Public Enemy #2

Who’s afraid of the biometric database?

Mati Shemoelof — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 04:42:33 +0000

cc: flickr | Database Nation By brewbooks

Who’s afraid of the biometric database?

Israeli newspapers reported this week that Israel’s Population Registry was almost leaked to the Internet. Countless columns have been written about the danger posed by the biometric database proposed by the government. Science fiction books and movies warn us about the dangers of state totalitarian control over our lives. In the future, they warn, it will be possible to alter our identities, sell our information to the highest bidder, frame us and, in the worst case scenario, erase our information.

The funny thing is that, in any case, we already willingly provide all of our information to technology firms. Thus, for example, the eulogies for Steve Jobs and the abundant praise of Apple and its products never mention the dark side of the iPhone (or any other smartphone). The aggressive device has long become a portable computer stuffed into a cellular phone. Not for nothing has it amassed an enormous number of admirers around the world, but with its great advantages come disadvantages as well.

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The latest upgrade, which moved Apple users to the iOS5 program, has already done it all. Thanks to it we now breathe, inhale and exhale on the Web. Backing up our devices is already not done on our computers. We don’t need to connect the cable to our PC. We don’t need to do anything. Our information is backed up daily in the digital cloud. With iOS5, Apple saves us the trouble of updating and backing up our digital treasures by automatically backing everything up directly to Apple servers (iCloud) through the cellular network, without the need for an actual physical connection. The cloud moves between all of our cell phones, between the personal computer and the iPod. And thus, all of our personal information – emails, letters, papers, music, movies we like – everything is constantly moving from place to place.

Apple has done this without the need to battle against activists who oppose the biometric database law. It didn’t need politics to pass new laws. The corporation already holds so much information that it does not need to fight the state and its authority over our identities.

We are already hostages to fast-developing technologies, which only increase Apple’s power. With one small malfunction, Apple can shut down or even erase our information. Blackberry users have already experienced this – a malfunction in the phone left millions of users without the ability to send email or use other systems on the portable device. Such is life.

Corruption at Apple could result in our information ending up with another corporation, or in the worst case, hackers could expose it online. Despite this, Apple enjoys our unquestioned trust. We love its technology, and we are addicted to the technological innovations that it delivers, never thinking for a second about the implications of the virtual network’s accelerated penetration into our lives.

So while we are worried about the information that the state holds about us, the cellular telephone has already become our identity card, giving giant corporations more information about us than the state will ever have.

Science fiction has become reality, yet we are still waging old-fashioned struggles against the state. This week we received a harsh warning about the responsibility of those who hold the state’s data. The question is, what happens when we get a warning from the heads of Apple?

this article was first published on israel hayom

Israel needs its own freedom riders

Mati Shemoelof — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:53:09 +0000

by codepinkhq cc: flickr | Conyers 007

Thanks to my friends the journalist Khaled Diab i could support the Palistinian freedom riders on his Jpost op-ed.

“It would help challenge the myths and misconceptions that Israelis have about Palestinians and highlight, through direct action, the reality of segregation,” he said. The myths and misconceptions that Shemoelof thinks Israeli freedom riders can counter include the widespread Israeli belief that Palestinians enjoy sovereignty but cannot govern themselves. That could help explain the paradoxical attitude that more than half of Israelis want to return the occupied territories but have not mobilized to do so.

Another common misconception is that Palestinians do not know the meaning of non-violent protest.

“Most of the Israelis after the second intifada refuse to believe that the Palestinian can be our friends. They see them as Hamasnics [Hamas members]. Israelis can’t relate to Palestinian life because of mass media demonization, ” said Shemoelof

Read the all of Khaled Diab Op-ed from Jpost

Only hurting ourselves

Mati Shemoelof — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 08:26:12 +0000

human rights march december 9-2011

The bill to prevent political non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Israel from receiving donations from foreign governments will harm Israeli civil society first and foremost. Today, numerous social organizations receive grants and donations from foreign governments in order to conduct projects on behalf of the Israeli public. The government even learns from these organizations, using their research reports and gleaning knowledge from their activities and conferences.

