State, Religion, and Women of the Wall- an Interview with MK Stav Shaffir

By Noga Gur-Arieh
Published on May 14, 2013

British lawmaker sorry for blaming legal troubles on Jewish conspiracy

Published on April 1, 2013

A British lawmaker who blamed a Jewish conspiracy for his conviction in connection with a fatal car crash apologized for his statements.

Report: British lawmaker blames legal troubles on Jewish conspiracy

Published on March 14, 2013

A British lawmaker has blamed a Jewish conspiracy for his conviction in connection with a fatal car crash.

Knesset members join Women of the Wall at rosh chodesh services

Published on March 12, 2013

Three female members of Knesset joined the Women of the Wall for their monthly prayer service at the Western Wall.

Members of the 19th Knesset sworn in at inaugural session

Published on February 5, 2013

The first session of the newly elected 19th Knesset opened in Jerusalem.

Voters to Netanyahu: Get new friends

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on January 22, 2013

These were the most interesting-boring elections one could ever hope for. Boring – as the top job was secured early on by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Fascinating – as the parties, unburdened of having to compete for the top job, were free to combat one another for votes.

The no-alternative Israeli elections

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on January 16, 2013

The story of the upcoming Israeli elections, which will take place on Jan. 22, can be written in many different ways. One is with an eye to the small numbers, a story of preserving the political status quo: Back in 2009, the Kadima Party got 28 mandates.

Israeli left seeks to regain appeal with focus on economy

Published on January 16, 2013

In decline since the peace it sought with the Palestinians unraveled into violence, Israel's Labor Party looks set to regain some lost ground in next week's election after waging an economy-focused campaign.

Netanyahu maintains comfortable lead in pre-election polls

Published on January 11, 2013

Three Israeli election polls predicted victory by a comfortable margin for Israel’s HaLikud Beiteinu party in the country’s general elections on Jan. 22.

Social protest leaders hope to shake up Israel ballot

Published on January 3, 2013

They are young and they are driven. They got half a million Israelis out on the streets demanding social justice. Now they want their votes.

December 24, 2012

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on December 24, 2012

Labor Party members go to polls for primary

Published on November 29, 2012

Members of Israel's Labor Party are going to the polls to elect a party Knesset list.

As Barak bids politics bye bye, questions remain about his legacy and future

Published on November 27, 2012

Is Ehud Barak a calculating political survivor or a military man who, in his own words, “never had any special desire” for political life? Will he be remembered as a warrior or as a seeker of peace? And what will he do next?

Tzipi Livni to run in upcoming Israeli elections at head of new party

Published on November 27, 2012

Tzipi Livni has reentered Israeli politics at the head of a new left-of-center political party.

Norwegian youth leader seen encouraging anti-Semitic speech

Published on November 26, 2012

Aspiring Norwegian politician Khalid Haji Ahmed said he was only joking when he wished “best of luck eight times over” to activists who wrote on Facebook that they wished Adolf Hitler could kill more Jews.

The meaning of Bieberman

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on October 31, 2012

British politician slammed London ex-mayor for ‘rich Jews’ quote

Published on October 2, 2012

Douglas Alexander, a former British government minister, has criticized former London mayor Ken Livingstone for allegedly saying Jews won't vote for Britain's Labor Party because they are rich.

Australian court’s failure to extradite alleged ex-Nazi raises ire, questions

Published on August 15, 2012

In a court ruling that is bringing new attention to Australia’s failure to prosecute alleged Nazi-era war criminals, the government will not surrender to Hungary the man believed to be the country’s last World War II war crimes suspect.

Former neo-Nazi elected to local council in England

Published on May 18, 2012

A former neo-Nazi who once defaced buildings with swastikas reportedly has been elected to a local council in south central England.

Livingstone trailing in London mayoral election, final poll shows

Published on May 4, 2012

Former London Mayor Ken Livingstone, who stirred controversy with remarks called anti-Semitic by the city's Jewish leaders, was trailing in a bid to reclaim his post, a final poll showed.

Labor elects Yachimovich as its new leader

Published on September 21, 2011

Israel’s Labor Party elected former journalist Shelly Yachimovich as its new leader.

