Tag Archives: Jewish State

This week we will be celebrating the 69th anniversary of the re-establishment of the Jewish State – Independence Day, Yom Ha’atzmaut – preceded by Yom Hazikaron where we remember those who fell in the defence of the State of Israel. This comes on the back of efforts formalised 120 years …

As Prime Minister Netanyahu said: “Wow!” What a fantastic week for Israel, Australia and the Jewish People!!! Kol Hakavod to Prime Ministers Malcolm Turnbull and Benjamin Netanyahu – and the entire delegations on both sides – on a historic occasion replete with warmth, great friendship, shared values, understanding, intersections of …

There is much to celebrate about Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Australia; the first time a sitting Israeli Prime Minister has graced our shores.  We will hear much about the common bond of nations, of shared values and destinies as liberal democracies and secular states governed by the rule of law. …

Whilst this opinion piece around PM Netanyahu’s speech to the UN was written before the passing of Shimon Peres z”l it would be a gross omission to not acknowledge the life of one of the most important figures of our time.  A man who did so much for Israel and …

Annexation of Judaea and Samaria together with its Arab population, will culminate in Lebanonization of Israel and the end of the Zionist dream—as surely as the two-state paradigm it was meant to replace The road to hell is paved with good intentions – An ancient English dictum of disputed origin …

Vice President Joe Biden addressed the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. on March 20, 2016. He spoke passionately about the importance of the security of Israel and America’s commitment to defend Israel. At roughly the 29 minute mark of the speech, he said that “One thing is certain: the …

The predominance of Israel’s military prowess has little or no bearing on many of the emerging threats menacing the Jewish state today. The predominance of Israel’s military prowess has little or no bearing on many of the emerging threats menacing the Jewish state today. To question the Jewish people’s right …

“Israeli flags not welcome at London rally against antisemitism” This above is the title of an article a few days ago  on the Times of Israel  which created quite a stir in discussion regarding anti-Zionism and antisemitism and really got me worked up. Speaking at pluralistic Golders Green Together counter-protest, …

Everyone has a perspective. Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor, was credited with saying “Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” Our opinions and perspectives are shaped by many things including our backgrounds and biases. When two people look at …

The Israeli political discourse has been afflicted by pronouncements that could have easily been drawn from the Orwellian lexicons of 1984. The term “Jewish State” is totally misguided – Isaac Herzog, April 2014 We, members of the People’s Council, representatives of the Jewish community of Eretz-Israel and of the Zionist …

It should be, even in our less than perfect world, that international courts were bastions of ethical judgment and impartiality.  OK, maybe that’s expecting too much.  Shall we say, just institutions that model some degree of ethical judgment and impartiality.  But even this is expecting too much in today’s climate …

The Jewish state must respond to Palestinian unilateralism with unilateralism of its own. À la guerre comme à la guerre (In war, as in war) – A French maxim The dispute between the Arabs and Jews is an “agrarian dispute,” over the question of who puts who in the ground …

It’s official.  Last night the Knesset voted – 93 in favor, no votes against and no abstentions – to disband itself.  We are in a campaign period.  A huge amount of jockeying is now taking place with regard to possible mergers of parties, timing of the Likud primary (which Netanyahu …

It’s a long time since I have had a positive – even tentatively positive – sense of the political scene here in Israel. But here we are now, in a time of real turmoil, which nonetheless has within it the promise of something better than the unfortunate situation we’ve been …

Editor’s note: There is some excellent material here to study and to share Please click links and read. Let us begin today by looking briefly at the historical situation that immediately followed Israel’s Declaration of Independence and the subsequent War of Independence.  At the end of the war, in 1949, …

Originally posted as: Into the fray: The Arabs’ war against the Jews (cont.): Root causes & red herrings. If the Jews are to prevail in the Arabs’ war against them it is essential that they accurately differentiate misleading red herrings from real root causes. Our forces are now entirely ready …

This phrase is usually identified as an “old Chinese curse,” while in fact it is neither old nor Chinese in origin.  What it is, clearly, is ironic, which is why I am using it:  Our “interesting” times are often overwhelming – filled with turmoil and confusion.  Oi! Could we do …

A perfect storm is brewing for Israel. After years of counterproductive concessions, if the Jews wish to preserve their sovereignty, what is required is ruthless resolve, not reticent restraint. This is not an article for those of weak stomach. It is not for those who wish to be reassured that, …

  Last night, a Palestinian driver intentionally drove his van into three soldiers south of Jerusalem. One was critically injured, two a bit more moderately wounded. It was the end of a very bad day in Israel.Late last night, I saw a post on Facebook saying that Jerusalem was moving …

San Francisco State University is probably not the most Israel-friendly university in the United States. In truth, I feel quite confident in suggesting that the opposite is true.  Among SFSU faculty most hostile to Israel, however, is professor Rabab Abdulhadi of the ethnic studies department. Back in the 1960s, the …