'#' : location.hash;window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUQuery = location.search === '' && location.href.slice(0 location.href.length - window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash.length).indexOf('?') !== -1 '?' : location.search;if (window.history && window.history.replaceState) {var ogU = location.pathname + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUQuery + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash;history.replaceState(null "\/liveblog_entry\/police-cancel-jaffa-screening-of-film-about-israeli-takeover-of-lod-during-1948-war\/?__cf_chl_rt_tk=Xi88.nzUFpjK8Goc9w9ITQ3xnFcEx504ddm_6xuIciI-1746488248-1.0.1.1-_YKtPlapu_wkB0a5DehYbwnXcqTYcdmy5.Hv.pwXo74" + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash);cpo.onload = function() {history.replaceState(null ogU);}}document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(cpo);}()); having lost confidence in the Ministry of National Security and the Israel Police has filed a petition with the High Court of Justice to compel them to take decisive action against crime in the city which cites Shomrim’s investigative report from March 2023 alleges unlawful discrimination against Lod’s residents and calls on the court to mandate an increased police presence in the city only one police patrol vehicle operates in Lod during nighttime hours The Lod Municipality has petitioned the High Court of Justice against the Israel Police and the Ministry of National Security arguing that the absence of adequate law enforcement and the ministry’s failure to allocate resources constitute unlawful discrimination against Lod’s residents and reflect an extreme lapse in reasonable governance "The Government of Israel—particularly the Ministry of National Security—appears to have abandoned its public duty toward the country’s citizens and the residents of Lod whose personal security is being blatantly and directly compromised by this negligence” the petition states "Years of systemic failure have rendered many legal provisions—criminal and otherwise—meaningless the moment one crosses into Lod leaving a situation where individuals act with impunity Due to  governmental negligence and the absence of effective  governance in the city suffering discrimination compared to the rest of the country deprives them of the basic conditions necessary for a dignified and secure life." In March 2023, Shomrim and Yedioth Ahronoth's 7 Days supplement published the investigative report "A Journey to Israel’s Murder Capital" which analyzed approximately 70 murders committed in Lod over the past decade—only about a third of which were solved This investigation is mentioned in the petition and is included as one of its appendices the situation has not improved since its publication 20 people were murdered in the city in 2023 and 16 others were killed in the previous year The petition was filed with the High Court two weeks ago another murder has already taken place in the city—14-year-old Mohammad Salman Abu Zayed was shot dead this week (Monday) during an exchange of fire in the Pardes Snir neighborhood The petition claims that Lod is short 80 police officer positions which would require an annual budget of approximately 24 million shekels ($6.5 million) the municipality asserts that during nighttime hours only one active police patrol vehicle operates in the city out of 17 positions that were supposed to be allocated to municipal policing only 7 have been filled—including the commander and deputy—leaving just five actual municipal police officers Beyond the allegations of discrimination and extreme unreasonableness the petition argues that the conduct of the Ministry of National Security and the police is arbitrary and that these authorities have failed to consider all relevant factors and the consequences of their actions the municipality is asking the court to compel the police to take action against criminals involved in shootings in the city mandate financial incentives for officers serving in mixed cities recruit reserve police officers to fill the missing positions and enlist civilian law enforcement units to help combat crime “The residents of Lod should not have to suffer due to the state's inaction,” Lod Mayor Yair Revivo was quoted as saying on the city’s official website “Just as the State of Israel must recruit teachers and educators for its education system so too must it recruit police officers to ensure security The measures requested in the petition will reduce crime in Lod and prevent criminals from operating freely in the city This will help restore residents' personal security and safeguard public safety." Shomrim - The Center for Media and DemocracyWe believe investigative journalism is the foundation for safekeeping the fundamental human rights of every Israeli citizen We are committed to investing our time and resources to promote it The Center for Media and Democracy© Copyright The Center for Media and Democracy Inc the Patriarchate commemorated the translation of the relics of St George the Great Martyr and Trophy Bearer and the inauguration of the church dedicated to his name in Lydda (Lod) in the 4th c The relics of St George had been translated from Rome where it was buried in a tomb over which a magnificent church was constructed on the instructions of St Helena the day on which we celebrate the translation of the saint’s relics whilst the 23rd of April commemorates his death St George’s Church has suffered damages and attrition throughout the history of Palestine but has remained one of the Patriarchate’s Shrines and the Church of the Greek Orthodox Arabic-speaking Community in Lydda The divine Liturgy was led by Patriarch Theophilos having as concelebrants: Archbishops Damascene of Joppa and Aristarchos of Constantina; Metropolitan Joachim of former Zambia and Bishop Isaiah visiting from the Czech Lands and Slovakia Hagiotaphite Hieromonks of neighbouring towns; Archimandrite Sophronios Archimandrite Leontios; the Hegoumen in Remle Archimandrite Aristovoulos sang with the Community’s cantors in Greek and Arabic in the presence of Mr Alexandros Gennimatas representative of the Hellenic Embassy to Israel; the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to Israel; the Georgian Ambassador and a crowd of faithful that included Greek Orthodox Arabic-speaking locals as well as visitors from the adjacent towns of Joppa and Remli but also from Galilee and the occupied areas His Beatitude preached the Word of God in Greek After the distribution of the antidoron and the apolysis a reception was held at the Hegoumen’s quarters followed by lunch hosted by Archimandrite Nicodemus and the Community of Lydda The representatives of the Embassies of Greece, Cyprus and Georgia attended lunch and were addressed in English by the Chairman of the Community. See link: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/2015/11/16/18063 Copyright of website material is allowed provided the reference source is mentioned: Jerusalem Patriarchate – Website - www.jerusalem-patriarchate.info This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page While many have heard of the Bar Kokhba Rebellion fewer may be familiar with the Gallus Revolt But new archaeological findings in the city of Lod are shedding light on the episode of bravery and destruction that occurred approximately 1,650 years ago the Israel Antiquities Authority announced its recent findings from an excavation of an ancient Jewish public building dating from the Late Roman to Early Byzantine period that was violently destroyed Hidden beneath it was a hoard of 94 bronze and silver coins which appeared to have been purposefully buried there with the intention of being retrieved by their owner once the situation simmered down Hoard of ancient coins found in Lod from the period of the Gallus Revolt.Dafna Gazit Israel Antiquities AuthorityAmong the other findings in the structure were impressive stone and marble artifacts and inscriptions in Greek One particular inscription bears the name of a Jewish man from a priestly family plus the fact that there were no pig bones found among the multitude of animal bones uncovered at the site indicate that the structure was used by the Jewish community The building may have served as a synagogue and the large coin stash all point to the building's significance as a center of life in ancient Lod The Jewish public building excavated in Lod.Assaf Peretz Israel Antiquities AuthorityThe Jewish public building discovered in Lod.Assaf Peretz Israel Antiquities AuthorityThe site provides evidence of the Gallus Revolt which was supposedly the last Jewish rebellion against the Romans. Though there is little written evidence about this revolt there are texts reporting that major Jewish communities such as Lod (known as "Diospolis" Zipori and Tiberias were destroyed by the forces of Roman Ceasar Flavius Constantinus Gallus.  The findings are being published in a new book as part of the annual Central Israel Region Archaeological Conference The conference will be held in the Eretz Yisrael Museum in Tel Aviv and jointly hosted by Tel Aviv University Shahar Krispin and Mor Weiss of the Israel Antiquities Authority described it as a "magnificent Jewish building that housed the city’s elders From Talmudic writings we know that Lod was a most significant Jewish center in the aftermath of the Second Temple’s destruction in Jerusalem."  is a clear indication that the revolt was forcefully put down with violence and cruelty to the extent and power of this revolt in Lod located in the country’s center.”    