In recent decades, Israeli governments have cut back the branches of the welfare state, which was designed to grant citizens social security in a variety of areas. Civil society organizations have moved in to take their place. Not in order to replace the state (no organization can replace a state), but to show it what is possible, desirable and necessary to do. These organizations have succeeded in illuminating places where the state is absent or has completely withdrawn.

The new law would harm many of these NGOs, without regard for their quality, goals or the significance of the aid they provide to the general public. The law would hinder organizations that focus on welfare, health, education and other areas. As a result, Israelis who have received educational, social, medical, community or humanitarian aid would be harmed.

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Numerous population groups will be left without assistance, and as a result will decline and be unable to make their voices heard and make their unique contribution to society. The proposed law’s greatest damage will occur precisely in those weak places that are far from the public eye and scrutiny of the media. These are the places where most of Israel lives: the periphery, development towns and weak neighborhoods.

A good number of these organizations produce very important research reports that promote policies that put citizens’ and human rights at the center. Thus, there can be no question here of Left or Right. The law as proposed would harm organizations with varied agendas, on both sides of the aisle – those who seek a capitalist society, and those who wish for a social-democratic society; those who want a community-oriented society and those who prefer liberalism.

Jewish thought has survived since the destruction of the Second Temple precisely because of its ability to preserve a cohesive community, which includes both weak and strong. At the moment, there are voices in politics that fear the winds of change. Instead of allowing criticism to be aired, they seek to silence it.

Governments of the world, too often, make mistakes. As citizens, we must return the train to its track, especially when it comes to areas where the state has forgotten its promises. Israel’s Declaration of Independence promises us social justice, equality and other values, but in order to realize them we need prophets willing to stand at the gate and deliver the harshest rebukes. Let’s learn to listen, even if our listening is funded from abroad, even if the words are harsh. A pluralistic Israel is a good thing.

The sponsors of the bill should listen to the wonderful poem by Rabbi Shalom Shabazi: “Even if the gates of the rich are closed, the gates of heaven will never be closed.”

This article was first published on israel hayom

Social Justice and gender in Jewish Sources | Shlomit Lir

Mati Shemoelof — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:34:50 +0000

Here is an interesting review on an anthology that i was part of it.

Words from the heart

Mati Shemoelof — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 08:06:36 +0000

Welcome home, Gilad Shalit. We waited for you, and cried while you were gone. There is no greater pain than the pain of a mother whose child was abducted and put in prison. Your family has gone through difficult trials awaiting your return.

Your were denied your rights for a long time. You couldn’t make contact with those who love you, and you became a bargaining chip. But today you have returned to your family, to a safe place, a loving place, one that will never again abandon you.

You will once again sleep in your own bed. You will once again eat food prepared by your mother. You will be updated on family matters – about your aunts, uncles and grandparents. You will discover how much the nation has worried about you, in Israel and abroad – how many activities, protests and requests were sent to the four corners of the world just so that you would return home peacefully.

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There is no better feeling than the soft bed sheets in your room. To smell the beloved odors of the home you grew up in. To feel its walls and look out at the surrounding scenery in anticipation of the impending winter, and then spring.

So many things have happened, but time stood still for your mother, father and family, and also for you. You lived without knowing anything about events transpiring in the world, without the ability to speak and make your voice heard, and without being able to stand up for your rights. Now, you can suddenly open your mouth again and speak, make your voice heard, and once again have full rights in this democratic country.

But don’t listen to all those voices calling on you to become a public figure. Stay within the confines of your family. Give them your love, and receive theirs. The most important thing now is to renew your love for each other, and ignore the commotion in the media. There is no greater pain than the one your family has experienced for the past few years. Each day was like a stab in the heart, a missed opportunity and a fateful journey during which there were no shoulders to lean on.

