Post by Israel on Jan 7, 2014 17:01:16 GMT -5
My Reflection
Nation: Israel
Name: Aviva Bat-Ami
Gender: Female
Appearance Age: 18
Actual Age: About 65 - She's been independent since May 1948, but she's been around as a person a bit longer than that. She's not fully sure when she was 'born'.
Appearance
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Hazel
Height: 5'1"
Weight: ~110 lbs, 50 kg
Appearance:
Israel is a fairly small woman, measuring at only 5’1”/155cm (but what she lacks in height she makes up for in presence – Or, er, at least she tries to). Her skin is a soft olive tan, but marred with a few more scars than one might expect from a woman her ‘age’. The worst scars are hidden beneath her clothing, on her torso, but there are a few here and there that are visible in casualwear – An old laceration under the right knee, a small but intense burn on the left forearm… Beneath her clothes she sports a set of equally-fresh looking scars: One just above her right hip along the side of her body that looks like it had once been a nasty burn or abrasion, and another that starts over her heart and curves under her left breast and around to her shoulder blade.
Her hair is a mass of dark curls that has to be tamed into submission each day – She usually ties it into a ponytail or bun and calls it good as long as it’s out of her face when she’s doing her work. (It refuses to be straightened without a lot of work, and by the time she’s finished with one side, the other side has usually turned wavy again.)
She also dresses more casually than many of her fellow nations. Even her military uniform has been described as being surprisingly casual, but she wears it with pride and when doing official business, she’s rarely seen out of it. It consists of a pair of olive colored trousers and an olive colored blouse, with dark boots and a standard issue cap – Though the cap is usually slipped under an epaulet on her shoulder, and her sleeves are almost always rolled up. She looks like any other eighteen-year-old IDF recruit, even sporting a pair of dark sunglasses when outside. (The desert sun can be bright!) She also wears a necklace bearing a Magen David at all times.
Defining Features:
Israel's defining features are a head of thick, dark curls and an ever-present necklace, bearing a silver Magen David displayed prominently below her collar bone.
Who Am I?
Personality:
Israel can be a confusing person, and a person’s experience with her will differ quite a bit based on the context under which their initial interactions occur. There is a Hebrew term that is used to mean a native-born Israeli: Sabra. Sabra also refers to a prickly pear, and it’s said that the term describes Israelis quite well – That is, like a prickly pear, Israelis can be tough and prickly on the outside, but inside they’re sweet (and a little squishy).
In casual circumstances or social situations, Israel has the friendly, welcoming warmth of a Mediterranean nation. She loves having guests and greets newcomers with a smile, and is much more casual than one might expect from a nation with the military as such a major aspect of its life. She can be a little abrasive, but is generally friendly – At least superficially so. A keen observer might get the feeling that she’s not being nearly as open as she appears. It’s not that she’s being purposely deceptive – Rather, she has a tendency to keep others at arm’s length out of something of a defensive instinct.
However, when it comes to the kind of work nations find themselves involved in, Israel is a very driven young woman and is very no-nonsense and takes it all extremely seriously. She works constantly to prove herself, to prove that she deserves to be a nation, to prove that she's good enough to hold up her position, and to prove that she is not to be trifled with. Because of this, she isn't one to back down unless you back down first - though she considers herself a reasonable woman and is willing to work with people if they're willing to work with her. Her people come first before everything else, always, and she will not hesitate to do anything and everything she needs to keep them safe. For this reason her warm demeanor can disappear in an instant if necessary.
So with all of this… What kind of person is Israel, really, when she’s not putting on a face for colleagues, when she’s not working, when she’s all alone, or with the extremely few people who’ve managed to earn her trust enough to be allowed in?
Internally, Israel is much closer to her age of appearance than she’d like to admit. As a young nation of not even 100 years, she’s had an extremely difficult existence already and has had to do a lot of growing and maturing in nearly no time at all. She’s a chronic worrier and usually stressed out about something – Which explains why, when in private, she drinks a bit more than is strictly necessary and has bitten her fingernails down to nothing. (She used to smoke a lot more, and the fingernail biting replaced that – Now smoking seems to be something she enjoys more when she’s not stressed, as a casual, relaxing activity.) Israel also has a tendency to jump to conclusions and occasionally overreacts, but almost always draws back and apologizes when she realizes it. She’s easily startled, and secretly hates surprises, even well-intentioned ones. She is often suspicious of compliments, but blushes like a schoolgirl anyway – Something that she hates about herself.
