKEH MOKHAABERAATESHOON DAR BAAREYEH SHOMA BISHTR GOZARESH JAM KONEH. SHOMA VAAGEAN BAAYAD DELE KHOOBI DAASHTEH BAASHID.

The ball is still in play

It looks like the visit is still on; new timeline for the trip pending resolution of the foreign ministry issue. Actually the delay gives me more time to prepare and make more contacts in Israel. Humanbeing, it would be great to meet your colleagues from the Iranian studies dept of your university. That's exactly the type of exchange I'm most interested in. If this trip is too tightly scheduled to allow it, certainly a follow up visit on my own dime, or alternatively funded trip (drinks and all) would be in order.   

Fund-Raising? Nah!

I thought about that, too. But what if Ari decides to sell the names of the donors to IR? Is there any guarantee he won't? I liked Faramarz's conspiracy theory!

humanbeing,

I'd drink to that! but do you really don't have the funds?!

i'd foot the bill

if i had the funds, i'd foot the bill for you. then noone could accuse you that it's 'sponsored' by an interested side. 

if  you really make it over here (by hook or by crook, by elal or by magic carpet, all expenses paid or with the help of a fundraiser organized on icom), and it's during the semester, i'll introduce you to colleagues from the iranian studies dept., some non-foreign-ministry types, and treat you to drinks.

Same Thing Happened to Marco Polo

Ari,
This whole labor strike and budget cuts is a sham!

They want to hit you guys with the full cost of the travel and more. I mean, did you really expect Bibi to pay for your trip? Every used-car salesman knows this trick. You first get the customer into the lot, then you get him emotionally involved with a car and finally you hit him with the price tag and all the extras!

You see, they know that you have already packed your bags and told everyone about this trip, so you will pay whatever they ask to go to Israel and report back to your fan base here. I mean, would Marco Polo cancel his trip to China because the tour-guide doubles the fare at the last minute? They would have laughed him out of Venice!

Dear Ari, what an interesting account of some labor problems

In Israel. I have exactly your sentiments about comparison between activism of Israeli worker and the sheepish American worker. I feel in a way proud that there are places in the world that white collar workers do something when work conditions are not to their liking. Thanks for sharing Ari jan.

This may prove ...

... a blessing in disguise for you!