Few facts about the Arab/Israeli conflicts

A friend just sent me the following paragraphs which
I thought it is worth noting here - as facts:

1. ISRAEL BECAME A STATE IN 1312 B.C., TWO MILLENNIA BEFORE ISLAM;
2. ARAB REFUGEES FROM ISRAEL BEGAN CALLING THEMSELVES "PALESTINIANS" IN 1967, TWO DECADES AFTER (MODERN) ISRAELI STATEHOOD;
3. AFTER CONQUERING THE LAND IN 1272 B.C., JEWS RULED IT FOR A THOUSAND YEARS AND MAINTAINED A CONTINUOUS PRESENCE THERE FOR 3,300 YEARS;
4. THE ONLY ARAB RULE FOLLOWING CONQUEST IN 633 B.C. LASTED JUST 22 YEARS;
5. FOR OVER 3,300 YEARS, JERUSALEM WAS THE JEWISH CAPITAL. IT WAS NEVER THE CAPITAL OF ANY ARAB OR MUSLIM ENTITY. EVEN UNDER JORDANIAN RULE, (EAST) JERUSALEM WAS NOT MADE THE CAPITAL, AND NO ARAB LEADER CAME TO VISIT IT;
6. JERUSALEM IS MENTIONED OVER 700 TIMES IN THE BIBLE, BUT NOT ONCE IS IT MENTIONED IN THE QUR'AN;
7. KING DAVID FOUNDED JERUSALEM; MOHAMMED NEVER SET FOOT IN IT;
8. JEWS PRAY FACING JERUSALEM; MUSLIMS FACE MECCA. IF THEY ARE BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES, MUSLIMS PRAY FACING MECCA, WITH THEIR BACKS TO JERUSALEM;
9. IN 1948, ARAB LEADERS URGED THEIR PEOPLE TO LEAVE, PROMISING TO CLEANSE THE LAND OF JEWISH PRESENCE. 68% OF THEM FLED WITHOUT EVER SETTING EYES ON AN ISRAELI SOLDIER;
10. VIRTUALLY THE ENTIRE JEWISH POPULATION OF MUSLIM COUNTRIES HAD TO FLEE AS THE RESULT OF VIOLENCE AND POGROMS;
11. SOME 630,000 ARABS LEFT ISRAEL IN 1948, WHILE CLOSE TO A MILLION JEWS WERE FORCED TO LEAVE THE MUSLIM COUNTRIES;
12. IN SPITE OF THE VAST TERRITORIES AT THEIR DISPOSAL, ARAB REFUGESS WERE DELIBERATELY PREVENTED FROM ASSIMILATING INTO THEIR HOST COUNTRIES. OF 100 MILLION REFUGEES FOLLOWING WORLD WAR 2, THEY ARE THE ONLY GROUP TO HAVE NEVER INTEGRATED WITH THEIR CORELIGIONISTS. MOST OF THE JEWISH REFUGEES FROM EUROPE AND ARAB LANDS WERE SETTLED IN ISRAEL, A COUNTRY NO LARGER THAN NEW JERSEY;
13. THERE ARE 22 MUSLIM COUNTRIES, NOT COUNTING PALESTINE. THERE IS ONLY ONE JEWISH STATE. ARABS STARTED ALL FIVE WARS AGAINST ISRAEL, AND LOST EVERY ONE OF THEM;
14. FATAH AND HAMAS CONSTITUTIONS STILL CALL FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF ISRAEL. ISRAEL CEDED MOST OF THE WEST BANK AND ALL OF GAZA TO THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, AND EVEN PROVIDED ITWITH ARMS;
15. DURING THE JORDANIAN OCCUPATION, JEWISH HOLY SITES WERE VANDALIZED AND WERE OFF LIMITS TO JEWS. UNDER ISRAELI RULE, ALL MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN HOLY SITES ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL FAITHS;
16. OUT OF 175 UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS UP TO 1990, 97 WERE AGAINST ISRAEL;
17.OUT OF 690 GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTIONS, 429 WERE AGAINST ISRAEL;
18. THE U.N. WAS SILENT WHEN THE JORDANIANS DESTROYED 58 SYNAGOGUES IN THE OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM. IT REMAINED SILENT WHILE JORDAN SYSTEMATICALLY DESECRATED THE ANCIENT JEWISHCEMETERY ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, AND IT REMAINED SILENT WHEN JORDAN ENFORCED APARTHEID LAWS PREVENTING JEWS FROM ACCESSING THE TEMPLE MOUNT AND WESTERN WALL.

