The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amir-ben-david/ News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World Sun, 05 Jul 2026 22:24:29 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2018/11/toi_icon_512-200x200.png Amir Ben-David | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amir-ben-david/ 32 32 Laugh-out-loud ridiculous: How The New York Times missed the mark on Israel and Eurovision https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-new-york-times-missed-the-mark-on-israel-and-eurovision/ Fri, 15 May 2026 02:52:21 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3823818 Claims that Israel manipulates Eurovision voting ignore the obvious reality: In a politicized contest, a concentrated bloc of supporters outweighs a scattered crowd of haters

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]]> How my modest love song was sucked into a chilling machine of political propaganda https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-my-modest-love-song-was-sucked-into-a-chilling-machine-of-political-propaganda/ Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:14:28 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3807991 The Independence Day torch-lighting ceremony demonstrated how politicians erase the truth using fake sentimentality and turn a national event into a fawning display for Netanyahu

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]]> The eve of a return to war https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-eve-of-a-return-to-war/ Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:28:53 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3489383 With all living hostages in the first phase of the deal now home, and widespread national revulsion at Hamas, conditions are ripe from Netanyahu’s perspective for resuming intensive conflict in Gaza

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]]> Welcome to the era of the buffer zone https://www.timesofisrael.com/welcome-to-the-era-of-the-buffer-zone/ Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:59:10 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3485476 Whereas, in the past, Israel has semi-occupied adjacent territory, now it's creating sterilized strips that potentially redefine its borders

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]]> 43 million seconds in hell https://www.timesofisrael.com/43-million-seconds-in-hell/ Mon, 17 Feb 2025 11:30:28 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3484452 500 days in captivity. 500 days under inhumane conditions. 500 days of suffering beyond description

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]]> Anxiety ahead of Saturday, and the Saturdays to come https://www.timesofisrael.com/anxiety-ahead-of-saturday-and-the-saturdays-to-come/ Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:49:58 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3481771 As the weekend approaches, tensions are rising, and real life is now imitating reality TV

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]]> The real ‘moments that define us as a nation’ https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-real-moments-that-define-us-as-a-nation/ Mon, 27 Jan 2025 11:03:34 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3468571 The four hostages standing proud and strong in Palestine Square, surrounded by Hamas gunmen, was no Israeli 'victory picture,' and we'd better wise up before disaster strikes again

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]]> Delete your account: How social media may be metastasizing terror in service of Hamas https://www.timesofisrael.com/delete-your-account-how-social-media-may-be-metastasizing-terror-in-service-of-hamas/ Sun, 11 Feb 2024 23:56:11 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3213515 Influential economic columnist Guy Rolnik says hatred of Israel and Jews is being spread online to an unfathomable degree, creating an algorithmically sustained shadow October 7

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]]> Till death do us unite https://www.timesofisrael.com/till-death-do-us-unite/ Tue, 23 Jan 2024 13:26:24 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3207479 Have we become a nation whose sons can no longer live together -- so that all we have left is to die together?

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]]> The Israel we knew died on October 7. The new nation will be scarred for generations https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-israel-we-knew-died-on-october-7-the-new-nation-will-be-scarred-for-generations/ Tue, 07 Nov 2023 12:59:49 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3147023 On foreign TV, fresh reports of Gazan ruins push aside last month's atrocities and fuel anti-Israel rallies and sick antisemitism. We in Israel cannot get past October 7

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]]> The last blues of Peter Green https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-last-blues-of-peter-green/ Sat, 22 Aug 2020 10:33:51 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2371769 On December 25, 1980, the Fleetwood Mac founder, who passed away last month, walked into a studio in Tel Aviv and left behind a rare recording of bewitching sadness

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]]> West Bank expert: Bennett’s newly declared nature sanctuaries spark reservations https://www.timesofisrael.com/west-bank-expert-bennetts-newly-declared-nature-sanctuaries-spark-reservations/ Sat, 23 May 2020 06:09:10 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2304946 Former defense minister's wildlife preserves are partially closed to the public, frequently used for Israeli agriculture, and often situated on privately-owned Palestinian land

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]]> At a Tel Aviv café, the top Arab lawmaker Ayman Odeh courts the Jewish vote https://www.timesofisrael.com/at-a-tel-aviv-cafe-the-top-arab-lawmaker-ayman-odeh-courts-the-jewish-vote/ Sun, 01 Mar 2020 21:04:06 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2249101 Joint List leader believes another seat, from Jewish votes, is within reach, but to get there he has to step around the elephant in the room: the anti-Zionist Balad party

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]]> The thin line between ‘activist’ and ‘ticking time bomb’ for an Amnesty employee https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-thin-line-between-activist-and-ticking-time-bomb-for-an-amnesty-employee/ Sat, 14 Dec 2019 09:31:50 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2196020 Amnesty activist Laith Abu Zeyad woke up one day to find that he was a virtual prisoner in the West Bank due to a ruling by the Shin Bet, which claims he poses a 'serious threat'

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]]> If memory serves, can it be trained? A new study offers hope https://www.timesofisrael.com/if-memory-serves-can-it-be-trained-a-new-study-offers-hope/ Sat, 30 Nov 2019 12:47:06 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2162737 The age of information is reshaping our recall capacities, but does delegating mental responsibilities to devices work for us, or against us? Researchers say the answer is both

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