Some years ago I talked with a young Israeli writer. I was struck by the fact that in spite of being very successful and acclaimed by the critics, and that at a relatively early age, she somehow exuded an air of insecurity. When I asked her about it, she broke down....
From Bad to Worse
While Israel's new chief of staff, Air Force General Dan Halutz, was assuming his new job, I stood with a group of demonstrators at the gate of the General Staff building to protest against his appointment. Our slogan was: "You have blood on your wings!" a...
Beat the Peaceful, Embrace the Violent
The day before yesterday, two demonstrations were held, just a few dozen kilometers apart. One took place at the Homesh settlement, not far from Jenin. Tens of thousands of settlers and their sympathizers came to demonstrate against the planned evacuation of this...
For Whom the Bells Toll
An Iranian technician called Jalal-a-Din Taheri, who had been working at the nuclear reactor at Bushehr, managed to defect to Europe, where he disclosed the ayatollahs' plans for producing nuclear bombs. Taheri was acclaimed a hero throughout the world. A number of...
Lebanon and the Avaricious Superpower
Many years ago, I read a book called The Quiet American by Graham Greene. Its central character is a high-minded, naive young American operative in Vietnam. He has no idea about the complexities of that country but is determined to right its wrongs and create order....
Beware of Dog!
It is not very flattering to be paraded like a Rottweiler on a leash, whose master threatens to let him loose on his enemies. But this is our situation now. Vice President Dick Cheney threatened a few weeks ago that if Iran continues to develop its nuclear...
The Wreath Blair Didn’t Lay
"The curious incident is the barking of the dog," Sherlock Holmes remarked. "But the dog did not bark!" exclaimed Dr. Watson. "That is the curious incident!" This week's curious incident concerns the wreath of Tony Blair. The wreath that he did not lay on the grave of...
Israel’s Coming Civil War
Everybody in Israel is talking about the Next War. The most popular TV channel is running a whole series about it. Not another war with the Arabs. Not the nuclear threat from Iran. Not the ongoing bloody confrontation with the Palestinians. The talk is about the...
Sharon’s One-Dimensional Worldview
What really is important is not what he said or why he said it, but the worldview that animates him. By now, everybody has had a go at analyzing the interview with Dov ("Dubby") Weisglass, Ariel Sharon's most intimate confidant. But there is precious little to...
Don’t Believe a Word
When Ariel Sharon announced his plan for "unilateral disengagement," the media reported that the Peace Now movement was preparing a big public campaign in support. The Prime Minister's office asked them to desist, fearing that such a campaign would cause the...