True friendship with Israel is something achieved by very few. She has a very, very hard time trusting anyone, but once she’s decided to let you in, you’re as close to her heart as blood and she won’t let you go. She loves with everything she has … But once that trust has been broken, it would be nearly impossible to get it back. The walls built up help protect her, but it’s also a somewhat lonely existence. Sometimes when she’s alone with her thoughts, Israel finds herself half-wishing she’d been born human. The idea of a family, of loved ones, of having parents to hug and cry to, falling in love and marrying and having children… It’s extremely appealing. Being ordinary, not having the world watching everything you do and criticizing you for every step you take… Wouldn’t it be nice? But if given the chance to switch, she would never take it. Her people mean the world to her and she regards her position as their nation as a great honor. (Still, it’s nice to fantasize sometimes…) Perhaps in place of these human connections, Israel has a cat that she spoils to the point that it’s become rather… rotund. If confronted with the cat’s roundness, she’ll deny it until she’s blue in the face, and then bury her face in his furry belly and feed him another treat.
It should be noted that Israel is Jewish – In fact, the only Jewish nation in the world. However, like many of her people, she is not especially observant of the stricter religious doctrines. For her it is more of a cultural identity and tradition. She observes holidays, follows many of the dietary laws, attends synagogue, does not (usually) work on Saturdays, etc., but is not nearly as observant as some of the smaller, ultra-religious groups in her homeland.
Also, for reasons unknown, she is chronically late, except when it comes to important work matters. But try to get her to dinner on time? Forget about it.
Likes:
Dislikes:
Fears:
Fun Facts:
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Your History
[Please Note: I consider this Israel (Medinat Israel) to be distinct from her ancestors, such as Judea. As a result, she is quite young in nation terms and her history mostly begins with the early Zionist movement.]
The concept of 'aliyah' (lit. 'ascent') is a very old and dearly held one in the Jewish community. Aliyah means return to the Holy Land, the ancient, native home of the Jewish people. While there have always been Jews residing in the region, war, invasions, slavery, and many other causes drove (or dragged, depending) most of them out and spread them around the world. 'Zionism' is the idea of Jewish self-determination. It's often used to refer to the movement surrounding the establishment of the state of Israel, but there are Zionists who believe in Jewish self-determination, but (for various reasons) do not believe in the need for a state.
- First Aliyah begins in 1882, with 35,000 Jews immigrating to the area that is now Israel. At the time this land was considered part of Syria and was under the control of the Ottoman Empire. The majority of these immigrants came from Russia and a smaller number from Yemen.
- Second Aliyah occurs from 1904 -1914. During this time Tel Aviv (then a small suburb of the ancient port city Jaffa) is established under the name Ahuzat Bayit. The first kibbutz (a collective farming community, generally considered to be a very Israeli phenomenon) is also established during this time. Hebrew is revived as a spoken language of conversation - Prior to this, Hebrew was used primarily for religious purposes only. The Hashomer, a self-defense organization, was established during this time, in part due to rising tensions with neighboring Arab populations.
- 1917 - Balfour Declaration - Following World War I, Great Britain gained control of the land that is currently Israel, the Palestinian Territories, and modern day Jordan. The land to the east of the Jordan river was considered a semi-autonomous entity known as Transjordan. The land to the west of the Jordan river was governed by Britain until 1948 and known as the British Mandate of Palestine. In November of 1917, the British government issued the Balfour Declaration, stating its intent to establish a home for the Jewish people in the land of Palestine.
- Third Aliyah occurs from 1919 - 1923. 40,000 Jews immigrated primarily from Eastern Europe. This period also saw the establishment of Haganah, the precursor to the modern Israel Defense Forces.
