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Schlaglicht Number 17/17, Latest News from the Press, October 1 – 15, 2017
"Schlaglicht Israel" offers an insight into internal Israeli debates and reflects selected, political events that affect daily life in Israel. It appears every two weeks and summarizes articles that appeared in the Israeli daily press.
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Main topics covered in this Publication:
Palestinian Reconciliation
The Iranian Threat
Selection of Articles
1. Palestinian Reconciliation
Hamas masquerade
It took Hamas 10 years to completely ruin the Gaza Strip and prove to all that it can't and is not worthy of ruling over its inhabitants. (…) The first place Hamas has looked for a solution is Tehran, which is looking to bring the group back into its fold after several years of severed ties. (…) Hamas can only receive unlimited weapons and money from the Iranians, even if doing so means it must sharply alter its positions. (…) At the same time Hamas is also working to improve its relations with the Palestinian Authority; more precisely it is trying to turn the PA into a human shield to perpetuate its rule over Gaza. (…) Hamas is unwilling to truly relinquish its power and will not allow, for instance, the PA's security apparatus to deploy in Gaza. In this vein, it will permit the PA and its president, Mahmoud Abbas, to resolve the electricity crisis in Gaza and to try improving the economic situation there. Meanwhile, Hamas will still reserve ultimate say in Gaza and will be the only entity with weapons. Hamas, therefore, is trying to mimic the Lebanese model. In Lebanon, the government maintains diplomatic relations with the international community and is responsible for the welfare of the population and bettering the economy; Hezbollah, meanwhile, is the driving military force without bearing governmental responsibility for the fate of Lebanon. This is a comfortable arrangement, as the Lebanese government provides protection for Hezbollah and mainly absolves it of any responsibility for the Lebanese population.
Prof. Eyal Zisser, IHY, 01.10.17
Will Hamas really give up its armed 'resistance'?
(…) Any hope Gazans have in unity as a solution to their suffering is largely neutralized by a long and now institutionalized hostility between Palestinian camps, over the course of which senior officials and whole bureaucracies have become beneficiaries of disunity, strengthening their interest in disabling an internal peace process. (…) the PA's primary concern remains preventing Hamas' reincarnation into a quasi-Hezbollah, a political force that doesn't recognize legal controls over its military resources. (…) For Hamas leaders and for most Gazans, a disarmed Gaza would function as a mirror image of what is perceived as the demeaning life endemic to the West Bank: punctuated by degrading Israeli checkpoints, settler harassment and regular raids on a defenseless population, while the PA's 'collaborationist' and 'inherently corrupt' security forces police the occupation and any signs of Palestinian counterinsurgency. (…) What has been Hamas' contribution to Palestinian independence? Obsolete apocalyptic slogans and periodic military processions that do more damage to the Palestinian cause than it intimidates Israel (…) But Hamas's "resistance" remains the word that keeps on giving. That resistance, or al-muqawama, is a crucial source of legitimation (…), synonymous with the "Palestinian struggle." Therefore, not only will Hamas firmly refuse to have its resistance up for discussion, but it evidently aspires to extend it to the West Bank. (…) Reconciliation, despite being Palestinians' most urgent necessity, remains a dark negotiating room whose exit doors are flung wide open. (…)
Muhammad Shehada, HAA, 02.10.17
Fatah and Hamas: Another failed attempt at reconciliation?
(…) In light of past experience, it isn't surprising that many players in the region, including the Palestinian public, are suspicious and dismissive of the new agreement. (…) Abbas wants to gain control of the Rafah Crossing in the hopes of eventually bringing to an organized opening of the crossing. Hamas is very interested in opening the crossing, as it will significantly ease the 10-year blockade on the strip. (…) In all the appeased statements issued by Hamas leaders, there has not been a hint of willingness to give up the organization's military wing and its arsenal. On the contrary, senior Hamas members Moussa Abu Marzouk and Mahmoud al-Zahar have clarified the weapons of the resistance are non-negotiable in the reconciliation talks. (…) it's hard to see Abbas giving up and allowing Hamas to apply the Hezbollah model in Lebanon—in which the civil control is in one entity's hands and the military control is in another entity's hands—to the Gaza Strip. (…) Will the tough situation in the strip finally prompt Hamas to give up control, keeping the theoretical option of taking over the entire PA in future elections? Will Abbas waive his demand to disarm the military wing? (…) At this stage, it's seems neither Abbas nor Haniyeh have the answers.
Elior Levy, YED, 02.10.17
Sick of running Gaza, Hamas may be aiming to switch to a Hezbollah-style role
(…) Slightly more than ten years after the split between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, when Hamas bloodily overthrow the PA's regime there, a historic moment of unity is supposedly upon us. (…) One cannot avoid a sense of deja vu. Didn't we see something rather like this (…) with a unity agreement and the establishment of a "national consensus government"? Unity did not ensue. (…) It is hard to imagine either one backing down on issues of substance (…). But some things really have shifted. (…) Hamas is now led by two men who live in the Gaza Strip and were born in its refugee camps. Ismail Haniyeh, from the Shati camp, who heads the political wing, and Yahya Sinwar, born in the Khan Younis refugee camp, who is the leader of Hamas in Gaza. (…) The change in personnel and tone in the Hamas leadership connects to an uncomfortable reality for the Islamist terror group: Hamas has been forced to acknowledge its failure of governance on the civilian level — life in Gaza is unremittingly grim under its rule — and the consequent danger that the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip will rise up against it. (…) Hamas (…) is showing clear signs of willingness to step aside, at least in the civic sphere. (…) This is dramatic, indeed. Hamas was born of the Muslim Brotherhood as supposed proof that "Islam is the answer." Now, it is recognizing its limitations. (…). Abbas will want to know precisely what Hamas is offering, and is unlikely to rush into an agreement before he knows what the American peace plan will be. If there is to be a genuine reconciliation, it will this probably be a gradual process, unfolding after months of debate over the smallest details of many controversial topics. And the devil, as we all know, is in the details.
