When I first met Amos Oz amid the 1982 Lebanese War, which we both condemned, he was an internationally renowned novelist and co-founder of the “Peace Now” movement. I was one of the translators of his book on the settler-induced divides, In the Land of Israel (1983)....
Criticizing Netanyahu Isn’t Anti-Semitism—It’s a Moral Obligation
First Published at JudgeNap.com In the months since October 7, when Hamas carried out a brutal and inexcusable attack on Israeli civilians, the world has watched in growing horror as the Israeli government—led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—has unleashed a...
The Atomic Nightmare, Then and Now
Originally published at TomDispatch. No kid is under a desk anymore — and isn’t that strange when you think about it? After all, when I “ducked and covered” like Bert the Turtle at school in the 1950s by huddling under my desk as sirens howled outside the classroom...
Israel and Jabotinsky’s Iron Wall
Vladimir (Ze’ev) Jabotinsky (1880-1940) was a key figure in the development of the Zionist movement, which led to the founding of Israel in 1948. After breaking from mainline Zionism, Jabotinsky, born in Odessa (Ukraine), established Revisionist Zionism, a more openly...
Trump’s Tariffs Threats Against the Global South, ASEAN and the Philippines
In early April, the Philippines responded with “guarded optimism” to US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, saying higher rates placed on its neighbors could present an opportunity. Hit with Trump’s reciprocal levy of 17%, the Department of Trade and Industry...
Iran-US Negotiations: Will Non-Violence Prevail?
For the first time in a generation, there was a national consensus in Iran that negotiations with the United States are necessary to resolve the issues over Iran’s nuclear program. Practically every political group and faction, as well as the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah...
How Firm Is Washington’s Commitment to Taiwan’s Security?
At first glance, Washington’s informal but very real commitment to defend Taiwan and preserve its de facto independence seems quite secure. Over the past decade, Taipei’s security relationship with the United States grew steadily closer – with strong bipartisan...
The ‘Economy of Genocide’ Report: A Reckoning Beyond Rhetoric
Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in occupied Palestine, stands as a testament to the notion of speaking truth to power. This "power" is not solely embodied by Israel or even the United States, but by an...
The ‘Global War on Terror’ Is Over. Terror Won.
On Sept. 16, 2001, five days after the attacks on New York and Washington, DC, President George W. Bush declared, “This crusade – this war on terrorism – is going to take a while. And the American people must be patient. I’m going to be patient. But I can assure the...
Bombing Iran: From the Libya Model to the North Korea Model
Before the U.S. struck Iran’s civilian nuclear facilities in an unprovoked and illegal bombing, a diplomatic settlement to the nuclear standoff was on the table. Retired ambassador and former Iranian nuclear negotiator Seyed Hossein Mousavian says that he has been...