Tel Aviv

'Ost' means 'East' in German. Today I want to discuss a particular kind of established 'Orientalism' against (a) Israeli Arabs, (b) immigrant women from the Former Soviet Union (FSU), and (c) their relationships.

I heard a rather disturbing story about Tel Aviv municipality chanelling thousands for a special programme to 'treat' (!) girls 'at risk' (!) of dating Arab and non-Jewish immigrant men. Read this blog entry about the issue. Even though the problem is deep and painful, and one-sided judgements on either side should be avoided, I couldn't agree more with the author of the entry, saying that the response is primitive and inappropriate.

Tel Aviv is a very colourful city with various spaces. Some of these spaces feel more bourgeois, others feel cosy and simple. Therefore the city is a good playground for people who like to make some kind of contribution to the way the city looks like. South Tel Aviv, where I live, is especially rich in street art.

A new Sudanese restaurant opened near the Central Bus Station - the area of immigrants and the 'underworld' in Tel Aviv, the place which locals avoid, but which always entertains the eye of an adventurous explorer. On the way there, you might have to kick a syringe or two on the street, and observe a pathetic interaction between a prostitute and a man in a car. Yet there's about enough light in the area to make you feel safe, and the curious locals are a good alternative when you need to balance out the experiences with the stuck-up majority of young people in Tel Aviv