Avi Issacharoff, TOI, 01.10.17
The good news from Gaza
(…) The right-wing Israeli government is pulling its hair out, (…) hurrying to threaten the Palestinians not to unify (…) Only in Israel, domestic peace for your neighbor is seen as a ticking atomic bomb. (…) The news of unity from Gaza is also good news for the sane part of Israeli society. This is how it will be possible to speak with a single Palestinian leadership, instead of speaking with one side and fighting with the other. (…) If your neighbors are embroiled among themselves, it is not good for you either. It is good for the Jews because in addition to a single Palestinian leadership, enormous efforts are invested in implementing the principle of unified Palestinian arms. (…) Instead of humiliating Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who, it turns out, has not been "plucked naked" and can carry out such a far-reaching plan, Israel too must support the efforts for reconciliation. (…)
Odeh Bisharat, HAA, 09.10.17
Understanding Hamas
(…) Hamas is not going away; they will probably be a major factor for years to come. (…) don't boycott anyone who is willing to engage with me in dialogue in the attempt to understand positions that are very different (…). They deeply believe that Israel is committed to evacuating all of the land of Palestine (…) of its native Arab Palestinian inhabitants. (…) They also genuinely believe that Zionism is a colonialist enterprise, not the story of a people returning to their ancient homeland. (…) Hamas is much more of a Palestinian national movement than it is an Islamic movement, even though Hamas grew out of the Muslim Brotherhood, which is a pan-Islamic movement. (…) Hamas is much more interested in the creation of a Palestinian state than they are in an Islamic caliphate throughout the region or the world. (…) Hamas is not moderate, but they are pragmatic. (…) they have created systems confronting the reality of almost total dependence on Israel for electricity, water, importation of goods, currency, health care and more, and have enabled middlemen to communicate with Israel and Israelis on their behalf. (…) Yehya Sinwar, Gaza's strongest leader has brought both the political and military wings of Hamas, which had often contested one another for power, under his direct control and he has turned out to be the leading pragmatist in Hamas. (…) Hamas will not lay down its weapons and will not put them under the control of the Palestinian Authority. (…) In a period of national consensus, the Hamas military will probably go underground – both literally and metaphorically. (…) Reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas may create opportunities for discrete dialogue and encounters behind the scenes. (…) If some serious talks did develop that include Israelis who could bring about some real policy changes as a direct outcome of those talks, it might be possible to open a door for progress. Hamas is part of Palestinian society and the recent steps towards increasing pragmatism should be met by pragmatic steps from Israel.
Gershon Baskin, JPO, 10.10.17
An unclear future
(…) Unlike past reconciliation attempts, the current negotiations between Fatah and Hamas seem far more serious. (…) Ostensibly, everyone benefits from the agreement: Egypt has regained its status as a relevant regional player; (…) Hamas will receive funding, relief for the energy crisis in the enclave, and mainly legitimacy; and Israel will enjoy at least temporary peace and quiet (…). the reconciliation agreement has many hurdles to overcome before it can be considered solid. The core issues, including disarming and dismantling the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, holding municipal and presidential elections, and having Hamas join the Palestinian Liberation Organization have not even been discussed (…) What comes next will depend on whether the reconciliation attempt succeeds. Peace and quiet will reign if it does, but if it doesn't, it may paint Hamas into a corner from which it would escalate the security situation.
Yoav Limor, IHY, 13.10.17
Israel should accept the Palestinian reconciliation deal
(…) Israel should welcome the agreement. (…) The last thing Israel needs is more declarations that would make it appear intransigent and extreme while the Palestinians seemingly (…) are trying to present unity that would allow for negotiations. After all, one of Israel's excuses for the freeze in peace negotiations has been the division in the Palestinian camp. Now, however, there is one Palestinian entity. (…) Israel (…) just needs to (…) make it clear its positions are no different than those of the international community. If the unified Palestinian Authority wants legitimization, it needs to also accept the Quartet's conditions. (…) Israel should accept what the European Union has already proposed: Demilitarization in return for the lifting of the blockade on the Gaza Strip. Only then should Israel cooperate with the PA and allow forces from the West Bank to enter the strip. (…) If the Palestinians reject the proposal, Israel could say Hamas was and remains part of global jihad, that it has no interest in reaching a compromise with Israel, and that it has taken the Palestinian Authority hostage. If the Palestinians say yes, it would be an historic turning point that would decrease the chances of another conflict in the south. And that is a lot to gain.
Ben-Dror Yemini, YED, 13.10.17
Palestinian reconciliation is good for Israel, too
The reconciliation agreement signed between Fatah and Hamas (…) is a source of hope for the Palestinians. (…) The commitment of Fatah, Hamas and the rest of the Palestinian factions will now be put to the test. (…) It will be tested on issues such as improvement in freedom of expression and freedom of political activity, both in the West Bank and in the Strip. The international community, mainly the United States and Arab states, have an important role in the process. They must provide financial assistance to alleviate the population's distress and lead a move to ensure the Palestinians self-determination on the basis of the principles of the international community and the Arab peace initiative. Israel and its prime minister must understand that the key to a regional arrangement lies in the Palestinian arena. If Washington and Israel are really interested in advancing a regional drive that yields results, they must strengthen the Palestinian Authority and its leader and enable them to show the Palestinian people the prospect of a peace agreement, which will ensure a better future. Otherwise the current reconciliation will also remain an internal issue that will not have any impact on the end of the conflict. (…) This is one of those moments when good will and support are necessary, even on the part of a rightist government.
Editorial, HAA, 13.10.17
2. The Iranian Threat
Use of Force: The Only Way to Stop Iran
(…) Iran is following its Persian imperial instincts that are reinforced by Muslim jihadist impulses. It already controls four Arab capitals: Baghdad, Beirut, Damascus and Sanaa (…). The international community, including the US, has little appetite to confront Iran. (…) Understanding very well the Western reluctance to take military action, Iran is emulating the North Korean scenario. (…) Israel cannot rely on the international community to stop Iran's nuclearization. Unilateral cancellation of the nuclear agreement will only energize the Iranian nuclear program. Even if attempts to convince Iran to renegotiate the deal are successful, the Iranian talent for bargaining will prolong the negotiations for years (…). Similarly, putting in place a tough economic sanctions regime requires years of diplomatic struggle. (…) Only the use of force can stop Iran from fulfilling its ambitions. Israel is on its own in this. Nobody will deal with an Iran that is going nuclear. Therefore, Israel must prepare its military for a strike against the main components of Iran's nuclear infrastructure. (…) Most states would be happy for Israel to do the dirty work (…).
Efraim Inbar, JPO, 01.10.07
Israel-Iran conflict in Syria reaching point of no return
(…) According to the Israeli policy in the current crisis, there is no diplomatic way of bringing about a significant change in Iran's regional conduct.Thus the only way to deal with it is by stepping up the sanctions (…) or through "a different crisis" in the form of a military threat against Iran, in Syria or in any other arena in the region. The atmosphere created by the Trump administration against the nuclear agreement is contributing to the approaching hurricane. (…) it's unlikely that Israel will be able to change the American defense establishment's stance on the nuclear issue. It will be more successful in enlisting the Pentagon's support for stepping up the war on Iran's subversive expansion in the Middle East, from Yemen to Gaza and Lebanon. (…) This war fits very well into the alleged Israeli secret measures against the Iranian expansion in the region and against the arms smuggling. (…) If the Israeli diplomatic move fails to bear fruit, we are headed toward a conflict with the Iranians.
Alex Fishman, YED, 08.10.17
No one's got a clue what's next on Iran. Unfortunately, that includes Trump himself
(…) No one has any clue what is actually going to happen. (…) Trump has been so unclear about his strategy. (…) Many key positions in the State Department remain vacant, and Trump demonstrates neither the inclination nor the know-how to get European, Russian, and Chinese leaders to join his strategy. If such efforts have been undertaken, they have clearly, thus far, been ineffective. So Trump's cheering section is celebrating an announcement that scarcely qualifies as a strategy (…). The sum total of Trump's approach might well be to get tougher on Iran over ballistic missiles and support for terrorists (…) the risk of miscalculation with such an uncoordinated strategy is high. (…) Members of Congress must now use their own leverage with the Administration to try to steer this reckless action back onto safer ground that (…) develops a real strategy to extend its benefits, strengthen it as needed, and maintain international – and not just regional – support for confronting Iran's destabilizing activities.
