Yom HaAtzmaut 5773

We were planning on going to the Fox's like we do every year for Yom HaAtzmaut, when we heard that there were making inflatable moon bounces for kids in Mevaseret Adumim free of charge in the morning, which is about ten minutes from the house. So since we didn't have to be in Gilo until 3 PM, we decided to check it out.

We have seen the sign for Mevaseret Adumim on the highway, but we didn't really know anything was there except that there is a sign 'Police Station' next to the sign on the highway.

As it turns out there is nothing in Mevaseret Adumim except for a giant police station on the top of the hill. That's the point. We realized that this area was none other than E-1, the area that is causing all the fuss in the global media. The reason they advertised the moon bounces was to get adults to bring their kids up here. They had refreshments, promotional freebies, members of the local government, speeches and videos. They wanted to raise interest in building up this area.

It's a great area to build. Right across the highway from Maaleh Adumim, and that much closer to Yerushalayim than Kfar Adumim or Mitzpeh Yericho. If you see the area yourself, you realize that there is no reason why Israel should not build there. It is an empty space that no one is using, it is just filling in a gap of space where Israeli settlements already are, and building in Mevaseret Adumim will not cut off the Arab population any more than they already are. Just the opposite. If one would build an Arab community in this space it would cause more complications. It seems to be the classic case of the Arabs have no use for the land, but they don't want the Israelis building there.

But as usual we don't get involved in politics, and just come to enjoy the free moon bounces

After a light lunch, we headed to the Fox's for our annual gala barbque, with Chef Harry behind the grill

This year they surprised the kids with a giant trampoline. It was a great place for Tali to be contained while the rest of us ate our burgers, hot dogs and steaks. Apparently, Ezra was not that hungry either.