Mark Lavie, at The Blogs

Feb 12, 2021, 12:05 AM

Biden: Don’t waste time on the Palestinians

So the new American president hasn't called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yet. The horror of horrors. Insult of insults. Seriously, many Israelis are all bent out of shape about this. As if Israel is the center of the...

Dec 29, 2020, 8:43 AM

Corona crisis: What would Joseph do?

Imagine that biblical hero Joseph is ruling Israel today, facing the corona pandemic crisis. What would he do? We’re reading about Joseph and his exploits these days in our weekly Torah portions. He went from offensive teenager to captive slave...

Sep 25, 2020, 9:43 AM

Corona lesson for Yom Kippur—morality, not rights

There are no absolute rights. Not the right of free speech Not the right to assemble. Not the right to pray in a synagogue. There’s a cacophony of voices, some sincere and others opportunistic, trumpeting their right to protest against...

Sep 13, 2020, 7:01 PM

Welcome to our beautiful Corona hotel!

A two-week “vacation” in a Corona hotel! That’s one of three new solutions for stopping the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Israel. We’ve tried several methods already. They include requiring masks and social distancing. Imposing lockdowns of various degrees....

Jul 22, 2020, 9:44 AM

Halacha and COVID-19 — fateful choices

We Orthodox Jews appear to be having a “coronavirus contest”—who can say “no” the most. A rabbi rules that people praying on close but separate balconies can’t be considered a “minyan,” a prayer quorum of 10 men. A rabbi...

Jul 17, 2020, 2:20 PM

COVID-19 — This is the time for changes

The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the worst natural tragedies to befall the human race in this generation. But please humor me if I find some bright spots, and offer a suggestion of how to make things better by taking...

May 25, 2020, 12:54 PM

Believe the experts because they’re the experts

Once upon a time, this statement, from a Facebook post, would not have raised any eyebrows: “I am an expert in very, very few things. But in those areas, my expertise is hard earned through study, work, experience, and aptitude....

Mar 8, 2020, 10:49 AM

Two election reforms that would actually work

The string of inconclusive elections in Israel means we must make some changes. Here are two that would work: Runoffs Term limits Of course, realigning the electorate in accordance with real challenges instead of puffed-up “security” issues would be a...

Sep 23, 2019, 3:03 PM

Featured Post

Let Arab parties into the ruling coalition

One day we'll look back on the old days when Arab parties were automatically excluded from government and wonder why

Sep 15, 2019, 1:08 PM

Israel’s election results guaranteed

I can already tell you what the outcome of the Israeli election will be: Wrong. That’s because it’s being fought over the wrong issue. It’s a contest between Bibi (Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) and Bibi-lite (Benny Gantz et al). It’s misconceived “right”...

About Me

MARK LAVIE has been covering the Middle East as a news correspondent, analyst and author since he moved to Israel in 1972. Most of his work has been in radio news, starting as an anchor and reporter for Israel Radio's English-language news service and continuing as Middle East correspondent for radio networks including NPR, NBC, Mutual, and CBC in Canada, then 15 years with The Associated Press, both radio and print. He won the New York Overseas Press Club's Lowell Thomas Award for “Best radio interpretation of foreign affairs” in 1994. His second book, “Why Are We Still Afraid?” is a personal look at 46 years of Israeli history, and it comes to a clear and surprising conclusion.

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