I am writing this with an aching heart. I have postponed writing it as long as I could. In Jewish tradition, there is a searing phrase: “The Temple was not destroyed but forgratuitous hatred.” It sums up the events in beleaguered Jerusalem , in the year 70 AD, when thetown was surrounded by the Roman … Read more
“In a dramatic television broadcast, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, calledupon the million Russian emigrants in Israel to return at once to their homeland, in view of thegrowing danger to their security there.” That did not happen, of course. But it is easy to imagine what would have been the reactionin Israel if Putin had … Read more
Sometimes a trivial episode throws a revealing light on a grave public disease. A classic example: the Captain of Koepenick. On the face of it, it was a minor criminalincident: in 1906, a shoemaker named Wilhelm Voigt was released from prison, after serving asentence for forgery. To get work he needed a passport, which, as … Read more
One of the Israeli newspapers, Haaretz , put the two events on the front page: the 100 thanniversary of the death of Theodor Herzl , the founder of the modern Zionist movement, and thejudgement of the International Court of Justice, which declared the Israeli Separation Wallillegal. This coincidence may seem fortuitous. What connection could there … Read more
In the silence of the courtroom, there was an audible gasp of surprise and shock whenSupreme Justice Aharon Barak, reading the court’s decision, reached the words: “Themilitary commander did not use his discretion in a proportional way, as required.” At that moment the veteran peace activists who filled the room realized that they had won. … Read more
photo gallery A non-violent demonstration in A-Ram today (26.6.04) turned into a battlefield, when theBorder Police used, for two hours, tear gas, rubber-coated bullets and water cannon againstit. All signs indicate that it was a well-prepared police ambush. The Israeli demonstrators, mostly activists of Gush Shalom and Ta’ayush, arrived in fivefull buses at A-Ram roadblock. … Read more
An old, worn-out whore who waits in vain for a man to seek her favors is a pitiful sightindeed. The Israeli Labor Party is in this pathetic position, but it is difficult to feel anypity for it. For months now, the party has been waiting at the door of the Sharon government, hoping tobe invited … Read more
photo gallery A non-violent demonstration in A-Ram today (26.6.04) turned into a battlefield, when theBorder Police used, for two hours, tear gas, rubber-coated bullets and water cannon againstit. All signs indicate that it was a well-prepared police ambush. The Israeli demonstrators, mostly activists of Gush Shalom and Ta’ayush, arrived in fivefull buses at A-Ram roadblock. … Read more
Two weeks ago, the international community made a shocking declaration. Giving in to a demand by George Bush, the “Quartet” accepted the “Revised DisengagementPlan” of Ariel Sharon . This means that the United Nations, the European Union, the RussianFederation and the United States confirmed this document. I wonder if any one of the honorablediplomats has … Read more
I thought it was terrible. I was wrong. It is far, far worse! – These words sum up myfeelings at that moment. I was standing on a hill overlooking the infamous Kalandia checkpoint. Below me was a narrow road, packed with Palestinians in the blazing sun, 30 degreescentigrade in the shade (but there was no … Read more