Category Archives: Israeli Politics

What Does Zionism Really Mean?

Posted on February 13, 2022 by Victor Rosenthal

Israeli politics is conventionally described as a contest between Left and Right. The Left favors withdrawal from the territories conquered in 1967 and the Right wants to hold onto them. The Left believes that the Palestinian Arabs can be “peace … Continue reading →

Posted in Israeli Politics, Post-Zionism, Zionism | 1 Comment

The Bedouin Occupation

Posted on January 13, 2022 by Victor Rosenthal

Bedouin citizens of Israel formerly embraced a nomadic lifestyle, drifting between Arabia and the Sinai; but since 1948 many have permanently settled in the southern part of Israel. They established their settlements on any convenient unoccupied land, where they grazed … Continue reading →

Posted in Israeli Arabs, Israeli Politics | 1 Comment

Giving Up Zionism

Posted on November 11, 2021 by Victor Rosenthal

Amichai Shikli, the dissident member of Naftali Bennett’s party and the only coalition member to vote against the budget, had an op-ed in today’s Israel Hayom newspaper that got my attention. I’ll translate the first few sentences: At the end … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel and Palestinian Arabs, Israeli Arabs, Israeli Politics, Israeli Society, Post-Zionism, The Jewish people, Zionism | 4 Comments

The Camel’s Nose

Posted on November 7, 2021 by Victor Rosenthal

It’s painful, but I have to admit that I was wrong. I supported the Bennett-Lapid government because I believed that nothing could be worse than the instability of an endless series of elections and caretaker governments. The challenges facing the … Continue reading →

Posted in Israeli Arabs, Israeli Politics | 5 Comments

Israel, Wake Up!

Posted on October 10, 2021 by Victor Rosenthal

Hamas has produced a blueprint for “post-liberation Palestine” which describes how they will create the new state of “Palestine” after the Jewish state is destroyed. It explains how they will variously slaughter, dispossess, or enslave the Jews of Israel, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel and Palestinian Arabs, Israeli Arabs, Israeli Politics, Israeli Society, Post-Zionism, War, Zionism | 6 Comments

Our Existential Choice

Posted on September 15, 2021 by Victor Rosenthal

In my previous post I asked why Israel only “plays defense” in recent times. Why do we only bat the rockets away with Iron Dome, instead of ending our enemies’ ability to launch them? Why do we bomb empty Hamas … Continue reading →

Posted in Israeli Politics, Israeli Society | 3 Comments

Why Does Israel Only Play Defense?

Posted on September 12, 2021 by Victor Rosenthal

Since 1967 the amount of territory under Israeli control has shrunk significantly. At the same time, the threats to the security of Israelis have increased. Terrorism waxes and wanes, but never goes away. Although there are “peace treaties” (actually long-term … Continue reading →

Posted in Israeli Politics, Terrorism, War, Zionism | 4 Comments

Bennett Should Have Stayed Home

Posted on August 26, 2021 by Victor Rosenthal

Israel’s PM, Naftali Bennett, is already in the US and will be meeting with US President Biden on Thursday. There are some who think that Bennett should have stayed home. While it is unlikely that the administration can be convinced … Continue reading →

Posted in 'Peace' Process, American politics, Iran, Israeli Politics, US-Israel Relations | 5 Comments