Ksenia Svetlova

Ksenia Svetlova, a former Knesset member for Hatnua, is currently a fellow at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya and director of the program on Israel-Mideast relations at Mitvim. She previously worked as a senior analyst and reporter on Middle East affairs for Israel's Channel 9. She covered Gaza and the West Bank and also reported from Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Syria, Tunisia and other Arab countries. She is an expert on Middle Eastern affairs and is fluent in Arabic, Russian, Hebrew and English. On Twitter: @KseniaSvetlova

Israel | Apr 21, 2020

Will post-coronavirus world bring chill to Israel-China relations?

Not everyone in Israel, especially in the defense establishment, is enthusiastic about cooperating with a large China company in the battle against the coronavirus.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (2 R) talks during a meeting with Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan (L) in Jerusalem, on October 24, 2018. - Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan on Monday became the most senior Beijing official to visit Israel in 18 years, as the two countries look to bolster their growing business ties. (Photo by Ariel Schalit / POOL / AFP) (Photo credit should read ARIEL SCHALIT/AFP via Getty Images)

Palestine | Apr 14, 2020

Israeli annexation talks threaten ties with Arab world

The Israeli annexation discourse bolsters radical elements in the Arab world and undermines the moderates, thus threatening Israeli aspirations for diplomatic relations and commercial ties.

Israel | Apr 3, 2020

Coronavirus bursts Israeli ultra-Orthodox bubble

With the number of coronavirus carriers in the ultra-Orthodox community exploding, it is important for this community to realize that anyone who keeps it from knowledge and information is keeping it from making educated decisions.

An Israeli police officer speaks to an ultra-Orthodox Jewish student at a Yeshiva (Talmudic school) in Bnei Barak, a city east of Tel Aviv with a significant ultra-Orthodox Jewish population, on April 2, 2020, as part of measures imposed by Israeli authorities against the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. - Israeli police backed by surveillance helicopters have stepped up patrols of ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighbourhoods that have become coronavirus hotspots. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP vi

Israel | Mar 30, 2020

Why Gantz needed to replace Netanyahu's Knesset speaker

If Blue and White leader Benny Gantz caves in to the Likud and lets them have the position of Knesset speaker, he would significantly weaken the Israeli parliament and damage Israel’s democracy.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein arrive at a ceremony marking the annual Israeli Holocaust Remembrance Day at the Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem, April 12, 2018. Debbie Hill/Pool via Reuters - RC14F3B0A970

Israel | Mar 24, 2020

How Israel's media fails the country amid coronavirus, political crises

With political and health crises gripping Israel, the media has shirked its responsibility to challenge government officials and report the facts.

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - MARCH 20: An Israeli Fire Department crew man sprays disinfectants as he sanitize the entrance to Tel Aviv's Hospital children department on March 20, 2020 in Tel Aviv, Israel. Number of coronavirus in Israel continues to jump, after over 200 new cases have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

Palestine | Mar 19, 2020

Hamas spy story shakes up Arab society, Israeli politics

The Aya Khatib affair has not only divided Israeli Arab society, it is also haunting the political prospects of the Blue and White and its ability to cooperate with the Joint List.

Israel | Mar 12, 2020

Is Netanyahu really the coronavirus savior?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is staging himself in the role of savior rescuing the people of Israel from the coronavirus, but how much of all this is true?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, March 8, 2020. Oded Balilty/Pool via Reuters - RC2MFF94CHHP

Israel | Mar 9, 2020

Does Jewish-Arab partnership to form government stand a chance in Israel?

The Likud is continuing its campaign of incitement against Arab party representatives to head off their helping form a minority government led by Blue and White.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party election campaign banner depicting his main rival Benny Gantz, head of Blue and White party sitting with Arab politician Ahmad Tibi, of the Joint List party, and Hebrew writing reading: "Without Ahmad Tibi, Gantz doesn't have a government", is seen in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, Israel, February 25, 2020. Picture taken February 25, 2020. REUTERS/Corinna Kern - RC2F8F9OG6H9

Israel | Mar 2, 2020

Can Liberman reinvent himself again in Israeli politics?

Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Liberman has pledged not to sit in a government led by Benjamin Netanyahu, but also not to join one supported by the Arab Joint List, creating a dilemma that could lead to an unappealing fourth round of elections.