Israel politics
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Is Ben-Gvir preparing a holy war against the Palestinians?
Israel’s new national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, lost no time in demonstrating who is boss. On Tuesday, days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government was sworn in, the ultra-nationalist politician marched straight in to the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in the occupied Old City of Jerusalem – probably the most incendiary site in the Middle East. Continue reading
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Fascists in government won’t dent Western support for Israel
The most disturbing outcome of Israel’s general election this week was not the fact that an openly fascist party won the third-biggest tally of seats, or that it is about to become the lynchpin of the next government. It is how little will change, in Israel or abroad, as a result. Continue reading
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Israel’s new government will deepen rifts, not heal them
The symbolic moment of a Palestinian party sitting in government alongside settler leaders will turn sour all too soon Continue reading
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Can the anti-Netanyahu protests grow into a larger movement?
Demonstrations have yet to draw a connection between Netanyahu’s personal abuses of office and the systemic corruption of Israeli politics, with the occupation its beating heart Continue reading
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The coronavirus could force rival Benny Gantz to shake Netanyahu’s hand
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s caretaker prime minister, is preparing to squeeze every last drop of personal advantage from a local and global crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. He has needed to move fast. Continue reading
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Israelis have made their verdict clear: Benjamin Netanyahu’s time is up
There looms the possibility of weeks of horse-trading and the Joint List of Arab legislators becoming the official opposition Continue reading
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For Israel, annexation of the West Bank is a long-established goal By Jonathan Cook
When Israeli prime ministers are in trouble, facing difficult elections or a corruption scandal, the temptation has typically been for them to unleash a military operation to bolster their standing. In recent years, Gaza has served as a favourite punching bag. Continue reading
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Annexation may provide the key to unlocking Netanyahu’s legal troubles
After winning the Israeli election with a slim majority, in a campaign that grew more sordid and vilifying by the day, Benjamin Netanyahu is poised to begin his fifth term as Israeli prime minister. Continue reading
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Netanyahu reigns supreme, and all opposition has been crushed By Jonathan Cook
Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party emerged from Tuesday’s Israeli election tied with the Blue and White party, led by Benny Gantz and other high-powered generals. Although each party has 35 seats in the 120-seat parliament, Netanyahu is now firmly in the driving seat. Continue reading
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Netanyahu and Gantz are two sides of the same coin
While the Israeli prime minister’s campaign has plumbed new depths, the opposition is offering very little in the way of change – particularly for Palestinians Continue reading
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Desperate Netanyahu openly embraces Jewish extremists
The decision to ally with the Jewish equivalent of the Ku Klux Klan lays bare where the Israeli right plans to head next Continue reading
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Palestinians in Israel face uncertain political future amid Joint List split By Jonathan Cook
A political coalition representing Israel’s Palestinian minority – currently the third biggest faction in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset – has been plunged into crisis by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to call for a surprise general election for April. Continue reading
The New Dark Age 