This is a sound article.It points to the obvious truth that Palestinian violence does damage to the Palestinians. It could have gone further however and urged a Palestinian acceptance of Israel, as step towards real peace.

In the absence of kassams and bombs and kidnappings there would be total quiet from the Israeli side. Again it is a "it all started when he hit me back' arab tactic. No wonder they are the poorest people in the Mideast. They have no desire for self improvement; only blaming others for their constant failures.

"So why do the Palestinians continue to fire, now that Israel has left Gaza?" Nu, you asked the question, what is your answer as to why the Palestinians are engaging in what you describe as self-destructive behavior? Could it be that they are not interested in their "self-interest" and only care about creating havoc?

This article was written by an intelligent person. What he is trying to do is show that there is Arabs out there who are peaceful. He represents a vary large portion of the world's Arab population. There is still a legacy of hatred and violence in Gaza left over from the terrorist Arafat. He still haunts his people. Israel needs to draw borders and take any attack as a threat to national security.

After the Israeli withdrawl from Gaza, the Palestinians should not have fired even one rocket at israel. It was a big mistake, one among many counter productive action that the palestinas take.

Many Jews don't understand one simple thing. Arabs want to die. I repeat Arabs want to die. Then they will get 72 virgins, their family is all over the newspapers. They brought honor to the Arab Nation. They really want to die, even more than Westerners like food, sports, women, etc. Believe me I speak to Arabs on ocasions.

I understand that he thinks the only reason not to try innocent Jewish civillians is because it is a tactical mistake. Why doesn't the writer relate to the morality of intentionally firing rockets into civillian areas? By the way these "primtive" rockets have killed and injured several people so far.

It is more than terrorist attacks it is a war against Israel. Arabs in Israel want Israeli land. You know this. Also, there have been attacks and missile attacks on the northern border. Just not heavliy publized. Also, it is more than missles being fired the Arabs' criminal acts (crimes agains humanity) include varisou acts of war/terrorist attacks, cowardly shootings, bombs etc.. So, how about stopping ALL violence against ISrael then there will be peace at least adsence of activity. AS it is if the IDF were to operate as they should in order to protect ISrael there would be a whole lot more than firing on empty fields and buildings.Perhaps this is what Israel needs to do. act like it is in a war BECAUSE it is. Frget about the lying Arabs who say they want peace but yet attack. There were no checkpoints when there wasn't a high level of murderous attacks. REMEMBER? Moreover, YOU forget one thing (besides the fact that an Israeli or Jew in the western Negev coastal plain(gaza) is in ISrael) there is no "occupation". Israel gave the rest of her southern coastal plain to the Arabs. So now it is only Arab occupation of Gaza. Take some responsibility.

Your opinion seems to have encapsulated several I've heard from Palestinians who are interested in achieving peace and prosperity. Unfortunately, you left out one valuable talking point: economic goals. Many of us watching from the sidelines, particularly in the U.S., are unable to find the rationalization behind these militant groups allocating limited resources for destruction rather than choosing to build a worthy economic infrastructer. You did mention that unemployment and poverty in Gaza were spiriling out of control, which should be the most important issue. The last thing Palestinians should be thinking about is the destruction of Israel when they are losing their own people daily to disease, poverty, and hunger. As long as the world sits back while watching the Palestinians make the destruction of Israel a top priority rather than the safety and welfare of its own people, then support both emotionally and financially is sure to diminish. Right now it appears as if IDF forces are the last thing Palestinians should be concerned with.

So according to this rag, Israel's refusal to negotiate with terrorists is not rational. Since when were the Arabs ever rational. I suggest that this rag of a newspaper should not be read by any Israeli that considers himself to be an Israeli.

