David Ben-Gurion

From Washington to Vance: The risks of America's Middle East entanglements - opinion

The “situation” of Washington’s day is no more. Yet, in another sense, its leaders and politicians keep managing not to avoid unfortunate entanglements.

US Vice President JD Vance speaks on Joe Rogan's podcast, published July 15, 2026.
 PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a memorial ceremony for Ze’ev Jabotinsky at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, last year.

How Ze'ev Jabotinsky shaped Israel's Right and liberal democracy - opinion

The Knesset House Committee votes to advance the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties' bill that seeks to enshrine Torah Study in the country's Basic Law. June 30, 2026.

Voting rights and PACs: Solutions for the haredi draft evasion problem - opinion

Irvin Unger presents his new book on Arthur Szyk (see Monday).

Jerusalem highlights: June 12-18


National service for all is a moral imperative - opinion

Upon reaching 18, all should be required to serve the country, in military or civilian service, as their civic duty.

A MEMBER of the Military Police checks the identity card of an enlisting soldier, at IDF recruitment headquarters in Tel Hashomer.

Aliyah isn't a sacrifice, but it still takes some getting used to - opinion

Aliyah may have been a sacrifice 30 years ago, but today it is no more difficult than moving to any other country.

 NEW IMMIGRANTS from North America arrive at Ben Gurion Airport on a special flight on behalf of the Nefesh B'Nefesh organization, in 2019

The debt to the Jewish rebels against Rome - opinion

Brushing aside negative portrayals of the ancient rebels, the Zionists made an ideological connection to them because they had bequeathed an important legacy.

DAVID BEN-GURION showing guests around Sde Boker.

What do Pharaoh, Moses teach Israel about its leadership crisis?

MIDDLE ISRAEL: There was a time when leaders thought of things larger than themselves.

DAVID BEN-GURION showing guests around Sde Boker.

Air conditioning system in PM Ben-Gurion's Sde Boker home restored

Teams of retired technicians came back for a special project: restoring a long-retired air conditioning unit in the former home of Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion.

 Tadiran air conditioner technicians Yehuda Amergi and Moshe Schwartz

Israel is neither halachic or Western, it is a unique democracy - opinion

In law, morality is necessary for mishpat tzedek (justice) to be done and if justice is done and seen, peace will result.

 IN 1980, justice Aharon Barak decided that Jewish law would be merely a source of inspiration to judges. In 2019, he disavowed his 1980 decision.

Zionists didn’t wait for the Messiah - opinion

To those who believed in waiting for the Messiah, they said we can return to Israel without a Messiah.

 GOD’S PROVIDENCE is perceived in Israel’s success. Former prime minister David Ben-Gurion said, ‘In Israel, in order to be a realist, you must believe in miracles… Life is more than blind forces.’

How should Avraham Stern be remembered? - opinion

The once Zionist renegade is now part of the Israeli mainstream - but was he more terrorist or freedom fighter?

 OVER THE decades since his death, Avraham “Yair” Stern has increasingly edged into the Israeli consensus, says the writer.

On this day: First ever election to the Knesset held in 1949

David Ben-Gurion won the elections and became Israel's first prime minister and Chaim Weizmann became Israel's first president.

 The Knesset building, home of Israel's legislature, in Jerusalem, on November 14, 2022 (Illustrative).

New AI app lets you talk to historical figures, including Hitler

The "Historical Figures" app allows you to have conversations with any of 20,000 prominent people from history (including some key Israeli figures).

Adolf Hitler (R) with Commander-in-Chief of the German Army Walther von Brauchitsch, Warsaw, October 1939