Shaul Mofaz

A young Bedouin watches as a bullzdozer rented by his family demolishes their own home in the recognized village Sawa, Negev Desert, December 23, 2014. (photo: Yotam Ronen/Activestills.org)

Negev Bedouin are now demolishing their own homes out of despair

After losing a lengthy legal battle against the state, residents of the unrecognized Bedouin village Sawa decided that demolishing their own homes is preferable to seeing the authorities do it. By Michal Rotem On Tuesday of last week, the residents of Sawa, an unrecognized Bedouin village in the Negev Desert, used their own money to…

By +972 Magazine December 26, 2014

Foreign Minister Lieberman: Palestinian police that hit IDF soldiers must die

The reaction in Israel to viral videos showing IDF “weakness” shows Israelis only care about what they look like in the West Bank, and not why they’re there to begin with. But of all the reactions, Israel’s Foreign Minister had the last laugh once again. It’s been a bad week for us occupiers. Caught by…

By Ami Kaufman December 11, 2012

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (photo: Avi Ochaion / Government Press Office)

Netanyahu announces early elections, expected to hold Knesset majority

The political parties, along with media, will sell a story of a tight battle, but the Likud-led majority is as stable as it was four years ago. A quick breakdown of the upcoming elections, expected to take place in roughly ninety days. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced Tuesday evening his intention to hold early elections in roughly…

By Noam Sheizaf October 9, 2012

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Prime Minister Netanyahu and U.S. President Obama (White House/US Gov't Work)

Netanyahu attacks Obama again, claims White House rejected meeting request

Despite criticism at home and even from Defense Minister Barak, Netanyahu doubles down against the American president, on the eve of a close election. The public rift between the American administration and Israel is deepening: earlier today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched an unprecedented attack against the administration, stating that “the world has no right to…

By Noam Sheizaf September 11, 2012

Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Barak (IDF Spokesperson)

Netanyahu’s empty gun: War with Iran less and less likely

The rhetoric of Israel’s prime minister and defense minister stands at odds with what seems like a growing recognition that Israel will not attack the Iranian nuclear facilities on its own. There is an absolute consensus in the Israeli security establishment that striking the Iranian nuclear facilities now, without the support or the approval of…

By Noam Sheizaf August 17, 2012

Did Romney snub Labor leader at PM Netanyahu’s request?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been accused of playing the American political game. It seems that his friend Mitt Romney is now involved in Israeli politics, having cancelled a meeting with Labor head Shelly Yachimovich at the last minute. Labor Minister: ‘Romney may have been misled by political players in Israel.’ A meeting between the…

By Noam Sheizaf July 29, 2012

Netanyahu lacks votes from ‘inner cabinet’ to bomb Iran

Israel’s top-selling newspaper reports that Netanyahu hasn’t convinced inner council to back war; his latest attempt to rig the game has only hurt him more. Yedioth Ahronoth is reporting some very good and surprising news on the Iran front: Prime Minister Netanyahu doesn’t have a majority in the inner council of his government for an attack. In the eight-minister “octet,” an unofficial…

By Larry Derfner July 24, 2012

National Center for the Preservation of Democracy: Japanese American National Museum Little Tokyo Los Angeles, CA (Photo: Flickr Creative Commons/kalavinka)

NYTimes’ due fear for Israeli democracy adds some misconceptions

The New York Times published a laudable, bold editorial this weekend that highlights a number of creeping threats to Israeli democracy. The article is vital for reaching audiences who really care about Israel’s future. After three years of onslaught on Israel’s democratic foundations (which were already deeply flawed), the situation is now urgent. Every day, truly scary signs…

By Dahlia Scheindlin July 21, 2012

National unity gov’t splits; PM likely to call, win early elections

After only 70 days, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s mega-coalition shrank back to 66 members of Knesset yesterday. Kadima, the Knesset’s biggest party, decided to leave the government over the failure to reach an agreement on national draft reform. A few takeaways: 1. The entire maneuver that resulted in the national unity government was a mistake by…

By Noam Sheizaf July 18, 2012

Not even the IDF chief can stop a war with Iran

A leading Israeli defense reporter writes that Barak and Netanyahu have decided to attack Iran before November, and only IDF chief Benny Gantz can stop them. I say even he can’t. Channel 10 defense reporter Alon Ben David, who’s been covering the Israeli security establishment for about 20 years and is as plugged in up there as anyone alive, writes in Haaretz today…

By Larry Derfner July 9, 2012

King Bibi, the last King of Zion

King Bibi, as TIME Magazine recently crowned him, the fiercest Zionist to ever lead Israel, will go down in history as the one who brought Zionism to its knees TIME Magazine published a lengthy item on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month, with a close-up photo of him on the cover so huge it…

By Ami Kaufman June 17, 2012

Time’s breastfeeding cover: The unity government version

The instantly-famous Time’s breastfeeding cover has turned into an internet meme, which was also used to criticize Israel’s new government deal. Via Holes in the Net

By +972 Magazine May 12, 2012

Shaul Mofaz (Photo: Sgt. Andy Dunaway, U.S. Air Force (United States Department of Defense photo), Public Domain/Wikimedia commons)

Shaul Mofaz, potential statesman, deserves a break

By Roni Schocken Congratulations to Benjamin Netanyahu and Shaul Mofaz. I’ve been fond of Mofaz for a while now. Ever since he served as defense minister in Ariel Sharon’s government during the disengagement from Gaza, Mofaz has been building himself up as a serious politician and perhaps even a statesman. It was during the disengagement…

By +972 Magazine May 10, 2012