May 14, 2023
Israel's 3 Stages of Attack
As we are maneuvering closer to the finish line with Iran, we must maintain our ultimate faith in the “Rock of Israel,” as well as continue to be dedicated to defending our people, land, and religion.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
March 26, 2023
The Doctrine of Deterrence Has Failed
Moreover, it’s not enough to just put up a show of some limited and hollow resistance; rather, when we do fight, it must be with our full determination to win. Unfortunately, too often we have gone in militarily with “shock and awe,” but turned abruptly tail in a politically wishy-washy “shame and retreat.” It’s high time to make U.S. deterrence mean something inescapably formidable once again.
(Source Photo via https://www.pexels.com/photo/soldiers-in-line-to-get-in-a-plane-54098/)
The Doctrine of Deterrence Has Failed
March 5, 2023
The Framing of Bibi
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "The Framing of Bibi."
In light of the radical left’s latest accusations and chants of “Crime Minister” against Bibi, here is a list of no less than a dozen claims made against Bibi over the past 20 years, ranging from the ridiculous to the absurd. All of these allegations so far have been found to be without merit and thus are ostensibly politically motivated versions of ridiculous “bubba maisa” (old wives tales).This makes them look and sound like they don’t have any new or powerful ideas for building the economy, making peace (with security), or building the future of the state. The sensible people on the left should work together with the right to solve problems instead of trying to make yet another desperate, false accusation.
(Source Photo: Adapted from Kindel Media via https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-a-person-s-hand-with-a-handcuff-7785048/)
The Framing of Bibi
January 3, 2023
Nice Falafel Plate
You got your Israeli Salad.
You got your Hummus and Tehina.
You got your Fries.
And you got your Falafel. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Nice Falafel Plate
December 25, 2022
How One “Peacenik” Became Practical
In short, the Left is right when it comes to caring about others and the ultimate goal that we all seek, which is genuine and lasting peace and the ability to live side by side as brothers and sisters in peace and prosperity. However, the Left got it all wrong when it comes to the reality on the ground in terms of the radical Islamic groups who want no peace, no negotiation, and no recognition of Israel, period. This is where the hope of the Left met the reality of the Right, and the Left lost all credibility, at least for the time being. Perhaps, just perhaps, reality will change and radical hearts will soften and give peace a fighting chance, allowing the Left to be right as well.
(Source Photo: IDF Editorial Team; https://www.idf.il/en/mini-sites/palestinian-terrorism/a-soldier-s-letter-to-the-mothers-of-the-kidnapped-teens/)
How One “Peacenik” Became Practical
October 30, 2022
The U.N.’s Double Standard On Nukes
If only the United Nations would live up to its charter! Then we might truly have a world of tolerance and international peace and security.
Is the United Nations really about bringing the nations of the world together?
Or is it about casting the Jews to the wolves?
(Source Photo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-standing-near-body-of-water-2244330/)
The U.N.’s Double Standard On Nukes
September 13, 2022
Announcing my Second Book: For the Love of Israel
This book is about the incredible Jewish homeland of Israel. As the prophet Isaiah states (11:12), "He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth." This work is a reflection of my deep love and yearning for our Promised Land. This book is anchored in G-d's Biblical promise to the Jewish people for this amazing land, the decades of persecution culminating in the Holocaust that the Jews have endured, our miraculous national resurrection and return, the blossoming of the deserts and metamorphosis into a scientific, technological and military world power, and the hope and prayer for all us to be able to make Aliyah and for the completion of the Redemption and the coming of the Mashiach.
