Buerger Bites

Remember Udi?!

Last July, during the war against Hezbollah, I was part of a small group meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. He gave us the conditions for a cease fire, which included the release of the captured soldiers, Ehud “Udi” Goldwasser and Eldad Regev.

Well, the war is now over and we haven’t heard a word about these young men. Olmert, who botched the war, remains silent. US President George Bush doesn’t seem to have time for his old friends. He’s too busy botching his own war.

I also had breakfast with Udi’s wife Karnit who felt strongly that someone would help her – the Israeli government, Kofi Annan (who’s not know to be a Zionist), or someone in the US.

No one has delivered. I’ve lost touch with Karnit despite corresponding with her a great deal in person, over the phone and via email. After being an international celebrity, she seems to have withdrawn. In Israel, there were rallies, but those too have quieted down. Yet, Karnit goes on without her husband

Even convicted spy Jonathan Pollard seems to have a bigger on-going international effort to set him free than Udi and Eldad have. The latter are war heroes, the former a villain. 

As Americans we can’t forget our Israeli friends, despite a whole host of problems confronting our country. What can we do to help release these innocent Israelis?

If you’d like to buy a band with the captured soldiers’ names on then, send an email to

Israeli President scandal

It’s sad and it sickens me that the President of Israel may be removed from office due to rape allegations.  How can such a powerful man do such a thing, and embarrass the Jewish State?

At the same time, I have some pride that this little democracy acted swiftly to prosecute President Moshe Katsav. Most nations would have covered up this scandal or worse. Can you imagine this happening in an Arab country?

Israel makes a lot of mistakes, yet it’s one of the most democratic countries in the world where there is due process.  We may not like everything the Jewish State does, but at least, unlike many Muslim countries, there are check and balances. People are held accountable, even the President of the young nation.