Zionism
May 20, 2019 by Ron Weiser
It’s a difficult time for pollsters. Read more
Post-election thoughts
April 17, 2019 by Ron Weiser
In the end, the people of Israel voted for Prime Minister Netanyahu “Mr Security-Mr Statesman,” over Bibi with all of his human shortcomings. Read more
Hard to call
April 1, 2019 by Ron Weiser
These elections are perhaps the most interesting in recent times, even though there are really only two candidates running. Read more
The Israeli election: how the players line up
March 4, 2019 by Ron Weiser
A month ago we raised three questions in regards to the forthcoming Israeli elections. Read more
Rhetoric and actions
February 7, 2019 by Ron Weiser
Prime Minister Netanyahu has stood head and shoulders above his political opponents for the past decade because he has managed to convince the electorate of two factors. Read more
The silly season
January 6, 2019 by Ron Weiser
The silly season is upon us and the even sillier season seems to be approaching fast…writes Ron Weiser. Read more
Elections beckon
November 22, 2018 by Ron Weiser
Election fever raged briefly in Israel as a result of the resignation of Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman earlier this month, taking his party with him and leaving the current coalition with just a razor slim majority of 61 seats in a 120 seat parliament. Read more
A letter from Israel
October 28, 2018 by Ron Weiser
Being in Israel for the meetings of the Jewish Agency Board of Governors and at the same time overlapping American Jewry’s General Assembly, the feeling of the shift in the balance of power and confidence between Israel and the largest Diaspora community, is palpable…writes Ron Weiser. Read more
Presidential views of Israel
October 3, 2018 by Ron Weiser
The relationship between Israel and the United States has evolved over the past decades with the most important factor in this unequal partnership, being the views of the US president of the day…writes Ron Weiser. Read more
Oslo 25 years on
August 22, 2018 by Ron Weiser
Next month it will be twenty five years since Oslo and that famous handshake on the White House lawn by Prime Minister Rabin and Chairman Arafat under the patronage of President Bill Clinton…writes Ron Weiser. Read more
Israel: A new normal
July 29, 2018 by Ron Weiser
On the annual indexes across the globe conducted by survey agencies, Israelis consistently rate amongst the highest of nations whose citizens have the most number of complaints about life. Read more
Surreal Israel
July 3, 2018 by Ron Weiser
Once again, it is quite surreal being in Israel…writes Ron Weiser. Read more
“Peaceful” demonstrations…
May 23, 2018 by Ron Weiser
If I hear the phrase “peaceful demonstration” just one more time, I will have no hair left on my head to tear out. Read more
Israel is 70 years young
April 25, 2018 by Ron Weiser
Israel is 70 years young…writes Ron Weiser. Read more
Gaza: an analysis
April 2, 2018 by Ron Weiser
Last Wednesday I was invited to a Jewish Day School to spend an hour with their Year 12 students to talk about issues related to Israel…writes Ron Weiser. Read more
Political weather forecast
February 24, 2018 by Ron Weiser
The calm before the storm, or the storm before the calm? …writes Ron Weiser. Read more
Jerusalem revisited
January 28, 2018 by Ron Weiser
Quite a chain of events have been crystallising over the past few weeks indeed…writes Ron Weiser. Read more
Analysing Jerusalem
December 10, 2017 by Ron Weiser
President Trump’s declaration and recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is undeniably a major symbolic milestone and one that is to be welcomed and applauded…writes Ron Weiser. Read more
Anniversary season…writes Ron Weiser
November 30, 2017 by Ron Weiser
The anniversaries continue. And more than a few involve Australia, and in a significant way. Read more
Beersheba notebook
November 1, 2017 by Ron Weiser
It is hard to describe the feelings of being in Israel at this very special moment. Particularly, that of being an Australian in Israel and more specifically, spending yesterday in Beersheba…writes Ron Weiser. Read more
My view…writes Ron Weiser
October 17, 2017 by Ron Weiser
President Trump continues to surprise his critics when it comes to the Middle East. He behaves in a more measured way, carrying out most of his administration’s activities behind the scenes and by maintaining different levels of pressure upon parties on all sides. Read more
September report card
September 27, 2017 by Ron Weiser
As we leave the Jewish calendar year of 5777 behind it is worth remembering that the three large external issues facing Israel remain unchanged and their resolution no clearer than they were at the beginning of 2017…writes Ron Weiser. Read more
Trump’s foreign policy….writes Ron Weiser
August 28, 2017 by Ron Weiser
Notwithstanding the constant polarisation that especially his domestic words and deeds seem to generate, on some foreign policy matters President Trump seems to have very wide American support. Read more
Call for Temple Mount to not be a site for violence or incitement
July 30, 2017 by Ron Weiser
Fifty years ago, after recapturing the Temple Mount which also houses the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa mosque, Israel established the so-called “status quo” which has remained more or less unchanged since 1967. Read more
Summer in Jerusalem…writes Ron Weiser
July 1, 2017 by Ron Weiser
It’s pretty hard to beat walking around the streets of Jerusalem with crowds everywhere, restaurants full and a clear mixing once again of Jews and Arabs in places like the Mamilla Mall and other common seam lines as positive signs of the political temperature cooling, if not the hot summer sun. Read more
1997 Maccabi disaster aftermath
June 19, 2017 by Ron Weiser
On the 14th of July 1997, 20 years ago, a bridge commissioned by Maccabi World Union (MWU) collapsed during the opening ceremony of the 15th Maccabiah Games in Ramat Gan, Israel. Read more
Love is in the Air…with apologies to John Paul Young
May 29, 2017 by Ron Weiser
So things are getting a little clearer after President Trump’s visit to the Middle East, a place by the way he apparently thinks does not include Israel…writes Ron Weiser. Read more
Understanding the Yoms…writes Ron Weiser
April 30, 2017 by Ron Weiser
This week we will be celebrating the 69th anniversary of the re-establishment of the Jewish State – Independence Day, Yom Ha’atzmaut – preceded by Yom Hazikaron where we remember those who fell in the defence of the State of Israel. Read more
AIPAC time
March 31, 2017 by Ron Weiser
It’s AIPAC time again…writes Ron Weiser. Read more
The Jewish people should be able to determine their own future…writes Ron Weiser
March 1, 2017 by Ron Weiser
This year we will celebrate the 120th anniversary of the First Zionist Congress which took place in Basel in 1897 to consider Theodore Herzl’s plans to guide the re-establishment of the Jewish State. The third Jewish Commonwealth. Read more
