The Zuabis

THE SOLE contribution of Ya’ir Lapid to Israeli folklore so far is his saying that he would not join a move to block Binyamin Netanyahu, since this would mean joining forces with “the Zuabis”. This needs explanation to a foreign audience. The Zuabi family is a large Hamula (extended Arab family) located in Nazareth and […]

SECRETS

In the name of "Security"We are surrounded by secrecy -Secret weapons,Secret Prisoners,Secrets badly heldCreating the need for more secrecyOnly one thing is not secret:The way to peace. Published in “Haaretz” – February 15, 2013

Can Two Walk Together?

“COMPARED TO the Knesset it could have been, this is a very good Knesset!”I heard this, in so many words, from at least ten former Knesset members and others, as we were drinking orange juice in the Knesset foyer. I could have said it myself (and probably did). It was the opening session of the […]

THE VISIT

President ObamaWill ask forClear answersOn Peace,The Palestinian state,Occupation and settlements.For the new government,There is no escapingFrom what really matters. Published in “Haaretz”, February 8, 2013

Woe to the Victor

“VAE VICTIS!” was the Roman cry. Woe to the vanquished.I would alter it slightly: “Vae Victori”, Woe to the victor! The outstanding example is the astounding victory Israel won in June, 1967. After weeks of approaching doom, the Israeli army beat three Arab armies in six days and conquered huge stretches of Egyptian, Syrian and […]

There Is A Future For Apartheid!

A government coalitionWith Bennett and his partyMeans:There Is A FutureFor Apartheid! Published in “Haaretz”, February 1, 2013

A Move to the Center

IT WAS the night of the optimists.Tuesday at 10.01 pm, a minute after the ballot boxes were sealed, the three TV news programs announced the results of their exit polls. The dire predictions of the pessimists were scattered to the winds.Israel has not gone crazy. It has not moved to the right. The fascists have […]

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

Equality inMilitary serviceIs veryImportant.Peace isA thousand timesMore important! Published in “Haaretz” January 25, 2013

Who to vote for?

THE ELECTIONS will take place in three days, and they are boring, boring, boring.So boring, indeed, that even to think about their boringness (if there is such a word) is boring. For lack of any debate about the issues, media pundits are reduced to discussing the election broadcasts. Some are good, some indifferent, some atrocious. […]