Lod Mayor Yair Revivo with a coin excavated from the building.Yair Revivo celebrated the discovery: "The finds in the area proves that Lod is the one of the oldest cities in the world We wish to thank the Israel Antiquities Authority for revealing our city’s past glory this site will bring many tourists and visitors to the city." What’s YOUR favorite social media account dedicated to transportation infrastructure reducing road noise and — in the case of the rare two-lane roundabout — giving drivers the occasional reminder that they are mere mortals whose lives could be snuffed out in the time it takes a groggy parent to glance at Spotify and start the kids’ favorite playlist there is a certain obsession with these circular intersections in Israel which has led to a kind of rarely discussed but commonly understood culture Nearly every roundabout in the country is adorned with some kind of statue Dizengoff Fountain is a Tel Aviv landmark on a roundabout; in Pardes Hanna there is a statue of a farmer who is commonly adorned with the symbols of the latest protest or social movement: pride flags political banners calling for democracy or a flapping yellow cape reminding drivers that there are at least 132 hostages still being held captive by Hamas in Gaza another highlight in the world of Israeli traffic circles has taken center stage: Kikar Hakadurim — Hebrew for “The Balls Roundabout” — is an intersection in the city of Lod that plays host to a sculpture of seven giant balls each its own vibrant color and perched atop a pole This in and of itself is nothing to write home about, but the traffic circle has something unique: its own TikTok account which to date has posted 349 videos featuring memes and jokes about the sculpture.  As well, the circle has its own Instragram, Twitter and Facebook pages the traffic circle has accumulated over 43,000 followers tells ISRAEL21c that the entire social-media movement was a gag about how the Hebrew word for “balls” is interchangeable with the word for “bullets.” “It all started as a joke,” Saar explains.  It used to be that typing the city’s name into Google would conjure news articles about shootings — a less-than-rare occurrence, considering that Lod’s notoriously negative reputation has earned it the unofficial title of “the murder capital of Israel.” Located near Ben-Gurion International Airport and less than 10 miles southeast of Tel Aviv Lod has a mixed Arab-Jewish population of about 90,000 “I created a new branding for the square with balls and called it ‘Kikar Hakadurim Lod’ to make Google’s algorithm like my result more than the hundreds of articles,” Saar elaborates.  “Since then the matter has developed into a large community that comes to visit and take an interest in the square in the city of Lod.” the social-media movement has gained so much attention that it has spawned an independently organized project dedicated to further mending Lod’s reputation.  The project’s website, loooooood.com (which is spelled with seven Os to represent the seven balls in the roundabout) now offers souvenirs for purchase by those interested in the iconic traffic circle and perpetuating the positive image it puts forward Visitors to the site can order ball-adorned Israeli flags commemorative magnets and more memorabilia dedicated to the traffic circle’s septet of spherical centerpieces.  running the account is a task that Saar —  a third-year student of politics and communication who works at the Lod youth center — finds both meaningful and enjoyable though it definitely takes a lot of his time “The content that appears on the various platforms is mainly content that is produced on weekends and scheduled for the course of the week,” he says.  “It can be a simple meme and it can go as far as an elaborate and well-edited video Therefore the time [spent on the project] varies according to the content but it is very enjoyable regardless of the preparation time.” While many people might think of the city as a geographical red flag scrolling through the cornucopia of content that the TikTok account has on display paints a picture of a different Lod; a Lod that has a sense of humor a positive outlook and — one mustn’t forget — seven large colored balls in the middle of a traffic circle and this project comes to change the image in a funny way By subscribing I accept the terms of use and privacy policy "\/liveblog_entry\/man-in-his-30s-shot-dead-in-lod-14-year-old-seriously-wounded-in-bedouin-town\/?__cf_chl_rt_tk=1_msGJKs3iTLKr_z5EwZ_vtT8CMG93w_e1B7n4a0Yzg-1746488275-1.0.1.1-47oliRGmPpkf_0XREXqPEX75rgfEmBpHmQdFN2wLFMg" + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash);cpo.onload = function() {history.replaceState(null "\/liveblog_entry\/man-killed-by-car-bomb-in-taybeh-another-shot-dead-in-lod-police-say-incidents-are-criminal\/?__cf_chl_rt_tk=rTTdYnidC5ozgORR1jGBDNh_y2QCzBfKStx3B_a.tQM-1746488277-1.0.1.1-o19tHvRWHdMFuz3O_6z8fOZZ1EadlPVrojnFQ4PXCIU" + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash);cpo.onload = function() {history.replaceState(null 2025Get email notification for articles from Deiaa Haj Yahia FollowFeb 19 Gunshots are heard day and night in the city's alleys and the number of murder victims continues to rise was shot to death in the central Israeli city A police source believes that the murder was revenge for Monday's murder of Lod resident Ayoub Al-Touri "\/liveblog_entry\/lod-resident-shahar-goldman-named-as-one-of-seven-victims-of-jaffa-terror-attack\/?__cf_chl_rt_tk=Sz.bhiZT0Xj67ZuBU57BMD3lLMGCdrFzK.qWW.Am5vc-1746488286-1.0.1.1-yQ6hOnfGt2CLj.hG9jnEF7X942ZB0bSZxmRYXokAyiQ" + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash);cpo.onload = function() {history.replaceState(null Two hours before I was due to attend the debut screening in Israel of Rami Younis and Sarah Ema Friedland’s film “Lyd” earlier this month I received a message from the organizers informing me that it was canceled under instruction from Culture Minister Miki Zohar had forced Jaffa’s Palestinian-run Al-Saraya Theater to call off the event Their pretext was a century-old British Mandate ordinance obliging theaters to obtain prior approval for every film they screen — but for Zohar it seemed there was another factor at play “Lyd” premiered at the Amman International Film Festival in August 2023 where it won the Jury Award for Arab Feature Documentary Film and the International Film Critics’ Award In attendance at that first screening were hundreds of refugees from the city of Lyd Located in the center of what is today Israel, the city was occupied by Israeli forces in early July 1948, about three months after Israel’s declaration of independence. Soldiers massacred over 400 Palestinian residents by firing indiscriminately in the city center before rounding up dozens of men and executing them in the city’s main mosque The vast majority of Lyd’s residents and scores of Palestinians who were taking refuge among them — some 70,000 in total — were forced out beyond the borders of the new Israeli state Dozens died on their way, while most ended up in the West Bank or Amman where they or their descendants live today, still forbidden from returning. David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister, would boast to his cabinet that in Lyd and nearby Ramle “not one Arab has remained.” As it happened a few hundred locals did manage to stay and return to their hometown “Lyd,” which I had fortunately already seen before the recent canceled screening leads the viewer through these historical events drawing on archival footage and never-before-seen interviews with Israeli soldiers who took part in the operation to cleanse the city of its Palestinians It also features new interviews with Palestinians who were expelled descendants of Lydian refugees who now live in the occupied West Bank But the film is not just a documentary; it is also an exercise in political imagination Archival footage and interviews are interspersed with animated scenes depicting an alternative reality in which the European imperial powers never meddled in the Middle East Palestinians and Jews live together in a multicultural Younis, who is a Palestinian citizen of Israel from Lyd (and a longtime contributor to +972) had planned to follow the Amman premiere with screenings around the world but decided to put these on hold after October 7 taking the film everywhere from the United States to Italy Ahead of the cancellation, Zohar described it as a “disgrace that the inciting and false film ‘Lod,’ written and produced by anti-Israel boycott activists Rami Younis and Roger Waters will be screened in the state’s territory.” His statement emphasized the role of Waters a musician formerly of the band Pink Floyd and prominent pro-Palestine activist while changing the name of the film to the city’s current Israelized name and omitting Friedland’s role as co-writer and co-director “The State of Israel does not even want to face the fact that this city has a Palestinian name, Lyd, and that a Jewish person would dedicate nine years of her life to sharing the Palestinian narrative of this city,” Friedland said in response. Younis sarcastically thanked Zohar and the Israeli police for canceling the film a move which will doubtless raise its public profile “If there’s one thing I learned as a Palestinian journalist and artist,” he said “it’s that if they go this viciously after your work The Israeli government’s brazen censorship of “Lyd” shows that it is still insistent on suppressing the realities of the Nakba and its ongoing reverberations By presenting the massacres and ethnic cleansing of 1948 as part of a continuing structure of Jewish domination over Palestinians the film takes on a whole new resonance in the wake of Israel’s year-long onslaught on the Gaza Strip — seen by many as a catastrophe of even greater proportions And by offering the viewer an alternative reality in which Jews and Palestinians live in the city as equals the filmmakers affirm that things could have been Lod is a “mixed city” — one of only a handful of places in the country where Jews and Palestinians share an urban space it has a relatively low socioeconomic profile and high crime rate A visitor strolling its not-so-shiny streets might not be inclined to believe that it used to be a prosperous place But Younis and Friedland’s film reminds us that it was a holiday commemorating Saint George of Lydda (who also happens to be the patron saint of England People and goods from cities all across the Levant would travel through the city by camel and train which would later become Israel’s main airport In today’s Lod, Palestinians account for around 30 percent of the population, although the two communities are not commingled, living instead in segregated Jewish and Arab neighborhoods Yet in Younis and Friedland’s imaginary Lyd and a sizable minority of Jews live together without any one community dominating over the others the viewer is asked to imagine that British and French diplomats never conspired to carve up the post-Ottoman Middle East; instead the communities of the region established a multi-state federation