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Articles by Jeff Barak
A 'Trumpian' vassal: Has Israel maintained autonomy, or become the 51st US state? - opinion
ByJEFF BARAKAPRIL 21, 2026 18:30 On the 78th anniversary of Israel’s founding, nothing quite sums up Israel’s status as a Trumpian vassal than the United States flags fluttering in the spring breeze alongside Israeli flags on the main highway leading to Jerusalem. Each year, the highway is bedecked in the blue-and-white flag, flying proudly as the country celebrates Israel’s independence; only this year, the Zionist symbol is sharing prominence with the Stars and Stripes.
AI-Powered Network Optimization: Unlocking 5G's Full Potential with Amdocs and Google Cloud
The telecom industry is in the midst of a significant network transformation as it faces mounting pressure to reduce operational costs, enhance network resiliency, and deliver exceptional customer experiences. To achieve these goals, telecom operators are investing and migrating their 5G ecosystem to distributed networks built upon cloud-native technologies.
The Gen AI-powered search for growth at Digital Transformation World
“What gets me very excited,” the Microsoft CTO continued “is how you can use Gen AI to generate new revenues from new services, for example, use AI to prevent fraud of elderly relatives in live phone conversations, monitor children’s voice calls/chats to protect them.” Partnering for growth was an element of Amdocs general manager Sarit Assaf’s appearance on the conference’s main stage, alongside Microsoft vice president telecommunications, Silvia Candiani, in conversation with TM Forum chief...
The GenAI-powered search for growth at Digital Transformation World
“What gets me very excited,” the Microsoft CTO continued “is how you can use GenAI to generate new revenues from new services, for example, use AI to prevent fraud of elderly relatives in live phone conversations, monitor children’s voice calls/chats to protect them.” Partnering for growth was an element of Amdocs general manager Sarit Assaf’s appearance on the conference’s main stage, alongside Microsoft vice president telecommunications, Silvia Candiani, in conversation with TM Forum chief...
Israel Elections: Voters must take stock of LGBTQ-phobia in parties
Fighting for its political survival, with the polls pointing to it precariously hovering around the 3.25% electoral threshold, the last thing Meretz needed last week was for Ghaida Rinawie-Zoabi to alienate potential LGBT voters, one the key constituencies the candidate’s party represents.
Yesh Atid's Yair Lapid willing to cooperate with Arab parties
Lapid’s answer is a positive sea-change in the political discourse surrounding the Joint Arab List. MK YAIR LAPID: Arab parties deserve being part of decision-making process. (photo credit: OREN BEN HAKOON/FLASH90) Given his surprising silence throughout this election campaign, when Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid finally says something substantial, it’s worth paying attention.
Reality check: It's all down to Lapid - opinion
Polls show there is an anti-Netanyahu majority in the country YESH ATID Party chairman MK Yair Lapid speaks in the Knesset in August. (photo credit: OREN BEN HAKOON/FLASH90) In a way, life would be easier for Benjamin Netanyahu right now if he were leading the opposition and not the incumbent prime minister fighting next month’s elections. It doesn’t take much imagination to conjure up the attacks Bibi the opposition leader would launch on Netanyahu the prime minister.
For Netanyahu, the ultra-Orthodox have always come first
After a mass wedding party in a haredi enclave was broken up by the police at the end of last week and its organizers were handed significant fines, the prime minister issued a strong statement of support for the police, backing them for “taking action against people who flagrantly and selfishly ignore the rules.” The chief rabbi went further. “This is a most shameful desecration of all that we hold dear,” he said.
Netanyahu's showmanship made COVID-19 vaccine arrival about him - opinion
With the vaccine’s arrival, one would think it was Bibi himself who had created it Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the arrival of the first batch of Pfizer coronavirus vaccines in Israel (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM) As someone who can’t sing, I’m full of admiration for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his video duet of the classic Arik Einstein song “Yesh Bi Ahava” with Eden Ben Zaken.
It's time to end the farce of this government
The government has been in power for all of seven months and already it’s time to put it out of its misery. Alternate Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Benny Gantz and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seen during a vote at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem on August 24, 2020. (photo credit: OREN BEN HAKOON/FLASH90) It might be a case, as the English say, of turkeys voting for Christmas, but Benny Gantz and his Blue and White Party have no choice.
Reevaluating Trump’s legacy as a friend of Israel
Even Netanyahu is no longer shamelessly fanning the US president’s ego Us President Donald Trump uses a speakerphone to talk with leaders of Israel and Sudan, in the Oval Office at the White House last month.
Is Netanyahu turning Israel into an unhealthy democracy? -opinion
Not only our physical well-being but the health of our society has been sorely tested during lockdown. WILL PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu turn a blind eye to mass haredi evasion and risk allowing coronavirus to spread again and set off a third wave of infection in the country? (photo credit: YOSSI ALONI/FLASH90) Not only our physical well-being but the health of our democracy has been sorely tested during this time.
