ABOUT ME
UPDATE: October 2018: in this day and age, I feel compelled to state that I am fro free Palestine and against the ongoing occupation, strongly denounce the siege and massacre in Gaza. Living in Israel for people who oppose the regime is becoming ever more difficult.

As of March 2017 I cannot accept guests anymore, since I am under constant eviction/demolition threats by the authorities.
In November 2016, some 20 of my records were published by Wikileaks as part of the infamous Podesta leak (chairman of the 2016 Hillary Clinton presidential campaign), but I am not a Russian agent... :)
Israeli Broadcasting Authority Channel 1 Evening News (that' government for you) declared me: "The happiest street person in Tel-Aviv"!
Born in Israel, lived many years in the US (mostly Los Angeles), traveled quite a bit around the world. Since 2012 I live in the OccupyTLV camp , that qualifies me as an "activist", I guess. In 2010, living in Los Angeles, I founded a Human Rights NGO, and I periodically file reports with the UN Human Rights Council. My main interest is in research of government IT systems and I publish papers in international academic journals and also through a US news outlet. Also involved in book publishing - early modern Hebrew lit.

PHILOSOPHY
A relatively free man, who benefited from many advantages, in a world, where not many are that fortunate. I try to focus on what interests me and is worth my time, have fun along the way!

COMMUNICATION:
If I don't answer in a timely manner through this site, please feel free to email me directly at:

MY PLACE:
A large hut (6x6 meters) in a large park, where many others built their homes. The hut is divided into master bedroom, guest bedroom, office, library. (see pics) Room is available for 1-2 guests (up to four guests slept here when necessary).
The park is the Tel Aviv Social Protest (#OccupyTLV) camp for over two years. Superb location: A couple of minutes walking distance from the Arlozorof train/bus terminal, 15 minutes walking distance to the beach, clubs.
We have running water, toilets, dining room, social shade with TV, kitchen...
All people of good will are welcome.

IMPORTANT! DIRECTIONS FROM AIRPORT:
Directions from airport below, with pics at:
http://inproperinla.blogspot.co.il/2014/03/14-03-30-occupytlv-directions-for.html

YOU SHOULD KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE IS NO REGULAR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FROM SUNSET FRIDAY TO SUNSET SATURDAY. SAME ON JEWISH HOLIDAYS.

More info below.

UPDATE May 30, 2017
City of Tel-Aviv has repeatedly issued demolition threats against me over the past few months. The legal situation has become murky, and could change day to day. That's why I stopped taking couchsurfers. The critical date is June 1. Most of June I am going to Portugal, back on June 25th. If my place is not demolished by then, it looks like I am safe, and I would start taking couchsurfers again.

UPDATE December 2015
I changed my availability to MAYBE, since conditions here are not so good at this time. The toilet and shower, which were built as a donation by the students of Bezalel Architecture Department were destroyed by the Tel-Aviv Municipality. We have now only chemical toilets and mobile shower, provided by the municipality. I don't use either. I use the toilets in nearby coffee shops and the shower at the beach.
Therefore, most people would consider conditions unacceptable.
In short: It is only suitable for the tough ones right now.

UPDATE July 2015
* Eco-friendly toilets lost (muni destroyed them), only chemical toilets remain.
* We have now a caravan with 24/7 charging point for cellphones and hot water boiler for coffee/tea, etc.

UPDATE July 2014:
New guest beds

UPDATE June 2014:
New eco-friendly toilets and showers built by the Bezalel art school, architecture department. See pics in profile. Link to project page below:
http://www.spontaneous-architecture.org/2014/05/gray-water-system-presentation.html

UPDATE 2013:
I moved to an even bigger hut. See pics

MORE DIRECTIONS INFORMATION:
2014-03-30 OccupyTLV: Directions for visitors
http://inproperinla.blogspot.co.il/2014/03/14-03-30-occupytlv-directions-for.html

When coming out of town, easiest access is to the bus/train terminal which is just a couple of minutes waling distance.

TRAIN: There are several train terminals in Tel Aviv. The one next to me is "Tel-Aviv Center" "TEL AVIV SAVIDOR-MERKAZ". Coming from the airport it is just ~15 minutes ride!

BUS: There are several bus terminals. The one next to me is "RAKEVET MERKAZ/ARLOZOROFF".

LOCAL MAP:
Across from 25 Namir Rd, Tel-Aviv:
https://www.google.co.il/maps/place/Namir+Rd+25,+Tel+Aviv-Yafo/@32.0814431,34.7920909,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x151d4b965b813791:0x4162c811e07a63e3!8m2!3d32.0816445!4d34.7943234
http://maps.yahoo.com/place/?lat=32.081901870005936&lon=34.79777812957764&bb=32.08723779819899%2C34.78700637817383%2C32.07656594181288%2C34.808549880981445&addr=52100%20Giv'atayim%2C%20Israel

Specific Directions:
1) Coming out of the bus/train terminal you are on Al Parashat Drakhim Street.
2) Take left (west) and walk about 50 paces to the intersection of Al Parashat Derakhim Street and Namir Road
3) Take left (south) and walk about 100 paces down Namir Road, until you see on your left a large blue bill board with the sign in Hebrew in red letter. My grey large hut is just next to it, you can't miss it.

LEGAL:
The OccupyTLV camp exists by permit, which I issue on a month to month basis for the past 2.5 years. The courts also reviewed and OKed this arrangement.
The current legal permit and many other records, pertaining to the OcccupyTLV camp are posted online in an archive at:
0000-00-00 OccupyTLV: Index of Records and Links
http://www.scribd.com/doc/220619128/
I have no legal problems with the authorities, no criminal record etc. However, obviously, I am not the darling of the authorities. Given that security people in Israel can do whatever they wish on a wide range of issues, I recommend never to mention my name in any contact with the authorities.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Hosted a good number of people, enjoy meeting new people from all over the world, here what life is like for them today.

Interests

Published in the fields of Human Rights, computer science, courts, banks, prisons, Hebrew lit... Google my name and I am sure you would find plenty... :)

• arts
• books
• architecture
• human rights
• dining
• coffee
• running
• walking
• clubbing
• shopping
• news
• tv
• camping
• cartography
• computer science
• law
• science
• beaches

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I guess I had more adventures than the usual guy, but let's keep that for another time... :)

What I Can Share with Hosts

I try to spend some time with guests, first day they arrive, show them around, interested to hear where they come from, what life is like for them there today. Then they usually are on their own, free to come and go as they like. Usually guests figure out how to have a good time in Tel-Aviv without too much introduction...
The place is about 15-20 min walking distance to great beaches, couple of minutes walking distance to main bus, train terminal, 15-20 min walk to shopping, clubs, restaurant.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Egypt, England, France, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Scotland, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Israel, United States