called “the Greater Levant” in defiance of Western imperialism But the cinematographic fiction doesn’t always deviate from historical reality: European Jews still immigrate en masse to Palestine to escape antisemitic persecution joining their Eastern coreligionists who had lived there for centuries Friedland told me that the film’s imagined history was inspired by sociologist Salim Tamari’s descriptions of pre-mandatory Palestine which paint a picture of coexistence without domination before nationalism dictated communal affiliations Friedland was moved to discover that members of the Abrahamic religions shared in each others’ festivals: just as Muslims in Lyd celebrated Saint George (as we see in the film) those in Jerusalem partook in Purim celebrations “I was not taught that this region had ever been a safe place for Jews since the exiles of the past [by the Babylonians and Romans],” she explained “The alternative history is a reclamation of the shared society that existed before the State of Israel was founded.” A sympathetic viewer can still find the film’s speculative imagination futile When I put it to Friedland that Lod is only becoming less like the Lyd of her film “I understand that this can sound completely utopian or naïve You have to imagine the world you want to see in order to build it.” the film takes each real Lydian character and gives them a fictional doppelganger Jehad Baba and Anan Tarteer live in the Balata refugee camp in the West Bank Baba is a young metal worker who once dreamed of being a lawyer The two have lived their whole lives under a military occupation that severely limits their professional horizons But in Younis and Friedland’s imagined city they are university students — and not just at any university No such university could exist in the Israeli city of Lod was born to a Greek Orthodox family in Lyd and went on to found the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) he will always be Al-Hakim (“the doctor” or “the wise one”) The film’s tragic heroine, who sounds like she is fighting a losing battle, is Manar El-Memeh. In real life, she is an elementary school teacher. In her informal after-school program, we see her desperately trying to instill a sense of Palestinian identity in her students — an identity that is deliberately suppressed by the Israeli education system She asks her students to point to Palestine on an official state map The students are perplexed: one boy points to Egypt another says “Saudi Arabia.” After the children leave El-Memeh bursts into tears and a colleague tries to console her But no sooner has the viewer watched this distressing episode than an alternative present appears on screen in which El-Memeh is still a teacher but at a very different institution Sakakini School,” named after the Jerusalemite educator Instead of trying to help her students find Palestine on a map she is now teaching them about the history of Eid Lyd on the eve of the festival while posing a question for her Palestinian students: “How might you share your Palestinian privilege with your Jewish classmates?” Then reality interrupts. In a brutal transition, the exercise of imagining an equal, multicultural Lyd is cut short and the viewer is teleported to the intercommunal riots of May 2021 which engulfed several binational cities in Israel — with Lod at the epicenter The events of that month shocked Jewish-Israeli society and cast a shadow over Jewish-Arab relations in Israel. What Palestinians describe as the “Unity Intifada” marked the largest uprising of Palestinians in Israel since the events of October 2000 they rose up in solidarity with those in occupied East Jerusalem being forced out of their homes by state-backed Jewish settlers and subjected to police brutality on the Al-Aqsa compound during Ramadan In Lod, peaceful demonstrations on May 10 turned violent after Palestinian youth raised their national flag from Al-Omari Mosque prompting Israeli police to fire stun grenades Protestors responded by burning tires and cars and a group of armed Israeli Jews shot and killed 32-year old Musa Hassuna the government declared a state of emergency and sent in the Border Police while Israel’s president urged Arab mayors to condemn the violence But these events didn’t happen in a vacuum, and the film makes it abundantly clear that the expulsion and massacre in 1948 were only the start of a continuing injustice against Palestinians in Lod. Since then they have faced ghettoization, discrimination, and neglect by the authorities. Crime and poverty have been allowed to flourish in the Palestinian neighborhoods and a sense of grievance have been brewing for decades This reality flies in the face of the city’s official narrative, according to which the ungrateful Palestinian rioters have, all of a sudden, destroyed the peaceful coexistence that the municipality spent decades building. Mayor Revivo epitomized this worldview when he told the media at the time: “All the work we have done here for years has gone down the drain.”  Another absence from the official Israeli narrative on the events of May 2021 is the process of creeping Judaization in Lod: the ongoing effort to bolster the city’s Jewish character and demographic makeup and to further shrink the Palestinian minority “Lyd” calls our attention to a major engine behind this process The Garin Torani (Torah Nucleus) movement is a nation-wide religious-Zionist organization that takes the logic of the West Bank settler movement and applies it to Israel’s binational cities it has been bringing thousands of Orthodox Jewish families to Lod buying out Arab residents and aggressively settling the city’s mixed neighborhoods Upon his election in 2013, Revivo immediately appointed the head of Lod’s Garin Torani, Aharon Atias, as the city’s CEO. And as he helps push religious-nationalist Jews into Arab neighborhoods, he spares no effort in preventing Palestinians from doing the reverse “Palestinian citizens of Israel were reacting to an increasingly urgent threat of displacement from neighborhoods they’ve inhabited for decades,” the Garin Torani poured fuel on the fire “Lyd is serving as a kind of lab, a pilot,” Younis says. “What the Israeli authorities are doing in Hebron even absurd contrast between the footage of the explosive 2021 riots and Revivo’s serene we see him speaking without a hint of irony about a “mosaic of cultures,” and a city that “knows how to contain everyone and give everyone space.” According to him Jews and Arabs already co-live as equals in a pluralistic and multicultural city she is still on house arrest without trial In February, Revivo was re-elected as mayor securing a massive majority for his right-wing coalition in Lod’s city council City Hall has been adorned for more than a year now with banners bearing nationalistic slogans such as “The Lod Municipality salutes the security forces” and “The people of Israel lives.” A racist mania has engulfed much of the Jewish-Israeli public, including in Lod. Former councilwoman Fida Shehada told the FT that when she took her nephew to the shop to buy chocolate late last year a Jewish shopkeeper told her that he doesn’t serve Arabs At meetings she helped organize between local Jewish and Palestinian leaders the former would speak openly about “wiping out Gaza.”  Toward the end of Younis and Friedland’s film says between tears: “I don’t want to go through a Second Nakba.” As Lod’s Palestinians — many of them descendents of those who survived the massacre and mass expulsion from Lyd in 1948 — watch Gaza being destroyed by their country of citizenship they cannot help but wonder whether they’re next Dikla Taylor-Sheinman is a Shatil Social Justice Fellow at +972 Magazine she spent last year in Amman and the previous six years in Chicago Our team has been devastated by the horrific events of this latest war The world is reeling from Israel’s unprecedented onslaught on Gaza inflicting mass devastation and death upon besieged Palestinians as well as the atrocious attack and kidnappings by Hamas in Israel on October 7 Our hearts are with all the people and communities facing this violence We are in an extraordinarily dangerous era in Israel-Palestine The bloodshed has reached extreme levels of brutality and threatens to engulf the entire region are seizing the opportunity to intensify their attacks on Palestinians The most far-right government in Israel’s history is ramping up its policing of dissent using the cover of war to silence Palestinian citizens and left-wing Jews who object to its policies one that +972 has spent the past 14 years covering: Israeli society’s growing racism and militarism We are well positioned to cover this perilous moment – but we need your help to do it This terrible period will challenge the humanity of all of those working for a better future in this land Palestinians and Israelis are already organizing and strategizing to put up the fight of their lives Can we count on your support +972 Magazine is a leading media voice of this movement a desperately needed platform where Palestinian and Israeli journalists and thinkers can report on and analyze what is happening the Loons turned to the 5-2-3 setup they used often in 2024 in effect moving Robin Lod and Joaquín Pereyra up the field against Austin Minnesota United lined up Saturday against Austin in the formation the Loons played for most of 2024 — a 5-2-3 “I always felt that over the course of the season we would revert back to that at some point,” manager Eric Ramsay said “I felt like there was an inevitability that playing with both Tani [Oluwaseyi] and Kelvin in the front two would become sort of stale And we would have to find ways to be adaptable and flexible in terms of how we use a shape.” It’s a little hard to give credit to the formation for the win The first goal was a blunder by Austin keeper Brad Stuver and the second came after an attacking set piece meaning that neither could really be said to be a classic goal once the Loons were leading 2-0 — even in the first half — they were never going to be anything but a sensible defense-first team for the rest of the game The final expected-goals tallies likely won’t be particularly kind to Minnesota as Austin created a number of decent chances in the second half as it tried to rally from the deficit Ramsay wasn’t ready to throw away either of the