Author Archives: Victor Rosenthal

Ending the Occupation Without Destroying the Jewish State

Posted on November 18, 2019 by Victor Rosenthal

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

Posted on November 14, 2019 by Victor Rosenthal

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

Posted on November 10, 2019 by Victor Rosenthal

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”

Posted on November 7, 2019 by Victor Rosenthal

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

Posted on November 4, 2019 by Victor Rosenthal

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

Hey America: Israel is Losing It Too!

Posted on October 31, 2019 by Victor Rosenthal

I know that I sound like a broken record. OK, none of you are old enough to know what that sounds like. How about a scratched CD, one that plays the same phrase over and over and over: Bibi, Gantz, … Continue reading →

Posted in Israeli Politics, Israeli Society | Comments Off on Hey America: Israel is Losing It Too!

Kahane was Both Right and Wrong

Posted on October 27, 2019 by Victor Rosenthal

Last week I wrote a post entitled “Kahane was Right.” Apparently, the name “Kahane” has great power. One publication republished my article, and then tried to post it on its Facebook page, only to have it blocked, presumably because saying … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel and Palestinian Arabs, Israeli Arabs, Israeli Politics, Israeli Society, Zionism | 1 Comment

Keeping Our Honor in the Middle East

Posted on October 24, 2019 by Victor Rosenthal

What I’m about to write will probably be off-putting, even offensive to some Western readers. But it’s a subject that is extremely relevant to life in much of the rest of the world, especially in the Middle East. Everyone knows … Continue reading →

Posted in Middle East politics, Terrorism, War | 6 Comments