The instantly-famous Time's breastfeeding cover has turned into an internet meme, which was also used to criticize Israel's new government deal. Via Holes in the Net

Rallies were part of international day of protest. The largest event took place in Tel Aviv, where speakers denounced the new unity government. UPDATE: A video showing protesters expose and confront an undercover policeman was added to this piece. Around 5,000 protesters in Rabin Square. took part yesterday (Saturday) night in what was labeled "the first social justice demonstration of the summer." Smaller events took place in other Israeli cities. The protest was part of the international May 12 protest movement, and a live feed from similar rallies around the world was displayed in the square. The demonstration was organized…

By Roni Schocken Congratulations to Benjamin Netanyahu and Shaul Mofaz. I've been fond of Mofaz for a while now. Ever since he served as defense minister in Ariel Sharon's government during the disengagement from Gaza, Mofaz has been building himself up as a serious politician and perhaps even a statesman. It was during the disengagement that Mofaz morphed into a political dove, and despite the takeover of Israeli politics by the right-wing settler movement, he has stood his ground. Then in 2009, during a period of political stagnation, he introduced a gutsy plan for a peace process and when asked,…

Close to 1,000 people gathered in Tel Aviv Tuesday night to protest the coalition deal between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Kadima head Shaul Mofaz, under the slogan: "The entire nation is the opposition." The protest was reportedly put together by organizers of last summer's J14 "social justice" protests and there were smaller demonstrations also held in Jerusalem and Beer Sheva. Protestors expressed shock and anger over the fact that Mofaz led the opposition party into the government just days after announcing he would never join Netanyahu's government, and accused both the prime minister and Kadima chairman of being liars and "shady dealers," more interested in their…

The new coalition demonstrates the absurdity of "the only democracy in the Middle East" slogan. Ninety percent of the Jewish public is now represented by the government, while most Palestinians under Israeli control have no political representation at all. With 94 Knesset Members behind him, Benjamin Netanyhu is now the strongest prime minister in Israeli history since David Ben-Gurion, the founding father of the country. Netanyahu's Likud party alone has more seats than all the opposition parties combined. The opposition's 26 seats are not even enough to call an unscheduled Knesset session – and even this number is misleading, because…

Is Mofaz following Begin's example from 1967 – and will he be vindicated with a war with Iran? Let's begin with the positive sides of the Netanyahu-Mofaz deal. The weak joke named Yair Lapid won't last 18 more months, so the danger the Israeli public will once more waste precious votes on a seasonal feel-good party is lessened. Lapid whined about the deal this morning (Hebrew), though one can hardly understand why. Lapid said before that he would join any  future government, and denounced former Kadima leader Tzipi Livni for not joining Netanyahu's. So why the bee in his bonnet?…

Looking at who won and who lost is not the way to analyze this move. The Prime Minister and his new vice premier have dealt a lethal blow to a political system that barely had any credibility left to begin with “Honesty is such a lonely word Everyone is so untrue” --- Billy Joel When lying is something to boast about Don’t get me wrong - there are a few things that could be good about the Bibi Netanyahu-Shaul Mofaz move that stunned us all this morning. For example, it will give some more time for the opposition to get…

It wasn't domestic politics that prompted Netanyahu last night to forgo early elections; it was the need to clear out his calendar.  Why does a national leader decide to scrap new elections that he and everyone else knows he's going to win by a landslide, which is what Bibi did last night? Because he's got important work to do and he wants what's called "industrial peace" - or, as Netanyahu himself put it, "stability." Our national leader wants to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities and he's waiting for the right opportunity to do so - when the Obama administration is hard put to stop him, meaning sometime between now and…

The Israeli political system and the media were thrown into a frenzy by the unprecedented announcement that the early elections will be postponed following a coalition deal between Kadima – formerly known as the opposition – and Likud. Everyone is spitting mad: the talking heads have been cheated out of their favorite game; newbie Yair Lapid is like a child who was pushed out of the sandbox; Labor was basking in poll numbers that had it slated for second place, and is now left dazed and confused. The far-right faction of Likud has to get into bed with Kadima, which…

With 94 out of the Knesset's 120 members behind him, the prime minister might have enough political support to launch war with Iran despite the opposition within the security establishment. This was the shortest election cycle in history: On Sunday, Likud brought to a Knesset vote a bill moving elections up to September 4, officially launching a four-month campaign season. Less then 48 hours later, the elections were cancelled. Kadima, it was announced, will join Netanyahu's coalition, and Israelis will only go to the polls a year and a half from now, in October 2013. Since the legislation of the…