whom the Lebanese are protecting. Nobody hates Lebanon but Israel and the Jewish people, on the other hand, are hated by many anti-Semites, including the UN.

L, Your feelings are greatly appreciated. I would like to note that Lebanon and ALL Lebanese want to live in peace as well. You might ask why is Hezoblla doing this, and we could get into the debate of who started it. I'm not trying to lecture either, but I would like to note few facts: 1 - Israel still refuses to give Lebanon the maps for the land mines the IDF had planted in Lebanon during the occupation. Believe me this is a BIG DEAL. Thousands of acres are held hostage, and the U.N. had estimated that it would take 70 years to remove all the landmines if the maps are not provided by Israel. 2 - Israel still has thousands of detainees. I understand you might look at them as murderers, but for the sake of peace, hard choices have to be made. 3 - The Sheb'a Farms issue. I know Israel is saying that it's not Lebanese. The bottom line is that Israel admits the Farms are not Israeli property. 4 - During the last six years, Israel has continuously raided Lebanon's airspace. This needs to stop. Israel won't accept that any country, even the U.S.A, raids its air space without permission. The four points I made are so simple. Israel can take care of them within hours. those points are the only excuse for Hezbollah to keep their arms. I really don't understand what stops the Israeli government from accepting them. Israel does NOT get any benefits from the farms, from the land mines, from continous raids into Lebanese airspace, and from keeping the detainees (I understand this might be debatable). Anyhow, it's only with an open hand that peace occurs. Recovery will take time, and this halabalou willl take a long time to leave people's memories. Too bad.... People (on the Lebanese side) are tired, and getting desperate.... This is a recipe for more volatility and war escalation.

If IDF were indeed moral there would be no need to shout at every street corner and from every roof and in every media outlet that "IDF is the most moral army in the world". Deeds speak louder than words. I am sorry folks, but judgind by the atrocities done to Palestinians and now to Lebanese, IDF is an immoral army. Stop killing civilians NOW. Get your Mosad agent hunt down Nasrallah or whatever

Z, Lets be honest here. I share your disdain for blatantly raist remarks regardless of which side is making them. However, to state as you do " trust me when i say hizbolla will never shoot any rockets when there is a ceasefire," is basically laughable. Hezbolah has shown time and time again that they do not aim for a cease fire. That their entire raison d'etre is the destruction of the state of Israel. Lebanese unfortunately cannot make promises for Hezbollah. It is clear that IRan is the only country able to do so. Yes, Israelis long for peace with Lebanese. Lebanese must make the difficult choices required for that peace, that is confronting hezbollah. By the way, to suggest muslims never make fun of Jews is only half true. They dont make fun, they make hate. It is a daily occurence in arab newspapers to sereotype and dehumanize Jews. Why would you lie about this.

Z, my heart goes out to you in your suffering (may God bring this war to an end!). The paranoids here who suggest that Israel is doing this out of bloodlust or some secret plot to expand into a "Greater Israel" have not been following Israeli mood and politics for years. All momentum was going the other way: retreat & focus on protecting Israeli way of life. Israelis just want to live life. In the meantime, Hezbollah has made "good use" of this quiet time to arm with 13000 missiles from Iran and Syria, some which reach Tel Aviv -- this is necessary to "win back" Shebaa Farms and a few prisoners? (some of whom should never get out). No, of course there is another agenda at work here. Israel knows what is the goal of Hezbollah and its sponsor, Iran. Hez & Iran do not hide it; I would guess that you hear what they say and have seen what they do. Israel is doing what it thinks it needs to do in order to survive; full stop. You may wish they were not so afraid of Hezbollah's ambition to continue increasing the deadliness of their missiles planned exclusively for use against Israeli civilian population; you may wish they were not afraid of Iran's progress toward nuclear weapons and statements that Israel must be wiped off the map. Most reasonable people understand that Israel has good cause to be afraid. When Lebanon (and militias inside its border) behaves consistent with a goal to defend itself instead of threatening Israeli life and way of life, Israel will stop being afraid.

Wipe out - completely the evil results of idolatry...

This is the first time where voices of reason outnumber the voices of ignorance and hate on the talkbacks, I just hope that the ARMCHAIR GENERALS that aren’t living in this area (Lebanon and Israel) spare us there stupid remarks, that inflame the wounds of both sides. May peace come to all people on the face of the earth especially our beloved middle east. Concerned Lebanese , Lebanon

This is what people don't believe the people you defend - because you try so hard to manipulate that you don't remember yourselves what might be the actual truth.

Israeli expansion is against our very beliefs. We are trying to do the opposite - to collect Jews of the world to live on historically Hebrew soiil. You are attempting to project on us the thoughts and systems of crusaders and Islamic extremists, but it is one of the principal differences between us.

