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David Vs. Goliath
Originally published 20 Jul 2005 in The Jerusalem Post

	Caravaggio's David with the Head of Goliath c. 1610. oil on canvas. Galleria Borghese, Rome, Italy

The Goliath of the Israel economy, the Poalim-Leumi bank duopoly, was certain that in this battle too, as in former battles over the last 20 years, it would easily vanquish the outnumbered forces of reform. What a shock, then, that despite its overwhelming force, a daring adversary with a slingshot overwhelmed it.

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Israel’s silent struggle
Originally published 20 Jul 2005 in The Weekly Standard

In a country justly preoccupied by security concerns, economic developments usually don’t get top billing, even if they have a great impact on the country’s well-being and security.

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A Martian just wouldn’t get it
Originally published 6 Jul 2005 in The Jerusalem Post

	Image of Mars from the Australian National University's Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Mind-bogglingly little attention is being paid to the fierce debate in the legislature over the Bachar Commission banking reform proposals, on which the nation’s democratic fabric and even its very survival depends.

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Here comes the counter-revolution
Originally published 17 Apr 2005 in The Jerusalem Post

A group of neo-Marxists, anti-globalists and plain old-time socialists are seeking to found a new college “to create a cadre of people … able to engage in well-informed debate and critically challenge the prevailing neo-liberal and neo-conservative social and political trends” – that is, to militate against economic reform.

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Ehud Olmert the obstructionist
Originally published 11 Aug 2004 in The Jerusalem Post

Ehud Olmert has mostly been the champion of the Israeli oligarchy, helping to preserve their monopolistic privileges. One must suspect, therefore, that his cry for higher expenditures for “the weak” is simply another ruse to get more funds so that they could be dispensed to cronies under the guise of promoting social welfare. Politics and personal ambition, and yes, greed, always seem to trump the national interest.

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