Where the Netanyahu government differs from its predecessor

With the swearing-in of the latest Netanyahu government, Israel will embark on a new course in foreign policy—and just in time. Read more

Honest Reporting names dishonest reporting stars for 2022

As we get ready to wave goodbye to 2022, it is a good opportunity for us to look back and reflect on what was an eventful year for Israel in the international media. Read more

The religious culture war comes to Israel

At the root of the convulsions over Israel’s new government lies the secular world’s hatred and terror of religion. Read more

2022: The year FUD took off

There were many occasions during 2022 when events in the news almost tricked us into thinking that we were living in an earlier time. Read more

Wiesenthal Centre publishes top ten antisemitism list for 2022 

The Simon Wiesenthal Centre released its annual Global antisemitism Top Ten list in Jerusalem…reports Benjamin Weinthal. Read more

Netanyahu at first Cabinet meeting: It is time to roll up our sleeves and get to work

At the first Cabinet meeting following the swearing-in of Israel’s new government Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu celebrated the day. Read more

Israel’s historic right-wing government is the democratic will of the voters

Israel inducted a historic right-wing government Thursday, led by three-time Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu’s return to power and the formation of a strong right-wing government is a tremendous achievement for a nation that has increasingly turned towards the right-wing values of strong security and protecting the Jewish character of the state. Read more

Keep right on to the end of the road

This old song’s opening lines, made famous by the late Harry Lauder, are very relevant as we bid farewell to 2022 and face the uncertainties of 2023. Read more

Benjamin Netanyahu begins third term as Prime Minister of Israel

It took 58 days, but Benjamin Netanyahu became the Prime Minister of Israel once again on Thursday afternoon after his new coalition government finally achieved the required majority of votes in the Knesset for it to be formed. Officially, this is Netanyahu’s sixth term of office as every government he led – even the short-lived ones like from 2020 that last for only about a year – count as a full term. Read more

Who will be the newsmakers of the New Israeli government?

Nearly two months after Israel’s elections, the government led by Benjamin Netanyahu was sworn in late on Thursday. His supporting cast of Cabinet ministers includes some personalities who will frequently be in the headlines. Read more

Arab world expresses cooperation, concern with new Israeli government

The Arab world responded to Israel’s new government with mixed expressions of confrontation, cooperation and concern. Read more

Sylvester

I only became aware of the controversy surrounding the New Year when I was in Israel as a young man and discovered that the rabbinate was refusing to give kashrut certificates to hotels that held New Year’s Eve parties. Read more

Slava’s Snowshow: A theatre review by Alex First

Vanya Polunin is to clowning what Sir Donald Bradman was to cricket – a genius. Read more

Israel’s population grew 2.2% in 2022

The Israeli population grew by 2.2% in 2022, according to figures released by the Central Bureau of Statistics on Thursday. Read more

Melbourne’s Mount Scopus major presence is Israel

In what is expected to be the largest gathering of Australians ever to take place in Israel, more than 1100 will gather next week at a celebration hosted by Melbourne’s Mount Scopus College Foundation. Read more

The Possibly True Story of Martin Gardiner: A Historical Novel

Jeffrey Cohen reviews the novel written by Graham Cohen. Read more

Jan-15 11am Melbourne: Remembering Raoul Wallenberg

Melbourne’s Raoul Wallenberg Unit of B’nai B’rith will hold its inaugural Raoul Wallenberg Day on Sunday, 15 January at the St Kilda Town Hall. Read more

Remembering Raoul Wallenberg

Melbourne’s Raoul Wallenberg Unit of B’nai B’rith will hold its inaugural Raoul Wallenberg Day on Sunday, 15 January at the St Kilda Town Hall. Read more

West Bank settlements top Netanyahu agenda

Benjamin Netanyahu’s incoming hardline government has put West Bank settlement expansion at the top of its list of priorities a day before being sworn into office. Read more

The anti-Bibi resistance is playing with fire

Like the Democrats who went into the streets in their millions the weekend Donald Trump was inaugurated president in January 2017, Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu’s foes clearly intend to act as a “resistance,” rather than a loyal opposition. Read more

In call with Abbas, Gantz emphasises ‘important ties’ with Palestinians

Outgoing Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz on Wednesday called for continued cooperation with Ramallah, speaking during a phone call with Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas. Read more

Hanegbi: Netanyahu returned to politics because of Iran, not his trial

The designated head of Israel’s National Security Council, Tzahi Hanegbi, stated in an op-ed published on Wednesday that Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu returned to politics because of the threat posed by Iran, and not because of his ongoing trial. Read more

Google fixes antisemitic definition of ‘Jew’ following uproar

Google users who typed the word “Jew” in the search feature on Tuesday found that the top definition was an antisemitic stereotype. Read more

Pandemic’s end: Israel to downgrade Covid to flu status

Those with the virus will no longer need to enter isolation, and responsibility for testing will be transferred from the IDF to the civilian health services. Read more

La Boheme reaches its 200th performance

Gale Edwards’ enduring and much-loved production of La Bohème will celebrate its 200th performance when it returns to the Sydney Opera House this summer. Read more

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat: a theatre review by Alex First

A new Pharoah has stepped into Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Read more

Netanyahu far-right government takes power

Already dogged by criticism at home and abroad, a new Israeli government is set to be sworn in – the final stroke in Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu’s political comeback. Read more

Knesset passes controversial ‘Ben-Gvir Law,’ paving way for new government to be sworn in

The Knesset passed the controversial “Ben-Gvir Law,” on Wednesday, giving Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben-Gvir expanded authority over the Israeli Police. The vote ended a legislative blitz paving the way for Benjamin Netanyahu to have his government sworn in today. Read more

Shabbat Vayigash: Negotiations

Is there a set formula for negotiations? We see two examples in this week’s reading from the Torah. Read more

Israeli study confirms safety of COVID vaccines

In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers at Tel Aviv University equipped a group of Israelis with smartwatches and monitored their physiological parameters, such as heart and pulse rates and sleep patterns, to evaluate the safety of COVID vaccines. Read more

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