“It would have been best for all of us, Mr. President, had you gone to Damascus with a full mandate from the Government of Israel and from you successor in the White House. To promote to the best of your ability the solution to the conflict and the end to both peoples’ suffering. But even … Read more
NEXT MONTH, Israel will celebrate its 60th anniversary. The government is working feverishly to make this day into an occasion of joy and jubilation. While serious problems are crying out for funds, some 40 million dollars have been allocated to this aim. But the nation is in no mood for celebrations. It is gloomy. From … Read more
5-year old Abdallah BaharWas killed this weekIn the Gaza StripBy army fire.Not a single word about thisWas published byYediot Aharonot, MaarivOr any TV channel.Only Haaretz published a photo.In the democratic State of IsraelThere is no need forA military coup d’etatIn order to muzzle the media.The editors do it themselves. Ad in Haaretz April 11, 2008
“Hey! Take your hands off me! Not you! You!!!” – the voice of a young woman in the darkened cinema, an old joke. “Hey! Take your hands off Tibet!” the international chorus is crying out, “But not from Chechnya! Not from the Basque homeland! And certainly not from Palestine!” And that is not a joke. … Read more
75 years ago this week,The Nazis forbade GermansTo enter Jewish shops.The Knesset decidedTo forbid IsraelisTo bring their carsTo Palestinian garagesIn the occupied territories.Where will this lead us? Ad published in Haaretz, April 4, 2008
TOMORROW WILL BE the 32nd anniversary of the first “Day of the Land” – one of the defining events in the history of Israel. I remember the day well. I was at Ben Gurion airport, on the way to a secret meeting in London with Said Hamami, Yasser Arafat’s emissary, when someone told me: “They … Read more
“If a PalestinianNational Unity GovernmentComes into being,We shall stop negotiationsAt once!”The Olmert-Barak governmentWarned this week.A strange announcement -For if one wants peace,One must be interestedIn speaking withThe entire Palestinian people.But Olmert & BarakAre not interested in peaceBut only in a”Peace process” -A show for Israelis andWorld public opinion. Ad published in Haaretz, March 28, 2008
“WAR IS much too serious a thing to be left to military men,” in Talleyrand’s memorable words. In the same spirit, one could say: The American presidential elections are much too serious to be left to the Americans. The US is now the only super-power on earth. It will remain so for quite some time … Read more
Kanzlerin MerkelMade a pilgrimage to IsraelAnd groveled beforeOlmert and Barak.Before and after her,Other world leadersDid the sameThey did not doAny good to Israel.They hurt it.Real friends of IsraelWould not encourageOlmert and BarakTo continue on a roadThat leads to disaster. Ad published in Haaretz, March 21, 2008
WHAT HAPPENED this week is so infuriating, so impertinent, that it stands out even in our familiar landscape of governmental irresponsibility. On the near horizon, a de facto suspension of hostilities was taking shape. The Egyptians had made great efforts to turn it into an official cease-fire. The flame was already burning visibly lower. The … Read more