Then again, mere blocks from The Capitol building in Washington D.C. there are whole neighborhoods that routinely go on lock-down where you have to present ID before entering and murders are reported weekly.

I'm not sure what part of Israel you were visiting, but your account sounds pretty suspicious. I've never tried to order a peperoni pizza there, but you can get a cheeseburger almost anywhere since most Israelis are secular (even though there is a large observant population). I also didn't seen any fish barrels on my visit, but I suggest that your brother not visit any Walmarts on the day after Thanksgiving lest he get trampled.

I'm not sure what your idea of "western-civilized" is, but Israel is a place like many others. There is an unfortunate level of violence in some areas but on the whole it is as safe as most US cities. If you act with disregard to local customs and expectations, you may not receive a warm welcome.

Anecdotal comments without context shouldn't cause concern for anyone considering a trip to a beautiful and historically significant place.

If so, please hurry. They just finished the first stage of a plan to increase cell phone coverage in the D.C. Metro so every newspaper and newscaster in the area has been repeating "Can you hear me now" to the point where the words have lost all meaning.

I loathe you grey-jacket glasses man.

And if the judge doesn't want him out of jail, why set bail at all? Is a $5 million bail really any different than denying bail? If he could arrange for $5 million as opposed to $1 million (or any other sum), would he be any less likely to leave town or commit a crime?

Seems like his bail should either be something that he could muster, but which would ruin him financially if he did something to forfeit it, or it should be denied outright.

This guy can't figure it out either

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/even_ceo_cant_figure_out_how