Labor leadership race goes to runoff vote

Published on September 13, 2011

The race for the leadership of Israel's Labor Party will go to a second vote after no candidate got the required 40 percent.

British Jewish lawmaker apologizes for ‘Jews again’ remark

Published on March 31, 2011

A British lawmaker has apologized for insulting a fellow Jewish lawmaker and Labor Party member during a debate in the House of Commons. During a debate Wednesday on plans to change the law of universal jurisdiction, Gerald Kaufman turned to a lawmaker sitting next to him and said, "Here we are, the Jews again," as pro-Israel lawmaker Louise Ellman rose to refute a claim by the Labor Party's Ann Clwyd that the lawmakers were trying to change the law -- making it more difficult to issue an arrest warrant against a suspected international war criminal -- to appease the Israeli government.

Ireland’s Labor Party eyes Israel for economic inspiration

Published on February 1, 2011

One of the parties expected to form part of Ireland's next governing coalition is looking to Israel for economic inspiration. The left-leaning Labor party, which is second in the polls and expected to be the junior partner in Ireland's government following the Feb. 25 general election, has said Ireland should follow Israel's example of technology-led growth and development to help regain the competitiveness it has lost since the dot-com bubble burst a decade ago.

Ehud Barak quits Labor: Political betrayal or precursor to something bigger?

Published on January 18, 2011

Was it an act of political self-preservation, a feat of political destruction or a bid to stabilize Israel’s government ahead of some dramatic move? And for Israel's Labor Party, was it another sign of the once-leading party’s demise, or a precursor to a revival and the ideals for which it stands? What’s certain is that Defense Minister Ehud Barak’s decision this week to quit Labor, which he had headed until Monday, has sent shock waves throughout the Israeli political establishment. Ironically, the split of Labor -- until this week a part of the Israeli government but now in the opposition -- may yet strengthen the coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Barak’s decision to quit Labor and found a new political party along with four other Labor defectors leaves Netanyahu with eight fewer members in his coalition, but the 66 who remain are considered far more stable than the 74 he had pre-defection.

Barak’s new faction receives ministerial positions

Published on January 18, 2011

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and the four other lawmakers that split from the Labor Party will remain in the government with ministerial positions. The Labor lawmakers who joined Barak in forming a new faction on Monday are Agriculture Minister Shalom Simhon; Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai; Deputy Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Orit Noked; and freshman Knesset member Einat Wilf. The new ministerial positions were announced Tuesday.

Is Barak moving Labor to the right?

By Leslie Susser
Published on August 16, 2007

Ehud Barak, the new leader of Israel's Labor Party, is proving to be something of an enigma.

‘Empire’ Conquers Monstrous Task

By Howard Kaplan
Published on April 13, 2006

It is not accidental that Gershom Gorenberg limited his substantial study, "The Accidental Empire: Israel and the Birth of the Settlements, 1967-1977," to the first decade of the settler movement, for by 1977, when Menachem Begin and the right gained power for the first time in Israeli history, 80 settlements housing more than 11,000 Israelis already dotted the territories captured in the 1967 Six-Day War.

Peretz Win Portends Political Shakeup

By Leslie Susser
Published on November 17, 2005

The election of Amir Peretz, a 53-year-old underdog, as leader of the Labor Party is almost certain to change the face of Israeli politics.

Sharon Pushes for Labor, Likud Union

By Leslie Susser
Published on December 9, 2004

Convinced that 2005 will be a year of great peace opportunities, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is throwing his considerable political weight behind a coalition with the Labor Party.

Sharon sees a Likud-Labor partnership, bolstered by at least one ultra Orthodox party, as the ideal tool for carrying through his disengagement plan and beyond. To that end, Sharon is following a two-stage strategy: first, ensuring that the centrist, secular Shinui Party, which has refused to sit in the government with ultra Orthodox parties, leaves the coalition, and then breaking resistance in Sharon's own Likud Party to a partnership with Labor.

Sharon Faces Tough Fight Over Coalition

By Leslie Susser
Published on January 30, 2003

Ariel Sharon is one of the savviest politicians Israel has produced. It was Sharon who brought disparate right-wing parties together to form the Likud Party in 1973.