We are all excited for your arrival. There was plenty of worry throughout this prolonged process. We worried that something unexpected would suddenly prevent you from returning home. Every family wants their son or daughter to return home in peace. No one wants to raise a child for so many years, only to lose him or her in a moment.

Enter your home Gilad. Embrace your family’s love, and know that every passing moment they did everything they could to have you released. The small things in life will now become big things for you – your meals in the morning, afternoon and evening, birthdays, family celebrations, and holidays will all be the big events in your life now.

This is perhaps the greatest gift for someone who has been away from his home for so long – being able to experience the simple things in life. You will once again be able to experience faith and hope in a world that has disappointed you so much.

This article was first published on Israel Hayom

An Egyptian Amongst Israelis | Khaled Diab

Mati Shemoelof — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:57:34 +0000

Temple Mount. cc: wikipedia

Egyptian living in Jerusalem offers an intriguing take on Israeli society and the Palestinians.

“[...] Quite a few Israelis have also been inspired by events in Egypt, despite the fears elicited by Mubarak’s downfall among politicians and in mainstream society. “[The Arab Spring] has made me more eager to dream that the borders will open one day,” Mati Shemoelof, an Israeli journalist, poet and activist told me over drinks. “And I feel that we can only learn from this fabulous, new, brave movement.”

And as if to confirm his point, Israel has subsequently been gripped by protests over soaring housing prices, centred on Tel Aviv’s Rothschild’s Avenue, which has been described by some commentators as the country’s own “Tahrir Square”. I recently headed to the Israeli Tahrir to attend the largest demo so far – and probably the largest in Israel’s history – and was impressed by the vibrancy, creativity, diversity and good-naturedness of the crowd. An Israeli I know was keen to find out if I thought the protests compared favourably to those in Egypt.”

For the rest of the article please click here

Khaled Diab is an Egyptian writer living in Jerusalem.

I am an Arab Jew

Mati Shemoelof — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 09:50:01 +0000

A very rare voice from the Israeli society – we do recomend you read Lihi’s Yona’s post

Israeli Tent City Artists Bring Creativity to Masses

Mati Shemoelof — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:25:01 +0000

Painters, Poets and Musicians Join Movement for Justice

Six thousand copies of the poetry book, edited by Hirsch and others and published by a collaborative of online and print poetry journals and collectives, among them Daka, Maayan, Erev Rav, Etgar and Cultural Guerilla, have been distributed, free of charge or for a donation, at many of the tent cities around the country, as well as by e-mail in PDF form. Most of the poems submitted, by lesser-known poets as well as by such major names as Aharon Shabtai and Ronny Someck, had never before been published.
Read more

Stay in the tents, it’s not over yet

Mati Shemoelof — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:26:42 +0000

The tent protest must continue. Its achievements until this point have been tremendous, but it has great potential for more. Who would have believed just one month ago that most sectors of lsraelis would present a united social front? Years after we claimed that the Knesset was out of touch with the public, the tent protest is reconnecting the loose ends of social rights and forcing the government to take a deeper interest in its ctizens.

The tent protests have brought hundreds of thousands into the streets, painting the public canvas with their political and social demands. But they could do more. They could bring more than 1 million people into the streets, and in doing so make history by creating the greatest social protest the country has ever known. One million people demanding total economic and social change would constitute a unique and grand social movement, proving to the government that the demand for change has sweeping support across the entire population.

A few days ago, I woke up in the morning and heard the neighbor’s kids yelling, “The people want social justice!” The tent protests, which started small, are now rooted among the people. They will continue to influence the coming generation, as well as those of us, like me, who are in our 40s. We have never seen a movement like this in Israel, one that demands swift implementation of the principles of social and welfare-state justice. Our school teachers never taught us about the origins of the Black Panther movement in Israel. But who can forget the powerful speech delivered by former Black Panther leader Charlie Biton to more than 300,000 protesters last week? We are learning while we march. More than 40 years have passed since the Israeli incarnation of the Black Panthers held their protests, and we are currently in the midst of something that is close to a non-violent revolution.