The only thing that will change this situation is when Arabs as a whole come to believe that trying to murder Jewish civilians is at the very least counterproductive, and more importantly, it's simply wrong. Then you guys may well gain the moral high ground, and you'll have a hell of a lot more respect across the world, and in Israel, than you do right now. You're right; the Gazans' failure is stupendous and far-reaching, and every rocket has blasted away at any hope for peace in this generation. What would help enormously would be for Israeli Arabs to stand up and say "ENOUGH. Stop shooting at Israel. The Gaza dispute was well on the way to being settled, but 1000+ rockets and assorted other terrorist attacks shipwrecked that. YOU are responsible for this disaster, and while the west bank is an open question, we don't support your decision to squander the future in this way. It's not just your future; everyone in the region will have to live in it. GROW UP." If Israeli Arabs were to make public statements of clear opposition to the attacks on Sderot/etc. then I can guarantee you that it will make a difference among Israelis as well as among Palestinians. And it's not like I am asking you to go put yourselves in harm's way in Sderot or wherever. Even a public, persistent stance that can't be ignored would be immensely valuable to peace throughout the region. But it has to be consistently conveyed in Arabic and not just in English.

Only one problem - Egypt didn't and don't want it! Conversation between Peres and Ehud Barak - 'were're giving the Gaza'. reply 'what are they getting in return?'. Nobody wants it!

The west, with America in the lead, should intervene militarily to establish order in Gaza, and to disarm the Pal terrorists. Israel cannot be expected to do this on its own. If they don't, Gaza will rapidly become the new Afghanistan (if it isn't already) - the World University of Terrorism. Remember Richard Reid, the shoe bomber? he trained in Gaza (according to Debka). The Brit terrorists who blew up Mike's Place in TA, trained in Gaza. Perhaps the next terrorists to carry out an attack on British soil will train in Gaza.

The Government of Israel seem to be 'IMPERVIOUS' to these Kassams... The article above states the following, quote: - The same sources stress that more than 1,000 Kassams have been fired from Gaza since the IDF pullback in August 2005. Unquote. Maybe when a few will fall on the Knesset and kill a few of the ministers then, they will perhaps decide... OOPS… this is really a declaration of war by the Arabs. What a bunch of Volvo driving nincompoops…

that these organisations are fanatics and fanatics do not act reasonably Stating the obvious that Palestinians are suffering (and always suffered) because on fanatisism will not influence these fanatics to change their ways. Gaza must be disarmed and administered by NATO forces

The "Palestinians" could have had their own country defined by the UN in 48 but instead foolishly kept attacking Israel and end up with a much smaller country. Israel pulls out of Gaza and these morons keep attacking Israel? Why do they want Israel to return to Gaza? The European countries are less sympathetic to the terrorists as they realize what a mess their Muslim immigrants are making of their countries.

Barry wrote, quote: -Gaza must be disarmed and administered by NATO forces. Unquote. This is the most vacuous statement ever. If Israelis regard the above as a 'truism' then, no wonder we are in deep trouble. First NATO has other duties and will The strip should be vacated from Arabs, bulldozed, raked clean and turned into a "CLUB MEDITERRANEE" for tourists from Europe... this should be the future of this area... Also Gush Katif should be reinstated and Dugit and the rest of the northern towns multiplied to keep the resort alive and the tourist well supplied. Most Gazans are Egyptians and they must be repatriated! I forgot… to implement the above Olmert should be sent on a long vacation to Elba where little Napoleon spent his last years.

Iran owns Syria and Hamas and is working on Iraq. It has much money tied to North Korea. That's Why.

Who foots the bill and would benefit from Israel being preoccupied with Hamas? Did someone say Iran?

Israeli Arabs with the extremist opinions of Zohari Androus who glorify terror against Israeli civilians should be kicked out of Israel at once. There are limits for chutpah!! No enemy of the state of Israel has the right to claim any citizen rights in Israel.

the terrorists are using the kidnapping as taking prisoners of war. So now we have, we are at war but according to my knowledge prisoners of war are those taken when one actully wins territory in the war and not just the kidnapping of soldiers and running back to base.

Why has the UN not taken the palestinian aurthoity to task for violating their own peoples rights. They use their children as human shields, fight in densely populated civilian areas' indoctrinate women and children to be suicide bombers.Why are they not using the millions of dollars and euros for improving the plight of their citizens in Gaza. \Instead they buy weapons, dig tunnels(For which they pay) and generally cause more sorrow for their people. Was it really so bad before the intifada. They had jobs, they had businesses they even had the casino in Jericho making millions. Is committing suicide against innocent civilians better? I dont think so.