Jonathan Shavit

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Mar 17, 2025, 11:50 PM

Why the Left is not by definition ‘right’: 3 historical examples

Traditionally, the Left claims that it supports the weak, champions the case of the oppressed and carries the banner of universal values, something their right-wing counterparts do not – or so they always believe. For the sake of this blog,...

Mar 6, 2025, 11:10 PM

The crucial mediator: Janus-faced Qatar

Qatari officials rarely speak to Israeli media. This time, Qatari Foreign Affairs spokesperson Majed Al Ansari spoke to The Times of Israel, though, to discuss the ceasefire and efforts to get the negotiations for the second stage of the...

Feb 9, 2025, 5:05 PM

Power plays north of the border

While the entire Western media landscape was abuzz after President Donald Trump announced his bizarre plan to rebuild Gaza, something very disconcerting was taking place north of Israel’s border. It went largely unnoticed, but Ahmed al-Sharaa met with Recep...

Feb 4, 2025, 5:29 AM

Al-Jazeera: Hamas’ favorite network

When reporting about the war between Israel and Hamas, several media have chosen to highlight different aspects of the war. Yet, at the end of the day, we can expect that all will adhere to basic journalistic standards, a...

Jan 21, 2025, 2:51 AM

An homage to the people of the South

More than a year of war has passed. Hostages are still languishing in the tunnels in Gaza, but through the current deal Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher have been released on Sunday, in exchange for many Palestinian...

Jan 5, 2025, 7:51 AM

Why the Left should denounce its extremists

When the far right makes outrageous statements, supports initiatives to undermine democracy and utters anti-Semitic rhetoric, they are justifiably criticized and denounced. They will definitely be denounced by members of the Left. But, when it comes to far-left extremists,...

Dec 11, 2024, 9:45 PM

From Gaza to Damascus

There he was, Ismail Haniyeh, smiling in Qatar as he was asking his fellow comrades to look at a TV screen, where Al-Jazeera proudly displayed exclusive footage of Hamas’ terror invasion. He must have been on cloud nine at...

Dec 8, 2024, 5:41 PM

Let us not forget about North Korea

Israel has a lot of ‘friends’ in the region. From deceased bunker dwellers in Gaza and Beirut, to Houthis in Yemen who curse Jews not once, but twice. In Iraq, where there seems to be no difference between Sunni...

Dec 1, 2024, 12:58 AM

Daniella’s Gazan adventure

I imagine that she must have been extremely pleased with herself as she was skulking across the Gaza border this month. The director and main character of her own little thriller, Daniella Weiss managed to pull it off. Though...

Nov 23, 2024, 5:49 PM

‘Cancer Jews’: how we can be used as a common slur

On November 10, 2024, a tram was vandalized in Amsterdam-West. Rioters – maybe some of them had partaken in the attacks on Maccabi fans on November 7 – decided to break its windows and pelt it with fireworks, which...

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About Me

Born in Israel and raised in the Netherlands, I have studied history in the past. Though I still live in the latter, the former continues to amaze, frustrate, encourage, worry, enlighten, and move me. Whenever and wherever, Israel is on my mind.