As courageous IDF heroes fight and die for Israel, IDF soldiers are forced to suffer the anguish and demoralization of leaders who refuse to stand behind them. The UN resolution only refers to a return of the kidnapped soldiers in its preamble and not among the document's actual clauses. There is no mention of the kidnapped soldier in the south, Gilad Shalit. For the first time in the history of Israel, Israel's leaders back down in war and treasonously support the UN Resolution which gives victory to Lebanon/Hizbullah/Syria/Iran and threatens Israel's survival. In addition to callously ignoring securing the release of the kidnapped IDF, the U.S. EU UN via the UN resolution were highly successful in preventing the goal vital to Israel's security - eliminating the rocket threat from Lebanon.

The high price tag is being paid by Israel, not Lebanon/Hizbullah. The latter are laughing all the way to the bank as billions of dollars of international "aid" pour in and the UN force gets into position to enable Hizbullah to rearm and rebuild free of interference from Israel. Meanwhile the abducted soldiers have been shamefully abandoned. Israel keeps on making concessions and receives nothing - except for contempt - in return.

But the true fact MR.PERETZ.,is that you and Pm EHUD.OLMERT. Are responsible for all the failures,of what happend in the war.That means you take full resposibility .That means you have to leave the goverment and go home.It would be the best for the country.MR.PERETZ you no nothing about the army,wars or the defence of the country.

You are just talk and talk, you are big talker ! shut up and start to do something for our security !

lebanon? Hizbollah surely realized the price tag, and unlike Olmert didn't hide behind their finger, and didn't blame it on others, even if there was huge support from lots of people and countries to israel, Hizbollah offered to build houses and apartments, one for one. and they gave to the ones who lost their places 15000 dollars, to rent and to funish a new place while waiting for their new place to be fixed or built. what did Israel offer it's citizens? beside the scandals on all levels, and the bullshit from Peretz, Olmert and others?!!

STOP JEOPARDIZING THE STATE OF I S R A E L ! please!

I'm sick of the defeatism rampant in Israeli media, specially the right wing media. Their denial of the great accomplishments of this war is almost pathological. Many right wingers are so angry with the current government over the settlers' evacuation of Gaza that they are totally unable to think straight. Peretz is also right about the total failure of unilateral moves both in Lebanon and Gaza: negotiations is the way.

I have read a few posts of yours. You are worse than muslim extremist. As far as this post is concerned. Is this all you care about? Israel security! and screw the rest...

I am not going to repeat the numbers...but it took a couple of months of war and thousands of deaths to realize that negotiations is the key. Congratulations!

Both sides were losers for sure. Hizbullah has ruined the country economically for the next five to ten years. Not many will invest in a country that has terrorists at the controls. The government has no backbone or is in collusion with Hizbullah. Many of the talented people are leaving. Maybe the whole goal of Hizbullah is to return the country to biblical times. Then the people can expect nothing and bread and water on the table is a good day for them. As far as Israel goes it seems the people in charge will keep giving away what is the Israelis people land, until there is no more land to give away. Maybe the next big move is a building of jewish homes offshore on platforms after there is no more land to so called give away. The people of Israel have their chance, get rid of these people who dont have your interests in mind. Good luck.

I wonder how palestinians would react if they had to move back to Jordan and Israel took over the land they claim as historically theirs. Interesting. Negotiations with this group will likely be another land give away.. Keep ALL land you have now at least the people living there have democracy and freedoms, better than most other middle eastern countries. Oh yes, I forgot that most important consideration .. In Israel there is FREEDOM OF RELIGION, just like in the USA> Have a nice day.

Sirs: There is a very sharp distinction between moderation and competence. Are you are still trying to rehabilate your reputations throught the launching trail balloons? or are going to use that old standby of filtering and slinging mud on others for your own inepitude?