Announcing my Second Book: For the Love of Israel
November 2, 2021
Delicious Knafeh
Delicious Knafeh
September 25, 2021
Turning Nakba to Babka
The term Nakba, in relation to Israel, was actually was first used in August 1948 by Syrian Professor Constantin Zureiq not to condemn anything Israel did to the Palestinians, but rather is a call for the Arabs themselves whereby:
We must admit our mistakes…and recognize the extent of our responsibility for the disaster that is our lot.The displacement of the Palestinians and their refugee problem is attributed not primarily to Israel, but rather to the mistakes that the Palestinians and Arabs made themselves! So, while, the Arabs and Palestinians have tried to make Israel into the aggressor and blame them for their troubles, the truth of the matter is that the Palestinians Nakba is to a great extent caused by their own religious intolerance, gross hatred of the Jews, including the desire for their genocide, and that this has led them down a true disastrous path of Middle East recklessness and extremely bad decision making, over and over again.
The goods news is that in more recent times, the Arab nations are thank G-d changing their hostile approach to Israel and instead moving to make peace. Not only Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1993), but in the last year with the Abraham Accords with both the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, as well as with Sudan and Morocco normalizing relations with Israel. Even this morning, I was amazed once again to read an editorial in the Wall Street Journal calling for Iraq to join the Abraham Accords too! Of course, the hope is that more and more Arab countries as well as the Palestinians will choose the path of peace and collaboration with Israel, as Ben-Gurion had originally held out to them in 1948 (it’s never too late). The prophetic vision of swords turning to ploughshares is perhaps today’s turning of the shedding of tears and assigning blame over a perceived Nakba into sitting down together on Sukkot for a nice piece (peace) of chocolate babka!
Turning Nakba to Babka
July 4, 2021
A Practical Approach to Peace in the Middle East
The question then is why? What is so intractable about the Israel-Palestinian conflict that no one seems to be able to solve it and that it has become virtually the Holy Grail of world issues on which if only we could solve it then everything else would-be nirvana. The conflict has been blamed for everything from the endless Palestinian refugee situation to Soviet aggression and expansion during the Cold War, the oil embargo of 1973, the rise and proliferation of Islamic terrorism, and countless other of the world’s ills. Anyone who even contributes to Middle East Peace like Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat and Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat win the Noble Peace Prize, and that’s without there being a full and final solution!I am certain that Israel’s willingness to negotiate and even to make painful compromises for peace has been far more prevalent, far-reaching, and consistent over time—whether in Oslo, Camp David, or Taba. In the meantime, Israel and the Palestinians continue to “take the risks” and remain in a perpetual state of sometimes active and more often passive war that is fought by Israel through military control and incremental settlement expansion and by the Palestinians through terrorism and their pursuit of the demographic population time bomb. When it comes to achieving peace, perhaps the wisdom of the ages applies here: “the short road is long”—there are no shortcuts to serious negotiation and compromise—and “the long road is short”—eventually, a solution for peace will be found even if for now it tragically and painfully evades us all.
A Practical Approach to Peace in the Middle East
April 11, 2021
Never A Doubt: Not An Inch
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, "Never A Doubt: Not An Inch."
In an effort to make peace with the Palestinians, some perhaps well-meaning politicians have attempted to negotiate to give away parts of the holy land of Israel, and this is a big mistake. In contrast to these politicians and some diehard “peaceniks” (i.e. who believe in peace at almost any cost), there are many people in Israel, from Zionists and nationalists to settlers, messianists, and the religious who maintain a deep underlying faith that the land of Israel, in its entirety, belongs to the Jewish people. Moreover, they trust that our current and miraculous possession of Israel, after 2,000 years of exile, is anchored in our transition from helpless, stateless, and victimized Jews to instead those of self-reliance, bold action, and faith in the Almighty that we are living in the times of redemption and Mashiach.
It’s not easy to stand firm in the face of delegitimization, boycotts, terrorism, and even war. For Jews, it’s a matter of faith over fear. If we have faith that G-d has brought us back to Israel and that he will not forsake us, then we will neither fear the absurdly biased resolutions of the crooked United Nations or the nations and their terror proxies roundabout that have sought our destruction. In the end, G-d decides, and not man, the fate of Israel and its people, and let it be for blessings only.
