Dudu Geva: A Childhood Hero and a Prophet

Great art remains relevant for years. Real masterpieces can gain relevance over time. But these two pieces by my childhood comic books writer idol, Dudu Geva z”l, that I clipped from Kol-Ha’Ir (Jerusalem’s local newspaper) as a child some 24 years ago, are nothing short of divine inspiration and prophecy.

The writings under the images offer an English translation, but don’t forget to read them from right to left (and top to bottom…).

(3) Besides, I got used to lots of other things in the past decade	(2) I became accustomed to living with it, as if nothing had happened	(1) One year to the [beginning of the first] Intifada, and everything is as usual
(6) I predict an expansion of the ability to adapt	(5) And this is nothing yet compared to the future	(4) The chain has not been broken, me too, I am also a good Jew, flexible and easily bending
(9) A nuclear bomb – not even a blink!	(8) Transfer [of Palestinians out of the country]? not a problem	(7) My capacity to take up anything is unlimited, and I shall be proud to prove that

(3) Will he increase the aid to Israel?	(2) Will George Bush [the father] know how to excel when the time comes?	(1) A new president in America, and we wish him all the best
(6) All that, while the municipal elections are approaching	(5) And there are other tough issues to deal with. Kur [a large and failing union corporate], the collapse of the [bus corporate] Egged, and the [financial] crisis of the Kibbutzim	(4) And what will he do about the deficit in the trade balance? And how will he create growth?
(9) If he will not act quick, we shall send [Israeli president] Herzog there**	(8) We can not have every 4 years someone new training on our account*	(7) We will let president Bush the benefit of the first 100 days of grace, but later on, we will demand to see results

* Literally, “shaving himself on our account”.

** In Israeli politics, the authority of the president is largely symbolic. In election times, he nominates one of the leaders of the major parties to the task of forming the new government; if he succeeds in time, he becomes prime minister. Deciding on which leader shall be given the chance to form a government was meant to be a trivial task that does not require much judgement, but on two occasions during the 1980s, in the elections of 1984 and 1988, as well as during the later political crisis of 1990, the stalemate between the Labor and Likud parties has made president Herzog a de-facto kingmaker.

In this context the threat to “send Herzog” meant to take care to nominate a new American president.