- Fourth Aliyah occurs from 1924 - 1929. During this time 82,000 Jews immigrated to Mandatory Palestine, many from Eastern Europe. Growing anti-semitic tensions began to cause more and more Jews to flee Europe. At this time the United States had limits on the numbers of immigrants, and this sent many Jews to Mandatory Palestine instead.
- Fifth Aliyah occurs from 1929 - 1939, during which time 250,000 Jews immigrated to Mandatory Palestine, including many fleeing the rise of Nazism in Germany.
-1929 Riots - This year saw a high point in tensions between Arabs and Jews in the 1929 riots, during which 133 Jews were massacred by Arab mobs. This is an important point in the history of Arabs and Jews in the region, the effects of which are still significant today.
- In 1939, the British government put a restriction on the number of Jews who could immigrate to the region. Over the course of World War II and in the years following, British immigration quotas forced Jews to come to Palestine illegally. When word finally got out about the Holocaust (referred to as Shoah in Hebrew and from here on out), much of the Jewish population in Palestine turned against the British government. These are the earliest of Israel's clear memories (though she has many from before, they are somewhat foggy and disjointed), and it is hard for her even still today not to hold a grudge against Britain for it.
- Independence and the 1948 Arab-Israeli war - In 1948 the UN voted on a partition plan dividing Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states. The Arab authorities rejected this plan, which began the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. During this time Israel gained considerably more land than was originally partitioned, and 700,000+ Palestinian Arabs were displaced. This also marks the beginning of Jewish exile from many Arab states across the Middle East, which spans decades. Many of these refugees come to Israel and many are even brought in through special operations by the Israeli government.
The first Muslim majority nations to recognize Israel are Iran and Turkey, and though relations with Iran pretty much crumbled to dust after the Iranian Revolution, relations with Turkey were pretty good until 2010. Israel was emotionally hurt by the loss of someone she considered something of a friend, and still holds this a little more closely than she would otherwise.
- 1961 - Execution of Adolf Eichmann - In 1961 Adolf Eichmann, one of the masterminds behind the Shoah, was captured by Israeli Mossad operatives in Argentina. He was brought to Israel and tried for his crimes, and executed in 1962. He remains the only person ever executed by order of Israeli civilian court.
- 1967 - Six-Day War - In 1967 Israel launched a pre-emptive strike against Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq following significant mobilization by forces in those regions. The war lasted for 6 days and remains one of Israel's (personal) proudest moments. Despite their numbers, Israel managed not only to defeat these enemies, but also to gain control of Gaza, the West Bank (Judea & Samaria), the Golan Heights, and the Sinai Peninsula. Though the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza were eventually (at different times) relinquished, Israel still maintains control (to varying degrees) over the West Bank and Golan Heights.
- 1973 - Yom Kippur War - Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the Hebrew calendar, and on this day in 1973, Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack. Fortunately Israel was able to hold them off despite major losses.
- 1979 - Egypt - Israel Peace Treaty. Israel and Egypt sign a peace treaty, Israel returns the Sinai Peninsula. This treaty is still teeeechnically in effect but they side-eye each other pretty hard these days. (Understatement? yeah.)
- 1993 Oslo Accords - The Oslo Accords, signed by Shimon Peres and Mahmoud Abbas (who, interestingly, are now president and PM of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, respectively), gives the Palestinian Authority right to govern parts of the West Bank and Gaza.
- 2005 - Israel unilaterally withdraws from Gaza, demolishing all Israeli settlements there. However, this does not bring any end to the fighting and until November of 2012, Israel's southern towns and cities faced significant rocket fire. This displayed in Israel as a lingering cough that would get worse as numbers increased.
- 2012 - Israel begins Operation Pillar of Defense in response to hundreds of rocket attacks from Gaza. After the cease-fire, numerous rockets have still been fired, but the numbers are considerably less. Israel's cough has mostly cleared up by the present day.
Sample Post
Fear. It was something she couldn't really bring herself to admit in the daylight... It was dangerous, fear. It caused people to do stupid things, it ate away at a person's essence, and yet...
Fear was a constant part of Israel's life. Oh, true, usually her thoughts were occupied with the day-to-day tedium of a nation-spirit's life. She helped with her government, worked in her military, trained new recruits and took border guard shifts and filled out paperwork (her constant enemy, paperwork), and all sorts of other things. Yet still, even in the quietest of periods, even when the international news had nothing to say about her or her neighbors, even when things were going splendidly -
There it was, in the back of her mind. Sirens. Explosions. An all too familiar ringing in her ears...
