Israel at 60: A vibrant nation still in search of itself

[Behind the Aegis]

The Associated Press

Sat, Apr 19, 2008 (10:02 a.m.)

The story of Israel at 60 is the tale of a little town named Sderot whose children play indoors because of Palestinian rockets, of a world-class tech industry that pioneered Wi-Fi and instant messaging, of a nation filled with pride and fierce patriotism, yet living in fear of annihilation from abroad and of a demographic time bomb at home.

Six decades after fighting six Arab armies to realize the ancient dream of a Jewish return to Zion, Israel is still searching for its identity and place in the world, lacking recognized borders and a way of sharing the land with its Arab inhabitants, the Palestinians.

This existential struggle plays itself out every day in the Holy Land, whether in the furious construction of Israeli homes on disputed territory, or the touch-and-go attempts to make peace with moderate Palestinians while clashing daily with the militants in the Gaza Strip.

Geut Aragon has a piece of shrapnel permanently lodged in her brain from a rocket that struck her home in Sderot, the southern town near Gaza, three months ago. She keeps her two young sons indoors.

"Since they were born they know nothing else," Aragon says. "Sirens, sheltered rooms _ they don't play like regular children." Although she still suffers from headaches and dizziness, she vows to stay in Sderot and even plans to celebrate on independence day, May 8, the Jewish calendar date for Israel's declaration of statehood on May 14, 1948.

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[notfullofit]

1. Mrs Aragon is one brave lady

may God bless her children and keep them safe from harm.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

2. As Oberliner said the other day, it's only a tiny % of Isarelis affected

so...