formations the Loons have played over the past year — as long as one or both can set the group up for success “I think it almost reaffirms what I thought about the group in that we would for sure not play 30-odd games with Tani and Kelvin as a front two,” he said “[The 5-2-3] was something that we did very well last year We can defend very well in that shape and once we find our rhythm “I’ll stress that we’re just not going to be a team that is going be successful on the basis of phases of possession that last 30 passes You could see that in the characteristics of almost all the players that we have at the top of the pitch The formation swap did have the effect of moving Robin Lod and Joaquín Pereyra forward The latter got his first MLS goal — probably his first two if he had his way with the official scoring then rolled gently through the goalkeeper’s legs — and probably should be scored as an own goal of some variety “We were joking about it in the locker room,” said defender Anthony Markanich The Loons struggled to get a foothold in the game for the first 15 minutes or so and Ramsay had an idea why: They were literally struggling for footholds the pitch was a newly laid pitch,” he said it was tough for the players to get used to in the first 10 or 15 minutes — and I think they probably dealt with that slightly better than we did very different to anything I’ve encountered since I’ve been here Ramsay mentioned Carlos Harvey in particular as a player who was affected by the field in the first portion of the game they did seem to figure out how to deal with it as the game wore on Left wingback Joseph Rosales didn’t start the game, but not because of any discipline related to the controversy surrounding last week’s game in Vancouver. “I think the whole the whole situation that surrounds a player, and not just Joe, in a situation like that, given the sort of thoroughness of the league process, is really draining for a player,” Ramsay said. “I think Joe’s had a lot of extra bits to his week this week that he wouldn’t normally have. So I felt like it was probably most sensible for me to make a tough decision to relieve a little bit of pressure from him, and not add the weight of a really difficult away game from the start.” Though the league hasn’t announced a conclusion, it’s clear — and was clear even in the immediate aftermath — that it’s a case where the parties involved disagree on what happened and what was said. Rosales played the final half-hour of the match, after being subbed on for Markanich in the 64th minute. Jon Marthaler has been covering Minnesota soccer for more than 15 years, all the way back to the Minnesota Thunder. Loons The Loons controlled the game by stopping passes at midfield and they benefited from a goal that rolled between Austin goalie Brad Stuver‘s legs open spots on their roster and room for one or even two more designated players The wormhole to an alternate reality of peace in the Middle East which follows the story of the eponymous Palestinian city — now the Israeli city of Lod — spends little time explaining the past in sequences that mix present reality and an imagined world remembering all of her past selves and dreaming of a peaceful world “I never promised anyone anything,” she says of the battle between Palestinians and Israelis to define the city’s identity the city recalls centuries of history and the many names she’s held She’s proud of housing a train station and airport that connected Palestinians to the rest of the world and receiving Jewish refugees fleeing the Holocaust and pogroms But then she gets to the establishment of the state of Israel and the expulsion of Arab residents that Palestinians call the Nakba “Have you ever heard the theory that every event has multiple possible outcomes?” she says over an aerial view of the city “The event that happened right down here was so shocking that it didn’t only create an alternate reality — it also ruptured reality.” The film’s site calls it a “sci-fi documentary,” taking the viewer through an animated wormhole into a different Lyd Druze and Christians learn together in the same schools where they have classes on the Holocaust and St the patron saint of the city who all faiths gather to celebrate instead of expelling Palestinians to make way for an Israeli state The society is so successful that the school has lessons on “Palestinian privilege” — which applies to Jews Druze and Christians alike — and how they can extend the wealth to new asylum seekers from Eritrea and Sudan composed of Palestinian Israeli citizen Rami Younis and Sarah Ema Friedland speaks to its dream of peaceful coexistence And yet when a theater in Jaffa attempted to screen it in early October Israeli minister of culture Miki Zohar banned the film “His official rationale was that he didn’t want to incite violence in mixed cities,” Younis told me when we spoke over the phone because who the hell watches documentaries and uses them to incite?” screening at numerous American colleges where the showings have been taking place without issue.) Yet in Israel Younis said he is no stranger to smear campaigns He is a well-known figure in Israel’s Arab culture scene — he had a talk show on Arabic-language TV and has organized multiple film festivals “There are right wing activists who have been after me and whatever I do,” he said “It’s about not wanting to give people like me a voice anymore.” “A lot of people conveniently left out that an American Jew was also directing the film.” there’s still plenty of controversy in Lyd’s ideas There’s archival footage of Israeli Palmach soldiers recalling the violence against and expulsion of Palestinians from Lyd during the establishment of Israel and modern footage of Israeli soldiers cracking down on Lyd’s current Arab citizens the country where everyone is living so peacefully is called Palestine Even the fact that the name of the city is the Arabic Lyd Yet numerous Israeli organizations are protesting what they see as government censorship of the film Younis said that around 15 filmmakers’ and writers’ organizations — “pretty mainstream organizations,” he said — wrote letters to a judge who oversees the government’s decisions wrote an editorial castigating the decision to ban the film “A long list of Israeli films are shown every year in the movie theaters without receiving approval from the Israel Film Council,” the editorial said noting that the only films police shut down were from Palestinians “This is what political persecution looks like.” “I’m quite surprised that we’ve been getting somewhat of a positive coverage from some of the Hebrew media,” Younis said “I guess Israelis are beginning to wake up and realize that this is not going to end well.” I guess what really scares them,” Younis told me “is just the audacity of a Jewish American and a Palestinian from Israel to dream of a world in which everyone is free from the river to the sea.” Mira Fox is a reporter at the Forward. Get in touch at [email protected] or on Twitter @miraefox.[email protected]@miraefox I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward American Jews need independent news they can trust At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S rising antisemitism and polarized discourse This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on See our full guidelines for more information, and this guide for detail about canonical URLs subject line “republish,” with any questions or to let us know what stories you’re picking up Copyright © 2025 The Forward Association As the risk landscape becomes more complex and fast-moving it exposes weaknesses in the traditional three lines of defense model How can internal audit (IA) play a key role in evolving and strengthening this critical risk management framework Businesses are continuing to evolve out of necessity This continuous change affects business operations at all levels with customers demanding real-time interactions regulators applying increasing levels of scrutiny and governance stakeholders requiring assurance in this complex and dynamic risk environment The result has exposed weaknesses in the traditional three lines of defense (3LOD) risk management model Different groups within organizations play a distinct role within the three lines of defense model While the 3LOD framework is widely acknowledged and understood by a range of industries as the governance model for risk its implementation varies in form and maturity across the spectrum the role of IA functions is to provide assurance while maintaining objectivity and independence; however its mandate should continue to evolve as the need to adapt to a business-focused Regardless of how mature and integrated the three lines of defense model is within organizations there are a number of challenges that limit its effectiveness: management does not have a strong awareness or ownership of risk and controls but often its role is to facilitate the maintenance of the risk register regulatory compliance risks are absorbed into both risk and IA functions with specialist teams existing in pockets or one-off "silos" not seen as assurance functions (for example health and safety in construction firms or clinical governance in the health care industry) nor well integrated within a broader risk management program given the similar risk and control skill sets the IA and risk functions are seen crossing the boundaries between the second and third lines where respondents cited improvements in coordination within the 3LOD as an important business imperative While these actionable and strategic steps are oriented towards an evolution in the three lines of defense model there have been several negative side effects for more mature 3LOD models The first line can have audit fatigue due to duplicative testing from both second and third lines resulting in less time to focus on the business at hand There are also cases where the over fitting or over strengthening of the second line has resulted in issues because the first line stops performing activities believing they have responsibility of the second line many organizations fall into the trap of overreaction whereby additional activities are added to the portfolio for the second and third lines the third line is best positioned to help their organizations avoid knee-jerk reactions and help draft a measured response that is risk-focused — In the face of increasing regulatory pressure as well as the opportunity to become more efficient and effective we are seeing the strengthening of all three lines of defense being driven from the board focus on emerging risks and core control disciplines An example of this is in the United Kingdom where financial services regulators are increasing the personal accountability of senior managers (including executive and nonexecutive directors) over the control environment The result has been felt across all three lines of defense:• The first line taking an active role in the management of risk for its area; some are starting to embed first-line monitoring of controls (in larger institutions this has led to first-line assurance teams–"Line 1b").