Aluf Benn
Aluf Benn is the editor-in-chief of Haaretz Newspaper. He has followed the country's leadership, foreign policy, and national security, covering six prime ministers from Yitzhak Rabin through Benjamin Netanyahu's second term, and reporting on Israeli-Arab wars and peace efforts since the Oslo Accords in 1993.
His work has appeared in The New York Times, Foreign Affairs, and Newsweek, and he is a regular contributor to The Guardian.
Benn holds an MBA degree from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and a degree from Tel Aviv University.
Analysis The Day Netanyahu's Doctrine Was Presented as a U.S. Peace Plan
Trump is spoiling for a Palestinian surrender; the world is mum and Abbas is isolated; the scenario of a Democratic president; and how Bibi blazed in Washington. Four comments on the ‘deal of the century’
Analysis Trump Fulfills Netanyahu's Diplomatic Vision, but Is Unlikely to Save His Political Career
'Deal of the Century' paves the way for a unity government of Likud and Kahol Lavan, if the formula can be found to remove Netanyahu out of the way, or at least terminate his tenure while his trial is ongoing
Opinion Then, Israel's Attorney General Was Thrown in Jail
Former state prosecutor Shai Nitzan had read about Stalin’s purges, but couldn't believe his turn had come
Analysis Holocaust Forum and U.S. Election Give Israel the Perfect Stage to Push Jordan Valley Annexation
Current political situation provides a solid majority for annexing, and even if Netanyahu only initiates such a move, it will be his biggest achievement
Tell Me How Rich You Are, I’ll Tell You if You’ll Vote Netanyahu
An analysis of the last election results appears to show Israeli politics as a class struggle between warring tribes
Analysis Trump Exploited Soleimani's Mistake, and Netanyahu Gains the Most
Like his predecessors over the last half-century, from Nixon to Obama, Trump discovered that the Middle East imposes itself on American foreign policy even when it is no longer dependent on oil from the region
Opinion The Man Who Saved Netanyahu
At the moment of truth it emerged that Lieberman wasn’t strong enough to bring down Netanyahu; that in the duel between them, Bibi drew first blood and won
Analysis Is This What Netanyahu Risked His Legacy For?
The prime minister risked his government, and apparently also his freedom, not to fight Israel’s enemies or jump-start the economy, but for flattering pictures of his wife Sara on Walla news
After the Flat World, Comes the Deep World: A Conversation With Thomas Friedman
The New York Times columnist tells Haaretz how 2007 was a technological tipping point that can only be truly realized if the U.S. and China overcome their trust deficit
Analysis Israel Election 2019: After Suffering Setback, This Is How Netanyahu May Try to Hold on to Power
Election results show: The voters have joined Trump, Putin, the army chief and others in recognizing Netanyahu's weakness and acted accordingly
Analysis Israel Election: Tell Us Which Minority You Hate, and We’ll Tell You Who to Vote For
In this election, there is nothing that ignites hatred more than the fear of rising Arab and ultra-Orthodox communities
Analysis Lieberman Must Be Prime Minister for Netanyahu's Crisis to Be Resolved
The animosity between the two is of no importance
Analysis Israel's ex-Defense Minister Lieberman Could Now Topple Netanyahu
The political man of the hour is Avidgor Lieberman: Only he can force an alternative leader on Likud, push for a unity government and bring about new elections
Opinion Israel's ultra-Orthodox Are Playing With Fire
The Haredim's weight on the state treasury will intensify until taxpayers revolt and rise up against their oppressors
Analysis After Gaza-Israel Flare-up, I Would Ask Hamas' Military Chief This One Question
Gaza's suffering will not and cannot be alleviated by any long-range rocket or armed drone. Why not try something different and recognize Israel?
Analysis If There's One Conclusion From the Israeli Election Results, This Is It
For Israel to achieve political stability, the electoral threshold must be raised. This can have two possible models: The tribal or the radical
Analysis Netanyahu's Next Coalition: Annexation for Immunity From Indictment
The new Netanyahu government will have two main goals: Get rid of the indictments looming in his future, and annex the settlements to Israel, in coordination with the Trump administration
Analysis With Gantz as Election Rival, Netanyahu Competes Against an Old Version of Himself
The fact that the right rose to power 42 years ago and that Netanyahu has ruled for a decade doesn't stop them from arguing the real power remains in the hands of their political opponents
Analysis Unprecedented: Trump Gave Israel the Golan as a Gift and Asked for Nothing in Return
In the past, American support always entailed Israel providing something in exchange. Not this time
Analysis The Path to Trump's Golan Declaration Starts With a Texan Entrepreneur
America's energy independence has enabled Trump to shatter foreign policy taboos without concern for angry reactions from the Persian Gulf states. But will other countries follow suit?
Analysis Decision to Indict Netanyahu Exposes Israel's Double Rule
On stage, we see players like the government and media outlets, but the real authority is behind the scenes. This is Netanyahu's true legacy
Analysis Could Gantz Be Israel's Trump?
Similar to Trump, Gantz's secret was accurately reading the current sentiment among his potential supporters' camp. But the road to the Prime Minister's Office remains perilous
Analysis Like Netanyahu, Gantz Plays on the Anxieties of His Would-be Voters
Benny Gantz's speech was an appeal to Ashkenazim that it's not too late to reverse Netanyahu's anti-elitism revolution
Analysis Wiping Out Top Competitors, Gantz Demonstrates He Could Succeed Netanyahu
For the first time in a decade, the opposition has someone with authority and military experience, and Gantz's speech showed he can lead the anti-Netanyahu camp
Farewell to Moshe Arens, the Liberal One-state Ideologue
Moshe Arens’ voice was unique, insistent and unsuited to the talking points of Likud and Netanyahu
Analysis What's the Rush? Six Reasons for Netanyahu's Snap Election Campaign
For Netanyahu, this move will help postpone the AG's decision on the corruption probes against him and make it easier to tell Trump to lay off the 'deal of the century'
Analysis Netanyahu Launches His Election Campaign, Lurching Toward the Center
Netanyahu's message last week in Paris was that Israel needs steady hands at the wheel. But now he no longer has a defense minister to blame, and its hard to rely on the military for political support
Analysis Farewell to Avigdor Lieberman, a Cartoon Defense Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu was and remains the sole custodian of Israel’s security. The authority and responsibility always stayed in his hands, with Lieberman or without him