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Jo-Ann Mort

Jo-Ann Mort writes frequently about Israel and the Palestinians for The American Prospect and elsewhere, including as a regular contributor at TPM Cafe. She is the co-author of Our Hearts Invented a Place: Can Kibbutzim Survive in Today's Israel?

Recent Articles

The Roadblock to Damascus

Jo-Ann MortJul 31, 2006

Tel Aviv, Israel -- It's often said, and sometimes not in the kindest of ways, that the United States looks out for Israel's interests rather than its own. But the current crisis in the Middle East is demonstrating that, sometimes, the opposite is true. In this case, Israel's interests are being subjugated to the Bush administration's ideological hang-ups -- at the expense of the security needs of both countries.

Ramallah Stirs

Jo-Ann MortJul 25, 2006

The trip from Jerusalem to Ramallah used to take around 20 minutes. But ever since the roadblocks, checkpoints, and cement wall barrier went up following the Second Intifada several years ago, it can take hours, depending on who you are. For Jewish settlers and those with U.S. passports or some NGO (nongovernmental organization) cards, there are the settler bypass roads, built for and used primarily by Jews living in the surrounding settlements and outposts. A diplomat can get through with relative ease. But lately, not too many diplomats -- certainly none from the United States -- have made frequent visits there.

A Crisis Foretold

Jo-Ann MortJul 17, 2006

Early last week, I visited friends in Haifa, Israel's third largest city. Their apartment is at the top of the Carmel, a mountain that leads to the University of Haifa. From their living room I looked out over Haifa's port to the mountains of Lebanon and thought about the beauty of that area along the border. By week's end, Haifa was struck by Katushya rockets from southern Lebanon. Israelis in that border area are now being ordered to stay inside and sleep in bomb shelters, as Lebanese are subjected to heavy bombardment by the Israeli army.

Drawing In, Lashing Out

Jo-Ann MortJul 10, 2006

Jerusalem -- As the annual Jerusalem Film Festival opened on Thursday, several thousand people sat under the stars in the Sultan's Pool, a valley just outside of Jerusalem's Old City walls, to watch the opening film on a gigantic screen. Fireworks, kosher hot dogs, beer and rock music adorned the scene. It was the first time in its 23-year history that the festival opened with an Israeli film, Someone to Run With, adapted from David Grossman's novel about Jerusalem street kids with drug habits. The presentation captured the desire of Israel today to deal with domestic social issues and look to the experiences of its younger generations.

Israel's Populist Hope

Jo-Ann MortNov 16, 2005

Amir Peretz, the new chairman of the Labor Party, is a progressive populist -- but he may be George W. Bush's best hope.

Peretz, who won a surprise, cliffhanger victory over incumbent chairman Shimon Peres last week, is a trade unionist in his gut. He is a masterful negotiator who has pledged that, if he is elected prime minister in the next Israeli elections (likely to be scheduled for spring 2006), he will move his country toward direct negotiations with the Palestinians. Peretz's ideology is directly counter to everything the current U.S. administration believes in, but unlike the current prime minister, Ariel Sharon, Peretz wants to negotiate a final agreement that brings peace to the two sides.

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