The (mostly bemused) Hebrew press has gone with 'רוזן פרצוף-פח' - 'Count Rubbish bin Face,' which is not so snappy. Not clear why they've opted for פרצוף (face) rather than using ראש (head).

Josiah Mortimer@josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 4w ago

Rounding up some translations of Count Binface that have been appearing in foreign press 🇷🇴 Romanian: Contele Tomberonez 🇫🇷 French: Comte Tête-de-Poubelle (bin-head, more accurate than bin-face) 🇮🇹 Italian: Conte Faccia-da-Bidone 🇪🇸 Spanish: "un hombre con un cubo de basura en la cabeza" (!) Cont...

If you're in Cambridge, join us tonight for a talk by Roni Cohen on Yiddish poetry, Zionism and language, and, erm, frogs... 🐸 An excellent and intriguing talk awaits at AMES tonight at 17:15!

If you're in Cambridge next term, come join us for several great talks in the Israel Studies Seminar Series at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies!

When work and hobbies collide! Stained glass Dome of the Rock panels made over the last few weeks in the studio.

It's important to put a stop to religious fundamentalism in the Middle East and the fanatical power hungry expansionist of brutal regimes which threaten their neighbours. Oh wait, who are we talking about again? jonathanlarsen.substack.com/p/us-troops-...

U.S. Troops Were Told Iran War Is for “Armageddon,” Return of Jesus

Advocacy group reports commanders giving similar messages at more than 30 installations in every branch of the military

jonathanlarsen.substack.com

Any Cambridge people interested in the New Censorship? Please join Prof Yaron Peleg & me to discuss Netanyahu's war on the media, Trump's copy-paste moves, & much more, tomorrow at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Cambridge. Wed, 25 Feb, 5:15 PM shorturl.at/YTkzc

Join us tomorrow at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies in Cambridge at 17:15, Room 10, for a fascinating talk by @swsamols.bsky.social on Ruth Gruber, photography, and the legitimization of Israel via the medium of photo books!

My review of 'Uncertain Empire: Jews, Nationalism, and the Fate of British Imperialism' by Elizabeth E. Imber, now out in the Journal of Modern Jewish Studies:

Uncertain empire: Jews, nationalism, and the fate of British imperialism

Published in Journal of Modern Jewish Studies (Ahead of Print, 2026)

tandfonline.com

In Cambridge next week to talk about the long history of canals that are proposed, but not built, across Palestine, from the mid-19th century to the present day, and how that history has made its way into the world of conspiracy theories:

Dr James A.S. Sunderland@jamesassunderland.bsky.social · 6mo ago

An excellent start to the Israel Studies Seminar Series at Cambridge this evening. If you're around next Wed (4th feb.) do join us for a talk by @drtermagant.bsky.social about canals, colonialism, and conspiracy theories!

An excellent start to the Israel Studies Seminar Series at Cambridge this evening. If you're around next Wed (4th feb.) do join us for a talk by @drtermagant.bsky.social about canals, colonialism, and conspiracy theories!

Some good points here but the idea that the Arab Revolt is one of the 'least remembered events' in the conflict is exaggerated: copious volumes have been written on the Revolt for both academic & non-academic audiences. The Revolt arguably signifies a final separation between two nationalist camps.

New Lines Magazine@newlinesmag.bsky.social · 6mo ago

The Great Arab Revolt of 1936 is one of the most important and least remembered events in the history of Arab-Zionist relations in Palestine. A newly released film and a recently published book explain its importance and contemporary relevance.

If you're in Cambridge this term, come along to our Israel Studies Seminars at the Faculty of Asian & Middle Eastern Studies every Wednesday! We have an exciting line up - from @drtermagant.bsky.social on waterways & conspiracies to Moshe Behar talking Mizrahi politics. Something for everyone!

At the NA researching Zionist terror group campaign to assassinate British MPs. Got 1/2 way through a file on letter bombs sent to the UK, a scientific report on how deadly they were, then pulled one of the letter bombs out & nearly sh*t myself. Luckily it was safe. Dined out on that story for ages.

