Israel’s constitutional crisis has been postponed, not resolved

After years of leftists crying wolf about democracy being endangered, Israel finally experienced a real constitutional crisis last week. Read more

Why do Likud voters support Netanyahu? Thank the Supreme Court

Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was favoured to win his Likud party’s leadership contest on Dec. 26, the magnitude of his victory surprised many observers. Read more

Legalizing politics and politicizing the law

One of the modern era’s most dangerous problems is the conflation of politics with law. Political questions are increasingly treated as legal ones, which inevitably results in the law becoming politicized. Last week provided two salient examples. Read more

Does Jewish morality require Israel to leave the West Bank?

Zionism seems like a binary proposition: You’re either for or against the existence of a Jewish state. Read more

Israel’s do-over election performed a vital service for democracy

Like many Israelis, I was horrified when April’s election led to another in September; it seemed a colossal waste of time and money. Read more

Palestinians are tired of being the only refugees denied the right to resettlement

Hundreds of Palestinian refugees demonstrated outside the Canadian Embassy in Beirut on Sept. 5 to request asylum in Canada or the European Union, the second such protest in the last month. Read more

In today’s world, Orthodox and Conservative Jews should be natural allies

Jewish tradition holds that the Second Temple was destroyed by baseless hatred. Read more

A case study in why Israel’s democracy is alive and well

On June 24, Haaretz columnist Amira Hass compared the case of Mahmoud Qatusa to the infamous Leo Frank case in Atlanta. The comparison was suggested by Qatusa’s lawyer, but Hass enthusiastically seconded it. Read more

Once again, the PA shows it doesn’t care about having a viable state

The Palestinians’ refusal to attend a U.S.-sponsored “economic workshop” in Bahrain on June 25-26 has been widely treated as a reasonable response to the unlikelihood that U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan (whose economic section will be unveiled at the workshop) will satisfy their demands. Read more

By recognizing the Golan, Trump revives the idea that aggression shouldn’t be cost-free

When U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, foreign-policy experts keened in chorus that he was destroying a fundamental principle of the world order: that territory can’t be acquired through force. Let’s hope they’re right—because that principle, far from deterring aggression, actually rewards it. Read more

Gaza’s self-inflicted health crisis shows why peace remains a fantasy

Gaza’s health system is on the verge of collapse, Israeli defence officials warned last week. Read more

Syria is the wrong issue for a pro-Israel fight with Trump

Like most pro-Israel commentators, I’m appalled by U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw American forces from Syria…writes Evelyn Gordon/JNS. Read more

Why equality doesn’t belong in the nation-state law

Ever since Israel’s nation-state law was enacted in July, one constant refrain has sounded: The law should have included a provision guaranteeing equality to all Israelis. It’s not only the law’s opponents who say this; so do many of its supporters, liberals and conservatives alike. But they are wrong…writes Evelyn Gordon/JNS. Read more

Critics of nation-state law misunderstand Israel’s constitutional system

Israel’s new nation-state law has elicited a storm of criticism since it passed on July 19…writes Evelyn Gordon/JNS. Read more

Not everyone fleeing danger is a refugee

I’ve been wondering recently whether I’m simply a hypocrite…writes Evelyn Gordon/JNS. Read more

We can and should make BDS a pariah

The BDS movement hasn’t had much luck targeting Israel’s economy or even its cultural life: Despite some high-profile cancellations, there were 140 performances by international artists last year, up from 22 in 2010…writes Evelyn Gordon/JNS. Read more

Israel proves exceptional, once again

In January 2017, the Ipsos Mori research company published a shocking poll headlined “Six in ten around the world think their society is ‘broken.’ ”…writes Evelyn Gordon. Read more

Use UNRWA’s financial crisis to end its shameful apartheid system

UNRWA, the United Nations agency tasked with caring for Palestinian refugees and their descendants in perpetuity, is facing what it terms its worst financial crisis ever. Read more

Understanding Israel’s love affair with Trump

Bipartisanship was the watchword at last week’s AIPAC conference, but it’s no secret that pro-Israel Democrats have trouble swallowing Israelis’ enthusiasm for President Donald Trump, whose approval rating in Israel hit 67 percent even before he decided to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Read more

Israeli public unconvinced by police recommendation to charge Netanyahu

Recent polls show that if Israel held elections today, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud Party would likely win again, despite police recommendations that he be indicted on six counts of taking bribes…writes Evelyn Gordon. Read more