Israel stood on the balcony of her modest Tel Aviv apartment, a cigarette in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. She leaned on the railing and looked out over her beloved city, pale purple sky beginning to soften pink as the early morning dark prepared to give way to daylight. Not as beloved as Jerusalem, but nearly so - If Jerusalem was her heart, then Tel Aviv was her brain. The city never slept and was bursting with life, and it always made her happy to see it. Still, as she looked over the buildings, the street lights just beginning to turn off around them, she felt that fear still nibbling at the back of her mind. She'd woken with a start and a gasp from a dream she only half-remembered - Smoke, sirens, explosions. She was in her own land but somehow not, in the way that dreams often happen... In the heat of Tel Aviv with panic all around, and yet when she tried to get her bearings it was cold and quiet... A foggy memory, a half-forgotten place she had once been or maybe only dreamed of, but the loud crack of a gun in her own mind woke her before she could grasp anything real.
There was still two hours before she needed to be awake for work, but Israel was sure she wouldn't be able to go back to sleep after that. For all her serious faces and shows of strength, Israel never stopped worrying about her people, about her future, their future... Dreams like this morning's were a surefire way to put her on edge for the rest of the day.
With a sigh, Israel drained the last of her coffee and stubbed out the last of her cigarette in an ashtray. Maybe she could go for a run before it was time to get ready for work...
The Player
Name: Meg
Age: 23
Fun Fact: I have synesthesia!
Nation: Israel
Name: Aviva Bat-Ami
Gender: Female
Appearance Age: 18
Actual Age: About 65 - She's been independent since May 1948, but she's been around as a person a bit longer than that. She's not fully sure when she was 'born'.
Appearance
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Hazel
Height: 5'1"
Weight: ~110 lbs, 50 kg
Appearance:
Israel is a fairly small woman, measuring at only 5’1”/155cm (but what she lacks in height she makes up for in presence – Or, er, at least she tries to). Her skin is a soft olive tan, but marred with a few more scars than one might expect from a woman her ‘age’. The worst scars are hidden beneath her clothing, on her torso, but there are a few here and there that are visible in casualwear – An old laceration under the right knee, a small but intense burn on the left forearm… Beneath her clothes she sports a set of equally-fresh looking scars: One just above her right hip along the side of her body that looks like it had once been a nasty burn or abrasion, and another that starts over her heart and curves under her left breast and around to her shoulder blade.
Her hair is a mass of dark curls that has to be tamed into submission each day – She usually ties it into a ponytail or bun and calls it good as long as it’s out of her face when she’s doing her work. (It refuses to be straightened without a lot of work, and by the time she’s finished with one side, the other side has usually turned wavy again.)
She also dresses more casually than many of her fellow nations. Even her military uniform has been described as being surprisingly casual, but she wears it with pride and when doing official business, she’s rarely seen out of it. It consists of a pair of olive colored trousers and an olive colored blouse, with dark boots and a standard issue cap – Though the cap is usually slipped under an epaulet on her shoulder, and her sleeves are almost always rolled up. She looks like any other eighteen-year-old IDF recruit, even sporting a pair of dark sunglasses when outside. (The desert sun can be bright!) She also wears a necklace bearing a Magen David at all times.
Defining Features:
Israel's defining features are a head of thick, dark curls and an ever-present necklace, bearing a silver Magen David displayed prominently below her collar bone.
Who Am I?
Personality:
Israel can be a confusing person, and a person’s experience with her will differ quite a bit based on the context under which their initial interactions occur. There is a Hebrew term that is used to mean a native-born Israeli: Sabra. Sabra also refers to a prickly pear, and it’s said that the term describes Israelis quite well – That is, like a prickly pear, Israelis can be tough and prickly on the outside, but inside they’re sweet (and a little squishy).
