Who is the real man?

Defence Minister Ehud Barak’s trip to London this week to meet American negotiator George Mitchell was unremarkable for any breakthrough on the thorny issue of settlement building. It was, however, a useful illustration of the real mindset of both sides in this uneasy relationship.

On the Israeli side, the fact that Mr Barak is the main representative in the country’s most vital strategic alliance is a sign of the dysfunctionality of Binyamin Netanyahu’s government — only 100 days after it was sworn in.

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Let’s hope Israelis will start visiting

A rethink of Beth Hatefutsot has been long overdue.

Although it was considered highly innovative when it opened in 1978 — because of the level of interactivity in its exhibits and its didactic approach — it had long become outmoded and outdated, and to most Israelis, irrelevant.

In 2003, after running into severe financial trouble, and temporarily closing, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was forced to declare it a “national asset”.

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Analysis: Bad timing for an economic upgrade

The decision last week by Morgan Stanley Capital Index (MSCI) to reclassify Israel’s economy from “emerging” to “developed” was greeted by Israeli economists with mixed feelings.

Everyone agreed that it was evidence of the improved regulation of local money markets and the robustness shown by the Israeli economy in the face of the global downturn. The Bank of Israel and other establishment sources saw it as an affirmation of their policies and a “coming of age” of the Israeli market.

Private-sector analysts were less certain.

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Analysis: We are bolstering the delusions of terrorists

Terrorist groups sometimes abandon violence and sublimate their aims in constitutional politics. The old Official IRA renounced the armed struggle and transformed itself into the small, left-wing Workers’ Party.

Similarly, the meeting between Britain’s ambassador to Lebanon and a Hizbollah MP will have been intended by the Foreign Office to strengthen the political process.

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Analysis: What David can learn from us

Here’s why most politicians accept speaking invitations: they are asked by someone they know and they don’t think quickly enough of a reason why not.

But when you are Leader of the Opposition, accepting a speaking invitation is a big deal. Not just for you; there is also your speech writing team, your press office and your physical advance team who check that you are not about to walk past a shop sign saying F Raud and Sons, and aren’t sharing a platform with someone who gives money to the BNP.

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Getting over my fear of flying… to Israel

I had always been fearful of visiting Israel. I had the opportunity to go three years ago on an interfaith trip and turned it down. I was scared of being caught in a terrorist attack, I was unnerved by what I imagined to be a constant and menacing military presence. And more than that, I was ignorant of what Israel had to offer.

I was still anxious when I landed at Ben Gurion airport recently with my group of teachers, arts educators and lecturers, excitedly discussing the nine-day programme ahead of us.

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