I Can't Explain - her use of 'calming' that is; only pointlessly speculate. But it's clear to me that she doesn't intend to say the locals welcomed or were happy about the creation of Israel in 1948.

I hope to keep going down there, too; such an endlessly-interesting place. That said, one of her roommates was parked in front of their house a few days ago instead of in the driveway and her car was flooded and totaled - the worst street flooding since they've been there - water (and trash and debris) came up over the sidewalk and under the raised house, too - only up to the hubcaps of her car fortunately. And an hour later, it was all gone - the pumps were going full-capacity (any more and the canals the excess water was being pumped into would've flooded) but couldn't keep up with 3+" an hour starting at 5am. A bonus though: I'm leisurely driving back with her instead of flying home. No telling when I'll be able to spend 5 or 6 days 24/7 with her again :)