Trump or Netanyahu, who to believe about the UAE - opinion
Once more, we have to turn to that most unlikely source of truth: the US president. ISRAELI F-35 takes off from an airbase in southern Israel (photo credit: AMIT AGRONOV/ISRAEL AIR FORCE) In the case of Israel’s accord with the United Arab Emirates, Trump’s version is more credible than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Whom to believe: Netanyahu or Trump?With both men’s well-deserved reputation for mendacity, it’s a tough one to call.
Netanyahu vs. Gantz: A budget battle that has nothing to do with economic
If elections are the price Israel has to pay for providing Netanyahu with a chance of escaping justice, then he will make us pay it. WITH HIS court case looming on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is launching a last-ditch campaign against the levers of civil society, in particular the judiciary, the police and the role of the free press.
Is Netanyahu heading for elections?
As soon as January date for testimony was declared, the die was cast. COUNTING THE ballots last week, a day after the general elections.
NFL's Washington team to retire Redskins name and logo
"Today, we are announcing we will be retiring the Redskins name and logo upon completion of this review," the team said in a statement. By REUTERS JULY 14, 2020 00:42 Protest against the name of the Washington Redskins (photo credit: Wikimedia Commons) The US National Football League's Washington team announced on Monday it will retire its Redskins name and logo, which it has used since 1933 but which has long been criticized as racist by Native American rights groups.
Amid pandemic, wealthy US families approved for government loans
About 2,000 firms that manage money or advise on investments, such as hedge funds or wealth advisers, were approved for loans meant to shore up payroll and rent costs for small companies. By REUTERS JULY 14, 2020 00:23 FROM LEFT: Baron David de Rothschild, Lord Jacob Rothschild, Ronald S. Lauder and Robert Kraft.
German gov’t removes Taiwan flag, permits Palestine flag
"The foreign ministry representative claimed the change was in keeping with Germany's ‘one China policy."’ Honor guards perform Taiwan national flag lowering ceremony at Liberty Square in Taipei, (photo credit: REUTERS) The foreign ministry of Germany deleted the flag of the state of Taiwan from its website while allowing the non-state of Palestine to remain on its homepage, sparking outrage on social media and from Taiwan’s government about bias.
China's CanSino in talks for COVID-19 vaccine Phase III trial overseas
China’s success in driving down COVID-19 infections has made it harder to conduct large-scale vaccine trials, and so far only a few countries have agreed to work with it.
Berkovich removes himself as national coach nominee, Arab players oppose
Prior to his resignation as a possible candidate, Arab players from Israel's national team dispatched a message to Israel's Football Association, opposing Berkovich's appointment Tal Ben-Haim and Omer Damari of the Israel national soccer team (photo credit: REUTERS) The committee responsible for appointing Israel's next national soccer coach will meet soon in order to examine their possible candidates, after Israel's previous national coach, Andreas Herzog, resigned earlier in June.Prior to...
BIRD Foundation to invest $8 million in joint US-Israeli Projects
Ten new projects were selected, including in the fields of cybersecurity, AI, and healthcare IT By CYBERTECH JULY 13, 2020 18:25 Handshake [Illustrative] (photo credit: INIMAGE) The BIRD Foundation promotes collaboration between US and Israeli companies across a number of technological fields including cybersecurity, AI, and biomedical health. The Foundation provides conditional grants of up to $1 million for approved projects and assists companies to identify potential strategic partners.
PID close to completing probe of Iyad al-Halak
Investigators: None of the cameras taped shooting of special ed. victim Iyad al-Halak, who was killed by Border Police a few weeks ago. (photo credit: COURTESY OF THE FAMILY) The Police Investigations Department announced Monday night that they are close to the end of their probe of the shooting of unarmed east Jerusalem special needs resident Iyad al-Halak by police.
Yair Netanyahu must stop the insults
Besides being outrageous, this type of rhetoric is dangerous. Yair Netanyahu, son of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, seen in court in Tel Aviv on December 10, 2018, where he testified in a NIS 140,000 libel suit he filed last year against Abie Binyamin, a social activist. (photo credit: FLASH90) What is the easiest way to delegitimize a group of people who have dedicated their careers to serving the State of Israel and its people?
BGU researchers find it's easy to get personal data from Zoom screenshots
Scientists warn that users should not post screen images of their video conference sessions on social media By CYBERTECH JULY 13, 2020 18:54 Members of the city commission to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vote during a meeting via Zoom video link in Lviv, Ukraine March 26, 2020.
Court rules for NSO, Defense Ministry in Amnesty lawsuit
Judge declines to revoke export license, but does not explain.
