This is the article I wanted to write one week before the recent Israeli elections but I chickened out. Who wanted to predict inevitable defeat for the strangely named Zionist Camp, or is that Union, when the polls and the pundits were already celebrating victory? The dust has settled but not the …
Read More »Into the Fray: Whew! But…
The unthinkable has been avoided – narrowly. The greatest challenge now will be to deal with a detrimental, dysfunctional and, not infrequently, disloyal opposition. With respect to the people’s choice, if this is in fact its choice, I do not accept it … If that is the choice of the …
Read More »Arlene from Israel – With Gratitude and Gladness!
The Israeli election campaign just ended has been one hell of a dismal and ominous ride. I knew that well enough, but it was only when near-final results were released, and I began to cry, that I realized how very frightened I had been. For this nation that I love, …
Read More »Arlene in Israel – A Political Circus.
It wouldn’t do, I suppose, for the political situation to have clarity for too long. Or for the news to simply be promising. We’ve now entered the circus arena: the rumors are flying, predictions are contradictory, and some surprising alliances are being suggested as possible. All of this defeats clarity …
Read More »Arlene in Israel – Looking Good.
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 …
Read More »Arlene in Israel – May You Live in Interesting Times.
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 …
Read More »Into the Fray: Have we all gone completely mad???!!!!
When all you seek is calm, while your adversary is committed to your total annihilation, what is a reasonable compromise? That he only annihilate half of you? Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad. – Ancient proverb, misattributed to Euripides Q: What is the difference between …
Read More »Into the fray: Israel’s loony, lethal Left.
Since signing the Oslo agreement in 1993, Israel has made a series of astounding concessions, which did nothing but produce further Palestinian demands for even more far-reaching concessions. If the Left cannot even admit to the theoretical possibility that its position might be refuted, that position is no longer …
Read More »News & Views from ‘Arlene in Israel’ – “Bye Bye Negotiations”
Shabbat starts late at this season, which allows me the time to do a post – but even so, Shabbat is Shabbat and this will be brief. The nine-month negotiating deadline of April 29 came and went with no resolution of the issues, and no promise of an …
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