Analysis Fire at Notre Dame: 21st Century Destroys Symbol of 12th Century
When the scale of the disaster becomes known, Macron will need his words of comfort, but mostly a spirit of optimism for rebuilding
Dov Alfon
Dov Alfon is the former editor-in-chief of Haaretz Newspaper. He took up the post on May 1, 2008, becoming the fifth editor in the 90 years of the newspaper's existence, and resigned on August 1, 2011.
Born in Tunisia in 1961, Alfon was brought up in France and Israel, publishing his first articles at the age of 10 in comics weekly Spirou Magazine. After completing his military service in the IDF, Alfon began his studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1983, where he started writing in "Pi Ha'aton", the high-profile campus journal. Less than a year later, he was invited by Tom Segev and Nahum Barnea to join a new journalistic venture, the political weekly "Koteret Rashit."
Alfon joined Haaretz in 1989, writing a weekly column, "Kivun Harouah," about the relationship between culture and money. He was appointed editor of the cultural page in 1992, and turned it into the daily section "Galleria". He launched several new journalistic formats for Haaretz throughout the years, including "Captain Internet" (in 1994), a weekly column supposedly written by a fictive grandfather investigating the new medium; "The Marker Magazine", a business monthly (2001) and the re-designed Haaretz Weekend Magazine, of which he was editor from 1992 to 1998.
Alfon was chief editor of the Kinneret-Zmora Bitan publishing house from 2004-2008, and hosted "Nispah Tarbut", a weekly cultural show on Israel's Channel 2 television from 2002 to 2007. He is a regular guest at international forums about the Internet culture and his writings have appeared in various anthologies, including "75 years of Ha'aretz: The Very Best Writing," published by Schocken Press in 1999.
Dov Alfon When Our French Doctor Told Us, 'Not Every Pregnant Woman Has to Look Like a Cow'
Why is Frances birthrate the second highest in Europe, can a man be a midwife, and what does any of this have to do with Barbara Tuchman?
Ice Cream With Daniel Auteuil, the Greatest French Actor of All Time
Many have tried and failed to crack ‘the Auteuil Method,’ including Haaretz’s man in Paris
Analysis What's Behind the Drop in anti-Semitic Incidents in France?
Rising Jewish-Muslim segregation might have something to do with it
Women’s Underwear and the French Sexual Harassment Debate
The French too have had to ask themselves whether their famous traditions of courtship are really different from plain old American abuse by men
Moniker Morass The French Obsession With First Names
Choosing a child’s first name in France can lead to political strife, linguistic battles and even intervention by the anti-terror squad
Our Man in Paris The French Don’t Believe in Towers
Why pig-breeding is outlawed in Paris, who was its first secular thinker, and what both have to do with the two ugliest buildings in the city | Column
'The Lazy' Take to the Streets of Paris to Battle Macron
Some 223,000 people have come out to protest the new president’s bid to improve labor laws and get the economy going. The unions’ next goal: 1 million
Opinion The Appalling Thing Some French People Do With Their Pets When They Go on Vacation
At least some sheep got a reprieve this summer
Opinion The Boy Who Taught French Jewish Kids to Love Israel
Decades ago, a book about an Israeli boy helped prepare our Paris correspondent for his family's aliyah. Where is that boy now?
Opinion There's No Escaping the Abnormal Norms of Paris
In Paris, even the color of a door is subject to municipal intervention
Analysis Macron Puts Up a Smoke Screen Before He Targets France’s Labor Laws
The president's rivals say his frantic diplomatic activity is aimed at distracting attention from his real goal – loosening the country's labor laws
What Netanyahu Needs to Know Before Heading to Paris for Macron Meeting
The link between the 'Marsellaise' and the Book of Esther, and Ben-Gurion’s advice to de Gaulle. A few anecdotes in advance of a Netanyahu trip to France
Macron Revives Europe's Political Center, Winning Absolute Majority in French Parliamentary Vote
Le Pen’s extreme right National Front is decimated and forced back to marginal status
Analysis 5 Reasons Why Establishment Parties Were Wiped Out in French Election
Centrist President-elect Emmanuel Macron asked the French public for their trust. Now he has it, his challenge truly begins
50 Years to the End of the French-Israel Love Affair
Israelis were riveted by news about Yves Montand that wasn't even reported in France. Many American songs were translated into Hebrew only after French-language cover versions were issued – that is, until the Six-Day War
Assad Personally Oversaw the Development of Nerve Gas for Use on His Own People
Syrian chemist who was making sarin gas tells French investigative website Mediapart he was told it was intended to fight Israel; testimonies, documents show Assad began developing chemical arms as early as 2009
Analysis Marine Le Pen’s Ill-fated Search for Lost Time
After losing to Emmanuel Macron, the National Front faces a critical test in France’s parliamentary election. The grass roots want to focus on ‘Arabs out,’ but Le Pen’s star is waning either way
Analysis Le Pen Family Feud Deteriorates Into Night of Long Knives After Crushing Loss in French Election
Father and party founder Jean-Marie Le Pen, banished by his daughter, calls election result her ‘disgraceful failure’
Analysis The French Elected Macron to Save Them From Themselves
The speech by the youngest elected prime minister in French history shows he knows he was chosen by default. If he fails, national suicide is likely from both right and left
Analysis Stop Talking Terrorism and Four Other Lessons Macron Can Teach Politicians Everywhere
He portrayed patriotism as holding fast and not showing weakness by changing laws or cultural norms
Analysis Rollercoaster French Election Reaches Moment of Truth: Will It All Come Down to the Weather?
Even the hacking of his campaign's computers doesn't threaten Macron's hefty lead, but Le Pen could scrounge an upset if enough voters stay home
Analysis French Election: Macron Campaign Hacking Leaves Him Exposed in More Ways Than One
The timing of the massive leak means Macron cannot defend himself before France heads to the polls
Analysis Le Pen Launches a Guerrilla War Unprecedented in French Politics
But her rival Macron's bumbling paradoxically works in his favor
Analysis France Finds a Savior in Macron, but Is He a False One?
The young centrist is seen as a slayer of the nationalist monster, but if he doesn't do well in June's parliamentary election, the National Front will strengthen
France Heads to the Polls: Pollsters Throw in the Towel in Neck-and-neck Race
With millions still undecided, pollsters can't forecast which candidate will win, but commentators say a low voter turnout could work in Le Pen's favor
No Groundswell of Support for Le Pen After Paris Attack - All Now Depends on Swing Voters
Last polls show four main candidates are neck-and-neck
Analysis Paris Shooting: Champs Elysees Attack Likely to Boost Le Pen in French Election She's Already Dominating
Taxi drivers, bakers, teachers, the unemployed, Jews, blacks, even Muslims – support for Marine Le Pen seems more widespread than ever. But will it hold through election night on Sunday?
Explained: The French Presidential Race That Will Determine the Fate of Europe
Four candidates go into Sunday’s election with a chance of making it. From the far-right Marine Le Pen to the far-left Jean-Luc Melénchon - here’s everything you need to know
Le Pen: France 'Not Responsible' for WWII Roundup of Paris Jews
Some 13,000 Jews, including 4,000 children, were arrested in 1942 by French authorities, with some accounts showing they were coordinated with the SS; they were all eventually deported to Auschwitz