Revived Israel Policy Forum aims to rise above partisan fray as a pragmatic pro-Israel voice

Published on June 19, 2012

When President Bill Clinton chose in January 2001 to unveil his Clinton Parameters for Arab-Israel peacemaking, he chose an Israel Policy Forum gala to do it. Four years later, then-Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert sought the same audience to announce then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s willingness to negotiate with the Palestinians.

Rosenberg leaves Media Matters

Published on April 6, 2012

MJ Rosenberg, the controversial critic of Israeli policies who drew fire for using the term "Israel firsters," is leaving the liberal media watchdog, Media Matters. In what he billed as his last column for the group on Friday, Rosenberg said he would now blog on his own website MJayRosenberg.com.

Opinion: Romney defeats Netanyahu

Published on March 6, 2012

We have one person to thank for the fact that President Barack Obama successfully let Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu know 'who's the boss' both at the AIPAC conference and at a meeting between the two at the White House on Monday.

Opinion: Obama's Iran choice

Published on January 19, 2012

An article in Tuesday's New York Times suggests that there is a method to the madness of the Republican presidential candidates' hawkish rhetoric on Iran. I had thought that the reason all the Republican candidates (with the exception of Ron Paul) are such noisy warmongers is because that is their natural proclivity — and because it pleases donors (like Sheldon Adelson, Newt Gingrich's big campaign funder) who base their political choices on Binyamin Netanyahu's desires.

Opinion: Why we should not bomb Iran

Published on January 18, 2012

In endorsing bombing Iran as a neat way to address Iran’s nuclear program, Matthew Kroenig makes the case that the theoretical nightmare of a nuclear Iran could be more or less eliminated, and that even if that can’t be fully accomplished, the bombing could buy time. But the logic of his argument does not acknowledge that the facts on the ground are not so clear.

Opinion: Is Israel suicidal?

Published on January 13, 2012

A man wrote me the other day to complain about something I had written regarding my belief that Israel has every right to exist in peace and security. He responded that Israel should not exist, asserting that Israel is simply a Western colony implanted in the Middle East that is as "authentic as white Rhodesia" was.

Opinion: New Year's predictions

Published on December 23, 2011

This is my last column of 2011, so I will make a few predictions for 2012, some which I hope come true and some which I hope don't.

One invented nation or two

Published on December 23, 2011

It is hard to believe that anyone who defends Israel's legitimacy as a state would buy into former Speaker Newt Gingrich's argument that Palestine is an "invented nation."

The “pro-Israel” right loses it

Published on December 16, 2011

It has been over a week since the lobby that deems itself "pro-Israel" began its recent effort to suppress the views of those of us it considers Israel-haters, self-hating Jews, or — in a most ridiculous twist given that most of us are Jews — "anti-Semites."

Opinion: Israel firsters?

Published on December 12, 2011

I wonder what happened to Israel, by which I mean the actual country and its seven million people.

Opinion: Exploiting anti-Semitism to destroy Occupy Wall Street

Published on October 14, 2011

An ugly old tradition is back: exploiting anti-Semitism to break the backs of popular movements that threaten the power of the wealthiest 1 percent of our population. It is being used to undermine the Occupy Wall Street movement, which has conservatives in a state of near pan

Why AIPAC should support START

Published on December 15, 2010

AIPAC is in agony. It desperately wants to support the U.S.-Russia START treaty aimed at limiting nuclear warheads because the treaty would greatly advance Israel’s security.