Time to chill the enthusiasm of Israeli media to print every juicy, outlandish and nasty bit of information, without proper fact-checking or allowing for robust possibility to respond.

Israeli opposition leaders need to cool the heated rhetoric about the “assault on democracy” in Israel. The hyperbole isn’t justified, and such irresponsible talk threatens to alienate Israel’s supporters around the world.

Despite threats to its security and assaults on its legitimacy, there are many trends underway in Israel, the region and the world which work to Israel’s favor. Supporters of Israel need not despair!

Despite their desire for structural reforms in pricing and welfare, most Israelis understand that Prime Minister Netanyahu is a steady hand at the economic till during turbulent times; and that without him, the situation would be much worse.

The upset victory yesterday of Republican Bob Turner in New York’s Ninth District is a watershed moment that signals that Obama can be denied a second term.

The Lieberman laxative is a bitter pill, meant for die-hard, old-style peace processors, which flushes away the Annapolis process, the Arab League initiative, Oslo residue and more.

The newfangled “shelf agreement” concept, which served as the basis for the Olmert government’s negotiation with the Palestinians, was strategically illogical and tactically ill-considered. Israel must not again go this route.

The EU has been the PA’s bighearted sugar-daddy; Yasser Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas’ bountiful and boundless papa-bear; the deepest honey-pot the Palestinians could ever hope for.

With settlements the biggest friction point between the US and Israel, it’s time to reflect on their usefulness. They are the best Israeli response to Palestinian terrorism, and they exact a real price from the Palestinians for their recalcitrance.

Had Benjamin Netanyahu taken 12 cabinet posts, fired 11 diplomats, legislated a haredi army exemption, and annexed the West Bank with a government of only 30 seats – the country would have been on fire! Yet the leftist of government of the year 2000 did wildly outrageous things similar to this, and the media was silent. A worthwhile reminder for the year 2009.