What does the Mobility Report teach us about lockdown and non-lockdown countries?
A healthy economy affects the health of society in many aspects. Countries have recognized that they must balance between health costs and socioeconomic costs when deciding how to handle the pandemic crisis. Lockdown, which obviously curtails freedom of movement, puts the economy in danger. Has locking down, which cuts the chain of infection for its […]
Who’s Jealous of South Korea, Sweden or Japan?
Many are jealous when we see photos of Swedes, South Koreans and Japanese going about their lives in spite of the Coronavirus pandemic and not locked down as we are in Israel. And the debate rages vigourously about whether or not the second lockdown, which began on Rosh HaShana, was necessary or, in fact whether […]
My Two Favourite Doctors Weigh in On COVID-19
In these days of low-trust, fake news, conspiracy theories, social media rants and high confusion, I decided to turn to two doctors I trust. They are not putting up podcasts and they are not advising the government. They have not put themselves forward as Coronavirus experts. And they are not seeking a Facebook or Twitter […]
Collateral Damage in the War Against COVID-19
In all wars there are innocents who are killed or wounded – the collateral damage. And sometimes there is death or injury from friendly fire. What is the collateral damage from the war against the COVID-19? Kids home from school for months on end, not knowing when they will get back to the classroom and […]
Coronavirus War in Israel: What is a regular citizen to do? Lockdown and Risk Factors
It seems that in these days of social media and the wide and easy availability of reams and masses of information, many people feel free to declare themselves experts regarding the best government policy to fighting the Coronavirus. At least, from what I have seen, the conspiracy theories have subsided (for now?) and people now […]
Suddenly Netanyahu Makes Sense to Me
I have been disgusted and puzzled by Benjamin Netanyahu for quite some time. Then a Facebook friend shared with a Hebrew language forum something that brought it all together for me. All the disparate pieces into a unified whole. It never made sense to me to think that Bibi made a normalization deal with the […]
UAE-Israel Deal: Just a Distraction?
I just heard that some are saying that the UAE-Israel normalization deal is just a ruse by which Bibi can distract us from his failure in controlling the Corona pandemic in Israel. Well, that must mean that the UAE-Israel deal is, in fact, just a ruse by which Bibi can distract us from the criminal […]
After Celebrating the Heroes….What Then?
Good Samaritans, heroes in fact, are in the news for about a week. After the celebrations of their heroism die down, they and their families are forgotten. Journalist Liat Ron of Radio Tsafon kept in touch with the family left behind by Moti Ben Shabbat of Nahariya after he perished in the flood waters saving […]
Only in Israel: Human Rights Activists Against Human Rights
I wonder if it is only in Israel or concerning Israel that we find human rights activists fighting human rights. And our government does not seem to know how to deal with it. In this case, we have a supposed human rights organization fighting the human rights of the disabled, the elderly and young children […]
Israeli Deterrence: Now You See it / Now You Don’t / See it?
Israel has long prided herself on deterrence to keep the Arab states at bay and reduce their enthusiasm for challenging her on the battlefield. However, it seems that this deterrence factor has been slowly nibbled at and whittled down to the point at which many wonder if anything is left. And then, along comes something […]