3 hours agoMassacre on the Fourth of JulyIt is tragically fitting that another gun massacre took place in the United States on the Fourth of July, as the nation marked the 246th anniversary of its founding. This happened days after the country’s Supreme Court made such massacres more likely by further easing what is the developed…Fourth Of July5 min read
3 days agoThe left can win the abortion debatePutting aside the rage over the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, which contradicted what several justices suggested they would do when they were nominees, let’s consider the GOP argument. They essentially say there is no constitutional right to abortion and that the issue is political. …Abortion4 min read
Jun 24An Israeli election primer for the baffledAs no calendar year is complete without an Israeli election, the country will apparently soon hold one. The planned November election would mark the fifth such consultation since early 2019. It’s enough to make Italy look stable, or the United States look reasonable. And it is raising the same…Israel5 min read
Jun 21You Can’t Subscribe to EverythingThat the news industry is reeling is not a matter for debate. And if there is one data point that should focus the mind for its executives — and for anyone who cares about journalism — it probably is this: for most outlets, most readers arrive from other websites, search…Media4 min read
Jun 11Is the media fair in its reporting on Ukraine?As the Ukraine war drags on journalists are looking for new angles, and so we have reached the point of introspection. Appearing on the Tel Aviv-based international channel I24, I was asked whether journalists have an obligation to be more impartial. It is something I’d often pondered when I…Russia4 min read
Jun 7Gun madness itself is America’s only unusual mental health issueThe gun madness that Americans seem prepared to accept in perpetuity is unique among developed nations and reflects an incredible paralysis in a country that for decades was a beacon of innovation and democracy for the world. And what’s amazing is that this most political of issues carries no visible…Gun Violence6 min read
May 24Is a ceasefire realistic between Russia and Ukraine?It is amazing how seriously people (or at least other journalists) take The New York Times editorial board, but it cannot be denied. …Ukraine4 min read
May 14The tragic death of an iconic journalistA few thoughts about the tragic death of Al Jazeera’s iconic journalistic Shireen Abu Akleh while covering an IDF operation in Jenin in the West Bank. The courage of journalists who cover war zones is astounding. Why do they do it? It is relevant especially today in Ukraine, obviously…Al Jazeera3 min read
May 11Is It Curtains For Foreign Correspondents? Not ExactlyWhat could be better than being a foreign correspondent? Over some decades of it I was befriended by Jamaican Maroons, grilled by Moldovan peasants and labelled “zen” by Bono. I huddled with Yasser Arafat, offended Prince Phillip and was abandoned in mid-interview by John McCain. …Media5 min read
May 8Ukraine’s resistance is a reminder of the power of democracyMany in the West are surprised by the ferocity of Ukraine’s resistance to the war unleashed by Vladimir Putin. They shouldn’t be. Ukrainians, including the Russian speakers among them, are fighting like hell not just for independence from Russia — but for freedom from tyranny. …Democracy4 min read