Movie Review - Don't Mess with the Zohan

OK, I'll admit it - I'm quite behind the times when it comes to movies.  This one got released a few years ago, but it was showing on the "Go" Channel this week, so I had a look.

I go a bit hot and cold for Adam Sandler's work.  It's really a balance between the brilliant and the cringe.  This film has plenty of cringe, but I thought it was quite a unique and personable premise.

An Israeli out of the army moves to America in the hope of getting away from the conflict.  His life long ambition is to be a hairdresser - even though he has no experience other than cutting his own family member's locks.  Typical arrogance on show.  He can't get a job anywhere else, so he goes to work for the Salon owned by the beautiful Palestinian across the road from the Israeli electronics store.

It just turns out that this Israeli has near super-human powers in his previous role as counter terrorism.  And an arch-nemesis that runs a chain of kebab shops in the West Bank.  Another Arab taxi driver recognises him as the man who stole his goat, and plots revenge.  And the finale is based around a hacky sack tournament between Israel and Lebanon.

There are plenty of Humus jokes, lots of stereotypes of both Arab and Israeli.  Lots of crass humour too.  Obligatory plot against big business, and it has feel-good ending.  Lots of Evrit "B'Seder", "Its all Yofi Tofi" etc.

All in all worth a look if you see it on free to air (and pre-record to fast forward the ads). 

My comment to Phil Goff

Phil Goff has also written about his trip to the Middle East as part of the Parliamentary Friends of Israel

He actually only talks about Jordan and Syria, which is a pity.

I left this nice comment for him:

It’s great that Phil, and the NZ Labour Party took part in this trip as part of the Parliamentary Friends of Israel. With Kennedy Graham from the Greens attending, it is great to have such support for Israel from the Left. Here in Australia, we also have great friendship with Labor Minsters – Julia Gillard, Bill Shorten, Kevin Rudd, Stephen Conroy and Michael Danby are all strong supporters.

I heard also that Phil attended the Yom Haatzmaut function, celebrating the creation of Israel. Great stuff Phil!

One minor point – the 1.8 million refugees include the descendents from those wars. In 1970 the UNRWA only had 500,000 registered refugees.

You also neglected to mention that the Jordanian government killed thousands of Palestinian refugees in Black September of 1970.

What the BDS demands as "Justice"

Israelis just want to live in peace.  Peace is a pretty simple concept - you live in tolerance of your neighbours without fighting or violence (my paraphrasing).

BDS groups, such as John Minto, are always demanding Justice.  The concept of Justice has other synonyms such as revenge and retribution.

It's also almost impossible to define.  What level of "Justice" would be acceptable?  Here was one summary from one of the facebook "peace" groups:

OK, let me get this: we recognize 5 Million Palestinians as citizens, send most of our leaders and military commanders to the Hague to stand trial, pay billions in compensation to the refugees, never complain about statements attacking Jews or attacks on Jewish civilians because we are the opressors [sic], and accept the role of a tolerated guest in the new Citizen's country, even thoug [sic] the second largest Palestinian party still refuses to accept our presence, insults our religion, and attacks our civilians? Sure, I'm in! What could go wrong? And thanks for being so reasonable with us Khazars...if it doesn't work out, we're glad to pack uo [sic] and go to the Crimea or wherever we're supposed to have come from. And all along I thought you guys weren't moderate...

  Yes, Peace with Justice to the BDS team is really just a metaphor for the destruction of your neighbour. 

Complaining to the New Zealand Press Council

Just in case you ever need it - here is the link to complain to the New Zealand Press Council

http://www.presscouncil.org.nz/complain.php

Use it wisely and when necessary

Kron on Victorian BDS Protesters

Kron has a very good cartoon on the Victorian BDS Protesters

Very simple and to the point.  Why can't you just demand peace rather than supporting violent retribution?

The answer is because your protest is fuelled by hate.

Tom Scott just can't help himself

No news means Tom Scott has to draw an attack on Israel.  Arguably this is criticising Netanyahu and not all Jews (like his last one).  Still a pretty poor effort.

I think all of Israel would rejoice if Iran only was after peaceful propagation of technology.

Any chance Tom Scott could do some cartoons lampooning Ahmadinejad?  It has been a while.

Somthing like Sacha Baron Cohen's "We are only acquiring nuclear technology for peaceful purposes... pppphhht! guffaww... seriously, who writes this stuff?".

Did Wikileaks lead to Iranian execution?

Last month Majid Jahali Fashi was executed in Iran for Spying for the Mossad

Now it turns out that an unredacted wikileaks cable may have lead to his death

A cable from the US embassy in Azerbaijan described one of its sources as an Iranian martial arts expert. Apparently Fashi had visited Azerbaijan the month before the cable was released for a kickboxing tournament. Analysts argue that Fashi might have lost his life because the confidential cable was published by WikiLeaks. Even if Fashi was not the source of the cable, the document gave the Iranian regime a pretext for charging him, torturing him and executing him.