What does Herod have to do with Olmert and Abu Mazen?

Herod

The most interesting news to come out of Israel this week was the discovery of Herod's tomb. Herod, also known as Herod the Great, expanded the Second Temple and built Caesaria, Masada and other monumental works. Due to the writings of historian Josephus Flavius, most researchers believed Herod was buried at Herodium, however the grave had not been found until now.

The story has a little bit of everything: mystery, history, religious wars, antiquity, long-lost culture and still-living traditions. Look for an angle, and it's there. The most wonderful story a newspaper can hope for.

Except for one thing. Herodium is in the West Bank, and apparently, nothing that comes out of this area can be treated in a cool-headed way.

One can do wonders with a topic like Herod if one doesn't lose all sense of history while reporting from the West Bank. Unfortunately, many do. For many, the entire region is only about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which really has nothing to do with Herod's tomb. Every story falling into these hands becomes yet another victim of their tendencies.

As if Herod can't stand for himself, as if no story can survive without Olmert and Abu Mazen. In many foreign publications current affairs dominated the coverage of Herod's tomb. The boring, familiar, every-day, no-news, politicizing of the moment. It's not just the politicizing of everything, but the trivialization of everything as well.

And the most notable example was the Washington Post story. "Claim of Finding Ancient King's Tomb Bolsters Israeli Settlers, Worries Palestinians", the sub-headline says, and then, two first paragraphs on Herod, and back to the more familiar territory: "The discovery dusted off the competing Israeli and Palestinian claims to the region between Bethlehem and the Judean desert. Israeli settler leaders said the reported find of the Jewish king's tomb supported their historic right to the area, while Palestinians expressed fears that it would be used as a pretext to increase Jewish settlement construction south of Jerusalem."

Rice

The lengthy Atlantic story (subscription required) about State Secretary Rice and the Middle East doesn't have any news in it. If that's what you?re looking for you'll be disappointed (I was). It does however offer a convenient guide to readers who don't spend their days parsing every detail of the endless diplomatic process.

One excerpt I found rather amusing was the description of Rice's surprise when the Hamas won the elections in January 2006.

"Did we adequately assess the probability of the outcomes here?" asked David Welch, the assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs. A career diplomat and former ambassador to Egypt, his sharp, birdlike appearance is at odds with his exceedingly calm demeanor. "Probably not, in retrospect", he answered.

Livni

Rice is becoming a popular figure among publishers and editors. The new book I mentioned in my last weekend column is just one example and the Atlantic is another one.

Amusingly, the Rice's ascension is accompanied by the rise of her good friend, Israel?s Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.

The Time Magazine list, a New York Times planned profile piece, and many other publications familiarizing their readers with the foreign minister will predictably commit the same sin by calling Livni the "New Golda."

For instance, I wrote Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised Golda at her visit to the Knesset. However, in Israel this doesn't sound like a compliment. She should have tried Margaret Thatcher (or Condi).

Obama

I was quoted in a Christian Science Monitor story about Barack Obama and the Jewish vote that came out a couple of days ago. The Israel Factor project, also mentioned in the story, will be updated later this week or early next week.