Opinion

• Opinion

  Bipartisan Support For Israel Is Dead. That’s A Good Thing.

  It’s become a ritual. Every time Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu do something that outrages Democrats, centrist commentators warn that they are committing a grave offense: They’re making Israel a partisan issue. The accusation has been nearly ubiquitous since the two leaders last week conspired to deny Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar’s request to…

  By Peter Beinart

  4 min read
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  Opinion

  No, Israel Didn’t Just Adopt Trump’s Muslim Ban

  On Thursday, the Israeli government made a bad decision. Under pressure from President Trump, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Interior Minister Aryeh Deri decided not to grant an exemption from Israel’s anti-boycott law to Representatives Omar and Tlaib. As a result, the two members of Congress won’t be able to enter Israel. We should be…

  By Seffi Kogen Aug 16, 2019 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Netanyahu Banned Omar And Tlaib Because The Occupation Must Be Hidden To Survive

  Most establishment American Jewish leaders think Israel’s decision to bar Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar from visiting the West Bank was, in the words of The Democratic Majority for Israel, “unwise.” Here’s our statement on the Israeli Government’s decision to deny entry to Congresswomen Tlaib and Omar. pic.twitter.com/SnF44VUWTG — Democratic Majority for Israel (@DemMaj4Israel)…

  By Peter Beinart Aug 15, 2019 | 4 min read

Columnists View All

• Jodi Rudoren This is my last column as editor of the Forward

  

• Jay Michaelson I supported Israel’s actions in Gaza in October 2023 — not anymore

  

• Rob Eshman The staggering hypocrisy behind Trump’s deal to free the last living American hostage

  

• Nora Berman How the Oct. 7 aftermath splintered the New York Dyke March

  

• Dan Perry It looks like Israel totally underestimated Trump

  

• Emily Tamkin This week proved it: Trump’s approach to antisemitism at Columbia is horribly ineffective

  

The Latest

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  Opinion

  In Barring Omar And Tlaib, Netanyahu Showed His Contempt For Liberal Jews

  For the first time in its history, Israel has officially denied entry to Members of the US Congress. Today, Israeli officials denied that they would not allow Rep. Ilhan Omar and Rep. Rashida Tlaib to travel to Israel and the Palestinian Territories. The ostensible reason Israel gave for barring the Congresswomen was their their support…

  By Alon Pinkas Aug 15, 2019 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Israel Was Right to Ban Tlaib and Omar

  There was no elegance to the messaging, but Jewish sovereignty is not a matter of slogans. The decision to deny Democratic Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib entry to Israel, which was announced on Thursday, came after their visit had already been approved. It also appeared to be in response to a remarkable tweet from…

  By Ari Hoffman Aug 15, 2019 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  Dear Reps. Omar And Tlaib: An Open Letter From A Palestinian You Won’t Get To Meet

  Dear Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, I just heard today that you won’t be arriving in Palestine this weekend. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reversed his decision, upon President Trump’s request, and will not be allowing you into the country. My heart is broken. It is broken for you, Congresswoman Tlaib, the first Palestinian…

  By Issa Amro Aug 15, 2019 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  This Is How Israeli Democracy Ends

  This morning, it was reported that Israel would be denying entry to two U.S. Congresswomen, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, who sought to visit the West Bank and East Jerusalem. But Israel’s decision to block Representatives Tlaib and Omar, though shocking, is no surprise. Rather, it is part of a trend just as alarming as…

  By Emma Goldberg Aug 15, 2019 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  I’m Israeli. Netanyahu Is Wrong. He Should Let Ilhan Omar And Rashida Tlaib Visit

  This morning, it was reported that Israel would be denying entry to two U.S. Congresswomen, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, who sought to visit the West Bank and Jerusalem — this after Ambassador Ron Dermer said that they would be allowed entry. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has apparently bowed to pressure by President Trump…

  By Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll Aug 15, 2019 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Have Your Say | Should Israel Bar Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib?

  Have Your Say is your chance to tell us what you think. Comment below or on Facebook or Twitter and let us know what you think about the question posed in the headline. Should #Israel bar @IlhanMN and @RashidaTlaib from entering the country? — The Forward (@jdforward) August 15, 2019

  By Forward Staff Aug 15, 2019 | < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  Epstein’s Death Should Come As No Surprise. America’s Prison System Is Broken.

  On Friday, The New York Times reported that Jeffrey Epstein autopsy results confirm that the disgraced financier, who was accused by multiple girls of molestation and rape, had died by suicide. No person in the custody of the state should ever, under any circumstances, be enabled to take their own life. No matter what crime…

  By Rochelle Swartz Aug 15, 2019 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  How IfNotNow Lost Its Way

  Lies come in a number of forms. You can lie by telling an outright falsehood. You can lie by distorting the truth. And you can lie by omitting crucial context. Lying by omission is uniquely nefarious, for it involves taking something that is true in its complete form and altering it such that it still…

  By Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll Aug 14, 2019 | 6 min read