Israel's Palestinian president

Israel just inaugurated a new president. He is largely a ceremonial figure as the official “head of state.” He has a limited but very structured constitutional role. Nonetheless, amazingly, he is a Palestinian.

Isaac “Bougie” Herzog is Israel’s 11th president. His father was also (Israel’s sixth) president, Chaim Herzog. He was also a Palestinian.

How do I know this? Because I am a Palestinian too. “What?!!” you ask. “But Jonathan, you’re Jewish. How ...”

Yes. Stick with me.

The new President Herzog’s grandfather was Israel’s renowned first chief rabbi. He was a Palestinian. Rabbi Yitzhak HaLe...