This will be basic for many of my followers, but sometimes basics bear repeating. A thread on the Jewish people and their connection to the land of Israel. /1 Love for the land of Israel is an intrinsic part of Jewish peoplehood. The very word “Israel” entails both the people and the land. In the Torah, the land is promised to the Jewish people as an everlasting covenant. /2

Livetweet of Nasrallah speech /1 In the name of the beneficent and merciful /2

Livetweet of Nasrallah speech /1 In the name of the most beneficent and merciful /2

Some initial observations on this crisis of unspeakable dimensions (on Shabbat, sorry): /1 Strategically it is very likely that this is the hand of Iran attempting to prevent Israeli normalization with the Saudis. /2

Haven't done a thread in a minute... recognizing that this topic is a bit of a third rail - here are some thoughts on the “Israel attacking al-Aqsa” trope. /1 Let me begin by saying (since topic is sensitive), that I respect Islam as a great world religion & believe that Muslim religious rights should be protected in Jerusalem. And (like the Israeli government) I believe the status quo on the Temple Mount should be preserved. /2

9 observations on the situation in Afghanistan and the likely fallout: 1. Like a porch light on a summer night attracts insects, Afghanistan will attract jihadists and disaffected Muslim youth from around the world in a manner not seen since ISIS’s apex. These individuals will pose a global threat.

There are at least 3 principal dimensions at play in depicting Israel as an Apartheid / racist state (as opposed to locked into a bitter conflict between two legitimate nationalisms, spearheaded on the opposite side by Jihadist terror groups with eliminationist aims): 1. In the face of an increasingly race-obsessed Western world, it obviously helps galvanize international pressure against Israel, thereby weakening it

Some meditations on the situation, in no particular order, in 21 tweets (go ahead, pull up a chair). 1. Many kudos for Iron Dome, but it’s too seldom remarked that these systems are maintained & operated, night and day, by young IDF soldiers, many only in their teens. All credit to them for their steadfastness in bearing an awesome burden, protecting millions.

A short thread regarding an interesting albeit tragic episode of Jewish history. /1 Apart from Columbus’ embarkation, 1492 witnessed the beginning of the Spanish Inquisition under King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. /2

11 observations on the physical threats now facing American Jews /1 1.The post @ 1967 “Honeymoon” is over. American Jews do not live outside the cipher of Jewish history. Welcome to life as known by European Jews. /2

Ten observations on the Middle East. It is worth pondering that many people who are most vocal about Palestinians in the West Bank not enjoying equal rights have no quarrel with the view that a future Palestinian state should be Jew free. /1

Not something I usually do, but here’s a thread with some thoughts on the Arab-Israeli conflict and the myopia of groups like IfNotNow, and J Street 1/ Over simple, I know, but I posit that there are 3 principal dimensions to the conflict 2/