YA’IR LAPID, the freshman parliamentarian and Treasury Minister, has declared that from now on he will deliver all his important speeches outside the Knesset, confining his Knesset appearances to the legal minimum. The reason: members from the opposition interrupt him. He cannot marshal his thoughts when interrupted. Since he is used to making his speeches … Read more
CAN A law be both ridiculous and dangerous?It certainly can. Witness the ongoing initiative of our government to enact a law that would define the State of Israel as “The Nation-State of the Jewish People”. Ridiculous 1 – because what and who is the “Jewish people”? The Jews of the world are a mixed lot. … Read more
THERE WAS this Israeli man who from time to time put a slip of paper in the cracks between the stones of the Western Wall, asking God for favors – as Jews have been doing for centuries. They believe that the gates of heaven are located directly above the Wall, making it easy for their … Read more
“THE TWO-STATE solution is dead!” This mantra has been repeated so often lately, by so many authoritative commentators, that it must be true.Well, it ain‘t. It reminds one of Mark Twain’s oft quoted words: “The report of my death was an exaggeration.” BY NOW this has become an intellectual fad. To advocate the two-state solution … Read more
AN AMBASSADOR is an honest man sent abroad to lie for the good of his country, a British statesman famously wrote some 400 years ago. That is true, of course, for all diplomats.The question is whether the diplomat lies only to others, or also to himself. I am asking this these days when I follow … Read more
WHEN THE huge immigration wave from the Soviet Union arrived in 1990, we were glad.First of all, because we believe that all immigration is a good thing for the country. This, I believe, is generally the case.Second, because we were convinced that this specific group of immigrants would push our country in the right direction. … Read more
IT WAS a moving experience. Moments that spoke not only to the mind, but also – and foremost – to the heart. Last Sunday, on the eve of Israel’s Remembrance Day for the fallen in our wars, I was invited to an event organized by the activist group Combatants for Peace and the Forum of … Read more
“AROUND US the storm is raging / But our head will not be bowed…” we sang when we were young, before the State of Israel was born. On the eve of Israel’s 65th birthday, this coming Monday, we could sing this rousing song again. And not just out of nostalgia. Around us, many storms are … Read more
OBAMA IN ISRAEL: Every word right. Every gesture genuine. Every detail in its place. Perfect.Obama in Palestine: Every word wrong. Every gesture inappropriate. Every single detail misplaced. Perfect. IT STARTED from the first moment. The President of the United States came to Ramallah. He visited the Mukata’a, the “compound” which serves as the office of … Read more
SO, FINALLY our Prime Minister has apologized to Turkey for “operational mistakes” that “might have” led to the death of nine Turks during the attack on MV Mavi Marmara, the ship which tried to break the Israeli blockade on Gaza. It took him two years and ten months to do so. Hallelujah. But the real … Read more