Can the Duke become King?

ON MONDAY, the 19th Knesset voted to dissolve itself, less than two years after its election. For many of its members it was a sad day, a kind of political hara-kiri. They have no chance of re-election. Some of them are so forgettable, that I do not recognize their names or faces. The day after, […]

Ending the occupation, or…

The State of PalestineIs gaining recognition.A Palestinian ministerIs killed in a demonstration.The choice in this election:Ending the occupation -Or international isolationAnd eternal war. Published in Haaretz – December 12, 2014

The Plebiscite

ISRAELIS ARE fed up with Binyamin Netanyahu. They are fed up with the government. They are fed up with all political parties. They are fed up with themselves. They are fed up. That is the reason for the disintegration of the government this week. It did not fall because of any particular issue. Certainly not […]

ONE BLOCK

If all theCentrist and LeftistPartiesWill run together –They will achieveThe change! Published in Haaretz, December 5, 2014

The Son of my Eyes

THE PRESIDENT of Israel was aghast.Ruvi Rivlin, who was recently elected to the high but largely ceremonial post, is far from being a leftist. On the contrary, this scion of a family that has been living in Jerusalem for seven generations, believes in a Jewish state in all the country from the Mediterranean Sea to […]

INSTEAD

Instead ofDealing withThe economy, health,Education and welfare –Our ministersAre busyWith producingRacist laws. Published in Haaretz, November 28, 2014

The Unholy City

IN ITS long and checkered history, Jerusalem has been occupied by dozens of conquerors. Babylonians and Persians, Greeks and Romans, Mamluks and Turks, Britons and Jordanians – to mention just a few. The latest occupier is Israel, which conquered and annexed Jerusalem in 1967. (I could have written “East Jerusalem” – but all of historical […]

VICIOUS CIRCLE

Terror attacks breedMore oppression.More oppression breedsMore terror attacks.Only peaceWill break theVicious circle. Published in Haaretz, November 21, 2014

Wine, Blood and Gasoline

KAFR KANNA, a village near Nazareth, is probably the place where Jesus – according to the New Testament – turned water into wine. Now it is the Arab village where the Israeli police is turning stones into blood. On the fateful day, the police was confronting a group of young Arabs protesting against the Israeli […]

Israelis say “Yes” to a Palestinian State

Because independence for the Palestinians means true independence for Israelis. Gush Shalom wholeheartedly endorses and supports the call made this week by “Combatants for Peace”: Join us, a large group of Israelis and Palestinians, in a demonstration of popular democracy, solidarity and hope. The event will take place on both sides of the Separation Wall, […]