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Jun 25, 2018, 8:39 PM

My Late Father: The Greatest Generation Up Close

Twenty years ago this week, my father passed away. In his declining years, he had few friends and only a tiny family, and since he was almost obsessively modest about himself, little was known about him outside a small circle....

Jun 6, 2018, 8:23 PM

A Tragic Anniversary: The End of Jewish Life in Libya

Fifty-one years ago this month, the world was transfixed by the Six-Day War raging between Israel and its Arab neighbors, triggered by genocidal threats from Cairo and Damascus to annihilate the Jewish state, troop mobilization toward Israeli borders, and...

Jun 1, 2018, 1:06 PM

Why history still matters: The 1967 Six Day War

Mordechai Gur (seated, with black curly hair) and his troops survey the Old City before launching their attack, May 1967. (photo credit: Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA/Mazel123)

Setting the record straight with 10 key facts everyone should know about the Six Day War

May 19, 2018, 12:48 AM

Hamas: Not Exactly a “Peace and Love” Enterprise

Try as I might, there are some things I just don’t get. One of them is the failure by many – in political circles, the media, and even segments of the Jewish community – to understand Israel’s unenviable security situation...

Apr 15, 2018, 1:51 PM

Consider the sweep of only 7 decades and marvel at the miracle of a decimated people building a modern, vibrant state

Apr 10, 2018, 7:52 AM

Israel Versus Hamas: The Case for Moral Clarity

Two centuries ago, the great German poet Goethe said: “The hardest thing to see is what is in front of your eyes.” It’s as true today as it was then. The difference between Hamas and Israel couldn’t be greater, yet you...

Feb 2, 2018, 6:13 PM

Polish-Jewish Relations: A Case Study in What Can Go Wrong

One day, I fear, what is currently happening in Polish-Israeli and Polish-Jewish relations will become a case study for universities and diplomatic academies around the world in how an outwardly strong partnership can unravel practically overnight. The core lesson will...

Jan 28, 2018, 7:04 PM

Poland and the Jewish World: A Defining Moment

When I went to my first Polish-Jewish encounter, in Chicago, in the early 1980s, I was struck by how thin was the veneer of relationships. While everyone at the table professed a desire to be there and contribute to forging...

Jan 27, 2018, 6:41 AM

An Open Letter to Karl Erjavec, Foreign Minister of Slovenia

Dear Minister Erjavec, You are on record as calling for your country to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state as soon as possible. In doing so, you have said that you believe this would advance the prospects for peace in the region. As...

Jan 4, 2018, 9:55 PM

Shame: 10 Ways Israel Is Treated Differently

The recent focus on the Jerusalem issue is a telling reminder that Israel is treated according to a totally different standard than other countries in the international system. Of course, Israel deserves attention and scrutiny as does every other nation....

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About Me

David Harris is the CEO of the American Jewish Committee (AJC).