A critic in Tel Aviv in the time of Israel’s war

I’m not generally given to admiring people.

- Karan Thapar

Those that I do are few and far between. But starting October 2023, when Israel's deliberately planned and inexorably executed genocide in Gaza began, there's one man who's risen immeasurably in my estimation. Before I tell you who he is, let me describe him.He's often called the conscience of Israel. To tell the truth there are very few others who have the strength of conviction and courage to criticise their country even when it's at war.

I’m referring to the international award winning Haaretz columnist and author Gideon Levy. I got to know him when I telephoned to ask for an interview. He readily agreed.

On that very first occasion he described Israel as a racist and apartheid country.

T never thought I would hear any Israeli speak so brutally honestly.

Mr Levy, as I call him, is a searing critic of the Israeli people’s lack of conscience about their treatment of Palestinians, including the two million who are citizens of the country.