In casual circumstances or social situations, Israel has the friendly, welcoming warmth of a Mediterranean nation. She loves having guests and greets newcomers with a smile, and is much more casual than one might expect from a nation with the military as such a major aspect of its life. She can be a little abrasive, but is generally friendly – At least superficially so. A keen observer might get the feeling that she’s not being nearly as open as she appears. It’s not that she’s being purposely deceptive – Rather, she has a tendency to keep others at arm’s length out of something of a defensive instinct.
However, when it comes to the kind of work nations find themselves involved in, Israel is a very driven young woman and is very no-nonsense and takes it all extremely seriously. She works constantly to prove herself, to prove that she deserves to be a nation, to prove that she's good enough to hold up her position, and to prove that she is not to be trifled with. Because of this, she isn't one to back down unless you back down first - though she considers herself a reasonable woman and is willing to work with people if they're willing to work with her. Her people come first before everything else, always, and she will not hesitate to do anything and everything she needs to keep them safe. For this reason her warm demeanor can disappear in an instant if necessary.
So with all of this… What kind of person is Israel, really, when she’s not putting on a face for colleagues, when she’s not working, when she’s all alone, or with the extremely few people who’ve managed to earn her trust enough to be allowed in?
Internally, Israel is much closer to her age of appearance than she’d like to admit. As a young nation of not even 100 years, she’s had an extremely difficult existence already and has had to do a lot of growing and maturing in nearly no time at all. She’s a chronic worrier and usually stressed out about something – Which explains why, when in private, she drinks a bit more than is strictly necessary and has bitten her fingernails down to nothing. (She used to smoke a lot more, and the fingernail biting replaced that – Now smoking seems to be something she enjoys more when she’s not stressed, as a casual, relaxing activity.) Israel also has a tendency to jump to conclusions and occasionally overreacts, but almost always draws back and apologizes when she realizes it. She’s easily startled, and secretly hates surprises, even well-intentioned ones. She is often suspicious of compliments, but blushes like a schoolgirl anyway – Something that she hates about herself.
True friendship with Israel is something achieved by very few. She has a very, very hard time trusting anyone, but once she’s decided to let you in, you’re as close to her heart as blood and she won’t let you go. She loves with everything she has … But once that trust has been broken, it would be nearly impossible to get it back. The walls built up help protect her, but it’s also a somewhat lonely existence. Sometimes when she’s alone with her thoughts, Israel finds herself half-wishing she’d been born human. The idea of a family, of loved ones, of having parents to hug and cry to, falling in love and marrying and having children… It’s extremely appealing. Being ordinary, not having the world watching everything you do and criticizing you for every step you take… Wouldn’t it be nice? But if given the chance to switch, she would never take it. Her people mean the world to her and she regards her position as their nation as a great honor. (Still, it’s nice to fantasize sometimes…) Perhaps in place of these human connections, Israel has a cat that she spoils to the point that it’s become rather… rotund. If confronted with the cat’s roundness, she’ll deny it until she’s blue in the face, and then bury her face in his furry belly and feed him another treat.
It should be noted that Israel is Jewish – In fact, the only Jewish nation in the world. However, like many of her people, she is not especially observant of the stricter religious doctrines. For her it is more of a cultural identity and tradition. She observes holidays, follows many of the dietary laws, attends synagogue, does not (usually) work on Saturdays, etc., but is not nearly as observant as some of the smaller, ultra-religious groups in her homeland.
Also, for reasons unknown, she is chronically late, except when it comes to important work matters. But try to get her to dinner on time? Forget about it.
Likes:
- Animals (especially cats and dogs - Israel has a huge number of street cats)
- Hummus
- Chess
- Dancing
- Swimming
Dislikes:
- Cold weather!
- Suprises
- Being unprepared
- Being Underestimated
Fears:
- Being abandoned by her few allies.
- Being unable to protect her people at home and in the disapora.
- Opening herself up emotionally and being hurt.
Fun Facts:
- Israel speaks not only Hebrew and Arabic, her official languages, but English, Russian, and a number of Jewish languages such as Yiddish and Ladino. Russian is the second most commonly spoken non-official language in Israel after English, due to the number of Russian speaking people who emigrated there.
- Beersheba, a city in Israel, is home to more chess grandmasters than any other city in the world. Because of this, Israel loves to play chess and is quite good at it.