• Risk functions are increasingly forward-looking in their assessments of emerging risks using key risk indicators to highlight potential control failures and working with management to improve the design of controls.• In addition to advising management on new regulatory risks and designing corresponding policies compliance functions are undertaking increased regulatory monitoring reviews This is aligned with Deloitte's point of view where the first and second lines take on greater ownership of their responsibilities as part of "assurance by design" and "automated core assurance".• This has left IA functions undertaking risk-based assurance reviews over the same risk areas as the second line increasingly with a very similar assurance skill set leading to a duplication of assurance activities between the three lines of defense IA functions with the strongest impact in their organizations are those which are adapting to change; collaborating; and making investments in digital assets New technologies have created an opportunity to enable a variety of techniques to improve efficiency and insight from assurance activities including 100 percent assurance coverage (rather than sampling) and real-time insight into emerging risks via data-led This creates an opportunity for IA and its future role To take advantage of these changes and disruptions auditors need to rethink their role by adapting to and embracing change enabling the IA function to become more agile thus driving change through the three lines of defense model The IA of the future will play an active role in educating stakeholders and sharing tools Effective IA functions with a dynamic and forward-looking mindset are likely to be viewed positively by key stakeholders While the maturity of IA groups within individual organizations will vary the key is to start identifying current inefficiencies in an organization’s 3LOD model and to encourage innovation with meaningful Innovation should extend beyond technology and elevating engagement connection with first- and second-line stakeholders IA would be in a better position to strengthen its impact and mobilize itself for future challenges and opportunities IA should focus its efforts on shifting ownership of certain elements of risk management to the first and second lines through education and awareness-building highlighting the value and efficiencies that can be achieved By leveraging digital assets and innovative methods IA and risk management could automate processes previously covered manually IA should increase its participation in coordinating and designing processes that could help management and the second line take ownership of these activities while addressing business risks and minimizing the audit fatigue due to the efforts of second and third line we see the opportunity for real-time assurance and a better span of control across the organization IA could create opportunities to help implement assurance activities into controls as they are designed This approach is called "assurance by design." There is a distinct possibility to automate and create workflows that many of the typical second-line activities and some first-line compliance activities can leverage ("core automated assurance") This would allow IA (third line) to focus on the greatest risks while creating much-needed capacity this framework represents a traditional view of not only fulfilling IA’s core assurance responsibilities but also the need to advise on key risks and help the business anticipate and measure risk There are a number of enablers and accelerators that can be used to achieve these objectives the CAE should focus on the IA function in considering the importance of developing an innovative mindset This is critical for organizations as they look to the future and develop forward-looking approaches for managing risk The CAE should think about the skills and attributes that drive innovative behavior It is interesting that the skills and characteristics in many ways are the same for what an innovative risk and control professional will need to be impactful in the future which will create capacity for IA to focus on the truly most relevant and impactful risks to the organization Dramatic evidence for the last Jewish revolt against the Romans—the comparatively obscure Gallus Revolt of 351–354 c.e.—has been discovered for the first time at Lod Excavations carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority (iaa) and the Lod Municipality at Nordau Street (about 15 kilometers southeast of Tel Aviv) have revealed an impressive hoard of nearly 100 silver and bronze coins hidden in the floor of a once impressive large Jewish public building of the fourth century c.e The building suffered a violent destruction It’s clear the treasure hoard was deliberately hidden just prior to the destruction in order to be retrieved later on The latest of the coins date squarely to the time of the Gallus Revolt a lesser-known uprising named after Flavius Claudius Constantius Gallus who ruled as Caesar of Rome’s eastern provinces between 351–354 c.e brother-in-law to Emperor Constantius ii (who was the son of the famous Roman emperor Constantine the Great) presided over a period of intense upheaval between Christians and Jews during this new period of Roman Christian rule The revolt was put down by Gallus’s general “Though written evidence is sparse regarding this revolt there are texts reporting that major Jewish communities such as Lod Zipori and Tiberias were destroyed by the forces of Roman Caesar Flavius Constantinus Gallus,” the press release noted While much of this revolt centered in the Galilee region texts of the period do mention the destruction of Lod in the south; now Other finds discovered in the remains of the Lod building include “impressive stone and marble artifacts; Greek and one inscription bearing the name of a Jewish man from a priestly family which is still being studied.” The inscriptions as well as the complete absence of pig bones among the site’s faunal assemblage help to confirm the building’s association with the Jewish community It is difficult to determine if this magnificent building served as synagogue But what is clear is that the building’s size and the assemblage of archaeological finds produced by the excavation fit well Lod/Diospolis’s description in both Jewish and non-Jewish sources as a center of Torah-true Jewish life in the Mishna and Talmud periods Lod’s role as a leading community with elders continued from after the destruction though to this moment when it was cruelly cut down in the Gallus Revolt Site excavators Shahar Krispin and Mor Viezel of the iaa added: In all likelihood this is a magnificent Jewish building that housed the city’s elders From Talmudic writings we know that Lod was a significant Jewish center in the aftermath of the second temple’s destruction in Jerusalem Some of the renowned “Sages of Lod” are Rabbi Eliezer ben Horkanos Lod mayor Yair Revivo summed up the discovery: “This is an exciting and very emotionally moving find another link in the chain of Lod’s Tannaitic-period heritage as host to the authors of the Mishna … We wish to thank the Israel Antiquities Authority for revealing our city’s past glory this site will bring many tourists and visitors to the city: Lod is connecting to its past and is looking forward to a bright future.” Just a single game remains in the 2024 MLS regular season and you know what that means: this year’s superlatives and awards are right around the corner Following this weekend’s Decision Day action we’ll have all of the facts and figures needed to determine who this year’s Landon Donovan MVP is going to be there’s one award that we’re pretty certain is already locked up (are you listening To say that 2024 has been a return to form for the ever-versatile Finnish-army knife that is Robin Lod would be more than an understatement; it would be downright disrespectful It’s been a career year for Minnesota United’s midfield maestro and after missing 24 games in 2023 due to a torn meniscus injury it’s been quite the way to return to action I took a look at the record books to see just how special this season has been and sporting staff members across the league get a chance to see all of Robin’s accomplishments in one place Share this list of five reasons he should be the undisputed Comeback Player of the Year with everyone you know it’ll get around to the people that need to see it here it is: all the hard-hitting proof that Robin Lod has had the comeback of the season: It’s no secret that Lod has been the most productive player at Minnesota United this season His 21 goal contributions are far and away the highest in the squad with only Bongokuhle Hlongwane even getting close with 15 Lod has consistently been the biggest threat on his team this season with his incredible passing range giving him the perfect skillset to notch 15 assists and 6 goals in 31 games That’s a goal contribution in almost three out of every four games Not too shabby for a guy that just took a year off Lod’s highest single-season goal contribution tally was 14 a number he achieved in 2020 with 10 goals and four assists he’s set to beat his own single-season appearance record of 31 with Saturday’s match bringing him up to 32 assuming he sees the field He’s racked up 2,327 minutes along the way once again becoming the heartbeat of this Loons side most consistent form of his 13-year career meaning that not only has he returned to the role he had before his injury he’s exceeded the heights he reached in the past If that’s not a good