Dear all,
The Israeli Knesset is taking its spring recess next week, so there’s been a flurry of activity trying to get legislation passed through before then – sound familiar? But while the Knesset committees debate how to prevent leaks from their own meetings, the Israeli media is busy with another internal hot potato: a restructuring of the public television network that has for so long been at the forefront of Israel’s reporting. It has been accused of bias over the years – another familiar issue to you, I’m sure. And it has been accused of being a socialism-dinosaur leftover from the age of the Labor Party and the beginnings of our State.
Time to enable a free media in another manner? Yes. Netanyahu under fire from various sides vying to survive or to claim the leftovers? Sure. But one thing to remember: Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. Absolutely. It’s that simple. And if our friends forget that from time to time, forget the very basics of a democracy, one that can only be found here, they should be reminded. Sit down to negotiate with our neighbors? Sure. Work towards understandings? Yes. But know that only Israel holds the same truths to be self evident. Only Israel is the United States’ true ally in this neck of the woods.
