We were gazing over the roofs of Cairo through the windows of an elegant, modern office. My companion was a scion of the local aristocracy and one of the founders of Egyptian Marxism.“We must ally ourselves with the Muslim Brotherhood,” he said.I was amazed. “But you are a completely secular person!” I exclaimed. “You are … Read more
Last week, the mainstream peace organizations held a demonstration in support of Ariel Sharon’s disengagement plan. I agonized for days about whether to take part or not. The question continues to bother me, and the discussions on this subject are still going on – with crucial votes due in the Knesset this week.Perhaps the best … Read more
From the well-chosen – as usual – words from Joschka Fischer, the German Foreign Minister, tothe tortured – as usual – face of Eli Wiesel, the Holocaust professional, it was an appropriatecommemoration of the historic crime. But it was also a great victory for Israeli diplomacy. The chiefs of our Foreign Office openlyboasted of this … Read more
An American and a Soviet soldier meet in Berlin in 1945 and get into an argument about which oftheir countries is more democratic. “Why,” the American said, “I can stand in the middle of Times Square and shout ‘PresidentTruman is a scoundrel’ and nothing will happen to me!” “Big deal,” the Russian retorted, “I can … Read more
Many years ago, I read a book called “ The Quiet American ” by Graham Greene. Itscentral character is a high-minded, naive young American operative in Vietnam. He has no ideaabout the complexities of that country but is determined to right its wrongs and create order.The results are disastrous. I have the feeling that this … Read more
Seven words uttered by President Bush in Brussels have not been paid the attention theydeserve. He called for the establishment of “a democratic Palestinian state with territorialcontiguity” in the West Bank , and then added: “A state on scattered territories will notwork.” It is worthwhile to ponder these words. Who did he point the finger … Read more
It is not very flattering to be paraded like a Rottweiler on a leash, whose masterthreatens to let him loose on his enemies. But this is our situation now. Vice President Dick Cheney threatened a few weeks ago that if Iran continues to developits nuclear capabilities, Israel might attack her. This week, President George Bush … Read more
Nobody called it the “Ophira Conference”. Not even the papers of the extreme right. Whotoday even remembers the name Ophira, which was given to Sharm-al-Sheikh during the Israelioccupation, as a first step to its annexation? Who wants to remember the famous saying of Moshe Dayan that “Sharm-al-Sheikh is moreimportant than peace”? A few years later, … Read more
Negev Bedouins to sew government for massive crop destruction ” The Bedouin are not squatters – government act was totally illegal “ After taking legal advice, Bedouin inhabitants of the Negev intend to sew the government ofIsrael for major damages, following a massive destruction of their crops bygovernment-chartered tractors earlier this week. The Bedouin are … Read more
Perhaps the second intifada has come to an end. Perhaps the cease-fire in the Gaza Stripwill develop into a general, mutual cease-fire. For me, the words “cease fire” have an extra resonance. When I was a soldier in the 1948 war,I twice experienced what it means to wait for a cease-fire. Each time we were … Read more