Strictly in the Israeli context, the first decade of the 21st century deserves to be remembered as the decade of defeatism. The country ushered in the new millennium with an air of resignation. The no-can-do premise and loser mentality still persist, perniciously. Continue reading →

‘Turkey has a very special place in my heart and special relationship with Israel… Turkey can bridge the gaps between us and our neighbors and help promote normalization and coexistence in the region” – Trade and Industry Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer in Turkey last week. Continue reading →

His real name, according to author L. Frank Baum, was Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkel Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs. Since it’s a bit cumbersome, the bearer of this moniker squeezed it down to the initials only, which came out as O.Z.P.I.N.H.E.A.D. From the third letter onward the acronym spells “pinhead,” not desirable for an ambitious individual, even if it does hint at the truth. Obfuscating that truth and enhancing his image, therefore, necessitated a further trim, leaving only OZ. Continue reading →

One of this country’s prominent professional talking heads, who also happens to be a longtime friend, opined in all earnestness when we met the other day that “the most pivotal recent political development” was Tom Friedman’s op-ed in The New York Times (November 7) entitled “Call White House, ask for Barack.” The broadcaster positively glowed and gloated. >From his ultra-leftist standpoint this was a devastating blow to Binyamin Netanyahu and he lustily savored the triumph. Continue reading →

Some scarecrows are charmers. They cannot maintain their upright position without outside support, but there’s a wide engaging smile scrawled on their faces and their incontrovertible cute-factor makes everyone adore them.

Just hear all that pretentious poppycock spouted at us by world opinion (as ever, resonated shrilly by our own left wing). According to trendy conventional wisdom, the Palestinian Authority’s scarecrow – Mahmoud Abbas – can do no wrong. At the same time, the Israelis who keep him from keeling over can do no right. Simple isn’t it? Continue reading →

Extreme acts are sometimes exonerated by history. When we view the world through our insular prism, we can easily lose perspective. Things may be swiftly magnified to grotesque proportions, like our trepidation of world censure, for instance. Frantically exaggerated anxieties then send us into a panic of self-reproach. Most often our self-inflicted alarm is unwarranted. Occasionally exploits sure to get Israel into hot water internationally may be the right thing to do. Losing our collective head isn’t only unnecessary, it’s downright harmful. Continue reading →

Most of us Israelis were literally dumbstruck by the imbecilities which our latest Nobel laureate, Ada Yonath, spouted. No sooner had she made us proud, Yonath proceeded to slap us hard across our collective face. We’re still smarting from the supposed smart one’s slurs, which is perhaps why it’s better to pretend that she never advised we forthwith liberate all convicted terrorists – regardless of Gilad Schalit’s ongoing captivity and certainly regardless of whatever atrocity they committed and were duly tried and convicted for. Continue reading →

In my very early childhood I used to let out a whoop of joy whenever the radio reported yet another UN condemnation for another Israeli anti-terrorist retaliation. As it turned out, I had lots of opportunity for elation. When my bemused parents admonished me with increased exasperation, I explained that I was happy because the UN had again rewarded our battlefield triumph. Continue reading →

French author Andre Gide, laureate of the 1947 Nobel Prize for literature, defined “the true hypocrite” as “one who ceases to perceive his deception, one who lies with sincerity.”

When it comes to our next-door neighbors of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, however, Gide’s characterization may be judged as grossly over-generous. Continue reading →

How sweet the vision: our world nuke-free and menace-free, enveloped in harmony and goodwill. Lofty sentiments without a doubt – assuming they are sincerely subscribed to and remotely attainable.

That’s a whopping assumption, though. Continue reading →