WE MUST ASK OURSELVES WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING, AND WHAT WE WILL TELL OUR GRANDCHILDREN ABOUT OUR ACTIONS DURING THIS CRISIS, WHEN WE HAD THE CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

38 things about a SHITTY LITTLE COUNTRY!

The Middle East has been growing date palms for centuries. The average tree is about 18-20 feet tall and yields about 38 pounds of dates a year. Israeli date trees are now yielding 400 pounds/year and are short enough to be harvested from the ground or a short ladder.
Have a look here.

Israel is the 100th smallest country, with less than 1/1000th of the world's population, can lay claim to the following:
The Middle East has been growing date palms for centuries. The average tree is about 18-20 feet tall and yields about 38 pounds of dates a year. Israeli date trees are now yielding 400 pounds/year and are short enough to be harvested from the ground or a short ladder.

The cell phone was developed in Israel by Israelis working in the Israeli branch of Motorola, which has its largest development center in Israel.

Most of the Windows NT and XP operating systems were developed by Microsoft-Israel.

The Pentium MMX Chip technology was designed in Israel at Intel.

Both the Pentium-4 microprocessor and the Centrino processor were entirely designed, developed and produced in Israel. The Pentium microprocessor in your computer was most likely made in Israel.

Voice mail technology was developed in Israel.

Both Microsoft and Cisco built their only R&D facilities outside the US in Israel.

The technology for the AOL Instant Messenger ICQ was developed in 1996 by four young Israelis.

Israel has the fourth largest air force in the world (after the U.S, Russia and China).
In addition to a large variety of other aircraft, Israel's air force has an aerial arsenal of over 250 F-16's. This is the largest fleet of F-16 aircraft outside of the U.S

Israel's $100 billion economy is larger than all of its immediate neighbors combined.

Israel has the highest percentage in the world of home computers per capita.

According to industry officials, Israel designed the airline industry's most impenetrable flight security. US officials now look (finally) to Israel for advice on how to handle airborne security threats.

Israel has the highest ratio of university degrees to the population in the world.

Israel produces more scientific papers per capita than any other nation by a large margin - 109 per 10,000 people -- as well as one of the highest per capita rates of patents filed.

In proportion to its population, Israel has the largest number of startup companies in the world. In absolute terms, Israel has the largest number of startup companies than any other country in the world, except the U.S. (3,500 companies mostly in hi-tech).

With more than 3,000 high-tech companies and startups , Israel has the highest concentration of hi-tech companies in the world - apart from the Silicon Valley, U.S.

Israel is ranked #2 in the world for venture capital funds right behind the U.S

Outside the United States and Canada, Israel has the largest number of NASDAQ listed companies.

Israel has the highest average living standards in the Middle East.

The per capita income in Israel in 2000 was over $17,500, exceeding that of the UK

On a per capita basis, Israel has the largest number of biotech startups

24% of Israel's workforce holds university degrees, ranking third in the industrialized world, after the United States and Holland and 12 per cent hold advanced degrees.

Israel is the only liberal democracy in the Middle East.

In 1984 and 1991, Israel airlifted a total of 22,000 Ethiopian Jews (Operations Solomon and Moses) at Risk in Ethiopia, to safety in Israel

When Golda Meir was elected Prime Minister of Israel in 1969, she became the world's second elected female leader in modern times

When the U. S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya was bombed in 1998 Israeli rescue teams were on the scene within a day - and saved three victims from the rubble

Israel has the third highest rate of entrepreneurship -- and the highest rate among women and among people over 55 - in the world.

Relative to its population, Israel is the largest immigrant-absorbing nation on earth. Immigrants come in search of democracy, religious freedom, and economic opportunity. Hundreds of thousands from the former Soviet Union.

Israel was the first nation in the world to adopt the Kimberly process, an international standard that certifies diamonds as "conflict free."