The tent protests must continue because they are jubilant, creative, talented, and fresh. My partner and I took a tour of the tent camps across the country, from Tel Aviv to Kiryat Shmona. At each camp, we heard demands that reflected the local environment. In every place, we were greeted warmly, with curiosity and glee. This is the Israel of 2011 — we will all remember it. An Israel that opens its tents to social justice, and to all who come to visit her.

It’s an Israel with a new multicultural vision.

Upon returning from the wonderful protest in Beersheba, I met a few protesters from the Levinsky Street tents, and we discussed the protest’s political achievements. They were curious what I thought could be done. Among other possibilities, I mentioned returning public monies tied up in socially related budgets, instilling company tax hikes, refunding inheritance tax money, and adopting a higher progressive tax plan. But I explained that the solutions should not be temporary. Any change in the government’s budget (increasing government incomes and expenditures) must be accompanied by persistent protests to make sure that when change does come, it is here to stay.

The tent protest is our way of jolting the current political environment and pointing out its failures. It was not proper that the Prime Minister asked to meet with tent protest leaders with no cameras present while passing the National Housing Committees Law, which privatized government owned land. It’s not proper that while hundreds of thousands filled the streets from Eilat to Kiryat Shmona, the Knesset took a vacation. This is simply unheard of.

The people demand change. Real change. If the protest ends now, there will be no real and deep change.

This article was first published on Israel Hayom

Racism and the Labor party

Mati Shemoelof — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 04:43:13 +0000

cc: flickr | By dannybirchall | Rock Against Racism

The candidates running for leadership of the Labor party are good at exposing racism. The phenomenon is not a new one, and has mainly reared its head in the disparaging treatment of Amir Peretz.

I still remember the remarks of Gigi Peres, Shimon Peres’ brother, who said that, “North African phalangists took over the party” after Peretz won the election for Labor chairmanship in 2005. Then, more recently, we heard Isaac “Buji” Herzog describe Peretz to an American colleague using three adjectives: inexperienced, aggressive and Moroccan. And after that Amram Mitzna, a candidate who has no chance and no charisma, claimed, “Herzog and [MK Shelly] Yachimovich have a huge advantage. They are not Amir Peretz. He comes from another land. We can build an effective workforce with them after the election. That didn’t exist in my previous term, when everyone saw only my personal interest. This time it can be different.”

Peretz, who has used his political capabilities to bring an impressive number of new members to the party, has been accused of being an alien. Regardless of whom Labor supporters choose to support, the treatment of Peretz has been outrageous.

It appears that the failed leaders of the Labor party haven’t looked in the mirror lately. They don’t understand that times have changed. Employees at Haifa Chemicals have been striking for nearly two months without the public having heard the voices of the oppressed. In Kiryat Shmona, all of the cultural institutions are shutting down due to debt – an entire city will remain without cultural venues. Say what you will about Peretz, but he is conscious of such enormous social problems and he seeks their resolution. He isn’t from a different planet. He simply adheres to a different ideology.

According to reports, in his remarks about the recent Labor party membership drive, Mitzna said, “Amir Peretz recruits people who don’t belong in the Labor party. He brings hamulot [a derogatory term for extended families or clans]. He is building himself a camp of supporters, so that even if he loses in the primaries, he will be able to impose himself on the winner. I hear horrible things about the membership drive.”

Mitzna apparently doesn’t understand politics. He doesn’t understand that every leader builds a camp of supporters for himself. But, more importantly, he has once again repeated the mantra that Mizrahi Jews are influenced by a herd mentality. It’s a shame that the battle for Labor party leadership has highlighted the division of Israel according to east and west – and implied that if someone is Mizrahi, something is wrong with him, he is an alien, unprofessional, aggressive, or finally, Moroccan.

This article was first published on israel hayom