Jerusalem site removes synagogue list after order to represent all faiths
"Instead of welcoming the multitude of religions and varieties in the city, the municipality prefers to make far-fetched excuses." A general view of Jerusalem as seen from the Mount of Olives shows the Dome of the Rock, located in Jerusalem's Old City on the compound known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount, June 21, 2018 (photo credit: REUTERS/AMMAR AWAD) The website of the Jerusalem Municipality deleted a list of synagogues located in the city after a court ruled...
Harvey Weinstein accusers call $18.9 mln New York settlement 'cruel hoax'
The settlement is "a cruel hoax" and among "the most one-sided and unfair class settlements in history." By REUTERS JULY 13, 2020 22:24 Film producer Harvey Weinstein arrives at the New York Criminal Court during his ongoing sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City (photo credit: REUTERS) Six women who claim they were sexually abused by Harvey Weinstein urged a US judge on Monday to reject an $18.9 million settlement with the disgraced movie producer, the board of his...
Netanyahu to Deri: Nobody wants to discriminate against haredi community
Deri reportedly accused Netanyahu during the meeting that there is clear discrimination in enforcing coronavirus restrictions against the haredi community.
Palestinians appalled by assassination of ‘collaborator’ murderer
The assassination came amid unconfirmed reports that Hamas has arrested a number of its members on suspicion of collaboration with Israel.
Coronavirus crisis: Where in the world is Gantz?
Only this time the question is not where is Gantz the candidate, but where is Gantz the Alternate Prime Minister and Defense Minister. Alternate Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Benny Gantz at the weekly cabinet meeting, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem on June 28, 2020.
Bar-Ilan University hones the power of multiple magnetic states
These types of advancements could be used towards storing data, magnetic sensing as well as neuromorphic computing. By JERUSALEM POST STAFF JULY 13, 2020 13:00 Bar-Ilan University researchers have shown that relatively simple magnetic thin film structures of N crossing ellipses can support two to the power of 2N magnetic states -- much greater than previously thought -- and demonstrated switching between the states with spin currents.
Trump bashes US health experts, Fauci urges caution, as virus cases surge
Fauci's emphasis on protections including physical distancing, wearing masks, avoiding crowds and washing hands have put him at odds with a president eager to get people back to work to boost the eco By REUTERS JULY 13, 2020 23:15 U.S. President Donald Trump listens to Dr Anthony Fauci discuss the Trump administration's guidelines for "Opening Up America Again" during the daily coronavirus task force briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 16, 2020.
Can America come back from calamity and crisis?
American legend is built on highly imperfect people who strove to create a more perfect union. WORKMEN GET READY to load the toppled Richmond Howitzers Monument, erected in 1892 to commemorate a Confederate artillery unit, onto a truck, after protesters against racial inequality pulled it down in Richmond, Virginia, on Wednesday.
Proposed China-Iran deal is bad news for Israel
The American “maximum pressure” campaign has clearly had a major impact on Iran, but a massive influx of Chinese investments will go a long way towards undoing it.
Has Farrakhanism become mainstream in the US?
This form of American antisemitism is more mainstream today. louis farrakhan 150 REUTERS (photo credit: REUTERS) An article at In recent weeks a deluge of racist anti-Jewish comments have been made in the US. It started with NFL player DeSean Jackson quoting a fake Hitler quote that claimed “the white Jews know that the Negroes are the real Children of Israel and to keep America’s secret the Jews will blackmail America.
In first, Saudi academic publishes paper in Israeli journal
It is unprecedented for a Saudi researcher to choose to publish his article in an Israeli academic journal, in order to bring the two nations closer. A man reading a paper (photo credit: INGIMAGE) A professor from King Saud University in Riyadh published an article in Hebrew in an Israeli academic journal, which is unprecedented, according to Tel Aviv University. Prof.
Turkey will inform UNESCO about Hagia Sophia moves
The site was inscribed onto UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1985 under Historic Areas of Istanbul, along with other points of significance in the city. By JERUSALEM POST STAFF JULY 13, 2020 13:21 TURKISH PRESIDENT Recep Tayyip Erdogan originally proposed re-titling Hagia Sophia as a mosque instead of a museum in March, and last month proposed restoring mosque status to the 6th-century landmark.
Israel will always be a Jewish state
Israel’s greatest security risk was a binational state from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. A WORKER at Ashdod port coordinates a crane to hang a giant Israeli national flag. (photo credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN) Beinart’s advocacy of a binational state to replace the Jewish State of Israel is far more insidious than it may appear at first glance.
Iran endangers ‘Israel and Jewish’ people in Germany
“Spying activities against (pro) Israeli and (pro) Jewish targets in Germany are therefore part of the task of intelligence agencies in Iran,” wrote the German intelligence officials in the report.
