Uri Avnery

Uri Avnery is a longtime Israeli peace activist. Since 1948 he has advocated the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. In 1974, Uri Avnery was the first Israeli to establish contact with the PLO leadership. In 1982 he was the first Israeli ever to meet Yasser Arafat, after crossing the lines in besieged Beirut. He served three terms in the Israeli Knesset and is the founder of Gush Shalom (Peace Bloc). Visit his Web site.

Always the Military Option

War with Syria? Peace with Syria? A big military operation against Hamas in the Gaza strip? A cease-fire with Hamas? Our media discuss these questions dispassionately, as if they were equivalent options. Like a person in a showroom making a choice between two cars. This one is good, and so is the other one. So … Continue reading “Always the Military Option”

‘Kill a Hundred Turks and Rest…’

I was reminded this week of the old tale about a Jewish mother taking leave of her son, who has been called up to serve in the czar’s army against the Turks. "Don’t exert yourself too much," she admonishes him, "Kill a Turk and rest. Kill another Turk and rest again…" "But mother," he exclaims, … Continue reading “‘Kill a Hundred Turks and Rest…’”

From Stalingrad to Winograd

For some days, the country looked like the Place de la Concorde in 1793. The entire public sat expectantly facing the guillotine, waiting for the tumbrel to bring the marquis, for the marquis to lie down, for the blade to fall on his neck, and for a soldier to hold up the bloody, severed head … Continue reading “From Stalingrad to Winograd”