Ttranslated from 12/Aug/98 Ma’ariv If there were such a thing as a universal grading scale forcorruption, Israel would find itself firmly in the middle. It isundoubtedly a less corrupt state than, say, Liberia or Indonesia.But it is much more corrupt than Britain or Germany. I consider myself somewhat of an expert in the field. As … Read more
Translated from 06/Aug/98 Ma’ariv The Prime Minister demands reciprocity. The extreme Right demandsreciprocity. Yahalom, Ze’evi, and Porat all demand reciprocity. I, too,am in favor of reciprocity, all the way. Some suggestions along theselines: The Palestinian Authority will extradite to Israel all those Palestinians who have killed or wounded Israelis. The Israeli government will extradite to … Read more
translated from 27/Jul/Ma’ariv (unabridged original) We have already become accustomed to the scene: Yeshiva students chasingarchaeologists on the hills, cops chasing the yeshiva students. Thediggers into holy books are at war with the diggers into antiquities. And what is this fight about? On the face of it, they are fighting overdry bones in old graves. … Read more
Unpublished, 21/Jul/98 All it takes is the publication of an ad with a single word — “Liar” –and everyone knows to whom it refers. The public, the ministers withinhis government, the leaders of neighboring countries and worldleaders in general — all know that one cannot trust a single wordout of his mouth, that his political … Read more
Translated from 20/Jul/98 Ma’ariv The scene could have been taken from the theater of the absurd. A seniorIDF officer was facing the camera, reacting bitterly to Israelidemonstrators calling him and his soldiers “Nazis.” “How can you call usNazis?” he asked, filled with rage. “We are only carrying out orders!Without sentiments!” I have given much thought … Read more
translated from 13/Jul/98 Ma’ariv I am not a devoted fan of soccer. But the World Cup has held a growingfascination for me. Take, for example, the contest between England andArgentina, “the Second Falklands War” (only the results are reversed). Awar-like excitement on both sides. Agitated crowds. Flags. Anthems. Averitable war, only without Margaret Thatcher in … Read more
translated from Ma’ariv Like the person waiting for the upstairs neighbor to drop the other shoe,everyone is waiting for “The Explosion.” It was supposed to happen lastweek. Every person in the Palestinian territories believes nowadays that nothingwill move without “The Explosion.” Israeli experts share this belief. Allare waiting for the bloodshed, like a farmer anticipating … Read more
translated from Ma’ariv Supplement The event that entered history as the “May War,” and that the Palestiniansrefer to as the “Harb El Istiklal,” began on May 14, 1999 — 51 years tothe day after Ben-Gurion declared the founding of the State of Israel. In the Al-Shawah hall in Gaza, Yasser Arafat declared theestablishment of the … Read more
translated from Ma’ariv An interesting conference took place abroad last week. Its hosts were Palestinian human rights activists. The participants weredozens of human rights and peace organizations from around the world. Inthe course of three crammed days, scores of speakers presentedcomprehensive and credible information on human rights violationsthroughout the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. … Read more
translated from Ma’ariv The Indians are happy. They may not have enough food, no flowing water,no electricity and no work — but they now have a nuclear bomb. And theyhave tested it with great fanfare. Undoubtedly, Mahatma Ghandi would have turned in his grave, had he notbeen cremated. His country is now ruled by an … Read more