Avi Gil, at The Blogs

Oct 11, 2023, 12:47 PM

Where was Israel’s political opposition all this time?

Sitting from left to right: Outgoing Defense Minister Benny Gantz, outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid, outgoing Justice Minister Gideon Sa'ar, and outgoing Transportation Minister Merav Michaeli, at the swearing-in ceremony of the 25th Knesset, in Jerusalem, November 15, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/ Flash90)

They criticized Netanyahu for not eradicating Hamas, but have presented no credible strategy to restore the Palestinian peace camp

Aug 6, 2023, 7:24 PM

The Saudi Plan of Shimon Peres

Given the opportunity to promote an Israeli-Saudi peace agreement, an American friend called and posed an unexpected question, "How would Peres handle the challenge?" This is what came to mind. Shimon Peres, whose 100th birthday would have been celebrated this...

Jul 18, 2023, 6:56 PM

The National Intelligence Estimate under a predatory right-wing government

Many of those entrusted with drafting Israel's National Intelligence Estimate, essentially a periodic national security assessment, wear uniforms and are careful not to be perceived as politically biased. But even the most cautious among them will find it difficult...

Feb 19, 2023, 3:00 PM

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An apartheid state will not cure terrorism

Likud leader MK Benjamin Netanyahu with Otzma Yehudit party head Itamar Ben Gvir at a vote in the assembly hall of the Knesset on December 28, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

Yes, there were errors made during Oslo, but the approach has real advantages as a long-term strategy against terrorism

Jan 10, 2023, 1:44 PM

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Today’s Israel is no ‘light unto the nations’ – or unto the Jews

The deepening anti-liberal spirit is not going to disappear anytime soon and Diaspora Jews can no longer rely on Israel as a symbol that unites them

Nov 14, 2022, 5:43 PM

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When the government believes its own slogans the country’s in trouble

Municipal workers take down election campaign posters the day after general elections in the northern town of Katzrin, Golan Heights on November 2, 2022 (Michael Giladi/Flash90)

Too many of our future ministers will likely be unwilling to test their assumptions or leave room for doubt – that's a recipe for disaster

Sep 23, 2021, 9:51 PM

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In Gilboa Prison, a glimpse of Israel’s impending disaster

In not working for a real solution to conflict with the Palestinians, the country is simply playing warden to a population liable to eventually erase the Zionist dream

Nov 10, 2020, 3:27 PM

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Trump’s defeat ends the Israeli right’s long celebration

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, center, and then-tourism minister Yariv Levin during a meeting to discuss mapping extension of Israeli sovereignty to areas of the West Bank, held in the Ariel settlement, February 24, 2020. (David Azagury/US Embassy Jerusalem)

His presidency bolstered the mistaken impression that it's possible to preserve democracy for Jews while depriving the Palestinians of it

About Me

Avi Gil, a former director-general of the Foreign Ministry, is a senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI). His novel Toronto Junction was recently published by 2sfarim Publishing.