Prostitutes, Kings, and Israel...

Condaleeza Rice came back to Israel recently (after I made some of these observations under eavesdropped conditions) to object to trafficking in women, mostly from Russia. This is the same State Department that supports a police state providing it with intelligence and broad access for its own intelligence agencies. This, courtesy of Israeli government and intelligence from the highest to the most local networked government, community and police participation. Prostitution is 'protected' here in Israel. Not just legal. And there is little incentive otherwise with ultimately mixed objectives of an all-powerful police state and the United States.

I have never consorted with a prostitute, nor intend to start now or in the future. King Solomon said wisely, 'It is not for Kings to give their strength to women.' With 1000 wives and 'maidservants' he would know. From experience, I can say that even one wife, can either bolster a man's 'strength,' or completely undo it.

In Israel I have had occassion to go to Tel Aviv by bus, and walk between the bus station and the city. On at least three occassions now I have been approached by prostitutes, whose eyes are dilated widely, and in broken English gesture and ask if I 'Wanna fuck?' Looking into one woman's eyes with both a sense of compassion and disbelief, she then infomed me, 'Hammeshim, 50 shekels.' I politely declined, wished her well, and felt great concern at being unable to assist her otherwise. And, I feel great concern for Israel, where societal fundamentals are truly worrisome beyond dominant international headlines on violence.

On the currency exchange market, 50 shekels is roughly 12 US dollars.

Almost comically, one Friday Evening Shabbos in Tel Aviv I sat on a bench reading Torah near the beach. Apparently I seated myself half a block from a club that was not open when I sat down. The owners sent several envoys who spent considerable effort trying to convince me to leave unsuccessfully. After they were open a few hours, they eventually paid 300 shekels for me and carried my bag for a hotel room well down the road as I had not made arrangements for a place to stay. I later surmised this was not charity as supposed, but keeping an Orthodox-looking guy reading Torah from scaring off their patrons. In retrospect, it became clear that this dance club was trafficking in Russian girls, and that they were checking with police to determine who I was and what to do, both before and after getting me a hotel room.

We are not just speaking of Tel Aviv. In Jerusalem, some current property owners who fought in previous wars were given their property when taken at that time. Two run a moderatley less expensive hotel in downtown Jerusalem, where from personal experience, the Ministry of the Interior maintains electronic eavesdropping and direct contact with American intelligence. During my stay, verbatim comments from me were all fed back in a loop from the US. As an oleh and a man who has never committed crime, what I have experienced over 1 1/2 years is pure harassment and illegality by both governments. It is completely mortifying. These property informants attract as much attention as they can to maintain government patronage. Patronage, in addition to whatever other payment or continued standing, consists in concession to run sex trade, which was evident around me. Police patronage is the reason prostitution stays legal. There also, I turned down offers of sex-CD's and ignored fleeting introduction to Russian women who appeared to be prostitutes.

Poverty of soul, life, health, and the material overwhelms here, as in much of the world. But this is Israel. Yet, among the Ultra-orthodox in Israel, true a minority, 50% of children live under the poverty line. Among all children -- 30%. Israel has the highest poverty levels among all Western nations. These are symptomatic events and statistics. And, the poverty caused by certain dynamics serve to intensify the dynamic itself.

Prostitution is legal in Israel, which in itself might not be so worrying, if such were a genuine free-market exchange. But, it is not. Biblically, even Tamar acted as the prostitute because she was wronged by Judah. He would have had her put to death until it was uncovered and he acknowledged that he had created the situation.

The same American government that says it wants Israeli Police to address sex trafficking, which has affected primarily slaves made out of poor Russian emigres, is RESPONSIBLE as the patron of these agencies who together have subverted Israeli society with its premium on 'intelligence' and informancy. These seek to undermine individuals and even individual behavior so as to promote government control in every facet of life. Almost everyone in Israel promotes themselves with information, some sell their bodies -- in all such cases they are selling themselves or their neighbor. This has become a society of slavery, driven by dominant interests and the objectives of worldwide intelligence, much of which has nothing at all to do with terrorism in the way it is applied. The same mechanisms and apparatus.

Creating alliances with foreign governments, in the process Solomon compromised on his leadership of Jewish values. This was the wisest man who ever lived. He wrote perhaps the greatest practical commentary on Torah, Mishleh (Proverbs). He was the leader who built God's Temple. He was commended by God for putting people before wealth and fame. And, then was also granted the latter. Yet, he destroyed the very society he built.

High ethicism suggests we must act justly so as to elevate others. For the state of Israel, this must occur at a policy level. Personal and policy decisions by Kings.

'Much food lies waste in the fallow ground of the poor, because of oppression.' - Solomon.


© 2007 Dean Levinson