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.

The UN from Qana to Jenin

Last week, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan released a report on Israel’s attack on Jenin in April. A reminder of the highlights: After two weeks of heavy fighting in Jenin’s refugee camp, journalists and human rights organisations (including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International), who visited Jenin, unearthed numerous accounts of atrocities. Some 150 houses … Continue reading “The UN from Qana to Jenin”

The New World Order and the Stone Age

The retiring and the designated Israeli Chiefs-of-Staff sound like twins: both Shaul Mofaz and Moshe Yaalon insist that the next war is inevitable. – Yet another war? Yes: the re-occupation of the West Bank has not satiated the junta’s desires at all. In fact, the on-going war on the Palestinians, with its clear genocidal features, … Continue reading “The New World Order and the Stone Age”

How Jews Can Support Israel

The United Jewish Communities of North America has recently decided to give its financial support also to Israeli settlers in the occupied territories (Ha’aretz, 14.6.02). At first, out of warm Jewish solidarity, I got very worried. Persistent rumours, especially since September 11th, say that the US government is not very fond of using charity money … Continue reading “How Jews Can Support Israel”

Palestinian Enslavement Entering a New Phase

The Israeli far-right – always the best indicator of Israel’s true intentions – is quite outspoken: its aim is to make Palestinian life unbearable to a point that they would rather get up and go. Asked about his conception of “voluntary transfer” of Palestinians, Minister of Tourism (Rabbi) Benny Eylon compared the “voluntary” element to … Continue reading “Palestinian Enslavement Entering a New Phase”

In Times of War Crimes

"That such remoteness from reality and such thoughtlessness can wreak more havoc than all the evil instincts taken together which, perhaps, are inherent in man – that was, in fact, the lesson one could learn in Jerusalem." (Hannah Arendt, Eichmann in Jerusalem, a Report on the Banality of Evil.) Even when some of the atrocities … Continue reading “In Times of War Crimes”

Israel – A Suicide Bomber?

Palestinian suicide attacks have been singled out, overemphasised and isolated from their context in Israel’s 35-year occupation of the Palestinian territories, the proper infrastructure of Palestinian terrorism. Professional demonisers like Thomas Friedman work hard to persuade us of suicidal lies like the one claiming suicide bombers are “a whole new form of warfare” unique to … Continue reading “Israel – A Suicide Bomber?”

Suicidal Truths

Under the especially revealing title "Suicidal Lies" (31.3), Thomas Friedman of the New York Times gives his distorted version of Middle East realities. Friedman’s short essay is full of flaws, but since he shouldn’t be taken all too seriously, I won’t bother to address his endlessly recycled legend about the so-called "generous offer" rejected by … Continue reading “Suicidal Truths”

The Auschwitz Logic

Sorry to disappoint some of my readers: terrorists haven’t got me yet. Yesterday (Saturday) in Tel-Aviv they were close, but no cigar. A minute ago, my parents called from Haifa saying they just survived another attack. “May they move next to your home”, an American reader identifying himself as “Baba” recently wished me. Thank you, … Continue reading “The Auschwitz Logic”

Against Negotiations

The established Israeli “Peace Camp” – Peace Now, Meretz, parts of the Labour Party – is under pressure. The “refuseniks” movement – soldiers who refuse to serve in the occupied territories – is growing steadily, in what seems to be the most important development in Israeli public life for at least a decade. More than … Continue reading “Against Negotiations”