Whether haredim must serve (many already do, in the Hashmonaim Brigade) is a hard argument between citizens. Settling it by controlling who eats is not an argument at all. It is a tactic.
Israel’s Arab misrepresentation by government officials and the disparaging rhetoric they face stain Israeli democracy and allow Israel’s adversaries to portray the country as their caricature.
Israel’s crowded political field leaves voters weighing party leaders, broken promises, and competing priorities.
Supporting a change in government does not justify dismissing millions of traditional, religious, or conservative Israelis as primitive, dangerous, or morally inferior.
By presenting himself as Israel’s indispensable protector, Netanyahu has forged a bond with supporters that can withstand even profound failures.
Settler violence could expose the government’s security failures, but Israel’s political landscape makes it a risky issue for opposition leaders to raise.
Israel deserves more than another election between yesterday’s failures. It deserves a new beginning.
No one should be above criticism or scrutiny. But criticism must be grounded in facts, and serious journalism must distinguish between evidence and speculation.
Organized crime, bigotry, never-ending war, Jewish terror in the West Bank – these are not our fate. If we get rid of this government, we could salvage our chances of living together here in peace.
Arab commentators are divided over whether Israel’s elections could revive regional diplomacy, but few expect a fundamental shift in policy toward the Palestinians.
Our ship is speeding toward an iceberg, but we still have time to change course, take the helm, and return to safe waters.
