Challenge

January-February 1999 No.53

"Everything flows," said Heraclitus. "Nothing new under the sun," said Ecclesiastes. Since our last Challenge, the Oslo process, which never was going anywhere, has been frozen, unfrozen, and frozen again.The US President paid us a futile peacemaking visit and went back to bomb Iraq. ("Nothing new.") Soon after that the deck was reshuffled ("Everything flows"), and Israel is going to have new elections in Spring! ("Nothing new.")Yaakov Ben Efrat ponders The Breaking of Prime Ministers.
While diplomacy languishes, business booms for the lucky few. Michal Schwartz presents a detailed report on The Great Gasoline Scam, featuring Arab and Jew Fueling Coexistence beyond the wildest dreams of Oslo visionary.
Attorney Allegra Pacheco writes about the intifada of the prisoners – Ten Days That Did Not Shake the World.
Khalid Amayreh, reporting from Hebron, tells how the Palestinian Authority goes about Protecting its New Friends, not letting anyone say anything bad about them.
If worst comes to worst, there's always the army-the Israeli Goliath, Writes Roni Ben Efrat, has become Cumbersome, Nuclear and Dangerous.
Israel held municipal elections on November 10. In the Arab sector, writes Assaf Adiv, All remained in the Family.
One Arab family, though, has suffered Eviction in Jaffa, as part of the gentrification of this beautiful town. Unless we put up a fight, many more will follow. Asma Agbariah puts out a call for solidarity.