Israel has the world's second highest per capita of new books.

Israel is the only country in the world that entered the 21st century with a net gain in its number of trees, made more remarkable because this was achieved in an area considered mainly desert.

Israel has more museums per capita than any other country

Medicine... Israeli scientists developed the first fully computerized, no-radiation, diagnostic instrumentation for breast cancer.

An Israeli company developed a computerized system for ensuring proper administration of medications, thus removing human error from medical treatment. Every year in U. S. hospitals 7,000 patients die from treatment mistakes.

Israel's Given Imaging developed the first ingestible video camera, so small it fits inside a pill. Used to view the small intestine from the inside, cancer and digestive disorders

Researchers in Israel developed a new device that directly helps the heart pump blood, an innovation with the potential to save lives among those with heart failure. The new device is synchronized with the camera helps doctors diagnose heart's mechanical operations through a sophisticated system of sensors.

Israel leads the world in the number of scientists and technicians in the workforce, with 145 per 10,000, as opposed to 85 in the U. S., over 70 in Japan, and less than 60 in Germany. With over 25% of its work force employed in technical professions, Israel places first in this category as well.

A new acne treatment developed in Israel, the Clear Light device, produces a high -intensity, ultraviolet-light-free, narrow-band blue light that causes acne bacteria to self-destruct - all without damaging surrounding skin or tissue.

An Israeli company was the first to develop and install a large-scale solar-powered and fully functional electricity generating plant, in southern California's Mojave Desert.

All the above while being engaged in regular wars with an implacable enemy that seeks its destruction and an economy continuously under strain by having to spend more per capita on its own protection than any other county on earth. …

AND THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR IN ENGLAND SAYS:

"ISRAEL IS NOTHING BUT A SHITTY LITTLE COUNTRY"

Specifically these days - I am proud to belong to this shitty little country!

Thoughts of Wafa Sultan

Usually I am not involved in politics nor in debates regarding the Arab/Israeli conflict.
However these days one cannot avoid some thoughts. It is presented all over TV stations around the world, and it looks like Israel is the aggressor. Whenever you see bleeding or dead kids nobody can stand that...Unfortunately our TV is not using our own kids blood for promotion...After all Jews are used to die quietly....

Nonobody really listens to the simple fact:
Hezbollah hits our civilians ON PURPOSE... 200 + missiles a day targeted at Israeli civilians only....When we hit civilians its by mistake......its the rocket launchers we are after and they are hidden most of the times within civilian territories as you can see in this video..
In the same time it is evident that if we do nothing - we are doomed....The "great" Iranian leader calls everyday for the "wipe out of Israel"... and without us knowing about it he built Hezbollah as his front end....

Don't miss this video.

Look what Wafa Sultan, an Arab/American Psichaterist has to say about the conflict...in English

How to MMS a CROSS Pen…

In the last few weeks the assistant of our MMS Business Unit manager was constantly trying to arrange a meeting between us. The declared reason – a review of the MMS sales processes in my region. Usually I have NO TIME for such reviews and I decline and delay those, until its impossible to delay it anymore.
In this case I had another reason to always decline – it is in another distant building; so it always takes 10 minutes before and after…and I prefer to avoid.
She nailed me last week, and I went to the meeting.

Entering the room I saw many people, all waiting for me…it was already a bit strange.. I thought it’s a mistake and I should not be there.

After few words, the Business Unit manager handed to me a small gift box. Yet I did not get it and was pretty confused...
It happened that they wanted to surprise me and note the fact that I was a significant sales contributor to their division. And I did not even know that before….
Simon, their Business guy who assisted me on the Polish P4 deal(and probably the one who plotted to surprise me...) captured that moment with his lousy phone camera (see below).



Couldn't you at least capture me with my eyes open?!

This gesture is appreciated.

Although I really respect the MMS BU and the Cross pen I received – I already don’t know where is it….. it happens to me with any pen...

For all other BUs who want to surprise me: – please surprise me with something I will not lose…Jacob, Simon and the whole BU - thank you very much.

To Blog?...or not to Blog???? #2

2As mentioned in my previous post with the same subject, I am trying both preparing Newsletter and a blog to determine what’s best for my business.

