This most recent Israeli election, the fifth in the current cycle, proved to be quite different from the previous four, not only in producing a definitive result but with the campaign itself. It began the same, however, along the way expanded into not only a ‘for or anti-Bibi’ tussle, but …

1 – Benjamin Netanyahu has made a stunning career-saving return to the prime ministership. 2 – The outstanding performer of the election campaign was Itamar Ben Gvir 3 – The decisive factor in the election has been the very high voter turnout (despite predictions and expectations) and its effect on …

At last, we appear to have an Israeli election issue on at least one foreign policy matter, rather than just solely on personalities – or do we? In September, the following words were said by the prime minister of Israel to the United Nations General Assembly: “I hear the buzz. …

We are in a period of reflection during this month of Elul, and with the reminder from the daily blowing of the shofar, that we are approaching the Jewish New Year and the Ten Days of Awe. Whilst we concentrate on our own personal selves, introspection, repentance and so forth, …

First thing to note – Covid is everywhere in Israel, but nobody seems to care. Masks are dirt cheap in Machane Yehuda, yet no one can sell any. Social distancing is not just a foreign concept but seems to be anti-Israeli – what, you don’t want to share? By the …

In an election anyone claiming to predict who the next prime minister of Israel will be is a brave person. The frontrunner is Benjamin Netanyahu, which counts for quite a bit of course. But will it be enough? Hard to say. At the time of writing the next election had …

Interestingly, the two most dominant politicians in Australia and Israel in recent times, Scott Morrison and Benjamin Netanyahu, now both find themselves in opposition. What they have in common is that they are generally both held to be the major reason their respective parties are no longer in government. What …

Some years ago, I heard the head of an Israeli think tank say, that Jewish life is a constant tension between two, often clashing, narratives. The continuity of Jewish values – and the value of Jewish continuity. This construct left a deep impression and has stayed with me ever since. …

It is amazing just how disconnected from reality the latest Amnesty International report is. Just as it was falsely declaring Israel an apartheid state and strongly implying that the only solution to this situation was the Jewish state’s disappearance, Arab states were deepening their connection to and interaction with Israel …

Suddenly, there are two issues that have arisen which have the potential to shorten the life of the Israeli coalition government. The first relates to Mansour Abbas’ four-seat Ra’am party. Abbas himself is treading a fine line between dampening ideological fissures, in exchange for very practical gains for Israeli Arabs. …

As we close out 2021 there are two key areas that continue to be at the centre of Israel’s diplomatic and internal political challenges, as well as a third emerging issue of quite a different colour. 1 – Iran There is no doubt that the vast majority of security and …

All opinion polls show that Likud voters, by very large margins, prefer to keep Netanyahu as leader and stay in opposition, rather than go back into government, but with someone else in the top position. This catch 22 results in Netanyahu continuing to be both the factor that keeps the …

Prime Minister Bennett has now been in office for three months and the sky has not fallen. In fact what is remarkable is that in the macro, regarding many of the continuing challenges, the modalities for dealing with them also remain plus/minus the same. Other than in tone. Almost, but …

The Israeli government coalition of eight parties, where not only can any one party bring the government down, but even a disaffected individual MK is able to do so, has survived its first two months. The glue holding it together in one very real way is Benjamin Netanyahu – who …

The Israeli government was formally approved on June the 13th which means that we are currently witnessing its fourth week of existence. This coalition of 8 different parties with a wide variety of ideologies has already had to weather numerous challenges.  With only having been brought in by a vote …

Tragically for Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister and who will undoubtedly be remembered for many very significant achievements – including his statesmanlike behaviour on the international stage – his political demise has turned into a Greek tragedy. It may be too soon to write Netanyahu’s political obituary – but there …

Whilst this is being written before final election results are known there are a few things we can say. And before we come to that, for all of the justified frustration with the current election process in Israel, all forms of democracy have shortcomings. Netanyahu began his second term as …

Predicting the end of Benjamin Netanyahu’s tenure as Prime Minister of Israel is like predicting the coming of rain during a drought. You know it has to come sometime, but the question is when? Never the less, it feels as if the rain is nearer now, but still maybe a …

President Rivlin and Prime Minister Netanyahu have both spoken with President elect Joe Biden and for the first time have referred to him with that descriptor. That in and of itself is significant as President Trump has not yet ceded the election and there are still two months remaining of …

Direct Etihad passenger flights to Israel; the formation of Kosher Arabia which will apparently make it easier to get kosher food in Abu Dhabi and Dubai than in Sydney or Melbourne; a public sukkah in front of the world famous Burj Khalifa Tower; and normalisation with Sudan around the corner. …