Author Archives: Victor Rosenthal

The Ambassador from Obamastan

Posted on March 20, 2022 by Victor Rosenthal

It was profoundly depressing to listen to the new American ambassador to Israel, Thomas Nides, speak on a webinar produced by Americans for Peace Now. Both the tone and the substance of his remarks were discouraging. The tone expressed the … Continue reading →

Posted in 'Peace' Process, Israel and Palestinian Arabs, US-Israel Relations | 4 Comments

The Czechoslovakian Option

Posted on March 17, 2022 by Victor Rosenthal

The negotiations between Iran and the West are free to continue after the hiccup caused by a Russian demand for a “right to free and full trade, economic and investment cooperation and military-technical cooperation.” Either the Russians got what they … Continue reading →

Posted in Iran, US-Israel Relations, War | 2 Comments

Iran is No Less Dangerous than Russia

Posted on March 13, 2022 by Victor Rosenthal

Last week, Russia threw a monkey wrench into the Iran nuclear talks by insisting that any deal removing sanctions from Iran must also remove any sanctions impacting Russian trade with Iran. The talks had supposedly been on the verge of … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Iran, War | 2 Comments

Who’s Intolerant?

Posted on March 10, 2022 by Victor Rosenthal

The refugee crisis in Ukraine has illuminated a deep moral divide among Israelis, which I think reflects a similar division in the moral consciousness of humans everywhere. On one side we have Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked, who announced yesterday that … Continue reading →

Posted in The Jewish people, Zionism | 2 Comments

The 800-Pound Gorilla of the Non-Orthodox World

Posted on March 6, 2022 by Victor Rosenthal

The Jewish Press reports: Hundreds of members of the Reform and Conservative movements from Israel and the United States arrived on Friday morning at the Kotel plaza for the Rosh Chodesh Adar B prayer. They were met with enormous resistance … Continue reading →

Posted in Israeli Society | 2 Comments

Obama’s Third Term

Posted on March 3, 2022 by Victor Rosenthal

While our attention here in Israel is on Ukraine, the US and Iran are preparing to come to some kind of nuclear agreement. Or not. I’ve been wrong about a number of things lately – I never thought Putin would … Continue reading →

Posted in American politics, Iran, US-Israel Relations | 4 Comments

Will Putin Shoot the Hostages? (Updated 1 March)

Posted on February 27, 2022 by Victor Rosenthal

For the last few days it’s been impossible for me to think about anything other than the war in Ukraine: Full-scale warfare in Europe. Europe! I know I’m showing my “white” bias, because after all, millions have died in vicious … Continue reading →

Posted in War | 2 Comments

Sun Tzu, Putin, and the Iran Deal

Posted on February 24, 2022 by Victor Rosenthal

The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while … Continue reading →

Posted in American politics, American society, China, Iran, Middle East politics, War | 4 Comments