Implications for Israel in the US Global Retreat…writes Isi Leibler

The appointment of Samantha Power as America’s UN ambassador combined with recent US foreign policy statements, reinforce concerns that the US administration is accelerating its policies of global withdrawal, engaging rather than confronting rogue states, and appeasing Islamic extremism. Read more

Religious Tolerance and Mutual Respect rather than Polarization…writes Isi Leibler

The pivotal breakthrough which now seems likely to oblige haredim to share the burden in terms of conscription and gainful employment, heralds a belated and dramatic review of the relationship between the State and Religion. The question is whether these changes will intensify the trends towards divisiveness and polarization or lead to mutual understanding and national unity.    Read more

Claims Conference gets deeper in the Mire…writes Isi Leibler

Julius Berman has circulated members of his Board with an 11 page diatribe in response to the recent flood of criticisms relating to the flawed management, lack of oversight and absence of transparency in the Claims Conference. Read more

Peres, Abbas, and Kerry: Fantasies and Realities…writes Isi Leibler

Earlier in the week, I participated in “Breaking the Impasse”, an event held in Jordan under the auspices of the World Economic Forum. It was attended by some 300 Israeli and Palestinian leaders of commerce and industry who represent over 25% of the GDP of Israel and the Palestinian region. Some of the most prominent Israeli business personalities were present. Read more

A Global Tsunami of Anti-Semitism…writes Isi Leibler

Participants at the fourth conference of the Global Forum for Combating antisemitism, held under the auspices of the Foreign Ministry this week in Jerusalem, will be provided with data highlighting the accelerated global erosion of the status of Jews and Israel. Read more

Claims Conference Leaders must Resign Now!…writes Isi Leibler

Over the past few days, there have been additional mind-boggling exposures of further scandals, lack of transparency, cover-ups and ethical failures at the highest possible levels of the Claims Conference leadership and management. Unless these latest reports appearing in the Jerusalem Post and JTA are refuted, we must demand the immediate resignations of all those engaged in the subterfuges. Read more

Exposed: Devastating New Claims Conference Scandal…writes Isi Leibler

Last month I devoted a column to the ongoing disgrace of the Claims Conference and the failure by the management to take appropriate action to provide financial assistance to ailing survivors unable to afford food, medicine and other basic necessities to enable them to live out their remaining years with a modicum of dignity. Read more

Déjà Vu: “Peace in Our Time”…writes Isi Leibler

“Peace in Our Time” was proclaimed by Neville Chamberlain in 1938 in defense of his disastrous Munich Agreement with Hitler. History testifies that his policy of appeasement and failure to confront the aggressive Nazi barbarians virtually made World War II inevitable. Read more

Bayit Yehudi: Choosing Religious Moderation or Extremism…writes Isi Leibler

Naftali Bennett represents one of the most successful of the new generation of Israeli politicians to have emerged from the recent Knesset elections. Read more

Survivors Languish as Claims Conference issues remain Unresolved…writes Isi Leibler

Every day we hear additional heartbreaking stories depicting the appalling suffering of destitute elderly Holocaust survivors denied elementary needs such as food, medicine and other basic services to enable them to live out their remaining years with dignity. Read more

American Jewish Leaders: Stop the Rot Now…writes Isi Leibler

Visiting New York this week, I sought to assess the broader implications of the recent “International Peace Award” bestowed on former president Jimmy Carter by Yeshiva University’s Cardozo Law School. This unsavory display of groveling by a major Jewish institution to a committed foe of the Jewish people is not merely a stain on the entire Jewish community but highlights a dramatic erosion of Jewish values and Jewish dignity. Read more

Independence Day and the Zionist Vision…by Isi Leibler

As we launch into our 65^th Independence Day celebrations it is timely to review and rationally assess the extent to which our Zionist objectives have been achieved. Read more

Sanctimonious Jewish Bleeding Hearts…writes Isi Leibler

I was somewhat taken aback by a letter released in the wake of President Obama’s visit to Israel, signed by 100 American Jews including a number of rabbis, communal leaders and academics, many, if not most of whom are politically inclined to the left but regard themselves as committed Zionists. Read more

Obama’s Visit to Israel: A Turning Point?…asks Isi Leibler

Both American and Israeli leaders must have heaved sighs of relief as Air Force One departed from Ben-Gurion Airport with President Obama’s visit culminating on a high note for both parties. Read more

