The blogosphere is buzzing about an essay by Peter Beinart in the New York Review of Books. Beinart convincingly denounces the Israel-right-or-wrong mantra of mainstream American Jewish organizations. He is justifiably worried about the future of “an American Zionist movement that does not even feign concern for Palestinian dignity.” But for all of its many […]
Israel
Myths and facts about Jerusalem
Americans for Peace Now has posted an excellent summary of the situation in Jerusalem by Hagit Ofran, the head of Peace Now’s Settlement Watch program. It has been on their web site for awhile but is worth repeating here in the land of realistic doves. It is a scathing critique of the tenure of Jerusalem […]
Dialogue on the Berkeley divestment resolution
Dan Fleshler #1: Are you crazy? Why say anything positive about the Berkeley Student Senate divestment resolution? It’ll do you more harm than good. Dan Fleshler #2: Sometimes one has to stand on one’s principles. Dan #1: What difference would it make? Nobody reads your blog anymore. Dan #2: There’s still a tiny following. Some […]
Obama should not be afraid of AIPAC
Despite recent tension with Israel, President Obama’s approval ratings have remained consistently high among American Jews, according to a new J Street poll. He was viewed favorably by 62% in March compared to 64% in October, 2009. That is true even though Americans as a whole are less enamored of him than they used to […]
U.S.-Israel relationship will survive, but what about Abbas?
This current tiff between Israel and the U.S. over settlements in East Jerusalem will probably blow over soon. The bonds between Israel and the U.S. are too tight to be unravelled. But Israel’s provocative behavior might be weakening Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. Anyone who wants an end to this […]
The “Heritage Trail” need not be exclusively Jewish
Netanyahu’s decision to include two religious sites in the West Bank in a national Heritage Trail has provoked a predictable political firestorm. This gesture, involving Rachel’s tomb in Bethlehem and the burial place of the patriarchs in Hebron, is more than just another attempt by Netanyahu to placate his right wing. It also reveals something […]
Is there really “no one to talk to?” Maybe, maybe not…
The premise that there is no viable Palestinian partner is widely shared, conventional wisdom among the Israeli public and center-right pundits. At the same time, to the far-left and other bashers of all things Israeli (including some regular commentators on this humble blog) this premise is just an Israeli pretext for clinging to the status […]
Americans for Peace Now: Knesset forms “flat earth society”
I have been waiting in vain for more than 25 years to hear a coherent answer from Israeli settlers and their supporters to the following questions: “If Israel keeps expanding settlements and closes the door on a two-state solution, how do you propose to prevent it from becoming either a bi-national state or South Africa […]
Groups tell Obama: “Persuade” Israel to lift the Gaza closure
Americans for Peace Now and J Street joined five other groups in a letter that urges Obama to “use America’s unique relationship with Israel to persuade it to lift the closure of its border crossing with Gaza now.” Bravo, folks! Excerpts: Israel’s closure policies, rather than weakening Hamas as Israel had hoped, have helped Hamas […]
Ehud Barak finally uses the A-word
Ehud Barak has now joined an illustrious throng of Israelis who are coming to terms with the fact that unless there are dramatic changes in the status quo, Israel will become an apartheid state. When I read about that, I wondered how many demonstrators would have stalked him had he done a book tour and […]