Israel

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 …

How can I post a Good News Weekend post amidst this unprecedented worldwide quarantine which has confined millions to their homes, shuttering businesses and places of entertainment and leisure, and bringing the world economy to its knees?  There are more unknowns than knowns, and the worst is the not knowing. …

Our first battle is against the coronavirus, which is being fought not just in Israel, but around the world.  It preoccupies everyone, so that political news here is not necessarily even front page any more. I write from my Jerusalem apartment: I am well, thank Heaven, but following the rules …

In stark contrast to Netanyahu, Ehud Olmert was indicted on existing interpretation of the law, no “creative” legal precedents were needed to prosecute him, there were no claims of selective prosecution, or allegations of police investigatory misconduct. …indictment is not evidence of guilt and does not detract from the presumption …

Im Tirtzu tells us that the Israeli NGO Adalah, a prominent grantee of the US-based New Israel Fund, announced week that it is “prepared to submit legal material” to the International Criminal Court against Israel. They say … “International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda – the highest legal …

FACT: The Arabs made clear they would go to war to prevent the establishment of a Jewish state.  The chairman of the Arab Higher Committee said the Arabs would “fight for every inch of their country.” Two days later, the holy men of Al-Azhar University in Cairo called on the …

The news has been inexorably bad for the last few weeks and I have been in no mood to write anything (in case you hadn’t noticed). The 3rd round of Israeli elections yielded exactly the same results as the second and first rounds (surprise!), i.e. a stalemate. This time Netanyahu …

There is—and should be–a qualitative difference (i.e. a structural inequality) between votes cast for parties that wish to undermine the Jewish nation-state and those who wish to protect and preserve it.  … the right of the Jewish people to establish their State is irrevocable…This right is the natural right of …

Not our government’s response to the coronavirus danger, certainly: That has been most exemplary. And I want to look at this first, before I describe the contemptible situation we have also been dealing with. Israel, as it turns out, responded more quickly than other countries to the impending threat of …

Press Release Israeli-Arab Christian High School Holds “Palestine Day,” Wipes Israel Off Map A high school in the Israeli-Arab city of Shfar’am held a “Heritage Day for the Palestinian People” this week that wiped Israel off the map, the Makor Rishon newspaper reported. Organized by El Oskopia, a Christian high school that receives …

When people think of visiting Israel, few consider going to Hebron. The city is depicted as contentious, dangerous and unpleasant. It is associated with “Occupation,” poverty and apartheid. Who would want to go there? Even most Israelis don’t consider Hebron a place they would want to visit, much less live. …

This week, Israeli politics plumbed appalling new lows with reports that, Blue& White, which, as the major rival to PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud, emerged as the second largest party in last week’s Knesset elections, was actively planning to violate its solemn pledges to the voters, made only days previously. In …

Oh, and these are tough times. But Purim begins Monday night (and a day later in Jerusalem, where Shushan Purim is celebrated).  And so, today children went to school in their Purim costumes, and I happened to be running an errand when they were coming out of school. All those happy …

Election number three. What was different? Exit polls, having twice underestimated Prime Minister Netanyahu and his block’s number of Knesset seats in April 2019 and September 2019, now overestimated them. Only by a small number. But a very critical one. Despite predictions of voter fatigue – turnout has steadily increased …

  This past Monday was election day here in Israel, and the people came out in impressive numbers – more than 70% in the end. Exit polls released after 10 PM Monday night indicated a solid win for Likud, which was polling several mandates ahead of Blue and White. The …