Topic: Shalom Hartman Institute

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Gilad Shalit prisoner swap: Why Netanyahu agreed to 1,000 Palestinians for one Israeli

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was opposed in principle to the Gilad Shalit prisoner swap. But his willingness to make an unsavory deal in the end highlights his pragmatism.
In Israel, raft of new laws shows rise of the right

A spate of right-wing legislation is picking up supporters in the Israeli public, frustrated with uncertainty and their international isolation.
Netanyahu's make-or-break speech to Congress

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, long criticized for being passive and reactionary, is under pressure to exhibit the Zionist legacy of risk-taking and initiative in his address to Congress today.
Israel's wall cements psychological divide between Arab, Jew

Many Jews and Arabs miss the daily interactions they had, whether at farm stands or in antique shops, before Israel's security barrier was erected.
Do Israel's recent efforts to bolster security undermine its democracy?

A spate of recently-passed bills in the Israeli Knesset are seen by sponsors as necessary for the state's security, but critics say they infringe on civil rights.
Rabbis tell Israeli Jews not to rent to Arabs; even Holocaust museum frowns

The call from hundreds of rabbis on Jews not to rent or sell real estate to Arabs, a 20 percent minority, has sparked a heated debate over Israel's dual ideals of Judaism and democracy.
Israeli settlers rev bulldozers as settlement freeze nears end

Just hours before the expiration of Israel's 10-month settlement freeze, Jewish settlers vow to renew building with symbolic celebrations in the West Bank.
Why Israel ignores global criticism of Gaza flotilla raid

Israel's growing isolation – including the global outcry over the May 31 Gaza flotilla raid – strengthens a pessimistic world view, say analysts. Israelis see international criticism as hyperbole linked to centuries of anti-Jewish persecution – and something that can be ignored.