OPTIMISM
Instead ofA military strike,Americans and RussianAgree on Syria.Our Supreme CourtStruck downHeartless behaviorTowards asylum seekers.Proof that optimistsCan be right, too! Published in “Haaretz”, September 20, 2013
Channels
A Good War
HERE IS another Jewish joke: A hungry young Jew sees an announcement outside a local circus: anyone who climbs to the top of a 50 meter pole and jumps onto a tarpaulin below will win a prize of a thousand rubles. Out of desperation he goes in, climbs the pole and shudders looking down. “Jump! … Read more
BEHIND SCHEDULE
Today, 20 years ago,The Oslo AgreementWas signed.A permanent agreementFor peace betweenThe State of Israel andThe State of PalestineWas to be signedBy May, 1999.We are only 14 yearsBehind schedule. Published in “Haaretz”, September 13, 2013
Oslo Revisited
ISRAEL LOVES anniversaries. The media fill up with revelations and memories of the event commemorated, eye-witnesses recite their stories for the umpteenth time, old photos flood the pages and the TV screens. In the coming days, two main memorial dates will play this role. True, the Yom Kippur war broke out only in October (1973), … Read more
SHANA TOVA
ThatWe may learnFrom mistakes of the pastAnd make useOf the new chance!ThatJerusalem,Capital of two states,Will indeed be aLight unto the nations! Published in “Haaretz”, September 4, 2013
Poor Obama
POOR OBAMA. I pity him.Right at the start of his meeting with history, he made The Speech in Cairo. A great speech. An uplifting speech. An edifying speech. He talked to the educated youth of the Egyptian capital. He spoke about the virtues of democracy, the bright future awaiting a liberal, moderate Muslim world. Hosni … Read more
GOING DOWN
While the spotlightIs turned onThe Syria horror,We go downIn small portions:Three PalestiniansKilled in Kalandia,A new settlementInaugurated.Look forward toMore installmentsEvery week. Published in “Haaretz”, August 30, 2013
The cat on the cream – our housing minister
With the winds of war blowing in our region, Housing Minister Uri Ariel pours more oil on the flames by establishing the new “Leshem” settlement on the West Bank. In the inflammatory speech which he delivered on that occasion he shows himself a dangerous extreme right provocateur. This is far from an unexpected development. Ariel’s … Read more
Cry, Beloved Country
I DIDN’T want to write this article, but I had to.I love Egypt. I love the Egyptian people. I have spent some of the happiest days of my life there. My heart bleeds when I think of Egypt. And these days I think about Egypt all the time. I cannot remain silent when I see … Read more
THE NIGHT
The night afterThe peace talks,IDF soldiers arrivedAt Jenin Refugee CampTo carry out arrests.They confronted the population,Shot and killed.This is called“NegotiationsWithout preconditions”. Published in “Haaretz”, August 23, 2013