Strengths:
- Observant
- Physically strong
- Fast
- Clever
- Determined
Weaknesses:
- Suspicious
- Quick to react
- Worries far too much
- Holds grudges
- Stubborn
Your History
[Please Note: I consider this Israel (Medinat Israel) to be distinct from her ancestors, such as Judea. As a result, she is quite young in nation terms and her history mostly begins with the early Zionist movement.]
The concept of 'aliyah' (lit. 'ascent') is a very old and dearly held one in the Jewish community. Aliyah means return to the Holy Land, the ancient, native home of the Jewish people. While there have always been Jews residing in the region, war, invasions, slavery, and many other causes drove (or dragged, depending) most of them out and spread them around the world. 'Zionism' is the idea of Jewish self-determination. It's often used to refer to the movement surrounding the establishment of the state of Israel, but there are Zionists who believe in Jewish self-determination, but (for various reasons) do not believe in the need for a state.
- First Aliyah begins in 1882, with 35,000 Jews immigrating to the area that is now Israel. At the time this land was considered part of Syria and was under the control of the Ottoman Empire. The majority of these immigrants came from Russia and a smaller number from Yemen.
- Second Aliyah occurs from 1904 -1914. During this time Tel Aviv (then a small suburb of the ancient port city Jaffa) is established under the name Ahuzat Bayit. The first kibbutz (a collective farming community, generally considered to be a very Israeli phenomenon) is also established during this time. Hebrew is revived as a spoken language of conversation - Prior to this, Hebrew was used primarily for religious purposes only. The Hashomer, a self-defense organization, was established during this time, in part due to rising tensions with neighboring Arab populations.
- 1917 - Balfour Declaration - Following World War I, Great Britain gained control of the land that is currently Israel, the Palestinian Territories, and modern day Jordan. The land to the east of the Jordan river was considered a semi-autonomous entity known as Transjordan. The land to the west of the Jordan river was governed by Britain until 1948 and known as the British Mandate of Palestine. In November of 1917, the British government issued the Balfour Declaration, stating its intent to establish a home for the Jewish people in the land of Palestine.
- Third Aliyah occurs from 1919 - 1923. 40,000 Jews immigrated primarily from Eastern Europe. This period also saw the establishment of Haganah, the precursor to the modern Israel Defense Forces.
- Fourth Aliyah occurs from 1924 - 1929. During this time 82,000 Jews immigrated to Mandatory Palestine, many from Eastern Europe. Growing anti-semitic tensions began to cause more and more Jews to flee Europe. At this time the United States had limits on the numbers of immigrants, and this sent many Jews to Mandatory Palestine instead.
- Fifth Aliyah occurs from 1929 - 1939, during which time 250,000 Jews immigrated to Mandatory Palestine, including many fleeing the rise of Nazism in Germany.
-1929 Riots - This year saw a high point in tensions between Arabs and Jews in the 1929 riots, during which 133 Jews were massacred by Arab mobs. This is an important point in the history of Arabs and Jews in the region, the effects of which are still significant today.
- In 1939, the British government put a restriction on the number of Jews who could immigrate to the region. Over the course of World War II and in the years following, British immigration quotas forced Jews to come to Palestine illegally. When word finally got out about the Holocaust (referred to as Shoah in Hebrew and from here on out), much of the Jewish population in Palestine turned against the British government. These are the earliest of Israel's clear memories (though she has many from before, they are somewhat foggy and disjointed), and it is hard for her even still today not to hold a grudge against Britain for it.
- Independence and the 1948 Arab-Israeli war - In 1948 the UN voted on a partition plan dividing Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states. The Arab authorities rejected this plan, which began the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. During this time Israel gained considerably more land than was originally partitioned, and 700,000+ Palestinian Arabs were displaced. This also marks the beginning of Jewish exile from many Arab states across the Middle East, which spans decades. Many of these refugees come to Israel and many are even brought in through special operations by the Israeli government.
The first Muslim majority nations to recognize Israel are Iran and Turkey, and though relations with Iran pretty much crumbled to dust after the Iranian Revolution, relations with Turkey were pretty good until 2010. Israel was emotionally hurt by the loss of someone she considered something of a friend, and still holds this a little more closely than she would otherwise.
