Commentary
Do not give up on commitment to human rights and press freedom
June 3, 2011
Last winter Elaph.com, the Arab world’s most popular online newspaper, argued that upheavals in Egypt and Tunisia demonstrated the people’s ability to break “the fear barrier,” and observers across the world held their breaths...
What do the Palestinians want?
May 23, 2011
On Sunday, demonstrators from Syria, Lebanon, the west bank, and Gaza converged in what appeared to be a coordinated attack on Israel, simultaneously breaching multiple borders and accosting IDF troops, in some cases throwing rocks and...
Fogel suspects’ arrest exposes dangers of incitement
April 29, 2011
On Sunday, Israel announced the arrest of Amjad Awad, 19, and Hakim Awad 18, both from the Palestinian village of Awarta, in connection with the murders of the Fogel family in March. Both have reportedly admitted to perpetrating the murders. Awad...
Poets, beloved by Israel
April 16, 2011
On Sunday, after more than a year of heated debate, Israel’s government approved some famous personalities to appear on a new series of shekel banknotes. Among those to be featured on the new currency are a few of Israel’s most beloved poets,...
Murders of settlers are attacks on all Jews
April 9, 2011
In the wake of the murders of five members of the Fogel family — father Udi, 36, mother Ruth, 35, sons Yoav, 11, and Elad, 4, and their 3-month-old sister Hadas — last month, some have begun to write about the horrific and calculated killings...
Purim reminds us of need for self-defense — and hasbara
March 20, 2011
Ancient Persia, scene of the story of Purim, corresponds geographically to present-day Iran. Amid the fallout from Japan’s disastrous earthquake and the continued uprising in Libya, let’s not forget that Iran remains public enemy...
Down With Dictators: Mideast Protests Through Sharansky’s Prism
March 8, 2011
This week, as rebels rage against the dictator Moammar Gaddafi in Libya, hundreds of thousands rally to oppose Yemen’s autocracy, and others risk their lives to oppose Iran’s mullahs, the Middle East’s future remains...
Let This Be Obama’s JFK Moment
February 26, 2011
As pro-democracy demonstrators, autocratic rulers, and hard-line Islamist forces jockey for position across the Middle East, the region is up for grabs. No one knows how things will look when the dust settles. President Obama has a...
U.S. Aid to Israel is Pragmatic
February 11, 2011
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) certainly picked a chaotic moment to say that the U.S. should end all foreign aid, including to Israel. More pragmatic heads in the Senate — including New Jersey’s own Sen. Robert Menendez — should prevail. (See...
Israel and Jews Worldwide Should Support an Independent South Sudan
February 5, 2011
This week all eyes are on Egypt. It is uncertain who will succeed President Hosni Mubarak and what kind of government will be in power. But we should not miss other important developments. In a world where so few can truly be considered...