Monthly Archives: November 2019

Getting Respect

In New York City, smacking a Jew in the face for the hell of it is OK. Oh, you will get arrested if a cop sees you doing it, but in a larger sense, it’s OK, because everyone knows that … Continue reading

Posted in Europe and Israel, Information war, Jew Hatred | Comments Off on Getting Respect

Progressive Democrats Get it Wrong About Israel, Again

I sometimes say, usually after being asked a ridiculous price for avocados in the shuk, that Israelis think all Americans are stupid and rich. I am beginning to think they are right about the stupid part, at least if they … Continue reading

Posted in 'Peace' Process, American politics, US-Israel Relations | Comments Off on Progressive Democrats Get it Wrong About Israel, Again

Q & A About Jewish Communities in Judea and Samaria

Following the surprise announcement by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that “[t]he establishment of Israeli civilian settlements in the West Bank is not per se inconsistent with international law,” I’ve prepared a short Q & A on the subject: … Continue reading

Posted in 'Peace' Process, Israel and Palestinian Arabs, Middle East politics, The UN, US-Israel Relations | 1 Comment

Ending the Occupation Without Destroying the Jewish State

Daniel Gordis’ latest article, provocatively titled “Occupation Über Alles,” quite correctly explains one of the main issues dividing Israel from progressive American Jews: the Americans’ obsessive preoccupation (so to speak) with “The Occupation.” But although he is skilled at dissecting … Continue reading

Posted in 'Peace' Process, American Jews, Israel and Palestinian Arabs | 2 Comments

Palestinism and the Hurt/Help Principle

After Israel killed a military commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) organization in Gaza, PIJ responded with (as of 18:00 Wednesday afternoon), 400 rockets aimed at Israeli civilians. This skirmish in the hundred year war against Jewish sovereignty in … Continue reading

Posted in Israel and Palestinian Arabs, Middle East politics, US-Israel Relations, War | Comments Off on Palestinism and the Hurt/Help Principle

“Strangers,” in Israel and America

We had a guest from America in our shul this week who discussed the week’s portion, lech lecha. She focused on the question of the treatment of the ger, the person who is a non-Jew in Eretz Yisrael and (variously) … Continue reading

Posted in American society, Israel and Palestinian Arabs, Israeli Arabs, Israeli Society, The Jewish people, Zionism | 2 Comments

Israel’s Excessive “Democracy”

Israel is a democracy. We keep hearing this. It is “the only democracy in the Middle East,” as many of us are fond of saying. Lately, it is beginning to seem as though we would be better off with a … Continue reading

Posted in Israeli Politics | 1 Comment

The Briar Patch, or Phasing Out Military Aid

See, you trust in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; where on if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him. – … Continue reading

Posted in American politics, US-Israel Relations | 1 Comment