The IDF must return to the fundamentals: ground maneuver to achieve “hachra’a” – decisive outcomes.

An unconventional theological-strategic thought: When Israel is strong socially and spiritually it earns the respect of friends and successfully deters its foes (and draws the support of the Heavens). On the link between Israel’s national security and its national decency.

A roundup of deep-think articles on America’s long goodbye from global involvement, the coming Mideast wars, Israel and the liberal order, protecting and preserving Area C, why Arabs hate Palestinians, anti-Semitism in the Democratic Party, American Jews’ failure of imagination, and life choices.

Prolonged political uncertainty poses two different dangers: that Israel’s enemies will be tempted to take advantage of Israel’s infirmity, and that Israel will be unable to take advantage of emerging grand diplomatic opportunities.

A pre-Rosh Hashana political quiz: Calculate what Israeli and Jewish future you need to be prepared for in 5780…

The diplomatic, security, societal and economic challenges ahead necessitate a national unity coalition in Israel. Ten commandments for forming and running Israel’s next government.

Freedom of and from religion is what we’ll get if a defiantly secular, left-of-center Israeli government is formed later this fall, comprising Blue & White, Israel Beytenu, Labor-Gesher, the Democratic Union and the United Arab List. Just imagine…

Incitement against religious Jews and religious parties disfigures this election campaign. It’s hunting season on Jewish tradition, the traditional Jewish family, Jewish scholarship, displays of religious belief, the Rabbinate, rabbinical courts, Shabbat legislation, even religious cultural events.

With 18 days to go, I say that Israelis deserve better than the empty invective and detached sloganeering served-up by its politicians in this election campaign.

Israeli democracy is not “shattering” nor are we facing the “darkest days Israel has known.” These are venal, absurd claims – spewed from the mouths of desperate politicos on the extremist fringe.

For Tisha Be’Av: Isn’t it time to re-energize our national spirit with a measure of historical perspective, and our societal morals with some fine-tuned lessons from Jewish tradition?

Danger ahead: There are signs that President Trump is getting ready to ease the pressures on Iran and bargain for a new nuclear deal: A US-Iran “deal of the century.” This could be knottier and more nebulous than valuable. My fear is twofold: that Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign will be cut short before Iran’s leaders truly have no choice but to capitulate to Western demands…

My summertime review of reds from several boutique Israeli wineries: Dadah, Drimia, Five Stones, Flam, Gros, Lueria, Matar, Maresha, Midbar, Oryah, Ramot Naftaly, Tura and Vitkin.

Dr. Henry Kissinger remains one of the greatest practitioners of modern foreign policy and strategic affairs; a towering intellectual thinker; an architect of global stability and Mideast peacemaking; and yes – he was friend of Israel when in office and he is today too. (He did NOT purposefully delay US resupply of Israel with arms during the Yom Kippur war).

His violent discourse disqualifies him from leading this country again, not to mention his pillaging of Jerusalem.