We, like you, treasure democracy, humaneness, justice, and civil and human rights. We are not asking for sympathy. But a lot more empathy and understanding would sure be in order. Sometimes our “Aha!” moments come when we least expect them or when they were least intended. Such a moment …
Read More »From Israel: Cool the Hysteria!!
When the Israeli election results were made public almost two weeks ago, it became apparent that the Religious Zionist party would have a significant role in the new government. Since then, there has been a huge international outcry, including from several liberal-left American Jewish organizations. The main focus of the …
Read More »Netanyahu, a clear mandate has been given. Opinion: October 2022
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 …
Read More »Naftali Bennett and me – relationship status: “it’s complicated”
My friend was about to be inaugurated as Prime Minister of Israel. For the past year I had done everything in my power to help make that happen. Of course, I had to be there. On the other hand, this inauguration would establish a government with progressive, extreme left, post …
Read More »Benjamin Netanyahu holding the government together: Opinion piece: Opinion piece: July ’21
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 …
Read More »Benjamin Netanyahu’s term as PM has to come, but when?:Opinion piece Feb 21.
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 …
Read More »Israel’s stand against Iranian ambitions brings neighbours to the peace table
The White House has announced that Israel and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to sign a peace agreement which will see the two nations establish full diplomatic relations, and “the exchange of ambassadors and cooperation on a broad range of areas, including tourism, education, healthcare, trade, and security.” The …
Read More »From Israel: Have We Sold Out??
The news was startling and in some respects very exciting: On Thursday, first President Trump and then Prime Minister Netanyahu made the announcement: United Arab Emirates (a Sunni Gulf state that is a federation of seven sheikdoms) has agreed to normalize ties with Israel. In coming weeks, delegations will be …
Read More »INTO THE FRAY: Netanyahu and the “Art of the Possible”
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, …
Read More »INTO THE FRAY: Imbecilic, Iniquitous, Inimical…
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 …
Read More »Into the fray: Why Netanyahu must not step down.
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 …
Read More »Into the fray: Iniquitous indictments for invented infractions.
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 …
Read More »Into the fray: Israel & America – Choreographed coups with the law as a prop.
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 …
Read More »Chanukah Same’ach! Happy Chanukah!
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! …
Read More »The morning after.
Our PM has not only helped restore Jews to geopolitical history, he has placed Israel not just in the corridors of power, but increasingly, at the table of power. For those whose middle-of-the-night dreams include the vanquishing of the Royal Family – the turning away of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu …
Read More »Israel is going back to the polls. Another Election? – Opinion piece June ’19.
How did that happen? Notwithstanding the individual party count from the April 9thelections, the single outstanding overall result was that fully 65 members of the Knesset (out of 120), recommended to President Rivlin that Netanyahu be invited to form a government. With only 45 recommending Gantz. This in itself signalled …
Read More »From Israel: Appalling!
And a source of sadness, as well. I refer, of course, to the current political situation in Israel. For days, I held off posting because I was waiting for resolution with regard to formation of a coalition. Now the time to write has come. ~~~~~~~~~~ I want to begin by …
Read More »From Israel: “I Could Spit!!”
Not the most dignified of titles, but one that best captures my mood – and the mood, I will note, of a whole lot of other people here in Israel. This will be a short posting, very directly to the point. When I wrote yesterday about the rocket attacks from …
Read More »From Israel: We Brought Him Home!
Thirty-seven years ago, during the First Lebanon war, Israeli troops engaged in a fierce and bloody battle with Syrian and affiliated PLO units at Sultan Yacoub near the Syrian border. Tank Commander Sgt. First Class Zachary Baumel (pictured) went missing, along with Zvi Feldman and Yehuda Katz. The three were …
Read More »From Israel: This Just Won’t Do!
Purim is over, and we are back to “normal,” whatever that actually is. Last Tuesday, the terrorist who murdered Staff Sgt. Gal Keidan and Rabbi Ahiad Ettinger at the Ariel Junction a week ago, was caught and eliminated. Security forces had tracked him to the Arab village of Abwein, near …
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