Michael Ben-Ari (National Union), the extreme right wing MK who makes Jean-Marie Le Pen look like a baguette with no joie de vivre, waited for the Sabbath to end and finally get onto his Facebook page to post this gem of a status. Just a day before Rosh Hashana, he chooses his Man of the Year and decides to hand his award to Col. Shalom Eisner. Come on, you remember Col. Eisner, don't ya? Some people can't get him out of their heads...

End the occupation and the militarism, which are conspicuous in the democratic world today but not in its history, and this could be a pretty cool place. I try not to go out of my way to write good things about Israel, but I also try not to go out of my way not to write good things about Israel, because, among other reasons, it's important to remember that for all the justified criticism and condemnation, there's something worth saving here. In that spirit, I want to take issue with a growing view that Israel is a violent society and becoming…

By Ophir Pines-Paz On one hand, the storm of condemnations by the top levels of government and now the suspension of Lieutenant Colonel Shalom Eisner from his position for beating an apparently unarmed Danish protester with his weapon, is the right response. On the other hand, this response is cynical and problematic, on several major counts. First, Israelis commonly complain about the country's hasbara – well, here it is! Israel has put its best foot forward in the communications effort, and the world saw the result on every channel. Here's the point: communications cannot turn black into white – that's…

Nearly three years ago I also met a Shalom Eisner at a demonstration. He gashed my head with his blows for no reason. Then too, like this week, a camera was filming as an IDF officer beat me up. To this day, my own private Shalom Eisner is running free. Of course, mine is not the Lt. Col. Shalom Eisner, deputy commander of the Jordan Valley brigade who rammed his rifle in face of Danish activist on Sunday. The person who sent me to the hospital with his blows was another soldier, in reserve service, whose name I still do not…

UPDATE: According to a source who has approached +972 Magazine, Lt. Col. Shalom Eisner, who beat an activist in the face with his rifle (video below) is slated to be the next Deputy Commander of Bahad 1, the IDF's school and training base for all of its officers Here’s how we treat people who dare cycle where they’re not supposed to. Yes, I said “cycle.” For this you are punished with a rifle to the head, in a bunt move that would make most major league baseball players jealous.   According to the WAFA news agency, “Israeli forces Saturday broke…