- 1961 - Execution of Adolf Eichmann - In 1961 Adolf Eichmann, one of the masterminds behind the Shoah, was captured by Israeli Mossad operatives in Argentina. He was brought to Israel and tried for his crimes, and executed in 1962. He remains the only person ever executed by order of Israeli civilian court.
- 1967 - Six-Day War - In 1967 Israel launched a pre-emptive strike against Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq following significant mobilization by forces in those regions. The war lasted for 6 days and remains one of Israel's (personal) proudest moments. Despite their numbers, Israel managed not only to defeat these enemies, but also to gain control of Gaza, the West Bank (Judea & Samaria), the Golan Heights, and the Sinai Peninsula. Though the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza were eventually (at different times) relinquished, Israel still maintains control (to varying degrees) over the West Bank and Golan Heights.
- 1973 - Yom Kippur War - Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the Hebrew calendar, and on this day in 1973, Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack. Fortunately Israel was able to hold them off despite major losses.
- 1979 - Egypt - Israel Peace Treaty. Israel and Egypt sign a peace treaty, Israel returns the Sinai Peninsula. This treaty is still teeeechnically in effect but they side-eye each other pretty hard these days. (Understatement? yeah.)
- 1993 Oslo Accords - The Oslo Accords, signed by Shimon Peres and Mahmoud Abbas (who, interestingly, are now president and PM of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, respectively), gives the Palestinian Authority right to govern parts of the West Bank and Gaza.
- 2005 - Israel unilaterally withdraws from Gaza, demolishing all Israeli settlements there. However, this does not bring any end to the fighting and until November of 2012, Israel's southern towns and cities faced significant rocket fire. This displayed in Israel as a lingering cough that would get worse as numbers increased.
- 2012 - Israel begins Operation Pillar of Defense in response to hundreds of rocket attacks from Gaza. After the cease-fire, numerous rockets have still been fired, but the numbers are considerably less. Israel's cough has mostly cleared up by the present day.
Sample Post
Fear. It was something she couldn't really bring herself to admit in the daylight... It was dangerous, fear. It caused people to do stupid things, it ate away at a person's essence, and yet...
Fear was a constant part of Israel's life. Oh, true, usually her thoughts were occupied with the day-to-day tedium of a nation-spirit's life. She helped with her government, worked in her military, trained new recruits and took border guard shifts and filled out paperwork (her constant enemy, paperwork), and all sorts of other things. Yet still, even in the quietest of periods, even when the international news had nothing to say about her or her neighbors, even when things were going splendidly -
There it was, in the back of her mind. Sirens. Explosions. An all too familiar ringing in her ears...
Israel stood on the balcony of her modest Tel Aviv apartment, a cigarette in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. She leaned on the railing and looked out over her beloved city, pale purple sky beginning to soften pink as the early morning dark prepared to give way to daylight. Not as beloved as Jerusalem, but nearly so - If Jerusalem was her heart, then Tel Aviv was her brain. The city never slept and was bursting with life, and it always made her happy to see it. Still, as she looked over the buildings, the street lights just beginning to turn off around them, she felt that fear still nibbling at the back of her mind. She'd woken with a start and a gasp from a dream she only half-remembered - Smoke, sirens, explosions. She was in her own land but somehow not, in the way that dreams often happen... In the heat of Tel Aviv with panic all around, and yet when she tried to get her bearings it was cold and quiet... A foggy memory, a half-forgotten place she had once been or maybe only dreamed of, but the loud crack of a gun in her own mind woke her before she could grasp anything real.
There was still two hours before she needed to be awake for work, but Israel was sure she wouldn't be able to go back to sleep after that. For all her serious faces and shows of strength, Israel never stopped worrying about her people, about her future, their future... Dreams like this morning's were a surefire way to put her on edge for the rest of the day.
With a sigh, Israel drained the last of her coffee and stubbed out the last of her cigarette in an ashtray. Maybe she could go for a run before it was time to get ready for work...
The Player
Name: Meg
Age: 23
Fun Fact: I have synesthesia!
