Ben-Dror Yemini
Ben-Dror Yemini | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | April 17, 1954 |
| Nationality | Israeli |
| Occupation | Journalist |
Ben-Dror Yemini (Hebrew: בן-דרור ימיני; born April 17, 1954) is an Israeli journalist. He has worked for the daily newspaper Maariv, and in Spring 2014 began writing for the daily Yedioth Ahronoth.
Biography
Ben-Dror Yemini was born in Tel Aviv to a Yemenite Jewish family.[1] He studied Humanities and History at Tel Aviv University and then pursued a degree in law. After graduation, he worked as an advisor to the Israeli Minister of Immigration Absorption and then became spokesman of the Ministry.[2]
In 1984, he began his career as a journalist.[3] His book Political Punch is a critique of politics and society in Israel. Between 2003 and 2014, Yemini has been the opinion page editor of Maariv.
Yemini has a "long track record in the Israeli peace camp", including also having met with Yasser Arafat in Tunis, as well as having several friends who are PLO officials. He has repeated his support of a two-state solution, and believes Israel should have the same right of self-determination as the Palestinians.[1] In 2012, while being fully supportive of Israel's motive behind Operation Pillar of Defense operation against Hamas terror attacks,[4] Yemini expressed his support in "[making] a move which no one expects – follow a unilateral cease-fire by inviting Hamas to peace talks."[5]
In 2014 Yemini began writing for the daily Yedioth Ahronoth. In 2014 he published a book The Industry of Lies dealing with anti-Israeli incitement by radical left, human right groups, pro-Palestinians organizations and radical Islam.
Most of his newspaper articles are intended to refute what he regards as anti-Israel claims.[1] He has published articles about the Israeli-Arab conflict in which he examines the issues of genocide, refugees, Palestinian and Arab capital, the status of Israeli Arabs,[6] multiculturalism and the status of women. He argues that "anti-Zionism is politically correct anti-Semitism": the same way Jews were demonized, Israel is being demonized; the same way the right of Jews to exist was denied, the right for self-determination is denied to Israel; and the same way Jews were presented as a menace to the world, Israel is presented as a menace to the world.[7]
Yemini is a fierce critic of "progessive" anti-Israel and anti-Zionist groups, BDS campaigns and political attacks such as Israel Apartheid Week on US and Canadian university campuses. Many of his columns criticize far-left groups affiliated with the New Israel Fund, such as B'tselem, Breaking the Silence, and Adalah. On July 16, 2010, Yemini wrote about a seminar of New Israel Fund activitists "who want to annihilate the State.…They also equate Israel’s actions with those of Nazi Germany.”[8] He published a letter from one of the participants to NIF CEO Daniel Sokatch which depicted the intense intolerance for dissent and debate in this event, and Sokatch's harsh reponse.
References
- ^ a b c Pine, Dan (21 April 2011). "Stalwart Israeli journalist takes a stand for his country". Jweekly.
- ^ "Israeli journalist Ben-Dror Yemini". School of Media and Communication. Temple University. March 14, 2012. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
- ^ "Ben Dror Yemini". The Consulate General of Israel in Southwest Houston. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel). February 24, 2012. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
- ^ Ben Dror Yemini, ABC News Breakfast (November 15, 2012). People forget Hamas is terrorist group: Israeli journalist. ABC News (Australia). Retrieved December 5, 2012.
- ^ Burston, Bradley. "A plea to Israel from the right: End the Gaza war now". Haaretz. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
- ^ Yemini, Ben Dror (20 April 2007). "The trap of self-delusion". Maariv.
- ^ Ben-Dror Yemini (April 28, 2010). "Ben-Dror, Calm Down". Ben-Dror Yemini's blog (in Hebrew). Maariv. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
- ^ Yemini, Ben Dror (June 16, 2010). Maariv (Hebrew) http://www.nrg.co.il/app/index.php?do=blog&encr_id=f2b4c1b55be76d1e6d7b777256ea0370&id=1461.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help)
External links
- A selection of Ben Dror Yemini's articles in English
- Ben Dror Yemini's articles about Operation Cast Lead (2008/9) in English and other languages
- Ben-Dror Yemini, Holocaust deniers in B'Tselem, ynet, 13.8.2014