Poverty is not a disgrace, nor is it filthy.

By Maya Paley
Published on May 3, 2013

What was the Holocaust for the “people’s government”?

By Klaudia Klimek
Published on March 19, 2013

Budget, Iran top priorities for new Israeli government

Published on March 18, 2013

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new government will face the immediate task of passing an austerity budget and the time-sensitive challenge of preventing what it believes is Iran's drive to develop nuclear weapons.

Israel’s emerging new government

Published on March 14, 2013

Barring a last minute glitch, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to sign coalition agreements that will give him a new government just two days before the deadline, and less than a week before President Barack Obama arrives in Israel. The new government will have a total of 68 seats in the 120 seat parliament.

U.S., Israeli officials: Obama visit is on

Published on March 6, 2013

U.S. and Israeli officials said President Obama would not delay his trip to Israel in the event that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is unable to form a government.

Netanyahu sets meeting to request extension in forming government

Published on February 28, 2013

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with President Shimon Peres to request an extension in forming a government.

Being American is bad for your health

By Marty Kaplan
Published on February 4, 2013

“Americans are sicker and die younger than people in other wealthy nations.”

Schoolbooks ingrain Israeli-Palestinian enmity, study says

Published on February 4, 2013

Israelis and Palestinians depict each other in schoolbooks as an enemy and largely deny their adversary's history and existence, according to a U.S. government-funded study published on Monday.

Obama’s likely takeaway from Israeli election: More two-state advocates

Published on January 23, 2013

With the Israeli election results split evenly between the right-wing bloc and everyone else, no one in Washington is ready to stake their reputation on what the outcome means for the U.S.-Israel relationship and the Middle East.

Hungarian Jewish body to sue lawmaker for ‘Nazi’ speech

Published on November 28, 2012

A Hungarian Jewish organization said it will file a complaint against a lawmaker who proposed drawing up a list of “dangerous” Jews in government.

Protests after “Pharaoh” Morsi assumes powers in Egypt

Published on November 23, 2012

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi's decision to assume sweeping powers caused fury amongst his opponents and prompted violent clashes in central Cairo and other cities on Friday.

Judith Gross sues government, contractor on husband Alan’s behalf

Published on November 16, 2012

Alan Gross' wife sued the U.S. government and the company that contracted his work in Cuba, alleging that their training was inadequate and a factor in his imprisonment.

The space between

Published on October 24, 2012

Is it the individual citizen who is more important in a free society, or is it the government? It’s easy to see this as the philosophical choice during this election season: One side seems to favor the liberty of the individual, while the other favors the primacy of the government.

Prop 32 – The final piece of election reform

Published on October 22, 2012

The voters of California have put in place two elements of major reform to our election process. The first was taking the redistricting process out of the hands of special interests and career politicians.

Netanyahu announces early Israeli election

Published on October 9, 2012

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced early national elections.

U.S. government opposes fines on Russia over Chabad manuscripts

Published on September 10, 2012

The U.S. government opposed leveling a fine on Russia for failing to return a collection of sacred books and manuscripts.

Israeli political constellation realigns as Kadima quits government

Published on July 17, 2012

For the second time in just two months, the Israeli political universe was upended when Shaul Mofaz’s Kadima Party voted to quit Israel’s governing coalition.

Kadima set to leave gov’t after breakdown in conscription law talks

Published on July 17, 2012

The Kadima party will likely leave Israel's government coalition after negotiations with Likud over a universal draft bill broke down.

House passes enhanced Israel cooperation bill

Published on May 10, 2012

The U.S House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation that reaffirms and enhances U.S. policy commitments to Israel’s security.

Team of Rivals

Published on May 9, 2012

Stability and order, those are the pillars that enable a democratically elected politician to successfully pursue their agenda. And stability and order are exactly what Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel, has guaranteed for himself and for his party by creating a new national unity government with his rivals.

Mofaz approved as minister, Yachimovich named opposition leader

Published on May 9, 2012

Kadima party chairman Shaul Mofaz was approved as a government minister and Labor party chairwoman Shelly Yachimovich was appointed head of the opposition.

Iron Dome: Israeli necessity, American priority, strategic imperative

Published on May 8, 2012

For years, Sderot was a city under siege, the target of non-stop rocket attacks launched by Palestinian terrorists from Gaza. School was halted, synagogues were silenced and in a community defined by courage, the fragments of rockets and mortars – the vehicles of attempted murder aimed at innocent Israelis – were plain for all to see. Sderot became a living museum of terror.

