cecilmonkey

Is it true that Custom Agents can demand any visitor to show their social network history, like Facebook posts/comments, etc.? Either that or they could be denied entry. Then again, after reading their posts, they may still be denied entry.

First - is it true? You mentioned in the intro

Checks and balances and all that...

And I believe that too. But I have heard too many anecdotal stories to make me wonder whether there is some truth to this claim. Appreciate your thoughts/insights

But by imposing rental control, are we not imposing a societal problem (rental shortage) to just a sub-group of people (landlords), isn't there a fairness issue involved? Besides, if people are discouraged to develop and rent out units, how does that solve the rent shortage problem? In other words, however attractive the rent control solution appears today, how can you say it is sustainable?

I am surprised that op hasn't answered this question yet. I'd like to hear his view too.

A related question: I hear some conservatives argue that there is a limit of how much influence money has on politics and policies. At least it is not as linear as the liberals claim.

Thoughts on this argument?

Hi Professor Ayalon - it seems to me that Israel always lives in the shadow of an existential crisis.

It is not just one thing or two that leaves me with this impression, but many: your allies in the U.S. routinely suggest critics of Israel as anti-semitic as if any damage inflicted to the State threatens the entire Jewish people. Your sustained efforts, instigated by both the government and your lobbyists in DC, of ratcheting up tension between the U.S. and Iran is another example, as the reasoning has always been a nuclear Iran means a destroyed Israel. If I have the time, I can substantiate more examples. But suffice to say, the chatter of existential threat permeates every discussion about Israel's international affairs.

First of all, is this a fair observation? I am asking YOU since you have been posted in the States. At least, you have to admit we don't worried about getting destroyed everyday here in America. So what is sustaining the anxiety? The memory of Holocaust? Or the Wars with your Arab neighbors?

If so, they are in the past. You haven't been in any all-out wars since the 1970s. Today, I am not sure if there is a force on this earth could threaten the Jewish state as a whole. Even if God forbids there is a nuclear Iran, Israel has enough deterrent that, unless the entire Iranian nation is set on a suicidal path, the unthinkable is truly unthinkable to happen. I will be astound if you tell me as a matter of fact that no one in Israel agrees with me on this.

All I am trying to say is, Israel is pretty safe now. And has been for a while. But still you keep raising the prospect of eventual annihilation. So my question is, how long is long enough for Israel to walk out of the shadow of existential fear and start to behave as if it is just another country? Otherwise, don't you think this fear will be mocked as crying-wolf one day eventually?

Thanks,

Given how much $$ at stake, and how complicated the issue is, do you think if your investigations will have any lasting impact? If so, how? Like how can you make your findings actionable?