THE PROOF

As proof of itsSincerityIn pursuingPeace,The Netanyahu governmentHas declaredWarOn the Negev BedouinsAnd is resolvedTo expelTens of thousands. Published in “Haaretz”, June 28, 2013

When the Gods Laugh

(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

A division of labor

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

Triumph and Tragedy

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

DANONISM

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

“Boycott Law not yet ripe”

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

Butterflies in Damascus

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

Settler radio limited

Following Gush Shalom’s appeal, settler radio’s broadcasts will have to stop broadcasting within the Green Line, in violation of the terms of its concession Gush Shalom: The settlers attempted a backhanded way of setting up a countrywide extreme right radio station June 5, culminated a long struggle waged by the Gush Shalom movement against attempts … Read more

Occupation? What occupation?

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