I already learnt the following things:

1.Newsletter takes long time to prepare – a personal blog is a snap
2.I got used to post personal stories on a blog – quite easily. I will have same difficulties as in a newsletter to put business content in. The difficulty is finding the relevant content which will relate to the audience.
3.This blog will not be for business (although Yigal thinks that a blog, even a business one should be personal)
4.I like the graphical result of my personal blog, and I don’t really care if somebody reads it or not. It’s a sort of a diary to store some adventures. Therefore it will probably be continued.
5.I’ll probably establish another blog – this time for a real business purpose.

We’ll see.

Opus Dei..and the CEO

In the famous book “Da Vinci code” of Dan Brown, he tells among the rest, about a group within Christianity called Opus Dei. This group is quite mysterious. Its worshippers do bizarre things to , torturing themselves sometimes to remind how Jesus was tortured…
In the book, Opus Dei worshipper is trying to protect the secrets of Christianity from exposure, killing people on the way, and is led by the first clergy man of the Opus Dei…no wonder the book was banned in some religious countries.. such as Spain and the Philippines.

Opus Dei is also very reach.

I just finished the book and even went to the movie with my wife. Why do I tell about it?
Well, in my last visit in the Philippines I met one of the most important persons in the Philippines business arena. The meeting and the people were very nice (although no business yet...just nice :-).

After we ended the meeting , heading out, my local country manager, MON, told me suddenly two words “ Opus Dei”.

I immediately recalled “Opus Dei”, had a negative conotation from the book, and asked for explanation and the connection to the meeting.

That’s an interesting thing. It happens , that since in the Philippines they are very much religious, the church controls many assets. Apart from being our country manager, Mon is also lecturing frequently and acts as a patron in his local church.
The clergical influemce is so strong there; two of the board members of that company are priests. More then that, the senior people whom we met – belong to the Opus Dei group.
(By the way - the picture above is the vision of manila from their meeting room)

I never imagined that I would be so closely connected to this group. The only torture I think these people are connected with – is making their business suppliers life very difficult….:-)

When lately did you brush your bag?

Brushing my shoes is a task I never do (although I should…).

However, whenever I see a person, offering brushing my shoes, for a fee, will it be in Turkey, Poland, or elsewhere – I immediately seat down and let him brush…my shoes need it and somehow I feel good I help the poor guy with a small fee...
I just did it now, in Manila airport.
When I finished the guy was asking me about “brushing my bag”…. :-) . I have an old leather bag – which I got once as a prize for a big sale from my former employer. I should have replaced him long ago since it really looks old – however I am emotionally attached to it. My “luck” is with me when I hang around with this one….



The guy renewed my bag, instantly.

I’ll do that every month. Great way to spend my money – keeping my luck brushed and shining….

A phone, a Taxi driver, and Jehovah ....

Being in a hurry to Manila airport I checked out from the great Peninsula hotel and ran to the taxi. After 100 meters of driving, trying to call (as I usually do in taxies), I noticed that my phone is not with me and started to wonder where did I leave it. Its probably in the hotel somewhere…. The taxi driver, noticing my annoyance offered to drive back to the hotel – and that’s what we did . Lucky me, the phone was found easily on the room’s table and I was relieved….

Returning to the taxi I thanked the driver and as usual started to talk on the phone in Hebrew. When I stopped talking for a while, the driver (presented himself as Andy) asked me if I am from Israel? It was quite amazing for me that a taxi driver in the very distant Philippines noticed that so easily… how does he know that this was Hebrew ?
A discussion started in both biblical Hebrew and English(all Filipinos are very good English speakers since the Americans liberated them from the Spanish at the end of last century…) and I was even more amazed of his Hebrew knowledge.

