Last Wednesday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights released a report announcing a historic database of companies doing business with illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. But they didn’t name any of the 206 companies on it. Luckily, we already know at least some of them. The Washington Post reported in … Read more
PITY THE almond tree, especially when it is in full bloom. The bloom of the almond is, in German, Mandelblüt. That is also the name of Israel’s chief legal official, called “the Legal Advisor of the Government”. The Legal Advisor is appointed by the government, but is supposed to be completely independent. He is in … Read more
A Prime MinisterSuspected ofTaking bribesAmounting toA million Shekels.Such a Prime MinisterMay wellDrag usInto war. Published in Haaretz, 16/02/18
WHAT THE HELL am I? An Israeli? A Jew? A peace activist? A Journalist? An author? An ex-combat soldier in the Israeli army? An ex-terrorist? A…? All of these and more. OK. OK. But in what order? Which is the most important component? First of all, of course, I am a human being, with all … Read more
The growing fight against the deportation of asylum seekers is an encouraging show of civil engagement and strength. But at the end of the day, what will determine whether or not Israel follows through with the deportation is now in the hands of the Rwandan government. If Rwanda refuses to accept people who are brought … Read more
MANY YEARS ago, right after the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, I was asked to write a book about the events. Rachel took the photos, I wrote the text. The book, which appeared only in Hebrew, was called “Lenin Does Not Live Here Anymore”. When we visited Warsaw, we were astonished by the many … Read more
The Polish governmentEnergetically enactsAnti-democratic lawsAnd tries to rewriteIts country’s history.And the governmentOf Israel? Published in Haaretz, 02/02/18
Remand in custody – even of minors – is part of the routine of oppression that Israel employs against Palestinians, with the full backing of the military courts, a system in which both judges and prosecutors are always military personnel, the defendants always Palestinian, and the conviction rate almost 100% Today (Wednesday, 17 Jan. 2018), … Read more
YEARS AGO, when I was a member of the Knesset, I decided to stage a demonstration in the plenum hall. I put on a T-shirt with the slogan “Peace is greater than Greater Israel”. In the middle of the debate I took my jacket off, displaying the slogan. After a few minutes, an usher approached … Read more
Cursed beThe oneWhoExpelsRefugees! Published in Haaretz, 27/01/18