way to return to action Robin Lod has been a key part of Minnesota United’s progress as a club he is undoubtedly a living legend for the Loons and he further cemented that status by completely rewriting the record books in 2024 He became the club’s all-time leading goalscorer he became the all-time leader for most regular-season goal contributions in MNUFC's MLS history How about trying the club’s single-season assist record (15) and goal contribution record (21) with a chance to break it on Saturday against St Louis The record books have been rewritten to reflect a truly historic season and one of the club’s longest-serving players has taken his rightful seat at the top of several big lists Look at the list of nominees for this award and tell me how many of them were All-Stars this year Lod’s first half of 2024 was absolutely electric earning him a spot on the MLS All-Star roster in Columbus He played the final 20 minutes of the first half adding some quality passing and composure to the lineup I know I’ve hammered home the statistical significance of Lod’s season plenty already There are only two players in the league with more assists than Robin Lod this year and considering the company he’s keeping in that conversation are all candidates for the MVP award it’s even crazier to think this is his first season back on the pitch Bias has got nothing to do with this shoutout He’s shown no signs of last season’s injury racking up 10 goal contributions in his first eight games back and he’s ending the season on another strong note but I think it’s pretty clear at this point: Robin Lod deserves to be yours and all of Major a league Soccer’s 2024 Comeback Player of the Year The National Committee for Planning Priority Housing Areas yesterday approved a plan for construction of 4,834 housing units in Lod including 300 sheltered housing units and 534 new urban renewal apartments in an old neighborhood in the town The plan involves an area in eastern Lod between the Ganei Ya'ar neighborhood and Moshav Achisamech The state signed a major roof agreement a year ago with the Lod municipality for construction of 17,000 housing units in the town In addition to the plan approved yesterday the National Committee for Planning Priority Housing Areas is promoting more plans under the roof agreement including the construction of 11,000 housing units in western Lod The plan approved yesterday includes 4,000 housing units to be constructed in 1-20-storey residential buildings 800 of which will be reserved for small apartments 16,000 square meters in the plan will be allocated for commerce and business in the storefronts of the residential buildings along Reshit Road which transverses the plan and connects it to other neighborhoods in the town which was promoted by government company Apartment for Rent - The Governmental Company for Rental Housing and the Lod municipality includes urban renewal in the Beit Hakshatot neighborhood in the old city of Lod and construction of 540 new housing units to replace 72 existing ones a municipal park is planned along the Gezer River on a 180-dunam (45-acre) site The plan was designed by Alonim Goorevitch Architecture and Urban Design the Committee forwarded its aim of helping government efforts to create housing solutions in high-demand areas," said Ministry of Finance deputy budget director and National Committee for Planning Priority Housing Areas chairperson Ariel Yotzer "The plan in Ben Shemen constitutes a catalyst for the process of growth and urban renewal in Lod on the way to a preferable alternative to housing in the central region." "We are delighted with the approval of the Ben Shemen plan which will lead to the construction of 4,000 housing units The plan constitutes an important element of the implementation of the strategic agreement for Lod Apartment for Rent is continuing to initiative more plans and projects in the town and all over Israel." "Following a great effort by the municipality Lod Economic Company and our partners in the government we have managed to bring about construction of a new neighborhood in Lod The plan will empower the town socially and economically and position it as one of the most attractive targets in Israel's high-demand areas." Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - en.globes.co.il - on October 11, 2018 © Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2018 Amina Abu Siam and the city of Lod murder's map. Photo: Bea Bar Kallosh, Google At first glance, the reasons for all the violence in Lod are apparent: a vicious cycle of neglect, crime, and lack of cooperation with the law-enforcement authorities, which feeds itself repeatedly in an endless loop. But after taking a closer look and visiting each red dot on the map, the picture is far more complex and charged. So, what has all this got to do with a student who was gunned down while waiting in the car for his mother or a gardener murdered in front of his niece? The answer, it seems, is mawaja. “The word mawaja comes from the Arabic word for pain,” explains Samah Salaime, a social worker who has been active in the city for over 20 years. “What that means is that the family is the soft underbelly, the place where you exert pressure when you want to inflict pain. If I want to hurt you, I take out someone unexpected. That hurts the most.” It turns out, however, that the feud between the Musrati and al-Wahwah families is not even the most lethal in Lod over the past decade. In December 2020, a national outcry occurred when 15-year-old Omar Abu Saluk was murdered by assassins on Route 6 while riding in a police convoy that was supposed to protect him. Eight Azbarga family members, who live close to the Abu Saluk family in Lod, have been charged with his murder. “For example, because there’s no infrastructure, you sometimes get a dozen homes hooked up to one electric meter,” Munir explains. “One woman told me she got an electricity bill for 14,000 shekels [$4,000]. She wanted to split the bill among all the households using her electricity, but one of them refused, saying point-blank that he wouldn’t pay. That’s how a feud starts between different families. And because there’s no one to deal with it, the conflict escalates and escalates. “A bloody feud between families doesn’t care whether you’re a criminal or not. It only cares if you’re a member of the wrong family,” says retired police Assistant Commissioner Yifrah Duchovny, the former commander of the Shfela District and the station chief in nearby Ramle. According to Duchovny, one tool that has proved effective in halting the cycle of bloody revenge is a reconciliation committee, which tries to mediate between the sides. In Ramle and Lod, one such committee is in operation, headed by Hajj Karim Jarushi, who has helped police calm conflicts on several occasions. In 2018, for example, he spearheaded negotiations that ended with the safe return of 7-year-old Karim Jumhour, who was kidnapped from his home in Qalansawe and taken to Ramallah. One person familiar with these committees’ workings explains, “it is the feuding parties who approach the committee. It could be between two families, a couple, or neighbors. The committee tries to hear both sides, mediate between them, and heal the rift. To begin with, they declare a hudna, a three-day truce. Because, in the first few days after a feud breaks out, people can be hotheaded, and you shouldn’t judge them.” In addition to al-Amouri, four other Arab women are believed to have been murdered by a member of their family or the family they married into: Duaa Abu Shrakh, Diana Abu Katifan, Siham Azbarga, and Rabab Abu Siam. None of these cases has been solved. Another similar murder was that of Mirwat Daoki, who was eating lunch with her husband when a masked man broke in and shot her to death before fleeing. Rabab Abu Siam was married for around ten years. According to her mother, Amina, one Friday during the coronavirus pandemic shutdowns, she returned to the family home in Lod and was surprised to find Rabab there. “She told me that she came because she had been subjected to mental and physical abuse for more than two years,” the mother claims. Rabab remained in her parents’ home and started divorce proceedings against her husband. She told authorities that he had been threatening her. In October 2021, he was arrested for threatening behavior and attempting to hurt her but was released two days later without charge. A few months before her murder, Rabab survived an attempt to kill her. She was sitting in her car when shots were fired at her, but she escaped unharmed. Rabab, however, refused to move into a shelter. “When you can see death up close, isn’t that being in real danger?” the officer continues to try to persuade her. “Really, what will you feel when you see death up close? That everything’s okay? No.” Rabab, who sounds shocked, replies: “I felt that nothing in this life is worth anything. Never mind, forget it. Maybe I’m just not feeling myself these days.” Around a week before the murder, Rabab’s mother says, she agreed to drop all her financial demands as part of the divorce agreement. Her husband asked for a few days to think about it. On the weekend, Rabab drove to the apartment her family had rented for her in Be’er Sheva. As soon as she arrived in the city, police officers took her to the local station and again tried to persuade her to go to a shelter where she would be safe from harm. Six years before Abu Siam’s murder, her friend, Duaa Abu Shrakh, was also murdered. There is a chilling similarity between the two cases. “Duaa and Rabab were both murdered in the same pattern. They both escaped with their lives the first time, so they thought they could survive the second time,” says a woman who was a close friend of Duaa who asked to remain anonymous. Some two years after that incident, Duaa was shot to death by a masked gunman. It happened after she had spent the day with her children and was about to return them to their father. Her parents still cannot take it in. In the aftermath of the murder, a special discussion was held in 2016 at the Knesset’s Committee on the Status of Women, and Gender Equality. Several members of the Abu Shrakh attended. Shukri Abu Tabik, the attorney representing Duaa’s ex-husband, said in response: “My client was interviewed about the events, denied any connection to