Daniel B. Shapiro, HAA, 15.10.17
Israel should talk to Iran
(…) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has no need to plea or to panic. Israel is a strong state, stronger than any of its neighbors, with capabilities conventional and not. (…) With such a strong hand, it not only can, but must, talk to the Iranian regime. (…) A sober Israeli leadership must find ways of holding practical negotiations, clandestine at first, with the Ayatollah. (…) No hostility lasts forever. Iran's hated shah, Israel's erstwhile friend, was ousted four decades ago. (…) communication channels are required. (…) This can happen at the UN, between ambassadors, under the auspices of the UN secretary-general, or in California (…). Most of all this can happen through Netanyahu and Rohani's mutual friend, Russian President Vladimir Putin. This is no more a fantasy than were the initial contacts with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat or PLO leader Yasser Arafat.
Amir Oren, HAA, 15.10.17
Strategic decisiveness, tactical caution
(…) Trump unveiled a new doctrine against this component of the Axis of Evil, a doctrine that is based more on red lines and clear thresholds that would trigger American action should they be crossed. This approach represents a creative blend of strategic decisiveness and tactical caution. (…) based on his recognition that a potential Iranian-American clash is not necessarily immediate, forceful or even inevitable. In other words, the White House has articulated a gradual process that gives Iranian President Hassan Rouhani a way out by mending his ways before the moment of truth arrives. (…) Trump's decision to decertify the agreement doesn't mean that he is bent on withdrawing from it. He is still going to play by the rules, but his new doctrine presents several powerful deterrent elements. (…) Through the newly announced sanctions on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, which complement other steps the Pentagon has taken in the region to curtail Iran's destabilizing activity, Iran now knows what's at stake. (…) In one fell swoop, through a single speech, Trump put the ball squarely in Iran's court.
Prof. Abraham Ben-Zvi, IHY, 15.10.17
Trump's Iran strategy presents new kind of challenge for Israel
(…) Donald Trump is presenting Israel with a new kind of challenge—dealing with an American president who repeats all of Israel's claims unconditionally. (…) in his speech, Trump gave us a big embrace as far as Iran is concerned. The challenge is to prevent his embrace from turning into bear hug. (…) At the moment, the Iranian threat to Israel focuses on two issues that are not covered by the nuclear agreement—Iran's progress in the development of precision-guided surface-to-surface missiles, and the growing Iranian influence in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. (…) Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has (…) invested more than $1 billion a year in Syria, in addition to $800 million in Hezbollah every year. Hundreds of Iranian officers and soldiers have been killed in the civil war. (…) Rouhani is demanding a large chunk of the funds that will be infused for the country's reconstruction. He is also interested in Iranian involvement in Syria's oil fields. (…) Rouhani's main interest is expanding Iran's economic ties with the world, which is why he hasn't deviated from a single clause in the nuclear agreement. (…) There is no room for nixing the agreement at the moment; the American pressure should be used to push the missile threat away and moderate the Iranian expansion in the region. This pressure will match the interests of Rouhani and his supporters, as well as the interests of all world powers, including Russia. Israel can contribute its share. In fact it is already doing its part: (…) mainly through its influence in Washington. (…)Trump is creating an ultimatum with his rhetoric. (…) It's a gamble that could end in a disaster—either war or the United States losing its credibility. (…) On the other hand, Trump's attempt to rectify historic mistakes made both vis-à-vis the regime in Pyongyang and vis-à-vis the regime is Tehran is commendable. The gun has been placed on the table. No one knows how it will be used—not even Donald Trump.
Nahum Barnea, YED, 15.10.17
3. Sukkot 2017
Sukkot is a state of mind
Traveling through a desert is journeying through a lonely place, completely forsaken. There is neither food nor water, nor any other form of sustaining substance. There is only the unbearable sun and its heat. (…) But a desert is also a magnificent locale, filled with grandeur and full of life. It is an area where many things can happen that are impossible in any other location. (…) there is no distraction and no competition. (…) In the emptiness and silence of the desert, an authentic inner voice can be heard while sitting in the sukkah, a hut that existentially gives protection but in no way physically shields. (…) It is a place with no excuses. But it can only be experienced by a people of the wilderness; a people who are not rooted in a substance of physical limitations and borders; a people who are not entirely fixed by an earthly point, even while living in a homeland. Their spirit reaches far beyond restrictive borders. They are particularistic so as to be universalistic. (…) They are a wandering people that can never permanently land because the runway is too narrow and they cannot fit into any final destination. (…) In a desert, people cannot prove themselves, at least not in the conventional sense. It doesn't offer jobs that people can fight over and compete for. (…) There are no bosses to order people around, and no fellow workers with whom to compete. (…) People can only "be," but never "have" anything, in a desert. (…) The desert is therefore a state of mind. (…) In a desert one can think without limits. (…) The desert is the ultimate liberty. (…) And therefore it is a place of miracles. (…) we sit in a sukkah, a place that has nothing to show for itself; only powerful simplicity. It is frail and unaccomplished, because it serves as a road sign for our lives and for what is really important: authenticity in all its nakedness.