The Obama Visit and American Jewry

Israelis will enthusiastically greet President Obama in the course of his first visit to the Jewish state since being elected president. But they will also be apprehensively listening to his statements and hoping that his meetings will solidify the US-Israeli relationship. Read more

Mulling over our new Government

Bravo! Unless there is an unanticipated last minute reversal, belatedly, after six tortuous weeks of horse trading, spins and hypocrisy, Israel will have its 33rd government. Read more

Israel Bashing in the Israeli Movie World…writes Isi Leibler

It is a depressing reflection of our times, when many of us heaved a sigh of relief when neither of the two Israeli documentary Oscar nominations received awards. Read more

Israeli Politics: On the Edge of the Precipice…writes Isi Leibler

There is madness in the air. Israel faces extraordinary challenges whilst virtually all our leaders uninhibitedly continue their intrigues and machinations in pursuit of power. They regard their responsibility to the national interest as a distant mirage uttering occasional hypocritical rhetoric.   Read more

Netanyahu’s Political Cynicism will Backfire…writes Isi Leibler

Without doubt, many Israelis share my disgust as they observe the deceitful and cynical machinations of those we elected to represent us in the Knesset. Read more

Reviewing the Case of Prisoner X

As former head of the Australian Jewish community and now resident in Israel, I was bombarded over the past week with endless calls from the Israeli and global media soliciting comment on Ben Zygier, the Australian who committed suicide whilst in solitary confinement in an Israeli prison…writes Isi Leibler. Read more

End the Shenanigans and form a Government…writes Isi Leibler

The excessively slow pace of Israel’s electoral and political systems impose disfunctionality at a time when a strong, strategically-directed government is desperately needed. Read more

United Nations: Convergence of Hypocrisy, Deceit, and Evil…writes Isi Leibler

Israel was the first country to boycott the annual human rights review presented at the bogus United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Despite being tacitly rebuked by the US, Israel was justified in doing so. For years, whilst ignoring the rampant denial of human rights and the butchering of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians throughout the world, the proceedings of this despicably biased body were concentrated on relentlessly condemning, demonizing and delegitimizing the Jewish state. Read more

Anglo-Jewish Leaders partner anti-Israeli Charity…writes Isi Leibler

I rubbed my eyes as I observed yet another botched initiative by the well-intentioned leadership of the Board of Deputies of British Jews. Its plenum, by a vote of almost to 2:1, endorsed a linkage with the British branch of Oxfam International, one of the largest global charity organizations with branches in over 90 countries. Read more

Daunting Challenges facing Netanyahu…writes Isi Leibler

Israel’s unexpected election results have created daunting challenges for Prime Minister Netanyahu. Read more

Liberal Jewish Israel Bashers: Ignorant or Malicious?

I must confess to a rising sense of frustration and rage when observing the increasing number of ill-informed and fallacious critiques of Israel by liberal Diaspora Jews…writes Isi Leibler. Read more

Hagel Nomination Conveys Chilling Message

In light of the opposition generated when former Senator Chuck Hagel’s candidacy for Defense Secretary was initially mooted, most analysts predicted – mistakenly – that President Obama would not proceed with the appointment…writes Isi Leibler. Read more

Bayit Yehudi: Don’t Blow this Opportunity

Over twenty years ago, I published a booklet titled “Religious Extremism: A Threat to the Future of the Jewish People” which was translated into many languages and widely distributed.  It dealt with extremist trends in the religious world, stressing that the greatest danger emanated from messianic nationalism inspired by rabbis claiming to know precisely what the Almighty desired and were willing to suspend traditional societal behavior to promote their beliefs…writes Isi Leibler. Read more

Habait Hayehudi – Religious Zionism at the Crossroads

As a lifelong religious Zionist, I was saddened observing the ongoing collapse of the movement which had made a unique and valuable contribution to the welfare of the nation, upholding enlightened Jewish values, striving for unity and promoting tolerance…writes Isi Leibler. Read more

Hagel – a Litmus Test of Obama’s Attitude to Israel

The possible nomination of former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense will represent a litmus test as to whether President Obama is poised to resume his anti-Israeli campaign, despite supporting Israel during Operation Pillar of Defense and only last week employing a US veto in favor of Israel at the UN…writes Isi Leibler. Read more

The Election Season: An Unedifying Spectacle

Most of us would be relieved if the election season could be considerably shortened. The worst aspects of our dysfunctional politics have been highlighted in this campaign, commencing with primaries which tended to promote the lowest common denominator, frequently involving seamy deals and even outright corruption…writes Isi Leibler. Read more

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