Statistics are revealing and here is the proof why

For those that live here, even for those that don't realise the Israeli driving culture is unique. Unique is an understatement, it is more likely described as a culutral difference or a Middle east mentality, related to stress and concern over terror, built in with the fact roads and signage are not well organised. Whatever the reason, the statistics are shocking just a quick review from the Israeli police website showed me that (and you will be happy to note a drop) from 1998 52,000 people were wounded in a year in car accidents compared to "only" 36,241 last year. While the number of accidents in 1998 was a whopping 26308 in a year, last year it was 17,499. I am not going to gore you with the death count buts lets just add that you have more chance of dying on the roads than in any terror/war related events in this country. In summary, to proof my point and the problem, I eye-witnessed and took this picture (from a passenger seat) of a happy driver on the highway. (Yes, we use left hand drive cars in this country.

Pride and Happiness

By the time we got our act together, organised a few bicycles to ride around the city for the day and go see the festivities of the Gay Pride parade it was already late afternoon, but this did not stop the festivity goers from partying through the heat of the day on the main beach front in Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv is open and welcoming to the Gay community, there was even some talk in the papers lately of the tourism ministry promoting the Pink Shekel (gay tourism) less said about Jerusalem where last year's attempt to hold a rally caused lots of protest and compromises.

Gay pride parties are renowned to be a good party, and guess what the participants were Jewish as well!