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THIS WEEK IN ISRAEL The number of Israelis travelling abroad is increasing. During the first ten months of the year, the number of Israelis travelling overseas by air rose 9%, compared with the corresponding period last year, with an average of 300,000 departures per month. In contrast, the number of tourists entering Israel hit a record low in October this year, falling to its lowest level in ten years. The number of tourist entries in October was 58% lower than October last year. During the first ten months of the year, the average number of tourist entries per month was 50% less than that registered for the first nine months of last year, before the start of the Intifada. A new study by the Hebrew University in Jerusalem reveals: the Kurds are the people closest to the Jews genetically. Scientists who carried out the study, including Prof. Ariella Friedman and Dr. Marina Fireman, say that according to the findings, the Jews and the Kurds share common ancient forefathers, who lived in the northern part of the Fertile Crescent (a part of contemporary Iraq and Syria). Some moved southward in pre-historic times and settled along the eastern seaboard of the Mediterranean. The researchers say that they were surprised to find that the Jews were closer genetically to the Kurds (and to the Turks) than to their Arab neighbors. The findings of the study, which for the first time included a comparison between DNA samples from Jews and DNA samples from Muslim Kurds, also surprised historians such as Prof. Bezalel Bar-Kochba of Tel-Aviv University and Dr. Gunner Lehman of Ben-Gurion University in the Negev, who said: "It is difficult to explain the findings within the context of the knowledge we have about material and historic culture." And back to (criminal) reality - Something strange in court: A 63-year old psychologist was convicted of stealing flowers placed on the grave of an IDF soldier at the Herzliya cemetery over the course of an entire year. The psychologist, Uri Zinamon, was given a three-month suspended sentence, a fine of NIS 35,000, and a fine of NIS 18,000 to be paid to the bereaved mother. The judge commented: "I completely fail to comprehend the defendant's actions." The judge was of the opinion that the bereaved mother could not be compensated for her suffering, but that she should be compensated for the money invested in finding the thief - which included placing a concealed camera at the cemetery.
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