Ran HaCohen

Dr. Ran HaCohen was born in the Netherlands in 1964 and grew up in Israel. He has a B.A. in computer science, an M.A. in comparative literature, and a Ph.D. in Jewish studies. He is a university teacher in Israel. He also works as a literary translator (from German, English, and Dutch). HaCohen's work has been published widely in Israel. "Letter From Israel" appears occasionally at Antiwar.com.

Sheikh Yassin and the Levitating German Corpses

It’s my conviction that a conscientious columnist should admit his own faults and flaws. When a reader accuses me of making “a rather big leap from a very small statement” in another reader’s comment, I check myself. In this specific case, the reader was right: I did jump into conclusions, which I shouldn’t have done. … Continue reading “Sheikh Yassin and the Levitating German Corpses”

Who Won World War II?

World War II plays a major role in our conception of human history, because, unlike the senseless carnage of World War I, it stands for an ideological struggle between Good and Evil. Whereas the Allies – Britain, the USA and even the Soviet Union – stressed, at least formally, their commitment to the humanistic values … Continue reading “Who Won World War II?”

Sharon’s Escape from Alcatraz

Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes (I fear the Greeks even when they bring gifts) -Virgil Sharon’s recently announced intention to unilaterally evacuate the occupied Gaza Strip did come as a surprise. Up to the last couple of months, the so-called founding father of Jewish settlements in the occupied territories had insisted that no settlement would … Continue reading “Sharon’s Escape from Alcatraz”

Is There Hope? – Where to Look for It

There can be little doubt that something has changed in Israel’s public discourse in the past two or three of months. Israel’s rejectionism – the ideology of the Army, turned into a state dogma when, PM Barak, the Trojan horse, destroyed the Israeli peace camp from within, and then consolidated by Sharon – has been … Continue reading “Is There Hope? – Where to Look for It”

Lesser-Known Stories from the Only Democracy in the Middle East

The Man Who Had Five Heads Israel’s former Prime Minister Barak and his present successor Sharon made extra-judicial killing – euphemised at first as “targeted assassination”, later as “targeted prevention” – a key element in Israel’s “defence” policy. Gideon Levy of Ha’aretz (14.9.2003) wonders: ”Last week, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced that soldiers from … Continue reading “Lesser-Known Stories from the Only Democracy in the Middle East”

Abusing ‘Anti-Semitism’

The eve of the Jewish New Year is an excellent occasion for what Jewish tradition calls Kheshbon Nefesh, or soul-searching on so-called “anti-semitism”, which has now become the single most important element of Jewish identity. Jews may believe in God or not, eat pork or not, live in Israel or not, but they are all … Continue reading “Abusing ‘Anti-Semitism’”

A Case for Hizbollah?

So here we go again, it seems. Blood-thirsty Arabs – Lebanese fundamentalists of the Hizbollah, "the Party of God" – bombed the Israeli town of Shlomi (10.8), killing a 15-year-old boy and injuring several others. Terrorist attack on civilians, three years after Israel has withdrawn its very last soldier from Lebanese soil. Isn’t it the … Continue reading “A Case for Hizbollah?”

Israel’s War For Terrorism

It is high time to reiterate the favourite media question – "Is Arafat Unable, or Rather Unwilling to Stop Terrorism" – but with a different protagonist. Prime Minister Sharon has now been in office for about 15 months. He has been enjoying total and unprecedented freedom, both nationally and internationally, to fight Palestinian terrorism however … Continue reading “Israel’s War For Terrorism”

Behind the Hudna Scenes

The Palestinians have now reached a so-called Hudna, or internal cease-fire. Armed resistance to the occupation, as well as terror attacks on Israeli citizens, have fallen to a minimum: there has not been any massive terror attack since the 11th of June, considerably longer than the "seven days of quiet" demanded in the past by … Continue reading “Behind the Hudna Scenes”