them – and was released. He was not indicted and, in any case, has not been convicted of any crime.” Adal’s comments may sound like another case of urban gentrification, where wealthier residents push out the longstanding local community. However, in Lod, the situation is made even more charged by nationalistic and ideological elements. While members of the Garinim Torani’im see themselves as engaged in a purely Zionist activity that brings great benefit to the city, many of the Arab residents feel as if they are being driven from their homes – with the blessing of the Israeli establishment. These feelings also fueled the violence in Lod during Operation Guardians of the Wall in 2021, when two people were killed: Yigal Yehoshua, who was killed by an Arab mob, members of which are currently on trial for his murder, and Moussa Hasuna, who was shot dead by a Jewish resident. The state prosecution closed the case against the Jewish residents suspected of killing Hasuna, accepting their claim that they were acting in self-defense. “There are refugee camps in Lod,” he adds. “Camps in which there are tin shacks, open sewers, shots fired – and no infrastructure, no enforcement, no education, and no law. There are children in Lod whose fathers do not know how to read or write. Sometimes, the father is a former collaborator, and sometimes he’s from a family involved in a feud. There’s no horizon for work or education. People don’t have a strong family support system to help them. “If I were to inundate the best neighborhood in Tel Aviv with drugs,” says Salaime, “there would be drug dealers there and drug addicts. Any youth with a gun can make money with it – and that’s all he needs.” Shomrim - The Center for Media and DemocracyWe believe investigative journalism is the foundation for safekeeping the fundamental human rights of every Israeli citizen. We are committed to investing our time and resources to promote it. The Center for Media and Democracy© Copyright The Center for Media and Democracy Inc, non for profit   The finalists for the annual awards earned the highest average votes from MLS club technical staff, MLS first-team players, and select media members, with each group accounting for 33.3 percent of the overall results. Most recently, he recorded his 15th assist of the season on September 28 against the Colorado Rapids, tying former MNUFC forward Darwin Quintero's single-season assist record set in 2018. Robin also surpassed Emanuel Reynoso in the club’s single-season goal contribution rankings with 22 (seven goals, 15 assists) after scoring the opening goal in the final home game of the season against St. Louis CITY SC, ranking second behind Darwin Quintero (26). A veteran and leader on and off the field, Robin’s hard work was noticed and recognized by MLS All-Star and Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy in July, when he earned his first MLS All-Star selection. Robin played the final 20 minutes of the first half against the LIGA MX All-Stars, adding his signature composure and quality passing range to the midfield. the magnificent 1,700-year-old Lod mosaic – featuring animals plants and fish – is back on show at the purpose-built Shelby White and Leon Levy Mosaic Archaeological Center 2022Get email notification for articles from Ruth Schuster FollowJun 27 and was made 1,700 years ago to ornament the floor of a Roman mansion in central Israel And now it is back home in Lod after a lengthy world tour The mosaic is the pièce de résistance at the Shelby White and Leon Levy Mosaic Archaeological Center in Lod house and showcase this unusually fine set of images The center is conveniently near the route to Ben-Gurion Airport and the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway Lod residents get in for free – and it is for greater good of the city that White decided the small museum should not have its own restaurant The city itself seems enthused: "Our dream for this city is being realized today right before our eyes as we dedicate this most important museum placing Lod on the world tourism map," stated city mayor Leon Revivo The Lod mosaic had been discovered in 1996 by Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist Miriam Avissar during a salvage excavation in the modern city center it had lain all these centuries beneath about a meter and a half of dirt and debris of the ages says Amir Gorzalczany of the Antiquities Authority Open gallery viewWhen the Lod mosaic was uncovered: note the diagonal of destruction across it and the ornate strip where a wall had once stood before a Roman-era renovationCredit: Skyview Yet again, this discovery happened because of modern travel-mania and the desire for new roads, and sewage systems. Many a treasure has been discovered in Israel as the population expands and infrastructure works ensued After being serendipitously discovered in 1996 the mosaic – actually a series of mosaics – was immediately reburied until budgets for its preservation could be found manager of the mosaic preservation project on behalf of the IAA “The mosaic was found here and should stay here after it flew around the world like a magic carpet,” White told Haaretz on Monday and supports the work of the IAA in general its preservation was pursued and it was displayed to the Israeli public for one weekend while working on gingerly excavating the mosaic in 2009 they expanded the area of the dig and identified the edge of another gorgeous mosaic now outside in the museum courtyard No travel for it: “That one remains really in situ,” Kislev quips Rather more weather-beaten than the one inside in fact there had been a modern road over this courtyard mosaic built of course before the antiquity was known to exist Approval was finally granted in 2014 to remove that road “We found the foundations of these pillars,” he says while digging the foundations for the museum the IAA archaeologists found another mosaic It too was the floor of a Roman-period house owned by somebody who was evidently extravagantly wealthy Open gallery viewA ship and fish in a detail from the Lod mosaic the fish never got their day in the Roman Colosseum.Credit: Ruth SchusterAn artisan from Africa Given that the central mosaic inside the mansion chiefly features African animals that have not existed in Israel for a very long time it may have been created by a master artisan hailing from North Africa the 2018 mosaic has a somewhat different style While the 2018 mosaic and courtyard mosaic never went 57-foot-long mosaic has been to places you wish you could see Its tour included the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York: “It was such as thrill to see the name Lod on the Metropolitan Museum,” White says Its itinerary also included the Louvre in Paris; the Altes Museum in Berlin; Waddesdon Manor (a country house popular among tourists) in England; the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg; the Legion of Honor Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco; the Columbus Museum of Art in Ohio; the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology in Philadelphia; the Field Museum in Chicago; Fondazione Giorgio Cini in Venice; and the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum in Miami How does a 57-foot-long mosaic fit into the belly of a plane Open gallery viewExtraordinary fish and Roman merchant ships in a mosaic strip adjacent to the main mosaicCredit: Nikki Davidov IAAAncient mosaics were built on top of a layer of large stones covered by fine stones and plaster on which the artisan would sketch and then etch the outlines of the forms before laying the actual tesserae (mosaic tiles) a model would be created on the surface – and the tesserae are fit on that the restorers carefully carved it up and packaged it together with hefty chunks of the supporting ancient flooring one cannot see any signs of it having been monkeyed with for display abroad The restorers did a perfect job hiding the signs of its dismantling and reconstruction one clearly sees a diagonal stripe over a foot wide which is a bitter reminder of how the mosaic was found in the first place Open gallery viewThe lighter diagonal bit is the modern damage caused when finding the thing The upper-rightmost bird is reconstructed as a quail.Credit: Ruth Schuster one sees the postulated restoration of a quail the identification of which Gorzalczany is confident As for the ornate mosaic strip stretching the width of the mosaic and about a couple of feet wide its style is different – and its colors are very different some of them gilted (which the other mosaics don’t have) That strip section of this extraordinary whole was created during a Roman-era home renovation which was torn down and the mosaic built in its place the ancient homeowner wound up with a giant hall featuring basically five magnificent mosaics Open gallery viewAn aerial view of the site where the Shelby White and Leon Levy Mosaic Archaeological Center was constructed around the mosaic.Credit: Vlady and Limor Ben DorWere you a Jew or any sign that could be reasonably interpreted as religious affiliation They show somewhat stylized but recognizable animals and mythical creatures (something hopefully supernatural is apparently lurking in the vase between the two lions) The lions of LodCredit: Ruth SchusterIn the main mosaic the animal images surround an octagon featuring yet more exotic animals from the farthest-flung parts of the Roman Empire and beyond animals that hailed from Africa and India during the Roman period known and appreciated in Rome chiefly for being done to death in gladiatorial arenas This central mosaic was sandwiched between two smaller panels: one showing more exotic animals; the other a seascape brimming with fish While Byzantine churches in Israel and synagogues featured mosaics archaeologists believe the edifice housing this art was not a place of worship just the manse of a very wealthy family who could afford the best What faith its owners may have been affiliated with early Christian or persisting pagan – remains a mystery "Community tourism in an area of conflict is both an extraordinary experience for the tourist and an opportunity for the local people to tell their story to the world," said Yossi Graiver "It's also an opportunity to develop tourism based on circular economics: people will set up tourism-based