A Daily Analysis
By Marc Schulman

May 6, 2008 Memorial Day In Israel

Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and those killed by terrorists began tonight in Israel.  As always, Yom Hazikaron is a day of reflection and a day of pain, especially for the families of the fallen.  Since the establishment of the State of Israel, 22,437 soldiers have given their lives to defend the state and terrorist has killed 1,634 civilians.  This year 130 soldiers and 16 civilians have been added to that number.  Each death a terribly sad story and each account bring tears to one’s eyes– including the eyes of hardened reporters on TV. Tonight the among other features, the TV showed the story of a Bar Mitzvah this week of a boy whose father was the oldest 45 soldier killed in Lebanon.  The terrible cost, however needs to be put in perspective. As many Jews were killed in one day at Auschwitz, as have been killed in all of Israel’s wars.  Whatever the terrible price that has been paid defending the State of Israel, it has insured that there will not be another Auschwitz.

The farce of a gag order in the Olmert saga continues.  Today, there was a hearing to listen to testimony of the American businessman, reportedly, Morris Talansky of Woodmere Long Island.  This is an unusual request to make before an indictment is handed out.  The police succeeded in getting the Gag order extended based on the absurd logic that it would be bad for the country to learn details of the investigation before Memorial Day.  Even more absurd, the court accepted the argument.