Torah with us, so we can now how to live and how to behave... Torah means... Instruction G*d’s instructions to mankind... to maximise our potential on earth... Given for us to know how to live and how to behave... Wisdom of G*d gives understanding... and knowledge Tora the Word of – G*d - will live - be an abode - in our hearts and minds. Become one with you... unity of Divine energy... a G*dly essence... Connecting us to Sinai – to G*d Study - wiser in the ways of G*ds wisdom... Tara never turned into flesh... only in the xtian bible... Why not? It is the Stone – “Knowledge of G*d” – “Wisdom” David – 1. Samuel 17 – Daniel 2 When shall you pick up the Stone?

Hi J - You are right, we could get into a debate about how this all started, however we both (Israel and Lebanon) need to let that go for now, because dwelling on the past will get us nowhere. In response to your well-made points: 1. Israel doesn’t have a problem giving the maps for the land mines. We are happy to give this up for peace, or for a ceasefire in the event of a war….it was saved for exactly the situation we are in now. 2. Prisoners. The main prisioner that Hezbollah says they want released is Samir Kuntar. Just to remind you who Samir Kuntar is…. He came into Israel by sea (yes, he came here on his own free will) with 4 others. He shot dead a policeman, broke into a house and kidnapped a father and the 4 year daughter. The mother, and the 2 year old daughter managed to hide. Samir Kuntar took the father and daughter down the beach, and shot the father dead in front of his daughter. Then using his rifle, Samir Kuntar smashed the 4 year old girl's skull against a rock till she died. Meanwhile, the mother and the 2 year old daughter were still hiding. The 2 year old started to cry. The mother heard the terrorists, so she put her hand over the child's mouth to prevent her from crying, and she was smothered death. So you wrote that "I understand you might look at them as murders….". Listen, this guy is a murderer, and no one can argue that. He came to Israel by sea from Lebanon with one purpose, to carry out a terror attack. Unfortunately he succeeded. We caught him. Any other country in the world would have given him the death sentence, we just put him in jail. All people in our jails have been sentenced in court. We are a democracy. 3. See my response to #1. Same thing. 4. Hezbollah (or Iran/Syria/whoever) raids our airspace too. There are always attempts to fly drones over Israel. A few have make it successfully back to Lebanon. This is one of those issues that we both have to just stop, and not blame who started it. You are correct… only with an open hand peace occurs. The problem is that anytime we (Israel) extend our hand, it just gets bitten off (or blown up). We have Hamas and Hezbollah, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Palestine Liberation Front (PLF), Islamic Jihad, Al-Qaeda, etc, etc. etc who all want Israel erased at any cost. These groups, with their radical islamic ideology, obviously don't value life, since they are willing to die (blow themselves up, etc.) to kill us too. (I am sure the majoring of Muslims do not agree with, am I correct?). So what do we do? We are stuck in a circle that will last forever I am afraid. Very depressing.

thank god our pm cries... at least he is human... since when crying has become a cowardly act?... is that what you teach your children? real men cry i am against hezbollah killing defenceless israeli civilians and yes i am muslim and shiite... and my religion says killing defenceless people is WRONG.... and this goes to YOUR ARMY AND HEZBOLLAH i don't know who is more of a terrorist... hezbollah or your government.... violence does not justify violence... stop justifying your violence saying hezbollah started.. am i missing something here? does your religion by any chance say killing non jews is OK? i think the holocaust which was a horrible crime.... left a bad mark con your culture... which maybe has desensitized you to killing.. so vengeful... and ruthless... coz if you look at the history of all violent people.. the too have been hurt at some point... and they just do it to other people so they can overcome it and live peacefully with it. may peace be upon us

Hi, Yes, I think we could start our own peace talks right here, and do a much better job than anyone else has been doing! :) As for the people making the comments from the "outside", they will never understand, and they are lucky to never have to understand. This is a horrible situation for all of us that I do not wish upon anyone. Do you want to show your email address before this thread ends so we can continue this conversation? :)

Hi L, First, I would like to say that it is refreshing that we can have a civil conversation without the lame and meaningless namecalling and war rhetoric. Would you agree with the following: 1 - Israel should give the maps to the land mines to the Lebanese government (or at least to the UN) 2 - Israel should relinquish the Sheb'a Farms to an International Force until the Lebanese government proves it can take over and control its side of the border. 3 - Israel would stop the air raids to Lebanon's airspace with a guarantee from the Lebanese government that no drones would be sent to Israeli air space from Lebanon (Lebanon would never be able to control IRAN). 4 - The Kuntar issue is a sticky one. I would like to note that in Islam, our beloved prophet Mohammad (pbuh) has prohibited the killing, actually murder, of women, children and the unarmed during war time. So by those standards, what you say about Kuntar is absolutely true. However, not the Lebanese side nor the Israeli side are really sticking to the bases of Islam or Judaism (or Christianity for that matters). I'm sure that Judaic law prohibits the killing, or murder, of the innocent and the unarmed; yet, just yesterday an Israeli war plane hit a residential area (without giving the usual warning to evacuate) killing 29 and injuring 75 all of which are civilians. If you're wondering where I'm going with this. Well, my point is Kuntar would be released as a swap not only for the Israeli soldiers (who SHOULD be release for this peace to happen) but also as a repayment for the innocents who died. I know this might not seem fair. But both parties MUST make tough decisions to remove any excuses from the hands of the radicals. Today, Lebanon has suffered more than 2 billion dollars in infrastructure damage, with some estimating the real cost up to 7 billion dollars. More than 1000 civilians were killed , one third of which are children under the age of 12. The fighting must stop for the sake of civilians on both sides. The cycle of hatred was starting to subside - at least on the Lebanese side. Now it's been rekindled.... I share your fear. I have faith that the voice of Peace will prevail. I pray for it, and for the stop of bloodshed (on both sides equally) every day...