OPINION: Keep down the rates of student loans

Published on May 4, 2012

Education is the key to success -- a "silver bullet" for changing lives in all segments of society. An affordable, quality college education must be available to all, not just the wealthy.

Likud moves to dissolve Knesset, eyes Sept. 4 election

Published on May 3, 2012

The Likud Party, which leads the ruling coalition, has submitted a bill to dissolve the current Knesset and is pushing for new elections on Sept. 4.

Opinion: Suppression: The Israeli government & 60 Minutes

Published on April 26, 2012

As one who has been harping for years on the Israel lobby’s unique ability to silence critics of Israeli policies whether they work in politics, the media, academia or anywhere else, I can’t say that I am surprised by the brouhaha surrounding Sunday’s 60 Minutes broadcast of a Bob Simon report on the treatment of Palestinian Christians.

Israeli government committee legalizes three outposts

Published on April 24, 2012

A special Israeli government committee legalized three West Bank outposts and will seek a delay in the evacuation of a neighborhood in a Jewish settlement there.

Homs shelled as Syria demands ‘neutral’ U.N. mission

Published on April 18, 2012

Syria challenged the United Nations chief over the size and scope of a U.N. truce monitoring mission on Wednesday, resisting a larger presence as its army shelled targets in the city of Homs in violation of the ceasefire.

The Sacramento Chainsaw Massacre

By Steve Greenberg
Published on April 4, 2012

Moral hazards and the health care debate

Published on April 3, 2012

Last week, many of us followed with much anxiety the Supreme Court debate about the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, referred to in some circles as “Obamacare.”

Sheldon Adelson on Newt: ‘He’s at the end of his line’

By Jay Firestone
Published on March 28, 2012

Sheldon Adelson, who with wife Miri, has given more than $15 million to the Newt Gingrich Super PAC Winning Our Future, said Monday he believes Gingrich is “at the end of his line” regarding the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

Harvard, Santorum and the one-state solution

By Marty Kaplan
Published on February 27, 2012

This coming weekend, Harvard’s Kennedy School will host a One State Conference” where some 20 speakers will be talking about “Israel/Palestine and the one-state solution.” Between the idea of a one-state solution, and the reaction to Harvard’s providing a venue for entertaining it, and the ongoing Republican assault on elites and universities, I don’t know whether to cry or to cry.

Live blogging: President Obama’s State of the Union addess

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on January 24, 2012

Israeli government accused of curbing court independence

Published on January 3, 2012

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's conservative government came under attack on Tuesday for promoting legislation that critics said would weaken the independence of Israel's judiciary.

Egyptians rally against army over beatings of protesters

Published on December 23, 2011

Thousands of Egyptians rallied in Cairo and other cities on Friday to demand the military give up power and vent their anger after 17 people were killed in protests where troops beat and clubbed women and men even as they lay on the ground.

Egypt awaits poll results, Tahrir protest starts

Published on December 2, 2011

Egypt will hear the results of elections which Islamist parties expect to win on Friday and protesters rallied in Cairo to remember 42 people killed in clashes with police last month.

Corruption survey ranking rankles Israel

Published on December 1, 2011

Israel's ranking on an annual corruption index should "turn on a warning light," said an Israeli board member of the watchdog group that issued the survey.

Egypt Islamists expect gains in post-Mubarak poll

Published on November 29, 2011

Egyptians voted on Tuesday in a parliamentary election that Islamists hope will sweep them closer to power, even though the army generals who took over from President Hosni Mubarak have yet to step aside.

Egypt votes in first post-Mubarak election

Published on November 28, 2011

Egyptians voted on Monday in their first election since a popular revolt ousted Hosni Mubarak, amid fears the generals who replaced the deposed leader would try to cling on to power.

Egypt vote tests troubled political transition

Published on November 27, 2011

Egyptians vote on Monday in the first big test of a transition born in popular revolutionary euphoria that soured into distrust of the generals who replaced their master, Hosni Mubarak.

Egypt army head says military does not want power

Published on November 22, 2011

Egypt's army would quit power immediately if the people voted for it in a referendum and a presidential election will be held by mid-2012, the head of the ruling military council said on Tuesday.

Opinion: The new 'Fascism'

Published on November 17, 2011

These days, the word “fascism” is used here in Israel – as also abroad – almost casually. It is sometimes spoken with glee, often spoken in sorrow. Yet while it is fair (and painful) to say that a crop of laws, recent and prospective, are anti-democratic, the word “fascism” simply does not fit the Israeli reality. Bibi Netanyahu makes a preposterous Mussolini. (Of course, so did Mussolini.) The Israeli people, setting aside the most extreme of the settlers, are grotesquely miscast as Fascisti.