Karl Appuhn@appuhn.bsky.social · 8mo ago

I think we need a mega thread of everyone's craziest archive stories.

Given the president's close ties to a convicted sex offender, perhaps Gill Sans would be a more apposite font...

Phil Lewis@phillewis.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Marco Rubio ordered diplomats to return to using Times New Roman font in official communications, calling his predecessor's decision to adopt Calibri a “wasteful” diversity move

If you're in Cambridge tomorrow do join us for the final Israel Studies Seminar in Cambridge this term at 17:15 at FAMES, to hear @stevenbwagner.bsky.social talk about Israel's intelligence failings prior to October 7th 2023. Promises to be a fascinating talk!

You may think you have a cool academic profile picture, but none of us can ever live up to this!

The visit of Menachem Begin to Britain in Dec.'77 is truly fascinating. Previously barred & then discouraged from visiting Britain, when Begin became Israeli PM, the Callaghan Gov. scrambled to decide how to deal with his visit. All sorts of madness in the files, not least this comedic 'transcript.'

Just seen Palestine36 at the cinema & there's a momentary nod to current Palestinian symbols during a scene at a wealthy Arab dinner party where the camera lingers for a moment on a large chunk of watermelon. But fascinatingly, during the British Mandate the watermelon was often a Zionist symbol!

I'm speaking tomorrow in Cambridge. Come if you want to hear of Smotrich's Palestinian family www.ames.cam.ac.uk/settlers-mig...

When studying Palestine under the British I always say I can operate in three languages for my research: English, Hebrew, & Civil Service-ese English. I pity future historians looking at today who will need Hebrew, Arabic, & American Dunce-ese English to try and fathom the blundering of US in Pal.

Two years ago this month I started stained glass as stress relief between thesis writing. My 1st piece was a mess. But this Mon. I completed the latter pieces which will be a surprise gift for two friends not on here. Sometimes progress is only visible in hindsight.

Life repeats first as tragedy, then as farce, then apparently as a bad rendition of the British Mandate (which, to be fair, combined tragedy and farce quite spectacularly). www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

Postwar Gaza authority potentially led by Tony Blair ‘would sideline Palestinians’

Draft plan’s critics say it hands power to international figures and splits Gaza from Palestinian Authority in West Bank

theguardian.com

Me for the Spectator on why recognition of Palestinian statehood is a step in the right direction, and how promises and symbolism alone are not enough.

The Spectator@thespectator1828.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Seventy-seven years after the last High Commissioner left Palestine, his vision of two states for two peoples seems as far away as ever. ✍️ James Sunderland

I see we're back to Brits trying to force Palestinians to accept ways of running their country which are deeply unfair, probably won't work, and pay no attention to what they actually want. It's just like the 1930s and 40s all over again...

The Times of Israel@timesofisrael.com · 11mo ago

Revealed: Tony Blair’s US-backed proposal for ending the Gaza war and replacing Hamas https://www.timesofisrael.com/revealed-tony-blairs-us-backed-proposal-for-ending-the-gaza-war-and-replacing-hamas/

Today in reassuring library signs...

Fascinated to find that, despite strict rules about building in Jerusalem, & attempts to inculcate certain ideas about 'local' materials, the carvings at the Rockefeller Museum, representing historical rule of Palestine by different civ.s, are made from Hopton Wood Stone from Derbyshire.

I tried (and failed) to design and paint this window of St Cecilia to look serene and have a soothing effect. Instead she judges me every time I'm in the office. I somehow made her the patron saint of resting bitch face...

Going through archival photos I stumbled across this picture I took of a charming Dome of the Rock model produced in the 1920s in the workshop of Tavit (David) Ohannessian just off of the Via Dolorosa. These were commercial products, which could be bought from Ohannessian's workshop.

As a history tutor at Christchurch in the 1920s, J.C. Masterman was told by a colleague that there were two principles to be observed at Oxford. Firstly, 'no gentleman works after dinner,' & secondly, 'no gentleman works after lunch.' I endeavour to bring these principles to my work in Cambridge.