Leftists and liberal Jews in the US are outraged by the anticipated entry of the far-right Kahanist fringe group “Otzma Yehudit” (Jewish Power) into the Knesset. Meanwhile, under the radar, another new party “Zehut” (which translates as Identity), headed by…
Category: Talking politics
New wave of Arab popular revolt undermines Israel’s strategy to ally with Arab regimes
Waves of popular protest are challenging Israel’s partners in the “moderate Sunni axis” and bringing back the Arab Spring in full force. There is a consensus in the Israeli establishment, including the Labor Party and Benny Gantz’s new party, about…
Who’s for a Palestinian State?
Labor Party leader Avi Gabai is right when he says: “The peace process vis-à-vis the Palestinians is interesting only for people over 50.” “Do you think,” he told his supporters, “that people care about a Palestinian state when [President Mahmoud]…
A Green New Deal, Israeli Style
The Democratic takeover of the House in the US Congressional elections was a crushing blow to Trump and the Republican Party. It raised a new alternative agenda for America called “A Green New Deal.” Promoting this is 29-year-old Alexandria…
Not Right, Not Left, Yellow
An amazing set of circumstances allowed the phenomenon of the “yellow vest” protest to spread from the boulevards of Paris to the streets of Tel Aviv. In Paris, the Champs-Élysées was shut down, while in Tel Aviv activists blocked a…
Israel 2050 and the invisible Palestinians
Israel is looking ahead. The year 2050 is a central theme of the Ministry of the Environment, linking the destiny of Israel to the planet’s future. Climate experts predict a humanitarian disaster if we continue to burn fossil fuels, which…
Netanyahu’s nonsensical occupation
After a well-publicized visit to Oman, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu addressed the Likud faction in the Knesset saying: “The occupation is nonsense.” This is not a slip of the tongue or a jab at the Left. On the surface, it…
Khashoggi’s murder will bury the Crown Prince
The carnage in the Pittsburgh synagogue overshadowed the international scandal aroused by the murder of the well-known journalist and Saudi government critic, Jamal Khashoggi. Although there appears to be no connection between an anti-Semitic slaughter and the murder, President Trump…
Fateful misconception: Israel’s Russia mistake
As anyone can see, Israel’s course of action in Syria is aimed at preventing Iranian entrenchment there. Its strategy is understandable but impractical. This does not appear to bother Israel, which prides itself on solving complex problems by one simple…
Israeli labor leader allies with extreme Right
Mr. Avi Nissenkorn, who chairs the biggest Israeli Trade Union federation, the Histadrut, recently announced support for Ze’ev Elkin in the race for mayor of Jerusalem. Mr. Elkin serves currently as the Minister of Jerusalem Affairs in Netanyahu’s government and…