Republicans’ ‘Starting from zero’ aid proposal startles pro-Israel community

Published on November 15, 2011

"Starting from zero," the foreign assistance plan touted by leading Republican candidates at a debate, is getting low marks, and not just from Democrats and the foreign policy community. Pro-Israel activists and fellow Republicans also have concerns.

Israel cuts tax payments to Palestinian Authority

Published on November 4, 2011

Israel has suspended $100 million in tax payments to the Palestinian Authority.

Opinion: How Occupy will end

Published on October 31, 2011

No one knows what difference Occupy Wall Street will turn out to make.

Our Government Is A Big Fat Waste-Monger

By Annie Korzen
Published on September 28, 2011

Israeli gov’t panel recommends $8 billion more for social welfare

Published on September 26, 2011

An Israeli government committee established to respond to this summer's protests recommended expanding social welfare spending by $8 billion over five years.

America’s Growing Rage Against Tone-Deaf Government

By Rabbi Shmuley Boteach
Published on September 19, 2011

How Much Does it Cost to Hate Jews?  For John Galliano, it’s $8500.00

By Ilana Angel
Published on September 8, 2011

Opinion: How did this happen to America?

By Marty Kaplan
Published on September 6, 2011

It was while I was explaining to an Australian student that Rupert Murdoch was the reason America had gone batty that I realized how inadequate my answer to his question was.

Rob Eshman: Good Leaders

By Rob Eshman
Published on August 2, 2011

If Republicans want a primer on how to keep losing the Jewish vote, all they have to do is look at what happened in Washington this past week.

Beyond raising the debt limit: What a Republican government would be like

By Raphael J. Sonenshein
Published on July 19, 2011

The battle over raising the debt limit has raised a lot of concern about how Republicans act as an opposition party. They have shown that they are willing to risk crashing the economy to get their way with a Democratic president. But they won’t be in opposition forever. We have to start thinking about what they would be like if they were actually in charge.

Soviet Dentists and My Anxiety…

By Julia Bendis
Published on June 13, 2011

Jewish couple among the dead in Marrakesh cafe explosion

Published on April 28, 2011

A Jewish couple were among more than a dozen people killed in an explosion Thursday in Marrakesh, Morocco. Massoud Weizman, 32, and his wife Michal, 30, lived in Shanghai, China, but were visiting Massoud’s parents in Casablanca for Passover. They apparently dropped by the cafe overlooking Marrakesh’s Jamaa el-Fnaa square just before the bomb exploded. The spot is popular with tourists; 10 of those killed were foreigners. Authorities are treating the incident as a terrorist attack.

BUDGET: Ryan’s way: Stop government excess

Published on April 15, 2011

Does anyone dare ask how the government can spend ever more on, say, education, health and poverty, when schools decline anyway, health care becomes more chaotic, and the dependent class grows exponentially … and then liberals predictably claim the only problem is we’re not spending enough?

BUDGET: Obama’s way: Maintain support for social programs

By Raphael J. Sonenshein
Published on April 15, 2011

In the midst of the near shutdown of the federal government, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) launched an attack on Democratic-created safety net programs. He proposed an entirely new budget, calling for the privatization of Medicare and the devolution of Medicaid to the states, where Republican governors would be able to cut health care for the poor at will.

BUDGET: Threat to Food Stamps Lies Hidden in Ryan’s Plan

Published on April 15, 2011

With the federal budget battle in full swing, Congress, media pundits and most of the general public have their attention riveted on proposed changes to Medicare and Social Security. But Social Security — dubbed the “third rail” of politics — is likely to remain intact, even in today’s hyper-partisan political climate.

State budget crisis calls for action

By Bill Boyarsky
Published on March 23, 2011

If there was ever a time for Jewish parents to fight for Los Angeles public schools, this is it.

Ladies of the View and Hasselbeck…

By Julia Bendis
Published on February 19, 2011

My Interview with the Department of Homeland Security!

By Julia Bendis
Published on February 1, 2011

Protesters in Egypt Defy Ban as Government Cracks Down

Published on January 26, 2011

The Egyptian government intensified efforts to crush protests on Wednesday, decreeing a new ban on public gatherings and sending police equipped with clubs, tear gas and armored carriers against small groups that defiantly gathered in Cairo to oppose the 30- year rule of President Hosni Mubarak.