A Paradoxical Moment for the Middle East
Blink and you might miss how rapidly the Middle East is changing. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) negotiated by President Barack Obama, better known as the Iran nuclear deal, created heightened instability. But that deal, along with Obama’s desire to disengage from the Middle East, prompted a willingness among Gulf Arab states … Continue reading
The Hidden Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Campaign
The anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement—which grew out of the U.N.’s 2001 conference against racism in Durban, South Africa—campaigns openly on college campuses and in progressive spaces. There are even members of Congress who voice the movement’s interests within the Capitol. But what if a significant contribution to its cause has actually been buried in social … Continue reading
Amnesty International’s Problematic Israel Report
The term “apartheid” evokes horrific images from nearly half a century of South African oppression. Given how charged a word it is, it’s imperative that those applying it to other contexts substantiate the allegation with solid evidence. A recent reportfrom Amnesty International fails in that regard. “Crime of Apartheid: The Government of Israel’s System of Oppression … Continue reading
Publishers against the People of the Book
Writing stars such as Saul Bellow and Philip Roth illuminated the postwar era, a veritable golden age for American Jewish authors. The People of the Book were storytellers for popular consumption, and publishers eagerly kept those stories coming. What was once a love affair between Jewish writers and the publishing industry, however, is looking more … Continue reading
Progressive pints: The politicization of ice cream
Ice cream companies aren’t usually known for their foreign policy. Then again, Ben & Jerry’s isn’t typical, and they clearly have strong opinions about Israel. The Vermont ice cream maker has always been synonymous with progressivism. They’re so committed to those views, in fact, that they remained one of only four corporate partners for the … Continue reading
Israel tests the Olympics’ commitment to nondiscrimination — again
The Tokyo Olympics have yet to begin. Yet tiny Israel is already testing the International Olympic Committee’s commitment to its mission. Last week, the United Nations Human Rights Council held its quadrennial panel on “leveraging sport and the Olympic ideal for promoting human rights for young people.” The famously Israel-obsessed council affirmed “the Olympic ideal … [of] … Continue reading
How everyday people can help Israel and support peace in the Middle East
This year can no longer be written off as a complete annus horribilis. Against all odds, peace appears to be breaking out in the Middle East. Last week, Israel doubled the number of formal peace agreements with its regional Arab neighbors, leapfrogging from two to four. To borrow a phrase from the Democratic presidential nominee, … Continue reading
The United Nations Releases An Anti-Israel Blacklist
If there’s one group you can count on, it’s the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Their members are not terribly concerned about human rights, particularly within their own borders, but they sure are consumed by hatred for Israel. In March 2016, UNHRC decided the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights should release a blacklist of companies … Continue reading
Like Pepsi, Democrats Need To Reverse Course On Boycotting Israel
In the fall of 1983, shortly before my fifth birthday, I visited Israel for the first time. I vividly recall stopping at a roadside stand just shy of the Lebanese border. It was sunny, scorching even, and my little sister and I were parched. So our parents treated us to cold soda. We were enchanted … Continue reading
melissa langsam braunstein 
Sally Rooney’s nonsensical anti-Israel statement
Posted by melissa braunstein on October 22, 2021 · Leave a Comment
The controversy surrounding Irish author Sally Rooney’s new novel, Beautiful World, Where Are You, appears to be on the downswing. Now that Rooney has clarified that she takes issue with Israel, and not the Hebrew language spoken by Israelis, the public discussion has morphed. At least in some quarters, there appears to be less heat and … Continue reading →
Filed under Clips, Cultural Commentary, Judaism · Tagged with Anti-Zionism, Antisemitism, Israel, Jews, Sally Rooney