Often times pessimism is caused by choosing to remain a spectator, and pretending to remain powerless instead of taking responsibility and deciding to act according to what one believes. But what does this mean, and how do you do it? By Tom Pessah In a recent +972 post, Noam Sheizaf wrote that “there is something extremely grotesque – for lack of a better word – in hearing Israelis (or Zionists) explaining that the effort to end the occupation is simply not working, or beginning to seem pointless. Israelis are in power. They can end the occupation with a simple decision.…

The New York Times reports today that the Israeli company SodaStream is going to have a commercial spot on the biggest night in American TV: Super Bowl Sunday. Israeli website Ynet reports that this is the first time an Israeli company has reached the big league of advertising. But what the Times and Ynet conveniently didn't mention is that this will also be the first time a company that produces its products in the territories (Mishor Adumim industrial area in West Bank) will be showcased on Super Sunday. Good for you, settlers!