Israel

Words are used to explain reality but they can also be used to shape reality, to create it. Sometimes exchanging a single word for another can change the picture entirely. Personally, I don’t believe there is any neutrality on the issue of Israel.  There are people who are uninvolved and …

My open letter to the family of the murdered British Christian, Hannah Bladon, which  appears in Israel Hayom ישראל היום As a British-born Israeli Jewish tour guide, I endured a similar experience to your Hanna, but lived to tell the tale.  In 2010, when guiding an American Christian, we were …

Arabs opposed the State of Israel before there were settlements—and they oppose it still today. It’s time to clear up 5 false myths about settlements. The U.N., as well as some American media and politicians, claim Israel doesn’t want peace, since Jews build houses in disputed territories of Judaea and …

I wrote yesterday about the marvelous statement made by MK Ohana. I knew there was a stand-alone video of his statement but didn’t locate it until after I had posted. It is powerful, and makes important points. And so I want to share it here with readers: Please, note the …

This morning, Elhai Taharlev, 20, a member of the prestigious Golani Brigade of the IDF, was murdered in a car ramming at the Ofra Junction. I do not believe there is anyone who thinks it is a coincidence that this happened just five days before Pesach. Elhai was from the …

Just as Hezbollah or ISIS/A-Qaeda affiliates may well have deployed in the Golan, had Israel withdrawn; so Hamas or other Jihadi elements may deploy on the highlands of Judea-Samaria if Israel withdraws  The action of discouraging an action or event through instilling doubt or fear of the consequences. –The Oxford …

That was pretty fast.  I indicated in my last posting of just a day ago that I likely would not post again before Pesach.  And yet here I am. But when I see the need to clarify something I had written, I like to take the opportunity to do so: …

Before I begin my news, I would like to make a request of my readers: The Legal Grounds Campaign, which I co-chair with Jeff Daube, is seeking to increase its membership. Numbers are very important in demonstrating the strength of our campaign.  This is especially so with regard to the …

It’s AIPAC time again. A year ago about 18,000 members of American Jewry’s prime pro-Israel advocacy organisation was trying to work out whether and how to welcome Donald Trump to its annual conference. And let’s be clear, since Israel is now unfortunately struggling to retain general American bipartisan support, that …

“A durable Israeli-Palestinian peace can best be achieved through direct negotiations between the two parties, resulting in a Jewish state living side-by-side in peace with a demilitarized Palestinian state…” – From “The Peace Process: Israel’s Pursuit of Peace,” currently on AIPAC’s website. “Rejecting decades-old policy, the Republican Party approved on …

If there is anything that is not muddled right now, it is the news that David Friedman has at long last been confirmed as the new US Ambassador to Israel.  The vote in the Senate on Thursday was 52 – 46, with Democratic Senators Bob Menendez of New Jersey and …

It is two weeks after Ahmed Daqamseh’s release — you remember: the murderer of 7 Israeli 13-year-old girls — and I still have a question. Search Twitter for reactions to Daqamseh’s release on the part of our elected representatives and you are met with almost absolute radio silence. It is …

It is difficult to know what is more disturbing-whether some ministers actually believe in the policy proposals they promote – or whether they don’t—but promote them anyway  What I see clearly…is incredible negligence and lack of systematic, long-term planning effort on behalf of Israel’s top political brass…we are facing a …

There is a fair measure of dark news that must be shared. But the flip side in many instances is bright: for I see growing strength in the responses to what is ugly and threatening. We must be grateful for this and do all we can to encourage yet more …

A video from the Israel Institute for Strategic Studies. THE DANGERS OF A PALESTINIAN STATE TO ISRAEL’S MAJOR TRAFFIC ROUTES Please help us spread the message!!!

Japan beat Team Israel last Wednesday to eliminate the “Mensches” from the World Baseball Classic (WBC). Nonetheless, Israel did far better than anyone thought possible.  Manager Jerry Weinstein and the guys were not expected to even qualify for the tournament and the odds makers pegged them at a 200 to 1 …

No one ever said it would be easy. When something turns out as we hoped it would, we might murmur “Fantastic!” and allow ourselves a momentary sense of ease or satisfaction. But in no time at all – bang! – we are likely to confront a stumbling block. Then we …

I am flabbergasted. They did it again! The Mensches have taken four wins straight during the tournament, thus far, after winning three in a row in the qualifying matches last September. Team Israel, a 200 to 1 underdog to actually win the World Baseball Classic (WBC), beat 8th-ranked Cuba yesterday after taking …

Well, I have to tell you, I am just eating this up. The Times of Israel tells us: Israel’s national baseball team clobbered Taiwan 15-7 Tuesday, racing off to a 2-0 start in the country’s first-ever appearance in the World Baseball Classic. Powered by strong hitting and capped by a …

The perception of Liberman as an abrasive hardliner is due more to his blunt statements regarding the loyalty of Israeli-Arabs, rather than to any territorial intransigence regarding the Palestinian question Anyone who wants to apply Israeli sovereignty to Judaea and Samaria needs to understand that such a step will bring …