Author Archives: Victor Rosenthal

The terrorist veto

Posted on December 23, 2016 by Victor Rosenthal

Dear Mr. President-Elect and Mr. Prime Minister, You understand that you are being tested, do you not? Mr. Trump, they want to know if you are as tough as you say you are and if you will live up to … Continue reading →

Posted in Terrorism, US-Israel Relations | 5 Comments

A national purpose

Posted on December 20, 2016 by Victor Rosenthal

ERETZ-ISRAEL was the birthplace of the Jewish people. Here their spiritual, religious and political identity was shaped. Here they first attained to statehood, created cultural values of national and universal significance and gave to the world the eternal Book of … Continue reading →

Posted in Israeli Politics, Israeli Society, Zionism | 1 Comment

Amona

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Victor Rosenthal

I have avoided writing about Amona until now. This is because the legal issues surrounding the notion of land ownership in Judea and Samaria are so arcane that one legal scholar (email correspondence) wrote that “the number of people who … Continue reading →

Posted in Israeli Politics, Zionism | 3 Comments

The truth is a minority opinion

Posted on December 12, 2016 by Victor Rosenthal

This morning I got an email from an American correspondent asking what are the arguments for the legitimacy of Israeli communities (not ‘settlements’) across the Green Line, including all of Jerusalem. When I responded, I realized that although I have … Continue reading →

Posted in The Jewish people, Zionism | 6 Comments

The Third Lebanon War will be the Last Lebanon War

Posted on December 9, 2016 by Victor Rosenthal

If I’ve learned anything in my relatively comfortable and placid life it is that despite my good luck, evil is real. Sometimes it grows and sometimes declines. Today it’s gathering strength. Hezbollah came into being in 1985, as a response … Continue reading →

Posted in War | 3 Comments

Israel needs a constitution, but won’t get one

Posted on December 4, 2016 by Victor Rosenthal

Israel’s Declaration of Independence states that a constitution for the State of Israel “shall be adopted by the Elected Constituent Assembly not later than the 1st October 1948.” Clearly they’re running a little late. And this is more than Jewish … Continue reading →

Posted in Israeli Politics | 3 Comments

Welcome to the world

Posted on December 1, 2016 by Victor Rosenthal

On Monday morning at about 1:30 AM, I experienced the thrill of becoming a grandfather for the 9th time. A baseball team at last! Naturally I wonder what his life will be like. Will he be as tall and athletic … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Welcome to the world

The Rabbi and the Court

Posted on November 25, 2016 by Victor Rosenthal

Some years ago I was in New York for my brother’s wedding. On Shabbat we went to a convenient synagogue (a Chabad shul), and the rabbi held a little study session before the service. The subject was parashat ki tetse, … Continue reading →

Posted in Israeli Politics | Comments Off on The Rabbi and the Court