To answer this question one should review the objectives of BISI/IsraPundit.
Our first objective was to provide a platform for pro-Israel advocacy, through the dissemination of news and views. At the time of founding IsraPundit, there were many such sites already in existence, notably, LGF. The justification for IsraPundit stems from its mandate as a communal blog, extending an invitation to pro-Israel advocates to join either as article contributors, or, for those who had a blog already, to join us for the purpose of cross-posting. We have succeeded in attracting a number of contributors, reflecting a rather wide range of views. We can be very proud of the fact that IsraPundit accommodated a wide spectrum of opinions even as the Deportation was executed.
Our second objective was to support activities such as rallies, petitions and letter-writing campaigns, by way of highlighting and advertising these activities. We have done that consistently, especially with regard to anti-Deportation rallies around the world.
Third, we hoped to establish communication, co-ordination and collaboration among the numerous pro-Israel web sites and organizations. The co-operation was to range from joint research projects, to simultaneous posting of articles on Israel's major anniversaries (Balfour Declaration Day, Israel's Independence Day, etc.). Many other projects were contemplated, such as creating a comprehensive registry of pro-Israel sites and a database of factual material from pro-Israel sites. As well, we hoped to establish ties with such allies as the Free Lebanon groups, Kurdish groups, Christian Zionist organizations etc. While we achieved a measure of communication with such organizations as AFSI, we failed in achieving strong, consistent collaboration.
Indeed, our failures are many and profound - and all require major efforts to see improvements in the months ahead.
While IsraPundit is alive and kicking, BISI has all but disappeared as an entity. Except for Blog Bursts, our attempt to establish co-ordination and joint projects with other pro-Israel blogs has failed.
I find the dearth of comments by our readers to be most disappointing too. Like all performers, we need an audience with whom to interact. We have also been subject to severe spam attacks, as a consequence of which we had to limit the time comments are allowed for any given article to only two days. This review is also an opportunity for me to thank those readers who do post comments, even if the content of their comments met with a hostile reception by other readers.
Thus, some of our major objectives, and some of the minor problems too, are very far from being resolved.
As I approach the end of this piece, I wish to thank the contributors and readers who have extended help in running the site. IceViking has done a commendable job in checking out the links and removing the dead ones. Akiva, to cite a second example, has lent us the expert hand of a computer pro. To all our helpers - thank you so much!
I end this brief review with an invitation to readers who are not bloggers to join us as article-contributors, and with an invitation to readers who maintain their own blog to join us for the purpose of cross-posting.
I also call upon readers to consider IsraPundit not merely as another website, but rather as a hub for activities that fall within the purview of our objectives - mainly, activities to promote and support Israel. Anyone who has ideas about initiatives, and anyone who wishes to initiate activities, is welcome to contact IsraPundit.
May next year's review be written under happier circumstances for Israel.
![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.israpundit.com/nav-commenters.gif)
said:
IsraPundit's third birthday
IsraPundit was launched exactly three years ago, on September 1, 2002. Unlike our previous "birthdays", there is no joy in today's anniversary: nine thousand Deportation refugees preclude any and all celebrations. Instead of clebrations, here is some history and a cold evaluation.
The IsraPundit initiative began when four bloggers, including Zion Blogster and myself, agreed to establish a loosely-knit group, Bloggers In Support of Israel, or BISI, and to designate IsraPundit as its platform. Shortly after its inception, two other contributors -- Fred and Ted -- joined the group. Over time, we lost two of the "founding fathers" but we were more than compensated by the contributors who joined us, the latest being Tim Dormain and Mediacrity. I take this opportunity to extend a heart-felt "thank you" to all contributors.
In what has BISI/IsraPundit succeeded since its inception, and in what have we failed?
To answer this question one should review the objectives of BISI/IsraPundit.
Our first objective was to provide a platform for pro-Israel advocacy, through the dissemination of news and views. At the time of founding IsraPundit, there were many such sites already in existence, notably, LGF. The justification for IsraPundit stems from its mandate as a communal blog, extending an invitation to pro-Israel advocates to join either as article contributors, or, for those who had a blog already, to join us for the purpose of cross-posting. We have succeeded in attracting a number of contributors, reflecting a rather wide range of views. We can be very proud of the fact that IsraPundit accommodated a wide spectrum of opinions even as the Deportation was executed.
Our second objective was to support activities such as rallies, petitions and letter-writing campaigns, by way of highlighting and advertising these activities. We have done that consistently, especially with regard to anti-Deportation rallies around the world.
Third, we hoped to establish communication, co-ordination and collaboration among the numerous pro-Israel web sites and organizations. The co-operation was to range from joint research projects, to simultaneous posting of articles on Israel's major anniversaries (Balfour Declaration Day, Israel's Independence Day, etc.). Many other projects were contemplated, such as creating a comprehensive registry of pro-Israel sites and a database of factual material from pro-Israel sites. As well, we hoped to establish ties with such allies as the Free Lebanon groups, Kurdish groups, Christian Zionist organizations etc. While we achieved a measure of communication with such organizations as AFSI, we failed in achieving strong, consistent collaboration.
Indeed, our failures are many and profound - and all require major efforts to see improvements in the months ahead.
While IsraPundit is alive and kicking, BISI has all but disappeared as an entity. Except for Blog Bursts, our attempt to establish co-ordination and joint projects with other pro-Israel blogs has failed.
I find the dearth of comments by our readers to be most disappointing too. Like all performers, we need an audience with whom to interact. We have also been subject to severe spam attacks, as a consequence of which we had to limit the time comments are allowed for any given article to only two days. This review is also an opportunity for me to thank those readers who do post comments, even if the content of their comments met with a hostile reception by other readers.
Thus, some of our major objectives, and some of the minor problems too, are very far from being resolved.
As I approach the end of this piece, I wish to thank the contributors and readers who have extended help in running the site. IceViking has done a commendable job in checking out the links and removing the dead ones. Akiva, to cite a second example, has lent us the expert hand of a computer pro. To all our helpers - thank you so much!
I end this brief review with an invitation to readers who are not bloggers to join us as article-contributors, and with an invitation to readers who maintain their own blog to join us for the purpose of cross-posting.
I also call upon readers to consider IsraPundit not merely as another website, but rather as a hub for activities that fall within the purview of our objectives - mainly, activities to promote and support Israel. Anyone who has ideas about initiatives, and anyone who wishes to initiate activities, is welcome to contact IsraPundit.
May next year's review be written under happier circumstances for Israel.
Posted by Joseph Alexander Norland at September 1, 2005 08:01 AM