I am a “Jehovah witness” he said. What…? I refused to understand…. “You know, Jehovah = Adonai, the Hebrew word for god…”. I still did not grasp the connection…and I was upset, since I usually consider myself intelligent…
“Jehovah Witnesses is a religion” he continues. “More then 140 thousands of Jehovah witnesses people are in the Philippines. Our history is to be separated from the Judaism whenever Benei Israel crossed Yam Soof. And we also believe in Jesus. Also in Israel you have people of this religion…our sinagogs are called “Heichal Adonai” and its very much like a church”

I recalled something that I read once in an Israeli newspaper. “Edei Adonai” sounded familiar.
He took out a sort of bible, or a “testament”, written in many languages and directed me to the Hebrew section. There, it was written among the rest about Jehovah stating to the Israelites that they are his witnesses for existence. He showed me where is Israel on the map which was part of the book…there I noticed a direction to watchtowe.org . He also let me understood that in his religion – the direction is no wars and calmness, and expressed his wondering why can’t we live in peace in the land of god…

That was too much for me…a god messenger is asking ME such a question?

Lucky me we just arrived to the airport. May be next time I’ll answer him…after all, not any day you encounter an Hebrew speaker in the Philippines who is sure that he is your brother…

How to beat Zeevi - in 3 easy steps?

Barcelona 2005.

We are on a bus towards the company's 2005 European sales Kickoff.
Weather is great.
As all such conferences, this one also include many workshops and lectures about our products and issues, unfortunately indoor…. The main issue is really about people gathering together and network.

One of the most interesting workshops was with the Israeli Arik Zeevi, who was the European Judo champion at that time.
His story is really interesting; it’s about a young boy in a poor Israeli neighborhood struggling his way to the top of the world Judo. How did he overcame budget problems, his mental preparation, his hard work, and the real top fights until achieving his lucrative status. Not only the guy is a strong Judoka and a fighter with a great spirit, he is also quite intelligent (finalizing his law degree at that same time); and I also noticed that most of the ladies in the conference enjoyed his looks as well…. The guy is known of also being a bit emotional after fights…. Strong, looks, intelligence and emotional too.... No wonder all girls like him…
The lecture itself was about motivation and mental preparations – and was presented in sincerity and ultimate grace.


As you can see below, later on we went outside, to a great lovely day, cool but sunny. And Arik was teaching us some Judo tricks. Everybody was watching....

So, how to beat Zeevi in 3 easy steps? here it is:

Step1: let him think he is going to win...

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Step 2: show him how to fall right...

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Step 3: go for the kill...!

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As you can see, most of us , including myself and many girls were beating this guy to the ground…

A day to memorize...

Shoes for Imelda?

A month ago I flew to Manila, Philippines.

It was basically my first time there, trying to grasp the level of business my company is doing there. We have a small subsidiary, with the team shown below headed by Mon (2nd left, front row) which reports to me. Target of my trip was basic introductions with our major customers, motivation of our people and intro with the local culture. Being in such situations in the past I never forget to take my small digital camera...it is always usefull to plant pictures of your peole in a motivation presentation for few laughters..

During the day I walked arround dressed like I am dressed in Europe: a suit and a tie... due to my own special size, the hit and the thick humidity - I really suffered and looked for a better solution...Very fast I learnt that it is pretty respectful to wear the local dress called Barong... a much more comfortable, national local dress. Moreover, a foreigner using it shows even greater respect to the local culture, and therefore is respected even more! It took me a while to find my size but finally I bought two of them with Mon's (my country manager) assistance.

During the day, our agent asked me if I would like to join him to the annual Israel independence day celebration, and I answered positively. You know, we have to mingle and to create my own network within the local community....its part of the job..also I really wanted to talk with other Israeli company representatives sharing ideas and learning about the market. I verified with my agent (Dov) that it is Ok to go with the Barong - and only after being assured that not only its customary but also shows your respect to the local - I answered positively.

The event was conducted in the lucrative Intercontinental hotel... the coktail room was fool of people... being with Dov I was very soon introduced to the ambassador ( from right to left:Yehoshua Sagi -the Ambassador, his wife Hana, Dov and myself with the Barong..). Afterwards we went to the speaking room. One of the honorary speakers was DR. ALBERTO G. ROMULO , secretary of filipino foreign affairs. He told the audience that the the Philippines was one of the countries that allowed the jews to enter his country during the holocaust...which was quite new and surprising for me. Later on we listened to some sad Morocoean music ( it was a big flop since it was quite melancholic while everybody (and at least me and Dov) expects a vivid music in a country independence day..).