Rabbi Dr. Nathan Lopes Cardozo, TOI, 03.10.17
Imagine if Jews were locked away behind concrete walls for 11 days
(…) When we cannot even imagine living together, we underestimate all the creativity, the money, the technology and infrastructure, and the hard work that has gone into keeping us apart. (…) We see only our suffering and our reasons, and we brandish the license of our losses. (…) Netanyahu seals the gates of the West Bank and Gaza for eleven days, to enjoy Sukkot. How flagrant, to confine millions of people in the name of a holiday that celebrates the flimsy, temporary nature of our walls. If Jews were herded behind concrete walls and locked away for eleven days, so that someone else might enjoy a Jew-free holiday, would we shrug that off? (…) Have we forgotten that statelessness was the problem statement of Zionism? Jews felt vulnerable and voiceless in a world comprised of states – yet we avert our eyes from the stateless peril of others. (…) Israel has imprisoned itself, and still finds it necessary to spend another $800 million, on yet more walls, to hide itself from immiserated Gaza. So, um, are we safe yet? No. There is no separate safety in our entropic time. Jews, and everyone else, will become safe in a tolerant world, when Jews enjoy the same rights as those human beings behind the walls. (…)
Marilyn Garson, HAA, 08.10.17
2017 Feast of Tabernacles Celebration in Jerusalem is Prophecy Fulfilled
(…) the "Feast of Tabernacles" plays a significant role in bringing us Jews closer to celebrating Sukkot the way it is described in the books of the prophets. A young King Solomon began to fulfill his father David's desire to build a home for God (…). From its very inauguration, King Solomon established that the Temple would forever be a "house of prayer for all nations." (…) The central prayers of Sukkot focused on rainfall, a universal need. (…) As a sign of the times we are in – the golden age of Jewish-Christian relations – one Christian leader took a strong position in the days leading up to Sukkot, calling for an end to Christian proselytizing aimed at Jews. Tommy Waller, founder of the Christian group HaYovel, which organizes volunteers to tend Israeli vineyards in the harvest season leading up to Sukkot, released a sharply worded video just a few days ago.(…) Waller represents a new generation of Christian Zionist leaders who reject missionary activity aimed at proselytizing Jews and look to be faithful supporters of the people of Israel in the land of Israel. We are living in a new age of Jewish-Christian relations. Today, thousands of non-Jews flock to Jerusalem as described in the Bible. Today, Christian leaders publicly renounce the centuries-old doctrine of Christian antisemitism. As such, the Jewish community should recognize these positive developments, which would have been unimaginable at any point in our history. (…)
Tuly Weisz, JPO, 08.10.17
4. Selection of Articles
Trump's gift to the Jews
(…) There are good reasons behind the profound hatred that the global Left and various dictatorships feel toward the American president. In his colorful, blunt way, the man is deconstructing all the oversight mechanisms that the pseudo-liberal Left has worked very hard to install to monitor thoughts and language. These pseudo liberals talk a big game about pluralism and tolerance and acceptance but their thought process is totalitarian and full of hatred toward anyone who dares to think differently. (…) They only care about controlling the masses in a way that circumvents the democratic process (…). According to them, the Jews, unlike humans, don't have a right to a state or to defend themselves against attacks by their enemies. Israel haters hoped that the Obama administration would force the Jews to agree to a diplomatic suicide deal and allow the establishment of a terrorist state on its border. (…) their hopes have been dashed, and the White House is now occupied by their biggest nightmare – our friend. (…)
Dror Eydar, IHY, 13.10.17
Freeing Faith
(…) the idea that the Chief Rabbinate (…) has a monopoly over the use of the word "kosher" is a bit weird. But that is the reality of the Jewish state in the 21st century. Thankfully, this reality is changing. We hope that soon the Chief Rabbinate will cease to exist – at least in its current form. (…) a growing number of devout persons are fighting for various levels of separation, not out of a desire to be free from religion, rather out of an understanding that only by allowing religious expression to develop unhindered will it be possible to protect the true beauty of faith and religious conviction from cynical politics, nepotism and corruption. (…) Since its inception, the Chief Rabbinate has suffered from inherent conflicts of interests, corruption and nepotism. (…) Breaking the Chief Rabbinate's monopoly would enable market forces to go to work. Kashrut supervision operations that provide good, reliable and inexpensive services would earn the respect of religious restaurant goers and owners who truly care about keeping kosher. Those services that don't would be punished by the market. (…)
Editorial, JPO, 10.10.17
There´s More Than One Way to Fight a Boycott
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement has become very popular (…), especially in Western countries such as the United States. (…) The BDS movement has capitalized on this shifted sentiment to encourage Americans and other nationalities to boycott Israel both culturally and financially. In response to the new anti-Israel flame, fanned by the BDS movement, Israel's supporters have become more vocal. (…) In addition to legislative action, many who wish to show their support for Israel and challenge the BDS movement have done so by demonstrating at college campuses and participating in debates with BDS sympathizers and supporters. These actions are significant because they attack the legitimacy, rationale, and support for the BDS movement. (…) Having real-live people spreading a message of support for Israel and Israel's pioneers can at times be the only way to cut through the massive amounts of liberal news headlines and social media clutter that fill the screens of the younger generations' media devices. There is another form of pro-Israel advocacy that has been garnering support from the international community. This form of advocacy bypasses the BDS movement through the purchase of Israeli products. (…)
Aryeh Powers, TOI, 01.10.17
The right to protest: Determination is the name of the game
(..) The road to a change of government (…) may seem long, but citizens who are not necessarily carrying political flags are scoring achievements. (…) Take the disabled protestors (…). The fact their protest bothered Israel's drivers was likely what drove politicians to jump up and do something. The struggle was (…) justified and disruptive, and unlike other public protests, it emphasized the police's helplessness. Evacuating wheelchair-bound protestors by mounted police or dispersing the crowd with tear gas were out of the question, so it was clear that this protest could not be buried under another committee, as is Netanyahu's modus operandi. (…) Determination, is seems, is the new name of the game here. (…) the most important protest (…) is the protest against government corruption (…). Hundreds and thousands of people have joined this protest in recent months, and its intensity has sparked a heated debate on the essence of Israeli democracy. (…)
Tami Arad, YED, 09.10.17
HAA = Haaretz
YED = Yedioth Ahronoth / Ynetnews
JPO = Jerusalem Post
IHY = Israel HaYom
TOI = Times of Israel
GLO = Globes
Dr. Werner Puschra,
Head of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Israel
Susanne Knaul
Judith Stelmach
Homepage: www.fes.org.il
Email: fes@fes.org.il


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Home / Cats Care / Benefits of Cat Massage
Benefits of Cat Massage
Maryjean Ballner
AhhhhTheres the rub
Lessons in the language of touch help owners and shelter volunteers speak fluent bark and meow.
In 1983, when I graduated from the Swedish Institute of Massage Therapy in New York City, my final paper was entitled, Therapeutic massage Therapy from a Feline Viewpoint. I compared human and feline anatomy and physiology and adapted traditional Swedish massage techniques for cats. During my research, I noticed a dramatic change in the behavior of Mr. Grey, a feral cat from the woods in upstate New York who was my pioneer in pet massage. As I paid more attention to how I was family petting him, he paid more focus on me. He became affectionate, responsive, and then downright demanding of my affection, and I knew it coincided with the massages.
Sixteen years later, at the Peninsula Humane Society outside San Francisco, where I go regularly to massage the cats, I met a terrified and timid four-year-old male cat. Weighing slightly more than four and one-half pounds, he was one of 25 flea-bitten, under socialized and malnourished cats who had been rescued from the home of an animal collector., is a New York State Licensed Massage Therapist. The 1st time we met, it took a few minutes for me to gently pry his claws from the shelf. For the first week, he cowered and shook as I held him in a towel. I attempted massage, but even the slightest touch had been too intense.
For the next few weeks, I patiently cradled this cat in my arms or held him securely on my lap and repeated gentle, soothing words. Gradually he has begun to accept being massaged with a soft bristle brush. Then, one quiet afternoon, I heard him purr for the first time.
Needless to say, I adopted him. Five months earlier, he was slated for euthanasia. Today, Bodacious luxuriates in every massage technique I try on him. Some of his old fears are still with him, but now he clearly desires affection and attention. What a tribute to the power of touch!
To some, the idea of massage for animals may seem frivolous. But the benefits of massage are clear, whoever the recipient. Physiologically, massage stimulates the body's nerves, muscles, circulatory system, and lymphatic system. It enhances the range of motion, increases the supply of oxygen and nutrients to muscle cells, relieves muscle spasms, and helps to flush away toxic compounds, such as lactic acid, that cause pain. Massage has been used therapeutically to aid in healing after injury or surgery, ease chronic stiffness and reduce the heart rate.