I apologize for my last post IF it offended anyone... am just SO ANGRY right now... i do agree 100% with Z from post 6.

Don't you think that Lebanon holds some responsibility for allowing Hezbollah to take over their country? What do you expect Israel to do after Hezbollah crossed the border and kidnapped the soldiers. This is not the first time either and all this happened under the watchful eyes of the UN who are in bed with Hezbollah. Israel hgas the right as every nation has to defend itself and that's what it is doing. You want the slaughter and mayhem to stop, then reign in your Hezbollah. Stop the murder of Israelis. The Jews are a very forgiving people. They will embrace you. I remember the peaceful Lebanon border of 1955 when I put one leg over the border and waved and blew kisses to the shepherds in return to theirs.

What do you think ? that Israel has not suffered billions in loss Then you are an insensitive clod at the very least. And why should Israel cede land as a bonus for Lebanon being so kind to it by murdering it's civilians as well as soldiers? Whast does Israel get in return? More missiles lobbed down on its cities , hospitals?

Hi J, Bottom line, all sides need to make sacrifices and give-and-take to make peace work. This is evident from our discussion. The question is, what are both sides willing to do about it? I also pray for the stop of bloodshed for everyone, everyday..... L

Hilda, I'm not an insensitive clod... I do understand that this is a war and I do value human life on both sides equally. That being said, this is a war between the Israel military and Hezbollah. Thus, I don't feel as bad when soldiers die from either side. I do feel bad about the civilian casualties on both sides though. By sheer numbers, Lebanon has a big lead on scale of civilian deaths. The civilian death toll in Lebanon is over 1000, and (excuse my ignorance, and please correct me if I'm wrong) the Israeli civilian death toll is at 40. The financial losses in Lebanon far outweigh those in Israel as well. Having a larger toll of losses and deaths does not give one country or people the right to kill the innocent in another country. But also, the kidnapping of two SOLDIERS does not give one country the right to retalliate against the innocents in the other country. What I propose is to stop the bloodshed while keeping dignity for both. and I'm not saying Israel should give everything up for free, but in return of guarantees backed by the International forces. The points which I propose, for the exception of the prisoner swap, is also backed by U.N. resolutions...

there's a lot of bad people here with bad intentions. i donno if u can give out urs

This is the problem, exactly as you say. If only Arabs in Israel would understand this too... as well as people living abroad. - We who live here have lived in the Galillee for decades, Arabs and Jews, working together, studying together, living side by side in the cities... There is no way we like to see complete destruction to the Lebanese people - NOR do we want to be shot at, as we are today! We all want to go on with our lives and let others do the same. The only thing that keeps Israel from an immediate ceasefire is not Zionism, but a true and real fear that things may get worse in a few years, if Hizbollah is not pacified now. Any extremist, on both sides, will not help us solve the problem, but only negotiations and sufficient and down-to-earth guarantees that ALL fighters in the area are pacified.

I'm delighted to hear your kind and wise voice from your country, even in this time of hardships and distress for you and your people. Trust me, we suffer the same thing as you, right now, just on the opposite side of the border. May Reason soon begin to make its voice heard and people live in peace with each other on both sides of the border. Endlessly viewing and reviewing History will not help us build the Future. It's time for all people to stop violence, stop pointing fingers at others and blaming them, and begin to take personal responsibility for their lives and the lives of their neighbours to develop along more peaceful paths. Aggressors must be pacified, and hateful voices hushed down a decibel or two, so that voices of freedom, peace and friendliness can make themselves heard.

Every single person with any intelligence level even the enemies are able to understand already, that Mr. Peretz is not doing a good job. At the time of crisis Israeli people should reevaluate his performance and obviously to replace him ASAP.

This is the first time on this post service that I find so many of us expressing nearly the same thoughts about what's going on - and we live in the area (on both sides of the border) and know (from looking out thorugh our own window) what's going on on the ground... It's stunning how equally we think about this matter, though I know there are many who disagree with us as well... Thanks, Scott, for your initiated words and thoughts. Yes, unfortunately they are clever - but only in making war, not peace. THAT sort of intelligence is kept for another sort of people, of whom we may be a part. Let's all keep making our voices heard on the post sites... or does anyone have a good idea of what to do as well?