Category Archives: Israeli Politics

Here Comes Election Number Four!

Posted on March 11, 2021 by Victor Rosenthal

In less than two weeks (23 March), Israel will hold its fourth election since April 2019. Since then the country has been “governed” by various interim governments with attenuated powers, and most recently by a dysfunctional “national unity” government which … Continue reading →

Posted in Israeli Politics | 1 Comment

“Who’s a Jew?” Hits the Headlines, Again

Posted on March 4, 2021 by Victor Rosenthal

Israel’s Supreme Court decided a few days ago that conversions to Judaism by the Reform and Conservative movements in Israel must be recognized by the state for the purposes of the Law of Return. Until now, the state has somewhat … Continue reading →

Posted in Israeli Politics, Israeli Society, The Jewish people | 2 Comments

Only Our Friends Pay Taxes

Posted on February 21, 2021 by Victor Rosenthal

Israel is a heavily-taxed nation. There is an income tax, there is 17% VAT on all goods and services, there are customs duties on many items, there are property taxes, real estate transaction taxes, and excise taxes on things like … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel and Palestinian Arabs, Israeli Politics, Middle East politics, Terrorism, The UN | 2 Comments

How Israel Could Get a Stable Government

Posted on January 28, 2021 by Victor Rosenthal

The challenges facing the state today are enormous. Although the vaccination project has been a success, the more-contagious mutations are spreading among groups that haven’t been vaccinated, and there are worries that new strains for which the vaccines aren’t as … Continue reading →

Posted in Israeli Politics | 1 Comment

The Netanyahu Tragedy

Posted on January 3, 2021 by Victor Rosenthal

Binyamin Netanyahu was one of Israel’s greatest leaders. No more. Within the past year he has begun to take decisions based on his personal interests, even when they may conflict with the needs of the nation. The last (unnecessary) election … Continue reading →

Posted in Israeli Politics | 2 Comments

Israel’s Awful Electoral System

Posted on December 27, 2020 by Victor Rosenthal

Recently I’ve struggled with some technical issues on one of my computers. It’s always a similar process: there is a small problem, but there is supposed to be a solution. Unfortunately the solution doesn’t work, but there is a solution … Continue reading →

Posted in Israeli Politics, Israeli Society | 2 Comments

Good Morning, Here is the News from Israel

Posted on December 10, 2020 by Victor Rosenthal

The first batch of Pfizer Corona-virus vaccine landed in Israel yesterday. PM Netanyahu announced that he will be the first to get it, live on television, in order to build public confidence. Although it’s impossible to get Covid from it, … Continue reading →

Posted in Israeli Politics | Comments Off on Good Morning, Here is the News from Israel

Which is Worse, Influenza or Affluenza?

Posted on October 25, 2020 by Victor Rosenthal

What do I read during an epidemic? What else but books about epidemics, like John M. Barry’s “The Great Influenza,” about the catastrophic 1918 pandemic that killed an estimated 50 million people worldwide. The 1918 disease, incorrectly called “Spanish flu,” … Continue reading →

Posted in American society, Israeli Politics, Israeli Society, The Future | 1 Comment