At the University of Miami School of Medicine, Tiffany Field, Ph.D., established the first Touch Research Institute in 1992. Studies conducted at the Institute, which is devoted solely to the study of touch and its application in science and medicine, show that, among other benefits, massage can alleviate symptoms of depression and reduce stress hormones. Yet the benefits of massage are too often neglected in human psychology. It wasn't until years later that it was discovered that babies born in orphanages in the 1940s and 50s often died from not being held.
Touch experiences underlie our emotional states, says Steven Lindsay, M.A., a dog trainer and animal behaviorist based in Philadelphia. Lindsay explains that massage stimulates the production of endorphins (or opioids), which are connected to feelings of pain, grief, fear, joy, etc. Touch is direct access to emotion, he says.
From people to pets
What all this means to animals in sheltersas well as your animals at homeis of enormous value. The relaxation response is the big issue, the ability of the dog just to settle down and relax. If massage can do that consistently, its a miracle, says Lindsay, who started using massage on dogs about 10 years ago to calm overzealous puppies.
He now sees it as a routine way to reduce stress in shelter animals, and he gives presentations to staff and volunteers in which massage is really a component. Just three to five minutes of a systematic, quiet massage, he says, is extremely beneficial. Why? Because animals who get massaged regularly tend to get adopted quicker than those who don't receive the same TLC. At the Peninsula Humane Society, veterinarian Dr. Melissa Matthews notes that after receiving massages from volunteers, dogs are more personable during their interview sessions, and cats are often seen sitting at the front of their cages. Massage isn't a luxury for our animals, she adds, its a necessity.
But it isn't just the animals who benefit. It's a win-win situation for everyone, says Beth Ward, Director of Animal Care at the Peninsula Humane Society. Both sides love the attention and affection, and volunteers know they've given a tremendous gift.
Tips on getting started
First, find a willing animal companion and practice. Massage is easy to learn and takes only a few minutes. In fact, you probably already know a lot of the motions. Remember, its the masseurs intent that makes massage different from just simple petting, and animals can sense a person's intent. Patience and persistence pay off. You may find some of these suggestions so subtle that you'll be tempted to shortcut around them, but it is precisely these subtleties that make massage work.
Notice your own state of mind. Do you feel rushed? Frustrated? Angry? It may feel strange, but what seems excruciatingly slow to you may feel very appropriate for your pet. A few minutes of well-intentioned touch can replace a half-hour of petting, so focus on your companion's needs.
Start with voice massage. Repeat an endearing phrase over and over again in a soothing tone (or tune) to capture your animal's attention and prepare both of you for contact. The words aren't important tone of your voice is. I sing, Who's the best boy in the whole wide world? Its you, Champer Damper, its you. Have fun coming up with something of your own.
As a courtesy to your animal, allow adequate time for the cat or dog, even a faithful family pet, to sniff, recognize and accept your extended hand before you actually touch him or her. Then, always begin your approach from the shoulders. Even with a small dog or a cat whom you know, never make first contact with the top of the head or the face, because they may perceive this as a threat.
Don't rush. Of the four different massage speeds that can be used, most people don't use slow motion often enough. Using two fingers, stroke under the chin for Chin Ups. Then repeat the stroke in double the amount of time, so that a four-count stroke will now take eight counts. Take a few deep breaths and let outside concerns fall away.
Use repetition. Repeat that same slow technique six times. It may seem boring to you, but it won't for your animal. Repetition establishes acceptance and familiarity, then relaxation.
If your dog refuses to relax or wants to play, consider giving a few basic commands, such as sit and down, in a firm voice until your pet becomes receptive to the routine.
Massage is very intuitive. Trust that intuitive feeling. Feel your animal's response. You'll be relaxed, and so will your pet.
Look for friendly feedback. For cats, that means blinking, purring (sometimes), drooling, sleeping, self-grooming, or perhaps a relaxed look in the eyes. For dogs, it could be licking the lips, a relaxed body posture or a calm appearance in the eyes.
Get a massage yourself! This is the best way for you to understand the different strokes and their cumulative benefits.
Once you've gotten the hang of massage, volunteer your gift to others. Remember, everything you learn at home with your own animals can be put to good use at your local shelter.
Pet an animal and you've made a friend for a day. Massage an animal, and you've made a friend for life.
Maryjean Ballner, author of Cat Massage and producer of the video Your Cat Wants a Massage! He hid so far back in his cage that he became almost invisible to the people who passed by him every day. She has conducted workshops on cat massage at humane societies in the San Francisco Bay Area and at The ASPCA.
Start with several slow-motion caresses, using four fingers together and mild pressure. Feel the bony contours.
Follow around to the front for some Breast Stroking. See if your animal wants you to increase the speed.
Now hold the chest in your cupped hand. No movement is necessary. Thwill be works well for frightened animals.
Stroke down your pet's back and count how long it takes. Repeat caresses from the throat to the tip of the chin. Now, rub the tip of the chin in a circular motion. If the chin reaches skyward, the cat wants moreyoure cooking now!
...and for dogs
Massaging the muscles of the head (1) and jaw (2) promotes a growing relaxation response. (3) Using the fingertips to apply a gentle circular stroke, while simultaneously kneading with the heel of the hand, produces a strong calming effect.
Never use force.
Never press on the animal's stomach.
Never attempt to give a massage while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
If you're not in a good mood, wait until you are.
Don't use oils, creams, or lotions.
Never pull fur, ears, tail, or whiskers.
Don't massage an aggressive dog without professional help. If in doubt, use a muzzle.
Pick up the videotape Your Cat Wants a Massage! or find Cat Massage, a 128-page book with photographs illustrating 40 techniques, by Maryjean Ballner, St. Martins Press. To order, call toll free 877-MEOW-MEOW, or visit www.catmassage.com.
Other books include The Handbook of Applied Dog Behavior and Training, Vol. I, Adaptation and Learning by Steven R. Lindsay, Iowa State University Press, and The Healing Touch, Dr. Michael W. Fox, Newmarket Press.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Animal Farm [Dramatised]
Written by: George Orwell
Narrated by: Tamsin Greig
New Classic Edition
Narrated by: Simon Prebble
George Orwell depicts a gray, totalitarian world dominated by Big Brother and its vast network of agents, including the Thought Police - a world in which news is manufactured according to the authorities' will and people live tepid lives by rote. Winston Smith, a hero with no heroic qualities, longs only for truth and decency. But living in a social system in which privacy does not exist and where those with unorthodox ideas are brainwashed or put to death, he knows there is no hope for him.
Excellent Reader
By Emily Bright Kennedy on 2018-02-04
Study Guide: George Orwell's Animal Farm
Written by: Robert Crayola
Narrated by: Stephen Paul Aulridge Jr.
