I posted yesterday morning. In the afternoon I went to the Israeli Knesset for the program marking the defeat of Nazi Germany. While waiting for the program to begin I spoke with the Belgian Ambassador to Israel. I mentioned much of what I had posted during our conversation. Then we entered the main hall. After … More Gambling with Lives
According to my dictionary a busybody is someone who is officious and inquisitive. This applies especially to those who are involved in matters that aren’t really their concern. There are two organizations that earned this appellation from me this week. The US Government and the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees. Here’s how. Those who … More Busybodies!
Benyamin Netanyahu failed to form a new Israeli Government. Now his rival, Yair Lapid, gets a chance. I hope he succeeds. The country has suffered while Netanyahu did everything to remain in power (and out of prison) for a long time. Now he is focusing his attention on foiling Lapid. Of course, doing so means … More Is It Really Over?
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin took an unprecedented step in publicly telling all the politicians vying for places in a new government that it is time they served the people instead of expecting the people to serve them. Of course, he’s absolutely correct. Israel has been without a functioning government for a long time. The people … More It’s a Loooong Wait.
We moved from Haifa to our little village (now a small town) just a little over 40 years ago. We didn’t think of ourselves as pioneers. That’s what new immigrants to Israel were back in 1880. We were just moving to a new home. We were going to a real house, with indoor plumbing, running … More Being a Pioneer 40 Years Ago
The Easter and Passover holidays have now passed. The New York Times tells us that the Biden administration is having meaningful talks with the Iranian regime over the nuclear weapons issue. And in Israel, there is still no sign of agreement on a new government coalition. The one item that I feel stands out in … More Winds of War?
Today is the day the heads of the various parties elected to the new Knesset bring their recommendations for who should be asked to form a new coalition government to the Israeli President. The President, traditionally, then asks the individual with the most recommendations to try to form a government. This time around it’s more … More The Wheels of Democracy Turn Slowly
Israeli elections didn’t make a big difference. Neither the pro-Netanyahu nor the Anti-Netanyahu groups have a clear majority. Now we all wait while the politicians try to make deals to form a coalition government. If they can’t do it in the next 4 weeks, we’ll probably have another election. What a waste!
Adolf Hitler became a totalitarian dictator in Germany in 1933. He did it without violating any democratic laws then in force in that country. He managed it stages. Each stage involved eliminating some freedom or disposing of some political opponent. America, today, reminds me of his moves to power. The “Democratic Party” in the USA, … More Shades of 1933
In about two weeks Israelis will go to the polls. Israeli democracy is unlike that of most other countries. In Israel one votes for a party, not an individual. Each party presents a list of candidates. Each list receives a number of seats in the new Knesset (Parliament) based on the proportion of votes it … More Elections in Israel – Will Anything Change?
Wetherhorn 