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Windsurfer Gal Friedman made history by becoming the first Israeli ever to win a gold medal.
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| By israelinsider staff August 25, 2004 |
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There is only one subject being discussed by Israelis this afternoon, and it's not the looming showdown between MK Shimon Peres and Labor "rebels."
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Israel's gold - There is only one subject being discussed by Israelis this afternoon. It's not the showdown planned for tonight between MK Shimon Peres and the "rebels" in the Labor Party. Nor are media reports suggesting that a quarter of the settlers in Gaza settlements scheduled for evacuation are willing to move to new homes the main topic of discussion.
Israel's eyes are today proudly focused on Athens, where windsurfer Gal Friedman made history by becoming the first Israeli ever to win a gold medal. In fact, Gal also made history by becoming the first Israeli ever to win two medals. He was a bronze medal finalist in the 1996 Atlanta Games.
Israeli athletes might not excel in the Olympic pool or in track and field (although pole vaulter Alex Averbukh does have good chances), but in windsurfing, and previously in judo, where Alex Ze'evi took the bronze medal in his weight class, Israelis are at the top of the world.
Read Israel Insider's report: Gal gets the gold!.
About that weapons smuggling - During quiet days, relatively free from terror attacks, it is easy to forget that Palestinian terrorists are making efforts, even now, to smuggle weaponry into the Gaza Strip in order to continue to attack Israeli soldiers and civilians. Israeli soldiers continue to search for the tunnels used by the terrorists to smuggle the weaponry, but Egyptian soldiers and policemen, on the other side of the border, appear to be looking the other way.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon made sure reporters heard his comments placing the blame for weapons smuggling squarely on Egypt's shoulders. Egypt could stop the smuggling if it wanted, Yaalon said. Security officials said Egypt was using the tunnels as a "valve" to regulate pressure on Israel.
Read Israel Insider's report: Yaalon: Egypt is allowing Palestinian arms smuggling to continue.
Ethiopians not wanted - Visitors to the Harel shopping mall in Mevesseret Zion would see it as an example of a true Israeli melting pot. Veteran Israelis mingle with Arab shoppers from nearby villages. And, dressed in the colorful clothing of their former homeland, new immigrants from Ethiopia walk through the mall, gazing into the shop windows and making purchases at the grocery store.
This apparently bothers former Shin Bet head Carmi Gillon, who states openly that he would prefer that his town's absorption center, home to 1,300 new immigrants from Ethiopia, would be located elsewhere.
Read Israel Insider's report: Former Shin Bet head: Ethiopian immigrants are fine, but not in my town.
Note: Some of the links in this article, provided as a service to Israel Insider readers, are on outside sites not under our control. Certain links may be unavailable or require registration.
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