George Orwell's Animal Farm is a dark fable showing the dangers of propaganda and totalitarianism. With this new guide, you will have an even greater understanding of the book. Included in this guide: a biography of author George Orwell, a look at the novel's historical context, its literary elements, detailed chapter summaries, analysis, and suggestions for essays. This is the definitive guide to Animal Farm - concise, easy to understand, and guaranteed to add to your enjoyment of this classic story.
Written by: William Golding
A plane crashes on a desert island and the only survivors, a group of schoolboys, assemble on the beach and wait to be rescued. By day they inhabit a land of bright fantastic birds and dark blue seas, but at night their dreams are haunted by the image of a terrifying beast. As the boys' delicate sense of order fades, so their childish dreams are transformed into something more primitive, and their behaviour starts to take on a murderous, savage significance.
simply beautiful<br />
By Joelle on 2018-05-12
Written by: Aldous Huxley
Narrated by: Michael York
When Lenina and Bernard visit a savage reservation, we experience how Utopia can destroy humanity.
Cloning, feel-good drugs, anti-aging programs, and total social control through politics, programming, and media: has Aldous Huxley accurately predicted our future? With a storyteller's genius, he weaves these ethical controversies in a compelling narrative that dawns in the year 632 A.F. (After Ford, the deity). When Lenina and Bernard visit a savage reservation, we experience how Utopia can destroy humanity.
By Jeremy on 2018-09-13
Summary, Review & Analysis: George Orwell's Animal Farm
Written by: BookBuddy
Narrated by: Lee Strayer
This summary was made for the listener who has a deep curiosity about classic literature, especially Animal Farm. It is the ideal guide to help you get a grasp on Orwell's story, which has been viewed as an allegory for 20th Century politics. In quick chapter breakdowns and analyses, this summary explains how Orwell's book was a cautionary tale against dictatorship, Communism, and the Soviet Union. Read this guide to get an overview and understanding of Animal Farm's themes, motifs, and symbols.
The Road to Wigan Pier
Narrated by: Jeremy Northam
A graphic and biting polemic that still holds a fierce political relevance and impact despite being written over half a century ago. First published in 1937 it charts George Orwell's observations of working-class life during the 1930s in the industrial heartlands of Yorkshire and Lancashire. His depictions of social injustice and rising unemployment, the dangerous working conditions in the mines amid general squalor and hunger also bring together many of the ideas explored in his later works and novels.
incredible, relevant
Written by: Ray Bradbury
Narrated by: Tim Robbins
Guy Montag is a fireman. In his world, where television rules and literature is on the brink of extinction, firemen start fires rather than put them out. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the printed book, along with the houses in which they are hidden. Montag never questions the destruction and ruin his actions produce, returning each day to his bland life and wife, Mildred, who spends all day with her television "family."
A dystopian tale relevant today
By Tee on 2018-06-13
Written by: Ernest Hemingway
Narrated by: Donald Sutherland
The Old Man and the Sea is one of Hemingway's most enduring works. Told in language of great simplicity and power, it is the story of an old Cuban fisherman, down on his luck, and his supreme ordeal, a relentless, agonizing battle with a giant marlin far out in the Gulf Stream. Here Hemingway recasts, in strikingly contemporary style, the classic theme of courage in the face of defeat, of personal triumph won from loss.
Well done and deeply moving
By Anonymous User on 2018-09-21
Crime and Punishment (Recorded Books Edition)
Written by: Fyodor Dostoevsky, Constance Garnett - translator
Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment is universally regarded as one of literature's finest achievements, as the great Russian novelist explores the inner workings of a troubled intellectual. Raskolnikov, a nihilistic young man in the midst of a spiritual crisis, makes the fateful decision to murder a cruel pawnbroker, justifying his actions by relying on science and reason, and creating his own morality system. Dehumanized yet sympathetic, exhausted yet hopeful, Raskolnikov represents the best and worst elements of modern intellectualism. The aftermath of his crime and Petrovich's murder investigation result in an utterly compelling, truly unforgettable cat-and-mouse game. This stunning dramatization of Dostoevsky's magnum opus brings the slums of St. Petersburg and the demons of Raskolnikov's tortured mind vividly to life.
Work of genius
By Joe Heath on 2018-09-23
Written by: John Steinbeck
Narrated by: Gary Sinise
While the powerlessness of the laboring class is a recurring theme in Steinbeck's work of the late 1930s, he narrowed his focus when composing Of Mice and Men (1937), creating an intimate portrait of two men facing a world marked by petty tyranny, misunderstanding, jealousy, and callousness. But though the scope is narrow, the theme is universal: a friendship and shared dream that make an individual's existence meaningful.
Great listen, but intro/outro music needs to go
Written by: Friedrich Nietzsche
Narrated by: Alex Jennings, Roy McMillan
Continuing where Thus Spoke Zarathustra left off, Nietzsche's controversial work Beyond Good and Evil is one of the most influential philosophical texts of the 19th century and one of the most controversial works of ideology ever written. Attacking the notion of morality as nothing more than institutionalised weakness, Nietzsche criticises past philosophers for their unquestioning acceptance of moral precepts. Nietzsche tried to formulate what he called "the philosophy of the future".
Written by: Jordan B. Peterson, Norman Doidge MD - foreword
A good summary of all his videos.
By Hogman on 2018-01-27
Notes from the Underground (AmazonClassics Edition)
Written by: Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Narrated by: Pete Simonelli
Isolated from society in a tenement basement in St. Petersburg, a malicious former civil servant vents his resentments. In the rambling notes that follow, we are exposed to the inner turmoil of the Underground Man, who represents the voice of his generation. An emotional, paranoid knot of contradictions, the spiteful narrator is also desperate to join a society he loathes, if only to prove his superiority to it.
Slow to start
By Loriel on 2019-07-17
Written by: Ben Shapiro
America has a God-shaped hole in its heart, argues New York Times best-selling author Ben Shapiro, and we shouldn't fill it with politics and hate.
common sense look at politics and how we got here
By Dougleaffan on 2019-03-21
Narrated by: Dylan Baker
At once naturalistic epic, captivity narrative, road novel, and transcendental gospel, Steinbeck's, The Grapes of Wrath is perhaps the most American of American classics. Although it follows the movement of thousands of men and women and the transformation of an entire nation during the Dust Bowl migration of the 1930s, The Grapes of Wrath is also the story of one Oklahoma farm family, the Joads, who are forced to travel west to the promised land of California.
Perhaps the best ever..
By Robert Lofstedt on 2019-05-17
Written by: Joseph Heller
Narrated by: Jay O. Sanders
Set in Italy during World War II, this is the story of the incomparable, malingering bombardier Yossarian, a hero who is furious because thousands of people he has never met are trying to kill him. But his real problem is not the enemy - it is his own army, which keeps increasing the number of missions the men must fly to complete their service. Yet if Yossarian makes any attempt to excuse himself from the perilous missions he's assigned, he'll be in violation of Catch-22.
