Netanyahu’s speech: a tepid answer to Obama
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”...
Author: Dan Shvartsman
Fear and loathing in Israel: the Nakba Bill and more
File this under either more evidence that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a sleazeball who will never deliver peace to the Middle East, or as proof that Netanyahu’s hands are tied much more...
Obama meets and greets Netanyahu
...And? So? Or as they say here, nu? Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the U.S.A. President Barack Obama have met. Pleasantries were exchanged, both said the other was a swell guy,...
Israel’s Troika: Barak is no Barack
In Israel, the peace process rests in the hand of the “troika”. With the first meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Barack Obama looming (May 18th, saves the...
Charlotte Roche’s Wetlands: a review
This is a review of Wetlands by Charlotte Roche, with translator Tim Mohr (Fourth Estate Ltd., 2009). Please note that in keeping with the subject matter, this review contains graphic language. If...
The “joy” of flying El Al
With Passover just around the corner, Israel is traveling. While the country faces the economic crisis like any other country, this is still a time for seeing far-flung family or getting away from...
Israel: Winners and Losers
Benjamin ‘Bibi’ Netanyahu, of Likud, is on the verge of forging a government after five weeks or so of haggling. The announcement of a right-wing government will come soon, unless Bibi manages to...
Perception is reality: On Israel, wrongs, rights, and the right wing
Perception is reality. So goes the old trope - the bane of various minorities, spiky-haired punks, and clear thinkers everywhere. In an intractable, prolonged, bitter standoff between Palestinian and...
Bibi's Back: Netanyahu and Likud in the lead
The one thing we really know about Barack Obama and his abilities is that the President-Elect is a great campaigner. The energy, the electrifying speeches, the limited missteps, and the ability to...
Meanwhile, back In Israel…
Last week’s U.S. election, a solid win for Barack Obama, still left the country in two distinct, opposing groups. There are those who will miss the election and curl up in a ball over its...