Jonathan Shavit

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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...

Nov 11, 2024, 12:12 AM

Amsterdam, November 7, 2024: The symbolic end of an era

Thursday evening something transpired in Amsterdam that none of us could have imagined. As an Israeli Dutchman who grew up and still lives in the Netherlands it did not come as a complete surprise, yet the scope of the...

Nov 3, 2024, 4:54 AM

Why Israel’s democratic character is the key to its survival

On November 1, 2024, something wondrous took place. Camel races are a beautiful Bedouin tradition. They have been organized throughout the Middle East, as well as in Israel. However, races in Israel were always held illegally. This does not...

Oct 28, 2024, 10:57 PM

The sultan’s megalomania: Erdogan and the MENA region

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been a rather obnoxious figure ever since he came to power more than twenty years ago, but he is definitely well-versed in politics. A testament to his staying power, he has slowly transformed...

Oct 26, 2024, 10:28 PM

UNIFIL: peacekeepers or aid distributors?

The war between Israel and Hezbollah continues to progress and with that the immense devastation on both sides. Since Israeli ground forces have entered South Lebanon, in a bid to remove the Hezbollah threat from Israel’s borders, several incidents...

Oct 20, 2024, 4:32 PM

Forever the firebrand

On October 6, an awful terror attack took place in Be’er Sheva. An Israeli citizen of Bedouin descent from Hura fired a pistol at the Central Bus Station, killing one female border cop and injuring others. I cannot imagine...

Oct 12, 2024, 4:28 PM

Spain, Morocco, and the Sahrawi

On September 13, 2024 something odd happened. The Spanish foreign minister, Jose Manuel Albares was holding a press conference with invited dignitaries from several countries. There he was, flanked by colleagues from Norway and Ireland and guests from the...

Oct 11, 2024, 12:48 AM

When I read about a Yazidi woman in Gaza

Fawzia Amin Sido. Until last week, that name meant nothing to me. Fawzia is a 21 year old Yazidi woman who was taken from her home in Iraq in 2014 by Islamic State, the year that their terrifying power was...

Oct 4, 2024, 12:00 AM

The art of omission

Many news outlets highlight different aspects and use various angles, when discussing the war. In the Netherlands, you have left-leaning and right-wing media, just as you would have in Israel or the US. But, we have public broadcasting as...

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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.