translated from unabridged version of article published 17/May/99 Ma’ariv “Democracy is the worst form of government,” Winston Churchill once noted,”except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”And that’s the whole story. Today is a celebration of democracy here. Millions of voters are going tothe polls. In a few hours … Read more
translation of unabridged version of article published 03/May/99 Ma’ariv Many say that the campaign spots on television are extremely boring. May Isuggest to them something much more interesting. Downright riveting!Instead of looking for what is shown, I look for and see only what is notshown. This is a whole lot more fascinating, because it attests … Read more
translated from unabridged version of article published 10/May/99 Ma’ariv A few intellectuals on the Left are once again encouraging that voterssubmit blank ballots. Their slogan is: A White Slip of Paper. White isthe color of purity. The color of conscience. The color of innocence. Aperson of conscience, they say, can vote only for a totally … Read more
unabridged translation of article not published by Ma’ariv 19/Apr/99 translation The Yugoslav “transfer” shocked television viewers, so much so thatKnesset members of the “National Unity” list decided tocontribute 1,000 shekels each for the refugees. There is aparticular significance to this election gimmick, since two membersof this party are official believers in the concept of “transfer.”The … Read more
(or: The starling and the raven) unabridged translation of article published 12/Apr/99 Ma’ariv “Not for nothing did the starling go to the raven — being of his ownkind” — so says the Talmud (Babah Kamah), adding: “Birds of a feathershall flock together, and so shall man with his own kind.” When speaking of Slobodan Milosevic … Read more
translated from 29/Mar/99 Ma’ariv Dear Europe: I am happy about your decision to use power for the sake of peace inKosovo. You have learned your lesson. Sixty years ago, when the Nazis tormented German Jews and threatened toexterminate all of Europe’s Jewry, you just stood by. You said: “It is an internal matter.” You said: … Read more
unabridged translation of the article which appeared in 15/Mar/99 Ma’ariv He was like his name: Yehudi (a Jew in Hebrew). The kind of Jewalready extinct in Israel. A Jew in the best tradition ofpast generations: a humanitarian, an honest man who hated violence. LikeAlbert Einstein, like Sigmund Freud, like Martin Buber. A carrier of “theJewish … Read more
translated from the unabridged version of the article published 02/Mar/99 Ma’ariv There are plants that flower only in the dark. There are birds that hidein the day and come out only by night. And then there is Bibi. A man such as Bibi can flourish only in an atmosphere of fear. Fear thatgives birth to … Read more
Translated from unabridged version of article published 08/Feb/99 Ma’ariv “Do you want to understand Jordan?” I was asked by the senior official. “Iwill teach you all there is to know in five minutes!” And indeed, in thefollowing five minutes I learned more than from dozens of books andhundreds of articles, including articles by some of … Read more
Or: A love story. translated from unabridged original version of article 26/Jan/99 Ma’ariv Imagine this scenario: Yasser Arafat returns home after being treated foran illness. Approaching the coast, fighter planes of the Israeliairforce escort his plane as a honor guard. The control towerin Lod issues words of welcome. Arafat responds in kind. The mediagives enthusiastic … Read more