Jonathan Schwartz

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Dec 12, 2023, 12:19 AM

Deep underground, Dark, dank, Crouched, cramped, Captive, Water dripping, Waiting Senses dimmed, Starved of food and news, Hostages hibernate, Health and hope flickering, In the gloomy light of a naked bulb, Waiting Time stretches silently along, the mute maze of tunnels, Muffled sounds from the world far above: Muezzin calls to prayers, Punctuate the monotonous...

Nov 2, 2022, 8:41 PM

Round 5: Interim bloc update

At the time of writing, not all ballots have been counted and the final allocation of MKs may be different to the preliminary numbers bandied around in the press. (According to the official Election Committee website, a total of...

Oct 31, 2022, 11:02 AM

Round 5: The Block Game

Bennett’s party whittled down from 7 MK’s on election day, to 6 MK’s when the “Government of Change” was sworn in, to 5 and then 4 MK’s in practice, resulting in a loss of a working governing majority. Bennett...

Mar 16, 2021, 7:40 AM

The Numbers Game

And they are off again: round 4 in Israel's cycle of elections as Netanyahu desperately seeks to cobble together a majority that will give him immunity from the criminal charges that he faces. Rotation with Gantz? Clear now to...

Apr 30, 2020, 4:36 PM

Bibi’s Time-Out

It is finally signed -- a "Coalition Agreement for the Formation of a National Emergency and Unity Government". The country breathes a collectively sigh of relief -- no fourth round of elections and finally an elected government with a...

Mar 29, 2020, 12:35 AM

Reuven Rivlin resign

A strong legal argument can be made that it is unconstitutional to give a mandate to form a government to a man indicted on felony charges.

Mar 23, 2020, 1:28 PM

The Gantz Predicament

Benny Gantz is a decent man in an impossible situation. The central promise of the Blue and White party to its voters was that it seeks a unity government but that in no event will it enter into a government...

Jun 16, 2016, 12:42 PM

In a siren’s time

Chronic memories of wartimes: broken radio silence, the smell of bananas, and tense waiting for a son to phone home

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About Me

Jonathan Schwartz works as an independent commercial lawyer, with a focus on high-tech and medical devices. Born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, he made Aliyah at the age of 19, and moved to Zur Yigal after spending time in Jerusalem, Kibbutz Tzora and Raanana. He is married with 4 children.