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An Opportunity to Rethink Mandatory Service
Andrew Bennett, Times of Israel, June 3, 2012
“There is an elegant solution to the political gridlock over the Tal law: end compulsory military service in Israel. The Tal law issue has dominated Israeli politics for months, ever since late February when the High Court of Justice ruled the law unconstitutional. On August 1 the Tal law will be void. Before then, the Knesset must devise a way to assuage the Haredi community while ensuring that Israeli society shares in the burden of military service fairly and equally.”
Guardian: Violence breaks out in Lebanon amid fears that Syria conflict is spreading
Conal Urquhart, The Guardian, June 2, 2012
by new legs
NYT: Secret ‘Kill List’ Tests Obama’s Principles
Jo Becker and Scott Shane, The New York Times, May 29, 2012
Economist: Strife in Yemen
The Economist, May 26, 2012
Wired: Senate Panel Cuts Off Navy's Biofuel Buys
Noah Shachtman, Wired (Danger Room), May 24, 2012
Wired: Clinton Goes Commando, Sells Diplomats as Shadow Warriors
David Axe, Wired (Danger Room), May 24, 2012
AFP: Mali leader attacked as anger erupts over transition deal
Serge Daniel, AFP, May 21, 2012
NYR: No Accountability for Torture
David Cole, New York Review of Books, May 7, 2012
Ani Ma’amin by Hadag Nahash & The Revolution Orchestra, live at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center
(Source: youtube.com)
Economist: Another rebellion is brewing in Congo's lawless east
The Economist, May 5, 2012
ToI: Israeli PM Netanyahu's political masterstroke buys him room for maneuver. How will he use it?
David Horovitz, Times of Israel, May 8, 2012
Also noteworthy:
Labor Party head Shelly Yachimovich’s denounced the deal as “an alliance of cowards and the most ridiculous and ludicrous zigzag in Israeli political history.” The objections also came from the right, with Likud MK Danny Danon calling the agreement, “a blow to the settlement enterprise, a blow to Likud’s values, and a blow to the Israeli public…”
The coalition of 94 of the 120 MKs is one of the largest in Israeli history. Is it too large to govern?
Netanyahu destroyed Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid party, if not Lapid’s entire political career.
Netanyahu, while a dismal leader, is a brilliant politician.
Kadima head Shaul Mofaz zooms past Mitt Romney to become the world’s best flip-flopper.
AP: 23 people killed, most decapitated, in Mexican city near US border
Associated Press, May 4, 2012
See also Drug war slayings snuffing out news in Mexico, by Olga R. Rodriguez and E. Eduardo Castillo, Associated Press, May 4, 2012