JERUSALEM - Israel's military was rocked yesterday by Gaza war veterans' accounts of the killing of civilians and allegations that deep contempt for Palestinians pervaded its ranks. The soldiers, alumni of a military academy, gathered last month to discuss their experiences in the 22-day Israeli offensive that ended in January, a campaign that Palestinians and human rights groups have said warranted war crimes probes.
The one who does the actual reading of the coffee grounds seems to matter little, since it is read with a vehemence that leaves little doubt that anyone else would see the same. It seems that a person’s ability to read the grounds lies more in the variety of detail, rather than the degree of veracity. This is reading a book, not telling a story.
BETHLEHEM - With the restoration of a relatively calm environment in West Bank, Jesus’ birthplace has emerged as an attraction center for Christmas pilgrims. The remarkable tourist boom in Bethlehem, doubling that of last year’s level, has created new job opportunities in the region.