They still have your boys. They had money ready to give to people for their homes. The've smuggled suicide bombers from Iran with forged Lebanese papers out of Nothern Lebonon to approach US targets, thanks alot dummies. The rebuilding of the country will hide further bunkers and instalations being built. Hole towns being built with ambush points in mind, escape tunnles etc., Duh Olmert. Perhaps a missile silo for some bigger missiles. These are the people that will drop a nuclaer bomb on your ass, don't you get it? They now have protection to build these facilites from the UN. They have not disarmed They have learned the efficacy of their anti-tank missiles. Burned 1,000,000 trees. Israel is paying the price, and the soldiers are not home. Israel, Olmert Jacked you up. Kick him out and disband Kadima, and get Bibi in there to save what you have left of a country.

& everything will be ok in israel

Mr. Perez, with all do respect, who you think you are??? You failed us, the jewish people wherever they are, with the war, with betrayal of kidnapped IDF soldiers, with Gush Katif. Now you are offering to return the Yehuda & Shomron beyond the borders of 1967. Do you think the land belongs to you to do whatever you please??? Did G-d gave it to you, and told you it is your present from Him for being you. Our sons, daugters, husbands, and freinds lost their lives in the past 60 years to defend our land and for the survival of the jews in Eretz Yisrael, do you even thik of that? or maybe you have forgotten. If you did open history books and read, it will remind you how many dear soldiers we lost in and before 1948, 56, 67, 73, and all the days since then. Dear freind, you are done, you should leave the government and find yourself a new hobby, something that will help you to please the Hizbulla even more, I am sure they would love you for it. Be well, but please go home, Shana Tova to you.

Peretz is delusional. He recognizes that he has his own version of reality. That's called "my truth." "My truth" is different than "truth." "Truth" is simply what is. You can't own it. It's not yours. It is what it is. You can only own it in the sense of accepting it. But Peretz's delusion seems typical to a lot of Israelis who believe in "my truth." There seem to be quite a few who see reality as they WANT to see it. They decide what is true, rather than merely observe what is true. We call this "denial." Zionists believe that if they keep pushing ahead with their agenda in a bullheaded way, "my truth will win." Peretz has just said it all. Understand the problem with his comment, and you won't need a government commission to figure out what went wrong. "My truth will win" is a pervasive Israeli mindset.

B"H I thought that the Jew expulsion plan was dead. It does not seem the Labor party head is positioning that: “There are conditions for the resumption of negotiations: The return of Corporal Gilad Shalit to Israel and the cessation of Qassam rocket fire on Israel. If these terms are met, we will withdraw our forces beyond the 1967 border –we have no interest in having our soldiers in (Palestinian) territory.” In Lebanon, the model was international troop to prevent rocket fire. Peretz is attributed with "Peretz said the realignment plan is not feasible". So what exactly is he suggesting? Is it anohter international monitoring of the area east of Olmert's fence? Look at Egypt to see the results of international monitoring. Nay, look at Lebanon, restocking on weapons because the internationals are not keeping close tabs. There is a clear interest in keeping settlement and defense of that settlement. It prevents weapons from moving back and forth. "The sword shall not cross your land." Israel, you do not want to be in a situation like Lebonon with some rouge military regime ingiting conflict with your neighbors so that they can launch a military attack against you. Already, terrorists have attacked Egypt in such a fashion, and only because of your military subduing of such forces and G-d's protection, did not Egypt strike back against you. I am concerned with Peretz's lack of clear perception or YNET's lack of clear presentation of the perception. It is hard to tell from the article which is which.

against anyone who would try and take his labor party top slot... ... against the terrorists he's not so good...

Check out this article for estimated costs of the damage Israel did to Lebanon. I do believe that your defense dept. was trying to keep you safe, by bombing the bridges, etc., and also bombing every Hisbullah home that they could come up with, but I do not agree with most everything about Peretz, especially giving up any lands that are part of Israel. It is God Given Land, there is no human being that has a say in whose land it is - God said it was Israel's, and that's a fact! Anyway, check out this website for the estimate of damage done by the IDF: http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20060906/53559835.html

I believe Hezbollah learned a very expensive lesson, I also believe their strategic objective has been accomplished..........

he is a moroccan,it means he is an arab jew who is fighting for arab stolen rights. go on peretz,all arabs are with you till you finish with israel

Peretz who have no idea about war. He become defence minister a for the cost of soldiers dyeing all around!! Mistake in 2000 what are you doing better now??? Caving in for everithing in the captives are still captives ! Quitt at once.