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Jonathan S. Tobin

Jonathan S. Tobin

Jonathan S. Tobin is editor-in-chief of the Jewish News Syndicate, a senior contributor for The Federalist, a columnist for Newsweek and a contributor to many other publications. He covers the American political scene, foreign policy, the U.S.-Israel relationship, Middle East diplomacy, the Jewish world and the arts. He hosts the JNS “Think Twice” podcast, both the weekly video program and the “Jonathan Tobin Daily” program, which are available on all major audio platforms and YouTube. Previously, he was executive editor, then senior online editor and chief political blogger, for Commentary magazine. Before that, he was editor-in-chief of The Jewish Exponent in Philadelphia and editor of the Connecticut Jewish Ledger. He has won more than 60 awards for commentary, art criticism and other writing. He appears regularly on television, commenting on politics and foreign policy. Born in New York City, he studied history at Columbia University.

Otzma Yehudit Party members Michael Ben-Ari (left) and Itamar Ben-Gvir at a press conference in Jerusalem held in response to the Israeli Supreme Court's decision to disqualify Ben-Ari's candidacy for the upcoming April 9 national elections due to his racist views, March 17, 2019. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90.
From the Editor-in-Chief
What’s the matter with Israel’s Supreme Court?
By banning a Jewish extremist Knesset candidate but letting an Arab extremist run, the high court again opened itself up to criticism that it is above the rule of law, rather than protecting it.
Mar. 18, 2019
Jonathan S. Tobin
J Street U students protest in front of the White House in 2017. Credit: J Street via Facebook.
From the Editor-in-Chief
Its planned Israel trip explains why J Street is losing the fight with the far-left
The left-wing group’s effort to compete with Birthright Israel represents a backhanded acknowledgement of Jewish state’s centrality that its anti-Zionist allies abhor.
Mar. 15, 2019
Jonathan S. Tobin
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) speaks on the Green New Deal with Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) to her right in front of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 7 2019. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
From the Editor-in-Chief
Judaism and the Green New Deal: Not a match made in Heaven
The push to link Jewish faith with the most extreme claims and the most extreme remedies for climate change does neither faith nor the environment much good.
Mar. 14, 2019
Jonathan S. Tobin
View of the Circassian village of Rehaniya, and Mount Hermon covered with snow in Northern Israel, as it seen from Route 886, on March 8, 2019. Credit: Yaakov Lederman/Flash90
From the Editor-in-Chief
The Israeli people were ‘with the Golan.’ They were right.
Thankfully, past efforts to trade the Golan to Syria for “peace” failed. Israel is right to seek to foreclose the possibility of such a mistake in the future.
Mar. 13, 2019
Jonathan S. Tobin
Members of the Women of the Wall movement hold Rosh Chodesh prayers as thousands of ultra-Orthodox women protest against them at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City on March 8, 2019. Credit: Hadas Parush/Flash90.
From the Editor-in-Chief
Intolerance at Jerusalem’s holy places
Violence on the Temple Mount and at the Western Wall deserves condemnation no matter who is perpetuating it, be they Arab or Jew.
Mar. 12, 2019
Jonathan S. Tobin
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at a conference of the Likud Party, presenting the list of candidates, in Ramat Gan on March 4, 2019. Credit: Aharon Krohn/Flash90.
From the Editor-in-Chief
‘Bibi or Tibi’ debate is about Zionism, not racism
The argument between the prime minister and a reality-show host over whether Israel is “a state of all its citizens” or a Jewish state is not a test of tolerance.
Mar. 11, 2019
Jonathan S. Tobin
Benny Gantz of the Blue and White Party speaks to members of the Druze community in the town of Daliyat al-Karmel in northern Israel on March 7, 2019. Credit: Meir Vaknin/Flash90.
From the Editor-in-Chief
What won’t change if Gantz replaces Netanyahu
The Ilhan Omar debacle in the House illustrates that the next Israeli government will be just as dependent on AIPAC and the Republicans as the current one.
Mar. 8, 2019
Jonathan S. Tobin
Then-Congresswoman-elect Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) during their campaign in August 2018. Source: Rashida Tlaib via Twitter.
From the Editor-in-Chief
The Democrats failed on anti-Semitism and Ilhan Omar. Do most Jews care?
Her party’s failure to condemn her was appalling. But partisanship will likely prevent most Jews from drawing conclusions about what has happened.
Mar. 7, 2019
Jonathan S. Tobin
Vatican, Catholic Church
From the Editor-in-Chief
Getting to the truth about the Vatican and the Holocaust
The unsealing of Pope Pius XII’s archives for historians to study should lead to more understanding between Jews and Catholics, not recriminations.
Mar. 6, 2019
Jonathan S. Tobin
Ilhan Omar speaking at a VoteRunLead training. Credit: Zoe Griffing Heller via Wikimedia Commons.
From the Editor-in-Chief
Is there any defense for Ilhan Omar?
The Minnesota representative is living proof of the link between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism. Attempts to deflect attention from her smears rob her apologists of credibility.
Mar. 5, 2019
Jonathan S. Tobin
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft at the Kraft Family Sports Complex. Credit: American Football in Israel.
From the Editor-in-Chief
Do the Jews really need their own Nobel Prize?
By sticking with Robert Kraft, the Genesis Prize seems to be illustrating the problem with a well-meaning award, as well as philanthropic model that isn’t likely to inspire Jewish youth.
Mar. 4, 2019
Jonathan S. Tobin
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D.-Minn.) speaks at a workers' protest against Amazon. Credit: Fibonacci Blue via Flickr.
From the Editor-in-Chief
Are Jews shutting down Ilhan Omar?
The unrepentant Omar claims Jews are repressing her, even as her campaign of anti-Semitic smears heats up while she is acclaimed as the Democrats’ future.
Mar. 1, 2019
Jonathan S. Tobin
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