Perhaps the second intifada has come to an end. Perhaps the cease-fire in the Gaza Stripwill develop into a general, mutual cease-fire. For me, the words “cease fire” have an extra resonance. When I was a soldier in the 1948 war,I twice experienced what it means to wait for a cease-fire. Each time we were … Read more
When King George V died, we got a day off from school as a sign of mourning. Palestine wasthen a part of the British Empire, which ruled the country under a League of Nations mandate. Tothis very day, a central street in Tel-Aviv, not far from my home, bears the name of King George. George … Read more
Now it’s official: “the First Democracy in the Arab World” or “the Second Democracy in theMiddle East ” has been born. The Palestinian elections have impressed the world. Until now, if elections were held inany Arab country at all, there was only one candidate, and he received 99.62% of the vote. Yethere there were seven … Read more
Without serious steps to end the occupation Numerous commentators, in Israel and abroad, speak of “a window of opportunity” and a uniquechance to restart the peace process. But for that to be true, quite a few steps are needed – inthe first place, on the part of the occupier who has the overwhelming power on … Read more
How the hell did I get into this goddamned mess? I wake up in the morning and can’t believeit. What, I, Arik Sharon, am waging a war against the settlers? I, who put them there in the firstplace ? I, who drafted the map of the settlements long before the settlers themselves everdreamed of it … Read more
Let’s imagine for a moment that the huge tidal waves had hit the western shores of Europe,that more than a hundred thousand English, Irish, Dutch, Belgian, French, Spanish andPortuguese had fallen victim to the tsunami, and that the east coast of the United States hadalso suffered. How the world would have sprung into action! How … Read more
Between the Green Line and the Fence photo gallery Hundreds of activists of Gush Shalom, Taayush, The Committee Against House Demolitionand others demonstrated on the last day of 2004 against the uprooting of the olive trees ofJayush village and the building of a large new settlement there. This is being done under theguise of enlarging … Read more
Between the Green Line and the Fence photo gallery Hundreds of activists of Gush Shalom, Taayush, The Committee Against House Demolitionand others demonstrated on the last day of 2004 against the uprooting of the olive trees ofJayush village and the building of a large new settlement there. This is being done under theguise of enlarging … Read more
“The curious incident is the barking of the dog,” Sherlock Holmes remarked. “But the dog did not bark!” exclaimed Dr. Watson. “That is the curious incident!” This week’s curious incident concerns the wreath of Tony Blair. The wreath that he did notlay on the grave of Yasser Arafat. Elementary, dear Watson. Blair did go to … Read more
The settlers who make an outcry, threaten violence and desecrate the memory of the holocaustvictims are not quiet inhabitants living in their homes. Therefore, their evacuation fromthe occupied terriotires does not constitute ” expulsion ” or ” ethnic cleansing. ” Thefounders and leaders of the settlement movement, starting with Rabbi Levinger (“the rabbiwith the pistol”) … Read more