Israel

Finally … Israel forms a government

May 21, 2020 Go comment!

After the longest political deadlock in Israeli history – more than 500 days – the country finally has a new government. With 36 ministers and 16 deputy ministers, it’s the most bloated government to date.
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Will Israel head to the International Criminal Court?

Apr 30, 2020 Go comment!

As if the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the crisis in Israeli politics isn’t enough to keep senior policymakers and military officers awake at night, there’s another important debate.
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An Israeli marriage not made in heaven

Apr 23, 2020 1 Comment

In one of the most spectacular U-turns in Israeli political history, the former army chief and leader of the Blue and White party, Benny Gantz, on Monday night signed a coalition agreement with incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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Playing a politics game that Netanyahu always wins

Apr 02, 2020 Go comment!

There’s a joke that in Israel, you play politics for 90 minutes and then, in the end, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu always wins. That’s certainly true three elections and 16 months without a government, later.
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Israel to go on full lockdown

Mar 26, 2020 Go comment!

I write this hours before Israel goes into a full lockdown (on midnight, Wednesday 25 March). Still, it hasn’t been easy living under a partial one until now. Restaurants are closed, but you can walk or drive to one for takeaways. Soon that will stop, and only home deliveries will be possible. There’ll be no public transport, although the trains already ceased working days ago.
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Under lockdown, Israel focuses on creating a government

Mar 19, 2020 Go comment!

Israeli coalition talks have begun in earnest. On Monday, Benny Gantz, the leader of the centrist Blue and White Party, was tasked by President Reuven Rivlin to try and form a government after he received the backing of 61 members of Knesset (Parliament).
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Israel’s travel ban causes panic and confusion

Mar 12, 2020 Go comment!

A friend contacted me this week to ask if reports that Israel was isolating itself from the rest of the world because of the coronavirus were fake. They aren’t. Jerusalem has announced a 14-day home quarantine for all travellers arriving from abroad, and non-Israeli citizens have to show they have a place to self-quarantine before they’ll be allowed into the country. It doesn’t matter where you are travelling from – South Africa included – you need to go into isolation for two weeks. This means staying in your bedroom, or moving around your apartment with a mask on, but not going outside under any circumstances. You could get a seven-year prison sentence if you disobey this order.
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Netanyahu waves wand, but election stalemate still in place

Mar 05, 2020 Go comment!

Israel has two options, either incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is able to form a coalition government, or the country heads to an unprecedented fourth election.
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Third Israeli election in a year – one big yawn

Feb 27, 2020 Go comment!

Israel has never held two successive elections, let alone three. And with most people in Israel believing next Monday’s ballot won’t break the deadlock, the country seems headed to a fourth election. Maybe I can just re-publish this column again next week? And then again in a few weeks’ time?
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The real battle behind Israel’s elections

Feb 20, 2020 Go comment!

I have a confession. I drive on Shabbat. It’s not something I’m proud of, but it’s necessary to state here to explain the following story.
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Israel strives to fend off dreaded Covid-19

Feb 13, 2020 Go comment!

There’ve been a few scares but so far, there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Israel. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is taking no chances, and has instructed the Israeli Biological Institute and health ministry to work on developing and producing a vaccine as soon as possible. He says it’s only a matter of time until the virus appears in the country.
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Secret meeting with Sudan a significant move for Israel

Feb 06, 2020 Go comment!

As Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew into Uganda for a 24-hour whirlwind trip on Monday, the outcome was expected to be that the two states would establish embassies, with Uganda possibly indicating that its embassy could be in Jerusalem. But there was an unexpected diplomatic achievement with a different country, namely formalised ties with the Arab African state of Sudan.
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Is Trump’s ‘deal of the century’ no deal at all?

Feb 06, 2020 Go comment!

In 1987, American President Donald Trump published The Art of the Deal, a book that helped make him a household name. It was part memoir, part business advice. By comparison, his recently unveiled Middle East plan, has led some quarters to label it the “The art of the non-deal”.
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What impact would a Corbyn win have on Israel?

Dec 12, 2019 Go comment!

The British Labour Party’s recently released election manifesto promises that should its leader, Jeremy Corbyn, win this week, it would immediately suspend the sale of arms to Israel that are “used in violation of the human rights of Palestinian civilians”. It also promises to immediately recognise a Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution in which a secure Israel would exist alongside a secure and viable Palestine.
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Is the curtain finally coming down on Netanyahu’s reign?

Nov 28, 2019 Go comment!

For the first time ever, Israel is being led by a prime minister under indictment. Fighting the biggest political battle of his life, Benjamin Netanyahu is holding onto his position as if his life depends on it. To some extent it does. Should he be admired – or not – for refusing to step down?
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Settlement decision strengthens Israel’s bargaining position

Nov 21, 2019 Go comment!

Suddenly, it seems as if everyone is an expert in international law. After United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Monday this week that Washington believes the settlements aren’t inherently illegal, everyone has been weighing in on the matter.
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Rockets raining down on Israel from Gaza

Nov 14, 2019 Go comment!

I woke up at 08:00 on Tuesday to sirens blaring across Tel Aviv. Disconcerted, I looked out of my bedroom window to see the usual morning traffic screeching to an immediate standstill. Buses were pulling over, and frightened passengers were jumping out to lie down on the surface of the emergency lanes. I was still groggy with sleep and it took a few seconds to comprehend what was happening. I stumbled to the second bedroom that doubles up as a bomb shelter (according to Israeli law, all buildings built since the 1990s must have one), closed the heavy door, and waited. A few seconds passed. Then, finally awake, I remembered that I am a journalist and the last place I should be – literally and figuratively – is in the dark about what was happening. I ventured out.
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Israeli government not the issue, occupation is, says Palestinian PM

Nov 07, 2019 Go comment!

I recently sat down with Palestinian Prime Minister Dr Mohammad Shtayyeh in Ramallah to gauge his views on a range of issues including the Israeli elections.
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Paralysed Israeli politics makes third election increasingly likely

Oct 31, 2019 Go comment!

Albert Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results. Unless something dramatic happens, the political scene in Israel is paralysed, and for the third time in one year, Israelis could be headed for the polls.
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Israel heading for a third election

Oct 10, 2019 Go comment!

Increasingly, it seems inevitable that Israelis will be heading into a third round of elections. Until now, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to concede that he is unable to form a government. But at the same time, he has not allowed any other member of his Likud party to try to do so.
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