A power drunk governmentWas totally surprisedBy the bucket ofCold waterPoured over its headBy the EU.46 years of creating“accomplished facts”Never got a recognitionFrom anybody in the world.The choice was and remains:Make peaceOr become pariahs! Published in “Haaretz” – July 19, 2013
PERHAPS YOU are facing the same moral dilemma as I am:What to think about Syria?What to think about Egypt? LET’S TAKE Syria first. When it started, the choice for me was clear. There was this evil dictator, whose family had mistreated their people for decades. It was a tyranny with fascist overtones. A small minority, … Read more
With the fireRaging around us,Israel cannot beA bystander.If we move towardsPeace with Palestine,We will significantly helpTo stabilize the region.If we do nothing,The flames willReach our homes. Published in “Haaretz” – July 12, 2013
LET ME come back to the story about Zhou Enlai, the Chinese Communist leader. When asked what he thought about the French Revolution, he famously answered: “It’s too early to say.” This was considered a typical piece of ancient Chinese wisdom – until somebody pointed out that Zhou did not mean the revolution of 1789, … Read more
Kerry’s effortsRemain fruitless.The worldAccuses Israel.Young Jews,Once proud of Israel,Distance themselves.Our own young,Seeking a future,Vote with their feet Published in “Haaretz” – July 5, 2013
IF YOU happen to bump into John Kerry at Ben Gurion Airport, you may wonder whether he is coming or going. He may well be wondering himself. For many weeks now he has been devoting most of his precious time to meetings with Binyamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas, trying to get these two people together. … Read more
As proof of itsSincerityIn pursuingPeace,The Netanyahu governmentHas declaredWarOn the Negev BedouinsAnd is resolvedTo expelTens of thousands. Published in “Haaretz”, June 28, 2013
(A shorter version of this article was published in Haaretz on June 19, the day after the official birthday.) IF THE life of Shimon Peres was a play, it would be difficult to classify. A tragedy? A comedy? A tragicomedy? For sixty years it looked as if he was under a curse of the Gods, … Read more
On Sunday, June 23, Gush Shalom is among the Israeli peace groups which will embark on a multi-city Peace Roundtable campaign, setting up more than 70 discussion tables at public places throughout the country. The aim is to foster public support for a peace initiative, against the backdrop of the efforts made by US Secretary … Read more
President Shimon PeresExcites the whole worldWith hisVision of peace.Prime Minister NetanyahuAdds a bitOf lip service.Housing Minister Uri ArielDoes not talk:He is busyBuilding settlements. Published in “Haaretz” – June 21, 2013