Historic Palestine: What you need to know!
I recently critiqued an article that used the term “historic Palestine” nine times in 21 pages without offering a definition even once. It is taken for granted that the reader would know what this term means. Not being a historian myself, I asked the historian Prof Amatzia Baram to explain it to me. He responded […]
Bibi-Biden / Bibi-Trump: Big Difference
I have heard Israelis express disappointment that Bibi did not wait for the official results before congratulating Biden on his win, thinking that the legal challenge to the results may reverse them and Trump ends up being sworn in for a second term. Ever the consummate politician, I have the feeling Bibi knows exactly what […]
Ibrahim Saïd: Getting it right when trying to wrong Israel
I find it amusing when an article, such as that by Ibrahim Saïd, sets out to bash Israel but then explains Israel quite well and shows that the author understands what we are really all about. And then he uses this as if it is a bad thing. * * * * * We should […]
France and its Indigenous Muslims
Let’s engage in a little thought experiment. France is going through hard times. As if fighting the Coronavirus is not enough, it has also had to deal with two terror attacks in two weeks (the beheading of a teacher in Paris and the stabbing murders of three Christians at a church in Nice). The news […]
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 […]