Abandoned objects rarely get stolen in Israel. People lay them out where others can see the, or leave a note. Once I even saw a lost key hung on a nail on a tree.  But if an abandoned item is large, like the unfortunate six-year-old's backpack left at the bus stop on the first day of school, the police throw the object into the nearest pit and explode it. At least that's what they used to do. Over the years we have developed more sophisticated ways to handle suspicious objects. Last Thursday, I noticed  a line of traffic all the way down the street. I looked out the front and saw a police van: A small robot stood nearby, and after a few minutes it began rolling toward the … [Read more...]