Israel's game was organised by the effervescent Stanley Perlman, architect
and protector of Cricket in Israel. Unfortunately I never got to meet this
charismatic man due to the continued antics of a certain Mr Hussein of
Number 32 Baghdad Gardens, Iraq.
When we arrived in Israel, we noticed that despite the war in the north with
Syria, the constant hassles with the PLO, and the continual threat
of scud reprisals from Mr H. in Iraq, the streets were surprisingly full of
people who appeared not to have a care in the world. I suppose this is
explained by the fact that to the Israelis, conflict is a way of life.
The American tourists staying in our Hotel, the impressive Isrotel Tower
adjacent to the magnificent beach in Tel Aviv, reacted in a totally
different manner. The recent threat to start bombing Israel should Nato take
another pot-shot at Iraq was treated by the US tourists as a invitation to
get out of Israel quick, back to the safe haven of gun infested America.
As we checked in, unaware of the political furore surrounding the country,
tens of Americans were checking out. It wasn't until I leant over my balcony
to look at the evening city lights through my telephoto lens that I realised
the magnitude of the situation. For within two minutes of being on this 22nd
floor balcony I had been spied by the guards at the US Embassy who
dispatched forthwith to my room to see if I was a potential threat to the
embassy. A US guard armed with a rather large deadly weapon knocked on my
door, asked what I was doing and who I was, and what I had had for breakfast
et cetera, et cetera……This is one of the reasons for us not having many
pictures of Israel!
The US Embassy was a simple cricket ball's lob from our balcony, a fact that
amused us at first until it dawned on us that any reprisal attack would make
us directly in the line of fire. So that's why we got such a good rate on an
excellent room!
As the crisis worsened, I did my Kate Adie bit for Central TV and reported
in staccato tones about the seriousness of the impending attacks. And
indeed the crisis was worsening, as news filtered through that US stealth
bombers had taken off to attack Iraq. Luckily for all concerned Mr. H
decided to give in to NATO's demands and allow everyone to sleep peacefully
that night.
Unfortunately our sight seeing trip was severely impeded by this minor
glitch in world politics and so we have little to report for the world of
tourism.
