Ori Wertman

Dr. Ori Wertman is a lecturer and research fellow at the University of South Wales, UK, and author of Collapse: Israeli Labor Party 1992-2024.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the opening of the government meeting on January 4, 2026.

New right-wing parties keep failing to unseat Likud - opinion

An Israeli Arab casts her ballot at a polling station inside a church in the northern town of Reineh, March 17, 2015.

In Israel, Arab citizens are not heading to the polls in droves - opinion

Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Gideon Sa'ar (R)

Just like Bennett, Sa’ar is allowed to change his mind - opinion


Control of Philadelphi Corridor is vital for defeating Hamas - opinion

The Philadelphi Corridor's control is considered vital for blocking Hamas's resurgence and international recognition amid the Gaza conflict.

 ISRAELI FLAGS are positioned in the area of the Philadelphi Corridor. If Israel relinquishes control of the corridor, it would be giving Hamas the chance to reinstate its significant presence in the Gaza Strip, practically making it a sovereign power, the writers argue.

How Israel's military played a role in the October 7 failures - opinion

AMAN simply made a fatal mistake, which unfortunately cost the State of Israel dearly.

 IDF MILITARY Intelligence Directorate chief Maj.-Gen. Aharon Haliva, who will be stepping down during the coming week, stated in September 2022 that he expected complete silence for five years, the writer notes.

Polls show Biden's era was over well before his debate performance - opinion

According to polls, Trump even leads in some states where Democrats traditionally win, such as Nevada.

 US PRESIDENT Joe Biden speaks at the White House last week. Even before his debate with Donald Trump, mid-June polls clearly showed that the Biden era is about to end on January 20, 2025, says the writer.

The gaps in election polling, and what this means for Israel's political reality - opinion

The current differences between the polls are mainly manifest in the results of the Likud and the National Unity – the two major parties identified with the Israeli mainstream.

 PENSIONERS MINISTER Rafi Eitan sits in the Knesset plenum in 2006. His party surprised by winning seven Knesset seats in the election that year.

Benny Gantz again in a political dilemma following resignation from gov't - opinion

Waving the flag of nationality and unity, Gantz’s party managed to rise in the polls, mainly at the expense of Likud and Yesh Atid voters.

 BENNY GANTZ holds a news conference, in which he announced his party’s pullout from the emergency government, in Ramat Gan.

Is Yair Golan the Labor Party's new hope? - opinion

If the left-wing bloc led by Golan will take mandates from Yesh Atid and National Unity, then the battle between Golan, Gantz, and Lapid is just beginning.

 YAIR GOLAN speaks after the results were announced in the Labor Party primary election, in Tel Aviv, on Tuesday.

It's outrageous, but campus antisemitism in US is nothing new - opinion

Even Israel-critical academics, are coming under fire. Why? Because they're Jewish, says author.

 A PRO-PALESTINIAN protester uses a bullhorn during a demonstration on the UC Berkeley campus on Monday.

Netanyahu and Israel did not prop up Hamas - opinion

Despite the fact that the political echelon is responsible for the October 7 failures, Israel is not the one that strengthened Hamas.

 ARAB LEAGUE Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit meets with Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo, in 2020. Even in the Netanyahu era, Abbas thwarted attempts to resolve the conflict no fewer than three times, the writer states.

Gantz must show national responsibility and not surrender to the political base - opinion

Due to irresponsible political considerations by Gantz and his partners, Israel missed a historic opportunity to determine its future borders.

 MINISTER-WITHOUT-PORTFOLIO Benny Gantz attends a news conference at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, in December. Gantz is undoubtedly one of the most responsible politicians in Israel; for him, the State of Israel is truly above all, the writer maintains.

Peace agreements are not the way to protect Israel's national security - opinion

Despite the need to adapt Israel’s concept of national security to the current era there are still those who maintain that peace agreements are the solution to Israel’s strategic situation.

 Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas shakes hands with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the funeral of Shimon Peres in Jerusalem, September 30, 2016.