Great book, tough as audiobook
By Andrew S on 2018-02-15
Written by: Sun Tzu
The 13 chapters of The Art of War, each devoted to one aspect of warfare, were compiled by the high-ranking Chinese military general, strategist, and philosopher Sun-Tzu. In spite of its battlefield specificity, The Art of War has found new life in the modern age, with leaders in fields as wide and far-reaching as world politics, human psychology, and corporate strategy finding valuable insight in its timeworn words.
little finger
Maps of Meaning
Written by: Jordan B. Peterson
From the author of 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos comes a provocative hypothesis that explores the connection between what modern neuropsychology tells us about the brain and what rituals, myths, and religious stories have long narrated. A cutting-edge work that brings together neuropsychology, cognitive science, and Freudian and Jungian approaches to mythology and narrative, Maps of Meaning presents a rich theory that makes the wisdom and meaning of myth accessible to the critical modern mind.
Intense but worth it
By harry on 2018-07-08
"All animals are equal. But some animals are more equal than others."
Animal Farm - the history of a revolution that went wrong - is George Orwell's brilliant satire on the corrupting influence of power. Mr Jones of Manor Farm is so lazy and drunken that one day he forgets to feed his livestock. The ensuing rebellion under the leadership of the pigs Napoleon and Snowball leads to the animals taking over the farm. Vowing to eliminate the terrible inequities of the farmyard, the renamed Animal Farm is organised to benefit all who walk on four legs. But as time passes, the ideals of the rebellion are corrupted, then forgotten. And something new and unexpected emerges....
Tamsin Greig, Nicky Henson, and Toby Jones star in this new drama, part of BBC Radio 4's The Real George Orwell season - a Radio 4 journey that explores the disjuncture between the man who was Eric Blair and the writer who was George Orwell.
©2013 AudioGO Ltd (P)2013 AudioGO Ltd
Homage to Catalonia
Revolting Rhymes & Dirty Beasts
Warhorses of Letters: Complete Series 1-3
The Minister of Chance
A must-to-read novel
Another amazing book by Orwell.
Narration was very good. It is dramatized which makes it like a radio program.
Carlton S.
Good story with a satirical lens on the corruption of power wealth. Enjoyed this every much.
like listening to a play
I liked this book everyone had a different voice short and easy to follow along!
Great story, lacklustre performance
This version is way too intense for me, and the sound quality is meh. I found it hard to listen to, and so I ultimately ended up listening to another version I found elsewhere.
It's a great book, but I wouldn't recommend this version.
Meelad
definitely recommend
what else is there to say about it
great read for almost any age
Packs A Lot In A Concise Package
Illustrates the dangers of not being allowed to think and speak freely. The "slippery slope" is real...and things can slide quickly.
Dramatization was excellent.
dursim
Small book, great meaning!!!
This one truly shows how power can corrupt everyone and how brainwashing can control everyone
All audio books are equal but some are more equal
Great audio excellent performances and unforgettable satire by the master of the paranoid realists.
I have listened to this multiple times.
Wonderfully done
This was a great production of a true timeless classic. The voice actors were all amazing, music was fitting, and the pace was spot on. I highly recommend this to everyone
Me & My Girls
Va United States
Another Look at the Russian Revolution
The animals revolt against the humans led by the pigs is successful. There is happiness, there is joy, a new day is upon us. Then the slow slide of the new leaders into the same positions once occupied by those who came before them.
Animal Farm was George Orwell's take on the Bolshevik revolution; the socialists overthrow of the Tsar and his government. Absolute power corrupts absolutely and the leaders of the Russian people have traditionally been authoritarian. Animal Farm tells the story of the slow slide of the revolutionary who frees the people into the reactionary who enslaves them even deeper than did his predecessors. An excellent classic that holds up quite well.
gtown
I don't like the accent that the story is told with. love the book, just want to hear it with an accent i understand better.
Canberra Dilettante
This was a beautifully performed version of Orwell's claasic novel. This would be a very easy way to introduce this worl to children who might not be great readers. Or, indeed, to adults. A very approachable adaptation and highly recommended.
Saint Augustine, FL, United States
Not allowed to give a classic less than 3 stars
Somehow I had managed to spend my entire life without reading this classic. It's short and to the point. I'm not sure how this dramatized version differs from the original but I suspect the story lines and dialogue are similar. I'm glad this was short because I don't think I could have listened for several more hours. I did, however, like the dramatized version, replete with sound effects and murmuring. Made it a little better. I've listened and I can cross another classic off my list. Don't think I'll tackle 1984.
Great for students!
My teacher told me to read this. I didn't have the time. This solved it!
A fun listen
Dramatised version is very well done and is fun to listen to. Enjoyed every bit of it.
Adit
it was an amazing experience overall. once I started , I couldn't stop. wonderful narrating and voice play
Raven Sierra Lian
Performed Story!! Love it!!
Great Book. Great Point. What makes this read so fun, is the characters "animals" are acted out. Different voices etc!!


Transforming the prison: Romantic optimism or appreciative realism?
This article explores the use of appreciative inquiry [AI] in a number of prisons, with different outcomes. It considers the nature of the AI process, both as a mode of inquiry and a mode of transformation. There are some links, in terms of the underlying principles, between AI and restorative justice and these are explored by the authors. They conclude that AI constitutes a fair and inclusive research approach that generates a rich and faithful account of a prison to emerge. It generates energy among prison staff that can be harnessed in the direction of better practice. But there are dangers when highly motivated prison officers are frustrated by a lack of responsiveness by senior managers in their 'wishes for the prison', however understandable the reasons for this. The mechanism at work is a normative process, which seems to engage the research participants in meaningful, constructive and ethically relevant dialogue about their practices and experiences. The special and complex moral environment of the prison makes AI especially relevant.


World Oral Health Day 5 Things You Should Do Daily To Maintain Hygiene images, videos and news can be Yalla at inside.ae a new search engine that allows you to organize search by bringing the results that are important to you to the top with a single click.
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Adjunct Faculty Member Department of Pharmacy Practice, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, USA.
I have been conducting research on mental health, and providing clinical services as a pharmacist in academic settings. Currently, I am an adjunct faculty member at Auburn University School of Pharmacy. Previously, I received PhD in pharmacology from University of Texas Health Science Center and served as a faculty member at University of California, Los Angeles. I have published several articles in reputed journals and presented at numerous research conferences across the nation. I have been Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator on large-scale research grants (totaling over $11 million) that I obtained from NIH and private organizations.


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Morning Coffee: Bank of America unit struck by sex scandal to be led by diversity champion. Doomy prediction from J.P. Morgan head
Bank of America is making changes to its prime brokerage business. Fresh from a sex scandal which saw Omeed Malik, the former head of its global prime brokerage sales business fired for allegedly making advances towards colleagues and having relationships with female subordinates, and then two other people let go for allegedly attempting to cover up for him, the bank has parachuted in a new boss to clear away any lingering cobwebs.
Business Insider reports that Bank of America's U.S. prime brokerage sales team will now be led by Kim Stolz, an MD who was previously based in London as BofA's head of equity derivatives hedge fund sales for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Stolz is clearly a very talented hedge fund saleswoman, but for a business seemingly blighted by machismo, she's also something more: an out lesbian with a historically successful modelling career.