Never A Doubt: Not An Inch
July 8, 2020
Controversy, Yet Agreement
One thing that we can probably all agree on:
Make Falafel Not War
Words to live by.
And to eat by. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Controversy, Yet Agreement
January 26, 2020
Cannibals Love To Have You For Dinner
If you aren't invited for dinner, you're likely on the menu!
Yeah, we had my mother-in-law for dinner. And boy was she good!
Cannibals Love To Have You For Dinner
May 10, 2019
Who Is Occupying Whom?
- Palestine was never a state, nor one ever administered by Palestinians.
- Israel is not occupying any foreign sovereign’s land, so it cannot legally be considered an occupier.
- There was never any partition plan accepted by the Arabs or implemented, so Israel is not occupying anything.
- It is Israel that has continuously opened itself to the Arabs as citizens and settlers, while the Arab countries have rejected their own Arab brethren and exiled their Jews.
Who Is Occupying Whom?
May 5, 2019
I Watch With Terror The Rockets Fly
I watch with terror the rockets fly.Please pray for the peace and security for Israel. ;-)
The plumes of white smoke in the sky.
Randomly, randomly where will they fall.
A car, a home, a factory, a kindergarten.
The shrapnel penetrating the flesh of its victims.
The rockets do not know the difference,
Between military and civilian, men and women, children and old.
(Source Photo: Reposted here in video by Israel Foreign Affairs Ministry)
I Watch With Terror The Rockets Fly
January 9, 2019
Government Shutdown or Middle East Peace
"It is day 19 of this p-r-o-l-o-n-g-e-d Federal Government Shutdown. Having plenty of time on my hands today, I am debating which is actually easier to solve--the government shutdown or peace in the Middle East."
We may have to wait for the Messiah for both of these to be peaceful resolved. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Government Shutdown or Middle East Peace
November 29, 2016
A Failed Presidency?
A Failed Presidency?
March 13, 2016
Is Blame A Leadership Quality
1. "Blames his guards [the U.S. Secret Service] for closing White House Tours"
2. "Blames [former U.K. prime minister] David Cameron for Libya Descending into a 'Sh** Show'"
3. "Says GOP is to Blame for Rise of Donald Trump"
4. "Blames [former House Speaker] Boehner for Ongoing Government Shutdown"
5. "Blames Democrats for Midterm Losses"
6. "Shifting Blame for Bergdahl Trade to [former Defense Secretary] Hagel"
7. Blames "Detaining Terrorists at GITMO Helps ISIS [recruit terrorists]"
8. "Blames media for losing war against ISIS"
9. "Blames U.S. for Gun Violence in Mexico"
10. "Blaming [former HHS Secretary] Sebelius" for botched Obamacare rollout
11. "Blames 'bad apple' insurers for cancelled [Obamacare] coverage"
12. "Blames his Low Approval Numbers on Racism"
13. "Blames China...for not playing fair [as competitors]"
14. "[Russian President] Putin largely to blame for Syrian crisis"
15. "Blame Middle East Turmoil on [Israeli Prime Minister] Netanyahu"
16. "Blames Christians from Holding Back America from Doing 'Big Things'"
17. "Blames Founding Fathers' 'structural' design of Congress for gridlock"
18. "Blames the rich--big banks, big oil, big hedge funds...[and] recklessness of Wall Street" for economic crisis
19. "Blames [former President] Bush for Economy While Standing Next To Him"
20. "Blames the Messenger" for "legitimate criticism"
21. "Blames Everyone but Himself for Failed Economic Policies"
Do you think that there is probably a lot more blame to go around? ;-)
(Source Photo: here with attribution to Wild Trees)
Is Blame A Leadership Quality
October 28, 2015
Indians and Palestinians
Indians and Palestinians
October 26, 2015
A Volcano Of Our Own Making
A Volcano Of Our Own Making