businesses telling their stories to the world." they came to realize just how proud the people of Lod are in their mosaic All these beloved mosaics were made using small tesserae enabling the artisans to achieve a vast range of hues and special effects such as shadowing and volume “The smaller the stones used in the mosaic the more you can put into the picture and the better the quality – it’s like pixels,” explains Gorzalczany who had led this second mosaic’s preservation featuring a vast range of colors and gorgeous artwork and even use of gold-gilted stones and glass tiles But there’s no support for either hypothesis in the evidence to date Maybe the owner just thought fish and other life forms are pretty All we can say based on these two great mosaic finds Open gallery viewAn aerial shot of the 57-foot-long mosaic at Lod.Credit: Nikki DavidovToday the city of Lod is better known for its proximity to Israel’s international airport The area in general has been occupied since deep prehistory in the context of the genealogy from Benjamin to Saul – as in “Shemed Lod would also become a major center for ancient Jewish scholarship as much as 2,500 years ago the book of 1 Maccabees notes the city in the context of magnanimously being confirmed as a fief of the Jews by the Macedonian King Demetrius (who ruled from 294 to 288 B.C.E.): “We have decided to treat the nation of the Jews well They are our friends and keep their obligations to us the territory of Judea and the three districts of Aphairema Open gallery viewThe Lod mosaic's traveling days are now over.Credit: Nikki Davidov / IAALod is also cited as the site where Peter the Apostle reportedly healed a paralytic: “When Peter was going around to all of God’s people he came to those who lived in the city of Lydda In Lydda Peter found a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed and confined to a cot for eight years Rather less edifying is the city’s fame as the site where Saint George was killed It houses a Greek Orthodox church named for him built partly atop a Crusader-period structure and Byzantine-period basilica Yet the beautiful mosaics hint at none of these religious motifs beautiful pictures of animals that the Romans enjoyed watching kill each other who never did get their day in the stadia of ancient Rome © copyrights reserved to The Israel Democracy Institute The horrific violence that has erupted over the past few days between Israel's Jewish and Arab citizens came as a surprise to many - not so much to the Arab residents of the 'mixed cities' The horrific violence that has erupted over the past few days between Israel’s Jewish and Arab citizens came as a surprise to many haven’t we heard recently that the elected representatives of Arab citizens of Israel in the Knesset are the new kingmakers the next government was to have made a serious effort to close the glaring socioeconomic gaps and address the significant challenges facing the Arab minority Unfortunately for those of us who live in mixed communities where Arab and Jewish citizens of Israel live side by side the horrific violence perpetrated by a small minority in Lod Unemployed youth with little prospects on the horizon add to rising crime in Arab communities The government and municipalities lavish money on projects and policies that benefit Jewish residents often at the expense of long-time Arab residents All this created a tinderbox ready to be lit on fire at the end of the Ramadan period Lax policing plays a significant role in all this An unwillingness to commit resources and personnel has created rates of violent crime in these cities that are among the highest in Israel 21 Arabs were murdered in mixed cities — 20% of all Arabs murdered in Israel in 2020 — double their share of the population All this came to a head in the last 10 days but to better understand the situation in much of Israel today it is helpful to take a closer look at these mixed cities There is a prevalent myth that these communities are beacons of hope Travel spreads in leading international publications feature boutique hotels in Acre and Jaffa and that project an overly positive image of a Middle Eastern success story Arab residents of mixed cities live almost completely separate lives from the Jewish majority are clearly delineated between Jewish and Arab residents and it goes without saying that almost all schools are completely separate a mixed city with Arab and Jewish residents I had no interaction with Jewish residents and did not speak Hebrew until I turned 18 and got my first job that around 250,000 young Arabs are either at home or roaming the streets with little to occupy their time The problem is especially acute in some of the cities in the headlines recently: Only 33% of Arabs in Lod and only 43% of those in Acre are employed less than 20% of Arabs in mixed cities have academic degrees greatly limiting their ability to improve their lot and gain meaningful employment in many of these cities there are two kinds of “imported populations”: The first are families of “collaborators,” Palestinians originally from the West Bank who have collaborated with Israeli intelligence have been resettled within Israel proper and are shunned by the Arab minority living in Israel ideologically based groups who seek to strengthen the local Jewish community with little focus on truly integrating into cities such as Lod Against the backdrop of these dismal statistics came the events of May 2021: the dispute around the pending expulsions of Palestinians in Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighborhoods; the police action at the Aqsa Mosque and Temple Mount and then the fierce Israeli retaliation in Gaza for the missiles fired by Hamas in Gaza All resonated with the unemployed Arab youth in the mixed cities 50% of the residents reported that they believe that their municipalities do not offer the same level of services to Jewish and Arab residents The answer lies in the underlying conditions that contributed to the violence in the first place While a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the religious and nationalistic tensions it incites is probably years away Israel’s government can make practical decisions that can narrow the gaps within our society and provide equal opportunities for all $4.6 billion passed in 2015 and extended last year for an additional year was a giant step forward towards the social and economic advancement of Israel’s Arabs It will hopefully narrow the gaps between Arab and Jewish society in education challenges unique to mixed cities were excluded from the resolution What is needed now is a new plan that will focus on these cities and allocate funding aimed at narrowing the gaps within these municipalities in addition to supporting Arab citizens throughout the country The violence within Israel is devastating for those experiencing it firsthand and disheartening for all of us who hope for the day in which all citizens of Israel have equal rights and equal opportunities The immediate consequence must be fair but harsh policing against anyone who uses violence coupled with a call by religious and communal leaders to instill calm we must all get back to work to develop policies that will build a better and more just society and ensure that our leaders will implement them towards a more hopeful future for Jews and Arabs alike The article was published in the JTA "\/why-would-you-ever-choose-to-live-in-lod\/?__cf_chl_rt_tk=a99W43MW_Kr_BieQMX82hwvqUnXejCUkBJuOBf7cyj8-1746488362-1.0.1.1-3Mk7lc1QgSkHB2X1uCeP2eZnKKx4JrFfgLKaZP7jZIY" + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash);cpo.onload = function() {history.replaceState(null The central Israeli city of Lod witnessed fierce clashes Tuesday between Arab youths and police during a funeral procession for an Arab Israeli resident who was killed by an Israeli settler The Israeli daily Yediot Ahronoth reported that two Israeli police officers were injured in the clashes which also saw a police vehicle set ablaze .w3-content { max-width: 100%; margin: auto;} .w3-tooltip .w3-display-container {position: relative;} .w3-black .w3-hover-black:hover { color: #fff!important; background-color: #000!important;} .w3-display-left { position: absolute; top: 50%; left: 0%; transform: translate(0%,-50%);-ms-transform: translate(-0%,-50%);} .w3-display-right { position: absolute; top: 50%; right: 0%; transform: translate(0%,-50%);-ms-transform: translate(0%,-50%);} .w3-btn .w3-button {-webkit-touch-callout: none;-webkit-user-select: none; -khtml-user-select: none;-moz-user-select: none; -ms-user-select: none;user-select: none;} .w3-btn .w3-button {border: none;display: inline-block;outline: 0;padding: 8px 16px;vertical-align: middle;overflow: hidden;text-decoration: none;color: inherit;background-color: inherit;text-align: center;cursor: pointer;white-space: nowrap;} ISRAEL - MAY 11: Israeli forces take security measures as Palestinians attend funeral prayer for Palestinian Musa Hassune who was killed by an Israeli gunman's fire Hundreds of Arab residents of the city took part in the funeral procession for their Arab kinsman Israeli police said Tuesday that they arrested an Israeli suspected of killing the Arab Israeli and seriously wounding another Israel later announced a state of emergency in Lod Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Twitter More than 1,400 reinforcements have already been sent to the city Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told Anadolu Agency dozens of vehicles were set on fire in clashes between the police and Palestinians in Lod and surrounding cities thousands of Arab Israelis demonstrated in the northern cities of Haifa Shfaram and Tira in protest against Israeli policies in Jerusalem and 98 of them were arrested the protesters blocked main roads and in Nazareth set trash cans on fire in the middle of the street hundreds of demonstrators marched down the city’s main thoroughfare to the city’s German Colony neighborhood And its walls provide a home for over a quarter of a million swifts The giant carp and catfish that lurk beneath the surface of the river are always hungry ShareSaveRome's most stunning optical illusions revealedFrom the Malta Knights keyhole to a set of vanishing columns, discover the Eternal City's visual secrets. 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