Judges watchdog clears Hayut of any conflict violation
Rebukes another justice for nondisclosure. SUPREME COURT President Esther Hayut shares the bench with Justice Uri Shoham. (photo credit: Courtesy) Ombudsman for Complaints Against Judges Uri Shoham on Monday cleared Supreme Court President Esther Hayut of any violation of conflict-of-interest principles following a complaint by Likud MK Shlomo Karai.
Second Temple period Jewish ritual bath uncovered, in need of rescuing
The 2,000-year-old facility was revealed during a salvage excavation by the Israel Antiquities Authority. Second Temple period mikve uncovered in Lower Galilee. (photo credit: COURTESY OF STEVE GRAY AND ANAT HARREL.) A Second Temple period Jewish ritual bath was discovered by chance last month in the Lower Galilee and a group of locals are trying to save it from its current destiny of destruction.
Azerbaijan and Armenia - When conflict clouds COVID-19 judgment
There are some governments whose fixation on conflict prevents them from embracing a mindset of solidarity. By PAUL MILLER JULY 13, 2020 12:20 President Serzh Sarksyan (L) of Armenia and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan meet for talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at the invitation of Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter in Bern, Switzerland December 19, 2015.
Netanyahu, Katz’s safety net approved in government
I did not go to Knesset for a handout, I want to be given the chance to work again, Stier Group president tells ‘Post’ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sits next to foreign minister Israel Katz during a cabinet meeting (photo credit: REUTERS) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Israel Katz gained the cabinet’s approval on Monday for the second part of the 2020-2021 Safety Net program, meant to offer unemployed Israelis benefits until June 2021, scaled assistance...
Fighting breaks out on Azerbaijan-Armenia border
Though a ceasefire was agreed in 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia continue to accuse each other of shooting attacks around Nagorno-Karabakh. By REUTERS JULY 13, 2020 20:50 Armenia (photo credit: MEITAL SHARABI) The two former Soviet republics have long been in conflict over Several Azeri and Armenian soldiers have been killed or wounded in border clashes, both countries said on Monday, each accusing the other of encroaching on its territory.
Ultra-Orthodox parties won’t oppose one-year budget
Blue and White insisting that two-year budget pledge be honored to forestall dissolution of government before Gantz can become prime minister. Interior Minister Arye Deri (right) and Health Minister Ya'acov Litzman (far left) attend a meeting in Jerusalem.
In this window of opportunity, Israel should seek victory over annexation
While the application of sovereignty can become a defining moment in the conflict, it is not paradigm-changing. By ALEX SELSKY JULY 13, 2020 22:19 WHILE THE application of sovereignty can become a defining moment in the conflict, it is not paradigm-changing. Pictured: Palestinian supporters of Hamas attend a rally against Israel’s West Bank annexation plans, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, earlier this month.
Donald Trump and his management of the rule of law
This bellicosity has given rise to the narrative that Trump is not just lawless, but a dictator. By WILLIAM COOPER JULY 13, 2020 22:45 A PROTESTER holds a sign outside the US Supreme Court in Washington last Wednesday. (photo credit: JONATHAN ERNST / REUTERS) Let’s start with his lack of understanding. When it comes to the rule of law, The Supreme Court ruled last week that a New York prosecutor may seek President Trump’s personal financial documents.
Israel emergency medicine head advocates end to 24-hour shifts
A talk with Prof. Mike Drescher of the Israel Association of Emergency Medicine Professor Mike Drescher, Chief of Emergency Medicine at Beilinson Hospital and chairman of the Israel Association of Emergency Medicine (photo credit: AVIV CHOFI) Prof.
Parents of olim who are expecting a baby are allowed to travel to Israel
The exception is only for parents who have given birth in the past month, or are expected to give birth in the coming month - "a month before, and a month after your expected delivery." By JERUSALEM POST STAFF JULY 13, 2020 11:29 Nanit's smart baby monitor (photo credit: NANIT) MK Michal Cotler Wunsh reported on Sunday that the Israeli Population and Immigration Authorities will be allowing the parents of new immigrants (olim) who are expecting to give birth or who have given birth in the...
Hugging a tree in Israel to beat the coronavirus blues
At the park, about 15 km (nine miles) north of Tel Aviv, tree-huggers such as Barbara Grant heeded the advice during a tour arranged by the Authority. By REUTERS JULY 13, 2020 14:06 A woman takes part in a campaign by Israel's Nature and Parks Authority calling on people to join sightseeing tours and find comfort in tree hugging amid a spike in the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Jerusalem July 9, 2020 (photo credit: REUTERS/RONEN ZEVULUN) Can't embrace friends and family these days?
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