taxes


	El Al, privatized

Fri 4 Jun 2004
The Wall Street Journal
Will peace processing undermine Israel’s economy, again?

Politics, especially related to security and the putative peace process, have always dominated Israeli public life. They became, inevitably, an end in themselves, consuming immense energies and resources. As a result, Israel neglected its many economic and social problems, with negative repercussions on security and peace as well.

The present political turmoil in Israel over the reshuffling of Sharon’s coalition is a good example. It seems that for the sake of an uncertain disengagement plan – a unilateral withdrawal, really – Sharon is going to threaten the one major achievement of his coalition: an economic reform that will greatly strengthen Israel and also enhance its ability to make peace.

Thu 28 Aug 2003
The Jerusalem Post
About deception and decency

My previous column, “NIF’s not-so-hidden political agenda” (14 August 2003) claimed that the New Israel’s Fund website misrepresented its Negev Beduin program as yet another civil rights initiative. I thought it was a calculated effort to radicalize the Beduin and provoke a confrontation between an erstwhile loyal community and Israel.

Through its Shatil executive arm the New Israel Fund has supported Beduin who break Israeli law by seizing strategic government land, apparently with Palestinian Authority help and encouragement. Shatil activists named this project “The Palestinian Project,” even though the Beduin are Israeli citizens, not Palestinian ones. In this way they try further to erode Beduin fealty to Israel and transfer it to the PA.

Thu 14 Aug 2003
The Jerusalem Post
NIF’s not-so-hidden political agenda

The New Israel Fund’s director, Eliezer Ya’ari, recently denied charges that his fund, and its Shatil subsidiary, are exploiting the single mothers’ protest to promote a radical leftist and anti-Zionist political agenda, and that they have patronizingly imposed the unelected Knafo group as “representative leadership.”

He insisted that the NIF is “an apolitical civic organization” assisting “social change” and human rights, providing a voice to weakened sectors. Ya’ari never defines what kind of “social change” the NIF promotes, but the fact that almost all of the many organizations Shatil has spawned among immigrants and “development-town” residents espouse a radical leftist ideology, while none are centrist or right, makes it clear.