4 Dead Settlers

Two more people were wounded yesterday, in another shooting attack in the West Bank by Hamas gunmen. The prospect of an agreement no one believes will actually happen, is enough to spark those living life on the fringe of society to bring down the rest of us. Imagine the power of the individual here in Israel to dictate policy, to control events.

How many people are responsible for these 2 acts of terror? How many men at arms does Hamas have in the West Bank at this exact moment? The real numbers don't matter, already all Palestinians have been held accountable, already the prospect of a deal has been spurned by powerful members of Bibi's own government on the basis of the actions of a few wankers.

This is just how easy it is to run Israel.

This is how easy it is to influence Israel.

These are the people who really run this country.

We need to take our country back.

Single Mum?

I felt as though I was in a scene from the Wonder Years as I walked her home from work. I was pushing my bike as we walked away from Tel Aviv and further into Ramat Gan where she lives. I don't know the area very well, I don't know much outside of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. She's Russian originally from St Petersberg, she came here around 12 years ago. She is cute and I think she likes me. It was innocent to walk a girl home, to learn more about her rather than be in a drunken state chatting up randoms at the bar.

She was filled with the zeal of Zionism when she arrived, studied on kibbutz and later university. She studied journalism before she came out here, her English is very good. She had an affair with one of the managers at work and got pregnant. The baby is now 9 months old and has no father. She finds it tough these days, she misses her family, she finds it tough to work a full week only to come home and take care of her son.

I think that she finds me hopelessly deluded about living in Israel, she tells me how much she would love to live in London, even more in America. "It's hard in Israel, I wanted to be a journalist but without any money I had to take this job and now 3 years have gone by and I haven't even had a single raise."

We walk through crowded streets and the cool blast from the air conditioning hits me every time we walk past one of the shops. I try to think of something to say that doesn't sound ridiculous. I try to like where we are but it's dirty and the shops are selling shit that I wouldn't even look at. There are traders on the streets and people shouting. "You can still go into journalism" I say, "I think that everyone can achieve their dreams if they are able to resign themselves to the amount of work that needs to be done. It's not easy but it's possible for you to be a journalist, you can write when you get home from work."

How absurd do I feel lecturing a woman with a 9 month old who she is raising on her own while working a full week at the office about hard work. I can't even begin to imagine how hard it is for her. I needed money last week so I called my dad and asked for some. She needs money and she simply doesn't have any. Now I'm lecturing her about working hard.

We walk up a steep hill, the road has the same narrow pavements that left me bumping into people while wheeling my bike over. She doesn't invite me in but I didn't expect her to, she has the baby inside and her sister looking after him. We semi arrange to meet at the weekend but I can't think what there is to say. We are living in 2 different worlds; her in the real one and I in the one I want to see.