Dave Bender: Compelling Photography

Sunday, October 6

Religious Jews 'Hurrying to greet the Queen'

I spotted this group late Friday afternoon near the Mt. Cannan Merkaz Klita (immigrant absorption center), Tzfat, just as I was hurrying to get in my pre-Shabbat hill-blaster ride. (Photo: Dave Bender: All Rights Reserved)

Come book a stay by us at:http://www.simchaleahsbedandbreakfast.com/, and join me on my rides and you might get the next shot!

Wednesday, July 31

'Israeli Citizens Wary of Peace Talks' (USA Today)

My latest, published in USA Today:

Dave Bender, Special for USA TODAY
4:23 p.m. EDT July 29, 2013

JERUSALEM -- After six decades of conflict, Israelis did not appear confident Monday that a resumption of direct negotiations over disputed territory will result in peace.

Israeli Border Police officer on guard near Palestinian Arabs during Muslim prayers held in Old City alleyway.
(Illustrative photo: Dave Bender, All Rights Reserved)

"I have very low expectations," said Rivkah Moriah, an American immigrant who lives with her family in the settlement of Efrat, south of Jerusalem.

Israeli and Palestinian teams arrived in Washington on Monday to end years of diplomatic stalemate and prepare for a new round of Mideast peace talks.

The resumption of talks was preceded by a decision by Israel's Cabinet to free 104 long-held Palestinian prisoners convicted of terrorism. The release was part of an agreement brokered by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to bring the sides back to the negotiating table.

Monday, April 8

Israel and the Nationalist vs Universalist Holocaust

Powerful and disturbing:

"There are nice Jewish boys and girls who have read Anne Frank's diary, visited Auschwitz and come away anti-semities. Of course they don't of course call themselves that. They call themselves human rights activists, they board flotillas, they boycott Israeli products, smash Jewish store windows, hug terrorists and rationalize suicide bombers. And it's not entirely their fault. The lessons that they drew from their education is that the underdog is always right, that people in uniforms are bad and that you always have to stand up for minorities."

Read the rest.