most certainly did not follow a course he planned. He became part
of the Zionist experiment, living in a youth home and a kibbutz, and
undergoing transformation from bourgeois Viennese boy to “New Jew.”
For many years, he worked with his own two hands building up the
Land of Israel, but it didn’t take long for him to be confronted with the
political reality of that country in which his Palestinian neighbors also laid
claim to the very same land. Moreover, Ari’s life has been enriched by several
other facets. He didn’t remain a simple farmer; as a journalist and editor-in-chief
of the Jerusalem Post, he made a vital contribution to the development of
an open, liberal, modern press landscape in Israel. What I find most fascinating about Ari is his amazing energy, curiosity, and positive approach to life.
His basic principle is never to give up, even when one’s ultimate goal might
seem unattainable. Accordingly—in spite of the Intifada—he has never lost
faith in achieving a peaceful solution with the Palestinians.”
Helga Embacher, May 2005
