Opinion

• Opinion

  Why Trump’s Jerusalem Gambit Will Only Hurt Israel

  On its face, Donald Trump’s speech on Wednesday announcing that America would recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital seemed entirely reasonable. “Today,” he declared, “We finally acknowledge the obvious. That Jerusalem is Israel’s capital. This is nothing more or less than a recognition of reality.” Yes, Jerusalem is Israel’s capital. That is obvious. But something else…

  By Peter Beinart

  3 min read
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  Opinion

  When It Comes To Jerusalem, Trump Needs To Learn How To Share

  Welcome back to Jane Looking Forward. If you wish to continue reading this weekly newsletter, please subscribe here. And spread the word! Donald Trump promised that he would move the United States Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem as one of his earliest acts as president. Like so very many things this man has said…

  By Jane Eisner Dec 5, 2017 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Will The Flynn-Kushner-Israel Sideshow Hurt American Jews?

  Because he’s playing three-dimensional chess, it’s easy to forget what special prosecutor Robert Mueller is really after. He’s investigating the suspicion that the Donald Trump for President campaign actively colluded with Russia in its effort to undermine the election. Everything else is secondary to that investigation. Anyone incidentally run over by that train is just…

  By J.J. Goldberg Dec 5, 2017 | 5 min read

Columnists View All

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

  

• Jay Michaelson We must face reality — the Gaza War is now a war of annihilation

  

• Rob Eshman How anti-Israel rhetoric led to the killing of 2 in Washington, DC

  

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

  

• Dan Perry Netanyahu is at a crossroads: Endless war, or peace?

  

• Emily Tamkin Even if the Capital Jewish Museum shooter ‘did it for Gaza,’ his actions were antisemitic

  

The Latest

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  Opinion

  Jared Kushner Was Wrong To Undermine America — Even To Help Israel

  I am not certain which is more troubling: reading reports that Jared Kushner — before he became the most powerful Jew in the White House, when he was just the president-elect’s powerful son-in-law — secretly worked to persuade Russia to defy the Obama administration and stop a United Nations resolution condemning Israel for its settlement…

  By Jane Eisner Dec 5, 2017 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  The One Thing Trump Should Say About Jerusalem

  President Trump this week has a number of big decisions to make that will impact the prospects for Israeli-Palestinian peace. What he does will affect not only his soon-to-be unveiled peace initiative, but also the trajectory of conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, more widely. Trump’s moves this week should be judged based on whether he…

  By Michael Koplow Dec 4, 2017 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Trump Is Waging War On The Peace Process

  In the days after his election, President Donald Trump bragged that he would achieve “the ultimate deal” for Israelis and Palestinians. But on the ground, his Administration has been supporting an ultimate war on the peace process. Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law who has been charged with overseeing Middle East peace, has been unforthcoming with details….

  By Issa Amro Dec 4, 2017 | 3 min read
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  Opinion

  We Asked 20 Rabbis: What Makes You Proud To Be A Jew?

  As a part of our Rabbi Roundtable series, we brought together leading rabbis from all corners of the Jewish world to offer their thoughts on the big questions. This week, we asked our rabbis, “What makes you proud to be a Jew?” Here are their responses: Shmuly Yanklowitz, Orthodox, Uri L’Tzedek: Orthodox Social Justice: The…

  By Forward Staff Dec 4, 2017 | 8 min read
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  Opinion

  Should Trump Move The U.S. Embassy To Jerusalem?

  Have Your Say is your chance to tell us what you think. Comment below or on Facebook and let us know what you think about the question posed in the headline.

  By Forward Staff Dec 4, 2017 | < 1 min read
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  Opinion

  Was Kushner Doing the Right Thing?

  Robert Mueller’s investigation into the Trump campaign’s possible collusion with Russia took a surprising turn on Friday — to Israel. Anonymous White House sources claimed that Jared Kushner was the unnamed Trump transition member who sent the former national security adviser Michael Flynn to talk to the Russian ambassador and other foreign diplomats about a…

  By Daniel Kohn Dec 3, 2017 | 4 min read
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  Opinion

  Are Orthodox Jews Assimilating To The Christian Right?

  Orthodox Jews and evangelicals have a lot in common. Large majorities of both communities say that religion is very important to their lives — 83% of Orthodox Jews and 86% of white evangelicals. Both groups report attending religious services at much higher margins than their less fundamentalist brethren. And roughly the same number of Orthodox…

  By Batya Ungar-Sargon Dec 3, 2017 | 7 min read
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  Opinion

  Facebook Took Down The JDL’s Page. They Were Wrong.

  On Tuesday of last week at around 2 in the afternoon, Facebook took down the page for the New York chapter of the Jewish Defense League, a far-right organization that purports to protect Jews from anti-Semitism “by any means necessary” – which often includes violence. Karen Lichtbraun, a 57-year-old member of the group, had been…

  By Elisheva Goldberg Dec 1, 2017 | 6 min read