# 24 – Tragedy in Iran

December 30, 2003

A very sad ending to a messy year – the tragedy in Iran; the destruction of the city of Bam; 23,000 bodies so far discovered.

It should not be surprising that the news has hit the headlines here as much as in any foreign media.

After viewing British and American media, I have come to the supposition that Israel is the only country that reported something sickening within that most sickening of stories: the Iranian authorities welcomed assistance from all over the World – even from USA – with the sad exception of anything from Israel, “that Zionist entity”.

Maybe the Israeli rescue units would not have made much difference (although they have great experience in such projects – and they would have been among the first to have arrived) – but what a sad reflection on the extreme hatred that rears its head in Iran, even above such a tragedy.

Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve – We have been volunteered to have a party at our place. So a temporary blip in my diet.

According to the Jewish calendar, we are in 5764. Most Israeli newspapers are open and respectful enough to even include the Moslem calendar and show 3 dates on each issue… just in case, one day, we have peace.

Happy New Year.

Stephen