Then we went out for the cocktail.
I noticed many people gathering arround a very impressive, not so young but still well preserved lady. Asking Dov who is she - I learned that she was the very famous Imelda Marcos. My wife has a large shoes collection and sometimes, just to teasing her - I call her Imelda...:-).
I saw here a lifetime opportunity of getting a picture with Imelda to show my wife... but how could I ? she is not a Telecom or IT customer ?

Still - I decided to act upon this opportunity.
Depositing the camera (with full instructions) with Dov, I asked the ambassador to introduce me to her, which he did. I said some words of appreciation to the fact the Filipino's opened the gate for the jews in World War 2, and few other words... total may be 40 seconds of warm interaction with her including a joint picture taken by Dov. The lady was probably quite excited since somehow my words touched her. When handing my hand for a goodbye, she suddenly hugged me and gave me a kiss....! (unfortunately due to the sudden experience Dov did not photograph that..)


Well, this is the real thing....
Its not that we (Imelda & me..) will be friends or something. But, still that made me quite excited myself of the Filipino warm nature...never in my life I would imagine to be hugged by the first lady of a country, an ex beauty queen (at least she was... and still is very much respected) in my first, or even my Thousand visit in any country...

I sent the picture later on by email to some friends and of course to my wife.. they all asked me why didn't we take pictures of her shoes... :-)

Although the lady's past record is under dispute in the Philippines, later on I used this picture and story to break the ice with few of the most important people in the Philippines. Its a great story to start a meeting with a Filipino; he is then yours for the rest of the business meeting....

To Blog?...or not to Blog???? #1

Blogging? Me?
As a senior business guy in a large company I would never imagine I will “waste” my time writing in a blog. Of course, as a person coming from the IT industry I knew about the phenomena but never really experienced it.

Well, here is why I started.

Trying to achieve business in a new territory I work in, I noticed that my company is not visible to its customers, compared to the local competition. So despite the fact we have better product feat to most of them – they still buy from the big visible ones. Therefore, in my business plan, I decided to be on their table or e-mail box in a monthly newsletter manner. With our people face and customer faces are popping up together in that newsletter – making the customer familiar with us.

Since I wanted to do it effectively I consulted a good friend, and a fascinating person, Yigal Chamish (also in Hebrew). As the #1 “Knowledge Management” corporate evangelist in my country, and an internet expert I decided to get his advice on how to best start a newsletter.
I was surprised and intrigued when he told me, after few minutes, that what I am looking for – is not a newsletter, but a better way to communicate with my customers (genious...I sarcastically laughed...). That better way, he suggested, would be your blog. It’s all about social behavior, he said. People talk to people, less to companies, which are virtual entities. A newsletter is a one way communication (what about the feedbacks? I laughed..) – a Blog is quite interactive and creates communities if it’s a good one – directing me to few corporate blog examples.

Blogging? Moi?
I don’t have time to write stories. What a waist of time! I prefer to shoot out the newsletter and run to customer meetings waiting their (if at all) feedback…. Who has time for BLOGGING? What’s in it for my company? For me? But he he continues to hammer me –“you should tell your personal stories... business as well as personal stories…write about Imelda Marcos, about your Thailand Painting vacation….write them in your long flights…. You’ll be amazed how people (some of them will be your customers..) will connect PERSONALLY to these…and after all, that’s what you wanted, right?”

I don’t believe in this. I don’t have time for this. In flights I usually answer my emails and prepare presentations…., and also I am not a sensitive teen age girl who can write on her disappointments in life….who to hell, is interested in my personal Thailand vacation ? Or my meeting with Imelda Marcos? Who can connect to these…and also - as a respected business person I fear that my customers may think that “Tuvia is out of his mind after 50……”

May be I am out of my mind…. since I was truly intrigued. I consider myself an open minded person who is not afraid, and doesn’t say no to new theories, new things or trials…. so – I decided to do both; – the newsletter (lucky me I found a sponsor in our marketing department that follows my guidelines….), and a blog, just to compare and check realities. And I’ll try to do them both as professional as I am…

My guts feeling still say that Newsletter will be much more effective for my business needs. We’ll see. What do you think?