NO OPERA by Richard Wagner could have been more dramatic. It looked as if it was directed by a genius. It started low-key. A little piece of paper was thrust into the hand of Prime Minister Levi Eshkol as he was reviewing the Independence Day parade. It said that Egyptian troops were entering the Sinai … Read more
Anyone noticedThat John KerryDid not comeThis week?Instead we heardFrom Danny DanonWhat we knew already:Netanyahu has no intentionTo negotiate seriously. Published in “Haaretz” – June 14, 2013
State to the Supreme Court: Boycott Law poses constitutional problems, but…Gush Shalom: this law might undermine Israel’s export economy In a statement presented to the Supreme Court in reply to appeals lodged by Uri Avnery and Gush Shalom, followed by other appeals, against the legality of the Boycott Law, the State Attorney’s Bureau admitted that … Read more
DURING THE Spanish civil war of 1936, a news story reported the deaths of 82 Moroccans, 53 Italians, 48 Russians, 34 Germans, 17 Englishmen, 13 Americans and 8 Frenchmen. Also 1 Spaniard. “Serves him right,” people in Madrid commented, “Why did he interfere?” Similar things could now be said about the civil war in Syria. … Read more
Haaretz Every person is endowed with a certain denial mechanism they can use to avoid the shame, fear, guilt and pain involved in coping with their improper actions. Instead of facing their failure, accepting reality and dealing with it, they simply enter a state of denial. But denial extracts a heavy price from the denier. … Read more
The entire Israeli pressIs cheering forThe demonstratorsDemanding freedomIn Bil’in.Well, not exactly.The entire Israeli pressIs cheering forThe demonstratorsDemanding freedomIn Istanbul. Published in “Haaretz”, June 7, 2013
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
On conscriptingThe Ultra-OrthodoxTo the occupation army:A cabinet crisis.On the occupation itself,Now 46 years old:Not a word. Tomorrow, Saturday, at 7pm, we shall join all Israeli peace groups in the protest march marking the anniversary of the occupation. Meeting point: Sarona Park opposite the Defense Ministry, Kaplan St., Tel Aviv. Published in “Haaretz” – May 31, … Read more
Who needs a war, keeps it simmering – Joint Jewish-Arab demonstration to mark 46 years of occupation Saturday 1.6.13 at 19:00 – Meeting point: Sarona Garden Kaplan St.,Tel Aviv, opposite the Defense Ministry After 46 years of occupation, the underlying realities are more than ever laid bare. It is now clear whose interests are served … 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