Global Voices Online

BaLashon (On the Tongue) explores the Hebrew term kalgas קלגס, meaning soldier. He discovers Latin roots: “Caliga- Roman sandals, secured with nails (which made quite a bit of noise)- were apparently frightening enough to give their name to the Roman soldiers.”

Literal translations aren't always your best bet when moving between Hebrew and English, explains How to Be Israeli. She writes that the movie title “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?” which is Biblical in tone in the native English, is translated in Hebrew as “Achi, Efo Atah?” which sounds a lot more like the colloquial, “Hey Bro, where you at?”

Dr Izeldeen Abuelaish, who lost three daughters and his niece when the Israeli military shelled his house in Gaza in January, has set up a website in their memory.

Israeli Arab Mira Awad and Israeli Jew Avinoam Nini will represent Israel in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest with “There Must Be Another Way,” sung in Hebrew and Arabic. Awad's performance will be the first time an Israeli Arab has represented Israel in the Eurovision contest. Daniel Lubetsky of the Peaceworks blog has the official preview video.

Check out LivniBoy, Israel's answer to ObamaGirl. His YouTube video, “Love Song to Tzipi Livni,” has received over 6,350 views this week alone. Tzipi Livni is the Kadima Party candidate for prime minister in the upcoming winter elections. You'll be able to enjoy the feel of the video even if you don't speak Hebrew, including the chorus, “I will be your man, rak tagidi li ken (just tell me yes).”

From Israel, Not a Fish writes about a traffic course for non-Jewish residents in Israel - aimed at reducing road accidents. A total of 250 Muslim clergymen attended a day of lectures on child safety, accident prevention and the Muslim belief in fate versus personal responsibility. Since the beginning of the year, 86 Arabs were killed in traffic accidents, out of a total 244.

Jacob Richman of Good News From Israel reports on the nation's newest North American immigrants (olim, in Hebrew): “There were 217 olim on the flight including 50 singles… 28 families with 98 children (98 - wow!). The youngest oleh in the group is 3 months old and the oldest oleh is 88 years old. The flight also included 4 dogs and 1 cat.”

“The prisoner swap deal between Israel and Hezbollah is a forlorn expression of the failed second Lebanon war and the lack of firm policy in the Israeli government. We follow all the norms of international law while the other side educates to kill,” writes Zvi Mazel [he].

From Israel, Yael notes that there is a silver lining to each cloud. She adds: “Among Arab nations, the fact that we are going after Olmert for his corrupt behaviour is winning us a great deal of respect. They are looking at us and saying ‘hey! this is a model to follow –those who engage in corruption, no matter how high they stand, should be held accountable and brought to justice.'”