Bringing regret out of the closet
Haaretz, August 9, 2009.
I usually have no interest in trying to understand the political and spiritual leaders who excel in fanning the flames of hatred against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Their xenophobic language disgusts me and is not worthy of response, only of condemnation. Today, however, I would give a great deal to know what is going through the minds of, say, Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Eli Yishai and his colleagues in the Shas party leadership, who seem to compete with each other in raising the bar of homophobia and ignorance. Do they feel sorrow in their heart of hearts this week? Or is their denial so profound that they can completely ignore their role in fomenting an atmosphere of incitement toward the gay community? (read more)

We ignore gay-bashing to our cost
The Jewish Chronicle, August 6, 2009.
What does last week’s shooting of young lesbians and gays in Tel Aviv tell us about Israeli society? It is not an easy question. As a pluralistic, democratic nation, there are many sides to Israel. How the nation views the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT ) community is every bit as varied. (read more)

The world's Jews do speak out
The Guardian online, May 25, 2009.
Don't simplify the relationship diaspora Jews have with Israel; they have never lacked the courage to speak their minds. (read more)

Bias in black and white
Haaretz, April 5, 2009.
Imagine that Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero relied exclusively for his knowledge of Middle East affairs on El Pais, his country's flagship newspaper. During his visit to Israel in January, he might have been bewildered when he arrived in the capital for meetings. What are we doing in Jerusalem, he may have asked. (read more)