Israel

Otto von Bismarck, (1815-1898) the German statesman, credited with the unification of Germany (1871,) and who served as its first Chancellor until 1890, famously defined “politics” as “the art of the possible” This is certainly true in the dizzyingly volatile kaleidoscope realities of Israeli politics. Indeed, only few days ago, …

Press Release Protesters Outside High Court: “This Isn’t Iran!” Demonstrators accuse Supreme Court of ‘judicial piracy’, blast judicial interference in in the Knesset. Dozens of demonstrators gathered this morning (Monday) outside of Israel’s High Court of Justice in Jerusalem to protest against what they dubbed the “undemocratic actions” of the …

There is something surreal about the current situation, as if time is standing still. It isn’t, of course.  Someday ‒ let us pray before too very long! ‒ we will look back on this and say, “Remember when…” Here in Israel the gov’t is making noises about slowly reducing restrictions. …

By its unflagging support of the establishment of a homophobic, misogynistic Muslim-majority tyranny (a.k.a. a Palestinian state), America’s allegedly “progressive” Jewry reveals that it is, in fact, profoundly regressive Benjamin Netanyahu is a failed leader. He has led the State of Israel, once a proud example of a tenacious and …

FACT The Jewish claim to statehood in their homeland dates to ancient times when the Israelite and Hasmonean kingdoms ruled for more than 400 years in the region that later came to be known as Palestine. The Jewish people never left the area but were forced to live under the …

Looking back at what I have written for my Pesach posts over the last years, my heart aches, as it does for everyone, for what we enjoyed and for what we had been so looking forward to again this year. We had planned to go to our son for the …

When people discussed the need for Israel to finally form some sort of unity government after three election attempts in order to deal with real matters of government, almost no-one imagined that as Bill Gates had predicted already in 2015 – the next danger facing mankind would not be something …

  Let me begin with a note to all of those who have written to me about my last posting.  I thank you for your gracious words; please understand that it is difficult for me to respond to everyone. ~~~~~~~~~~ Late last week, we were told that negotiations for a …

We have been exhibiting a disturbing tendency to look for scapegoats, but demonizing an entire sector of our own people is unacceptable. Thomas Paine’s famous line has attained iconic status: “These are the times that try men’s souls.” Indeed, crises can bring out the best, as well as the worst …

  According to news reports, some time on Sunday negotiations between Netanyahu and Gantz for that unity government should be complete. When that happens, I will write again. This is going out in the wee hours of Sunday morning (Israel time). Perhaps by the time you read this, there will …

Edelstein drew a much-needed line in the sand against judicial intrusion into the sphere of the legislature and thwarted yet another attempt at the usurpation of both its autonomy and authority.    These three excerpts, spanning two decades, encapsulate precisely the setting of the political drama that unfolded late last …

  Most of the readers who wrote after my last posting – in which I celebrated the fact that we would have a unity government – wanted to share their pleasure at the news. But a few wrote with considerably less enthusiasm: Gantz? Bibi is going to work with Gantz? …

FACT: One of the many ironies of the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement is that its proponents routinely use Israeli products, innovations and medical treatments. Now they face another challenge: should they risk dying from the coronavirus rather than accept help from Israel? Just as most Palestinians in the …

There are many misconceptions about the Temple Mount, the Kotel and the Al Aqsa mosque. Confusion and even much conflict can be dispelled when the facts are made clear! 1. What is the holiest site on earth for Jews? Did you answer, “the Kotel”? If you did, that’s a mistake …

The false façade of Blue & White was even more friable and fragile than anyone imagined; under the assault of recalcitrant reality, even the fast-drying Bibiphobic glue proved unable to hold things together. Just over a year ago, immediately after the announcement of the union between Benny Gantz and Yair …

Sometimes, when we no longer expect things to get better – when we are already resigned to the fact that they may get worse, the situation shifts. And that is what happened yesterday, when the news broke – in leaks at first – that Gantz was going to join Netanyahu …

Press release Dozens Protest Outside Home of Supreme Court President: Stop Robbing Our Democracy. Dozens of activists gathered today (Friday) in Israeli flag-bearing cars outside the home of Supreme Court President Esther Hayut to protest what they called the Supreme Court’s gross abuse of power and violation of Israel’s democracy. The …

The eyes of the world are on the coronavirus and its implications for each of us. Here in Israel we are struggling with a heavy situation, rendered all the more difficult by a political situation that is literally unbearable. I remain alone in my apartment: Alone, and determined to come …

“The so-called occupation is the largest industry of lies in the entire world,” explains former Palestinian terrorist turned peace activist Mohammed Masad in a new viral video. The video, released by the pro-Israel groups Canadians for Israel’s Legal Rights and Im Tirtzu, has already been viewed over 150,000 times in 24 hours. …

Friends, In finally cleaning off my desk (Hey, what’s a lockdown for?), I came across the hard copy of my op ed from almost exactly two years ago in the Jerusalem Post which analyzes the recent ranking Israel had received as the 11th happiest country in the world.  My premise …