Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., May 19, 2008 Iyyar 14, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:38 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

After months of plotting, lying, snakes and ticks, Israeli 'Survivor' champ is crowned By Saguy Green Tags: Survivor, entertainment  A group of "natives" wearing pink shirts and sporting whistles in their mouths stood outside the ceremonial hall they called Yad Ehiyahu. We arrived just as the natives were praying to their god - the "Survivor" program star Noam Tor. Among those who made for the first rows was a father holding a baby on his lap. The baby was sucking on a blue pacifier, wearing a shirt emblazoned with a picture of his mom - Na'ama Kesari - who had left him for a few months and who happened to be the winner of the strange competition this ceremony was celebrating. Masses of children and parents were pushing in on all sides, making their way to the food and drink stalls and stands selling orange, red and green rags, all stamped with the word "survival" to mark the popular TV program. Advertisement "How much for a bandanna?" a father asked. "A hundred shekels," said the salesman without batting an eye. We understood they were here to welcome back their fellow citizens who had gone overseas, split into groups, run around in bathing suits, plotted, lied, avoided showers and put snakes and ticks in their hair. Now they were back home, and one of them was slated to win a car and a lot of money. The baby started to cry, and the father, in true survival mode, pulled out powdered formula and began to prepare a bottle. Then, silence in the hall, the giant screens came alive, reflecting the proceedings like the International Court in The Hague. But the broadcast was endlessly interrupted by the strange local custom known as commercials. The contestants themselves entered the hall. They must have done something very important for the nation, something a foreigner could not fathom. Only the mother of the waiter from Holon, Moshe, spoiled things a bit when she said he should have stayed home and started college. Finally the ceremony ended. The tribe had spoken: Na'ama was the champion, and we too, had survived an ordeal. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Nothing to fear Nancy Pelosi in Israel: I trust all presidential candidates in regard to Israel. Bonfire drama Mount Meron grave of famed rabbi at center of ownership row between rival Sephardic and Ashkenazic trusts.   1.   Was the desertion of her child worth it? 07:08  |  Dani 18/05/08   2.   Next time keep them on the island 09:06  |  sj 18/05/08   3.   yawn nt 09:30  |  JonathanInTelAviv 18/05/08   4.   How to squeeze 10 minutes of info into 2 hours! 10:01  |  Tomer 18/05/08   5.   Golly, is this the way Israel`s next Prime Minister is chosen? 10:23  |  Clickfool 18/05/08   6.   Lying is always disgusting 10:38  |  Yoel 18/05/08

Read & React Is Israel breaking its own taboo on talks with Hamas? Responses: 74 Egypt: If Israel agrees, Gaza truce could begin tomorrow Responses: 134 Lebanon government challenges Hezbollah on weapons arsenal Responses: 72 Bush says he's hopeful for democratic reform in Middle East Responses: 58 More Headlines 00:31 Bin Laden: All Muslims must help end Gaza siege 21:22 Egypt: If Israel agrees, Gaza truce could begin tomorrow 23:50 Obama: Mideast peace deal likely if sides show compromise 21:00 Mazuz: Ruling on Olmert probe unlikely in next few weeks 22:38 MK Beilin: Abbas says he'll quit if peace deal not set in 6 months 21:24 ROSNER'S GUESTS: Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff 21:28 Google co-founder: My family left Russia because of anti-Semitism 01:21 Herzliya buries local resident Ran Mesika, murdered in U.S. 01:30 Jerusalem police probe possible gang rape of disabled woman 19:06 Gaza cafe bombed amid crackdown on Western pop culture 18:38 Bush says he's hopeful for democratic reform in Middle East 20:41 Negev leaders: We'll force government to stop Qassam fire 21:32 Pelosi: I trust all presidential candidates in regard to Israel Previous Editions Select Day 18 may 16 may 15 may 14 may 13 may 12 may 11 may 09 may 08 may 07 may 06 may 05 may

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