Vote Scandal Could Cost Likud Election

By Leslie Susser
Published on December 19, 2002

Until now, the Israeli election campaign has seemed like a formality: The only question seemed to be how large a majority Likud Party leader Ariel Sharon would win when the ballots were counted.

Mitzna Wins Labor

By Naomi Segal
Published on November 21, 2002

If Haifa Mayor Amram Mitzna hopes to becomes Israel's next prime minister, he faces a daunting challenge: resuscitating a moribund Labor Party in a little more than two months.

Netanyahu, Sharon Face-Off

By Leslie Susser
Published on November 21, 2002

The smart money says Israelis won't have to wait until next January's general election to know who their next prime minister will be: Nearly all the pundits agree it will be the winner of the Nov. 28 Likud Party leadership primary between Ariel Sharon and Benjamin Netanyahu.

Labor Quits Sharon Government

By Leslie Susser
Published on October 31, 2002

For a year and a half it was predicted, and this week it finally came: The Labor Party handed the Likud a bill of divorce, ending Israel's national unity government.

What the divorce will mean for the country amid the ongoing conflict with the Palestinians, the prospect of an American-led war against Iraq and a staggering economy is far from clear.

Enter the New Prime Minister: Ehud Barak

By Eric Silver
Published on May 27, 1999

Two decades ago, after hearing the then-Col. Ehud Barak deliver a eulogy for a fallen comrade, popular Israeli poet Haim Guri predicted: "One day, this man will be prime minister." On May 17, Israel's voters proved him right. Barak was elected by a landslide, his 56 percent to 44 percent for the right-wing incumbent, Binyamin Netanyahu -- the younger brother of the man Barak eulogized in 1976, Yonatan Netanyahu, who was killed rescuing a planeload of hijacked passengers at Entebbe airport.

Getting Off the Ground

By Larry Derfner
Published on March 18, 1999

Until the last couple of weeks, the best thing one could say about Ehud Barak's campaign for prime minister was that it couldn't get any worse.

Labor’s Leaders Lobby for U.S. Support, Funds

By Tom Tugend
Published on September 24, 1998

Two leaders of Israel's opposition Labor Party were in Los Angeles last week on separate visits and voiced sharp criticism of the current government's peace policy, and support for a strong role by the United States in the stalled negotiations.

Dress Reversal

Published on September 10, 1998

How a certain cocktail dress could determine the future of Middle East diplomacy.

Politics, Israeli Style

Published on May 28, 1998

Some of you may have caught last week's New Yorker (May 25) with journalist David Remnick's profile of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. If not, I urge you to call the magazine's offices in New York and order a back copy, or simply visit your local library.

Mideast

By Larry Derfner
Published on May 28, 1998

Just after dawn two years ago today, May 29, 1996, the all-night vote count finally tipped against Shimon Peres and for Binyamin Netanyahu, who would become the new prime minister. In the intervening two years, Peres was succeeded as head of the Labor Party by the slain Yitzhak Rabin's protegé, Ehud Barak. After a long stretch of running ahead of Netanyahu in the polls, Barak has now slipped behind.

A Moment

By Larry Derfner
Published on October 23, 1997

A key element in Labor Party leader Ehud Barak's strategy tobecome prime minister is to win support from Orthodox andultra-Orthodox (haredi) voters, who backed Binyamin Netanyahuoverwhelmingly in the last election. Now Barak is faced with adilemma: The price of wooing Orthodox votes is apparently his supportfor the Conversion Law, which is fast approaching decision time inthe Knesset.

Different Approaches to Zionism

Published on September 11, 1997

Kenneth Bob, a software executive from Long Island,N.Y., is registered to vote in this month's World Zionist Congresselections, but he's having a hard time deciding how to cast hisballot.

A No-Win Position

By Larry Derfner
Published on August 14, 1997

Labor Party leader Ehud Barak said that unless the opposition waited a decent interval before attacking Netanyahu politically, "it could be interpreted as if we were defending Arafat, even though this is not true -- we are defending the State of Israel."

Labor’s Move Toward Center

By Eric Silver
Published on June 12, 1997

After a year of licking the wounds of electoral defeat, the Israeli left has crowned a new leader who radiates an aura of victory and an appetite for power. The campaign of the year 2000 has begun.