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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.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman’s reported request that the State Department stop using the term “occupied territories” shouldn’t be dismissed as a lot of bother about mere words. These words are part of a high-stakes battle to determine the outcome of the debate about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
US, Israel Flags
Did Trump make the Israel-Diaspora divide seem smaller?
President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu make a joint appearance in Jerusalem on May 22, 2017. Credit: Haim Zach/GPO.
The method to Trump’s madness on Jerusalem may make sense
U.S. President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's King Salman sign a joint strategic vision statement in in Riyadh on May 20, 2017. Credit: Shealah Craighead/White House.
An unlikely bedfellow delivers a wake-up call
U.S. President Donald Trump and King Salman of Saudi Arabia sign a joint strategic vision statement in in Riyadh on May 20, 2017. Credit: Shealah Craighead/White House Photo.
An unlikely bedfellow delivers a wake-up call
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump with senior White House adviser Jared Kushner at the start of a meeting in Jerusalem on May 22, 2017. Credit: Kobi Gideon/GPO.
Time for a peace process paradigm change
Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely. Credit: Arielinson via Wikimedia Commons.
Who’s shutting down the debate on Israel?
The majority of the non-Orthodox Jewish community in America has little sympathy with the Israeli government’s positions on the peace process.
The symbolism of Mahmoud Abbas’ threatened lawsuit against Great Britain over the 100-year-old Balfour Declaration tells us what is preventing peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud Abbas addresses the general debate of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Sept. 20, 2017. Credit: Cia Pak/U.N. Photo.
How Balfour explains why the peace process failed