Israel

The world of politics: It would be wrong to say that there is never clarity of purpose inspired by high ideals. But it is rare. Much of the time there are shifting scenarios, and complex, conflicting motivating factors at play. Rivalries, certainly. We find pretence (allegedly, for good reason). And …

It was Vice President Mike Pence, a speaker today at the Fifth World Holocaust Forum gathering – “Remembering the Holocaust, Fighting Antisemitism” at Yad Vashem – who brought tears to my eyes. “The world can only marvel at the faith and resilience of the Jewish People,” he said: “Three years …

Devastating drought and bush fires in Australia and extreme flooding in Israel. On the political level regarding satisfaction/action assessments by the electorate, much centres on image and perception. Just ask Prime Minister Scott Morrison for one. We are fast approaching the third act of the continuing Israeli election process in …

As the rain is pouring down while I sit at my computer, I begin with this. Year after year Israel suffers drought. Last year was a good year, and this year, with torrential rains, is turning out to be even better: We have broken a 50 year record and there …

It’s cold outside. The rain beats on the windows and thunder rumbles in the distance. Night is approaching and the warm bed beckons with the promise of a cozy embrace. The closeness of comfort seems so utterly wrong, knowing that he is outside, alone, in the dark, setting off for …

Enno Raschke is a researcher and historian for Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Center in Jerusalem.  I am happy to say that we occasionally cross swords, but I respect the guy.  It is, after all, difficult for me not to respect a historian with Yad Vashem. On Facebook, I recently put …

Time to touch base on Israel’s political situation. I have studiously avoided writing about it for many weeks because the situation has been so in flux that whatever I wrote would probably have changed by the time most of my readers read my posting. More to the point, perhaps, I …

Fact: Most Palestinians who adopt terror in the hope of either “ending the occupation” or destroying Israel do so because they freely choose murder over any other option.  Palestinian terrorists also use children, however, to do their dirty work. On March 15, 2004, Israeli security forces caught an eleven-year-old boy …

A very wet and cold week has passed by and has brought us huge amounts of rain.  So huge in fact that the Kinneret rose 23 cm in one day! When you consider the size of the lake the amount of water that has fallen is almost unbelievable. In the …

 Whatever the operational efficacy of targeted assassinations may be—or not be—the conscience of every decent individual should rebel at the thought that arch-purveyors of terror should be permitted to pursue their deadly profession with impunity. Last week’s assassination of the commander of the Quds brigades, the overseas arm of Iran’s …

Press Release Left-Wing Activist Detained Overnight by Police Left-wing activist and former head of “Rabbis for Human Rights,” Arik Ascherman, was detained overnight by the police last Thursday after refusing to agree to the terms of a police-sanctioned restraining order against him. Ascherman was issued a 15-day restraining order following …

Despite his remarkable success, Netanyahu has been ceaselessly assailed by his political adversaries. Indeed, it is perhaps his very success that has generated such raw rancor against him. I would have preferred to have devoted this week’s column to some other topic—such as the ascendance of blatant antisemitism around the …

I begin with a report on the Likud primary that took place last Thursday: As expected, Binyamin Netanyahu defeated his challenger Gideon Sa’ar.  And he did so in a landslide, with 72.5% of the vote. Out of 106 Likud polling stations across the country, Netanyahu won 99 and Sa’ar seven. …

There are 193 countries in the world, about 50 are Muslim.  And then there is one tiny speck of land, Israel, the only Jewish state, that takes up all the time of the UN.  The UN does not like Jews.  They never miss an opportunity to try and shake down …

What I am eager to offer here is a different perspective on some of the matters confronting us. It is not my intention to suggest that all is well.  We know it is not, not even remotely. Yet information that provides hope of better times going forward is out there. …

Despite the dramatic physical, societal and political differences between Israel and the US, in both countries a very similar—and disturbing—assault on the fabric of democracy is taking place.    Israel and the US are very different in many ways. Geographically, they are separated by the width of an ocean and …

I’m a couple of days late with my Chanukah post but the reason is all good – on Sunday we celebrated the brit of our new grandson and we were still in recovery mode so to speak.  The baby is called Tzuri Menachem and he is beautiful bli ayin hara! …

Another very Good News Friday edition this week: we are delighted to welcome our latest grandson, born on Sunday to our daughter Vered and Pini, a little brother to Shaked. The brit will take place PG on Sunday, and I will update with the baby’s name. Wishing Vered and Pini …

A powerful symbol: the reaching up of hands. It means so many things. I reflect on this, as I begin a new posting: I see the negative – resignation, and the positive – celebration. I touch on both here. ~~~~~~~~~~ Before writing about anything else, I share a link to …

FACT: On November 18, 2019, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo expressed the Trump administration’s position that “the establishment of Israeli civilian settlements in the West Bank is not per se inconsistent with international law.”  This was inaccurately described in the media as a reversal of long standing American policy.  In …