Previously signed to Ford Models in New York, Stolz was a contestant on Cycle 5 of America's Next Top Model.in 2005, where she came fifth. Her bio says her TV appearance was memorable for the fact that she kissed "fellow contestant Sarah Rhoades in the limo," and "made out" with her while they were living in the Top Model House. Stolz worked at MTV from 2006 to 2010 before joining Citi in 2012 and Bank of America in 2014. She's a member of BofA's LGBT Executive Council, and has said that the bank, "promotes an LGBT-inclusive culture that makes me feel extremely proud to be who I am." Stolz's Wikipedia page further describes her as an "out lesbian" and says her father worked for Goldman Sachs while her mother was a former supermodel who worked for Ralph Lauren.
As head of U.S. prime brokerage sales, Stolz won't be stepping directly into Malik's shoes, but she'll almost certainly be managing members of his former team. When he left, Malik was global head of capital strategy and head of Americas prime brokerage origination. Stolz will be more the latter than the former. Either way, BofA looks like it's orchestrating a very different and more inclusive culture and some people at BofA are in for a big change.
Separately, Daniel Pinto, head of the corporate and investment bank at J.P. Morgan, thinks the recent market correction could be nothing compared to what's to come. A 30% to 40% correction in equity markets on the table in two or three years time, Pinto told Business Insider.
Law firms Linklaters and Pinsent Masons have reported that female employees earn 23 percent and 22 percent less on average, respectively, than their male colleagues. The gap at EY is 20 percent. (Bloomberg)
French economy minister: "Financial services cannot be in a free trade agreement, for many reasons, for reasons of stability, for the sake of supervision, because there are very specific rules for financial services." (Evening Standard)
Gary Cohn is expected to leave his White House job if Trump decides to go forward with tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. (Bloomberg)
Gary Cohn resigned: "It has been an honour to serve my country and enact pro-growth economic policies to benefit the American people, in particular the passage of historic tax reform." (Financial Times)
Morgan Stanley wants stock researchers who know about crypto currencies. (Business Insider)
Nomura's got a new (Japanese) global head of investment bank as its tries to crack the U.S. market. (Bloomberg)
Goldman wants six people in the UK for its new retail banking operation. (Business Insider)
The average salary for men working in science and engineering in the UK in 2017 was £41,200, while women were paid £33,000, a difference of 20 per cent. (New Scientist)
Man who used to run $40bn for BlackRock now runs a farm in Dorset. "I didn't have a family background in farming." (Marketwatch)
Have a confidential story, tip, or comment you'd like to share? Contact: sbutcher@efinancialcareers.com
Goldman Sachs said to lose one of its most senior rates traders in Europe
Morning Coffee: Semi-impoverished ex-Deutsche Bank trader is done with working in finance


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The unique culture of Japanese convenient stores
By Laura Studarus*
The true star of the Akutagawa Prize-winning novel Convenience Store Woman is the convenience store itself. But what is it that makes these shops so magical?
In her popular novel, Convenience Store Woman, Japanese author Sayaka Murata tells the story of Keiko Furukura, a worker at an unnamed convenience store who is struggling to find a place in a traditional society due to her status as an unmarried 36-year-old with a blue-collar job.
However, the true star of the unorthodox character's story is her workplace, described as a tiny ecosystem, aimed not only at providing consumers nourishment, but also infusing their lives with new sources of joy, bbc.com reported.
"A convenience store is not merely a place where customers come to buy practical necessities," said Furukura in the novel's opening pages. "It has to be somewhere they can enjoy and take pleasure in discovering things they like."
Although I read the Akutagawa Prize-winning novel before my trip to Japan, the description above struck me as overly romantic. However, as someone who has made the mistake of equating fast food with low quality, I was surprised to find that Japanese convenience stores, such as 7-Eleven, Family Mart and Lawson (the three companies that claim the lion's share of the Japanese market), served as an introduction to local tastes, leading me to skip the basic crisps I'd usually grab at home in favor of sampling flavors like mayonnaise, ume (a fruit in the plum family) and soy sauce.
I also found myself considering freshly made onigiri rice balls, grab-and-go udon noodles and traditional buns with flavors like pizza, sweet bean and pumpkin cream. It might not have been as utopic as Murata led me to believe, but even as a foreigner who needed help counting her change, the variety of the goods and the ease of finding a cheap lunch left a lasting impression.
Karen Gardiner, a Scottish writer now based in the United States, lived in Tokyo for two years, beginning in 2005. As a temporary expat, she shared the joy I found in the country's convenience stores (or 'konbini' as they're referred to in Japan). Any nearby store became a regular part of her routine.
"I'd only buy food from an American convenience store if I was really desperate – actually, I went into a 7-Eleven [in Baltimore, US] a few weeks ago when desperate and still didn't buy anything," she said. "They seem quite grim, like stuff has been sitting there for ages. I think someone visiting the US from Japan would be quite disappointed if they walked into a store here... I'd eat [in Japan] when I was out or on the way to or from work, or just needed a quick egg sandwich or onigiri."
* The article by Laura Studarus, a freelance travel writer and photographer, was first published by BBC.


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Ag Masters
Marketing Group
11/30/12 - Western vs. G/P
2012-2013 Basketball
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Home > Opinion > Letters
[Letter to the editor]Korea shows why Hillary will win
There is a dearth of information in the high school curriculum on contraception and sexually transmitted diseases. In fact, there is a dearth of rudimentary information about the physical changes experienced by teenagers during puberty. Still, the level of health care in the communal, mostly co-ed hospital wards in South Korea is superb, overall.
Further, in my opinion, it is second to none in the world.
Going to the hospital in South Korea is a communal thing. Visiting hours aren't closely observed. In fact, staff routinely provide an extra cot. Families just move in with the patient. Friends bring the patient good things to eat. They share with strangers. Little children, having finished dinner early, holler and run around. Whereas patients in eight-bed rooms have 100 percent of the cost met by national medical insurance, a patient in his or her own room must pay 80 percent of the cost of that exclusive room. This could amount to a million won per day.
The United States has a lot to learn about single-payer national health insurance. Senator Hillary Clinton from New York favors mandatory health coverage.
Illinois Senator Barack Obama's current ascent began when he was the headliner at Iowa Senator Tom Harkin's steak fry, in the first caucus state, Iowa. Harkin was a presidential candidate 16 years ago. In the wake of Super Tuesday 1992, 15 national labor leaders who had backed Harkin had to find other standard-bearers.
I think that Clinton will win both my party's nomination and the U.S. presidency. Don't get me wrong; Obama, a great Democrat, is still a formidable opponent. Bill Clinton was deeply relieved in 1992 when Mario M. Cuomo, then governor of New York and seen as the leading candidate on the Democratic side at the time, declined to run.
But more California Democratic delegates are now committed to Hillary.
Richard Thompson, Hankuk Academy of Foreign Studies, Yongin, Gyeonggi
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