http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0v1To8B4_A What a babooon. If you want to know what Israel should do, watch this http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5040457003958805741

No compensation, arresting Jews who blow the shofar at the Kotel, yeah then under that definition of a "Grudge" than yes we do.

Merlot sez: "“We must create a new atmosphere of dialogue and maybe strive towards a new definition of Zionism. It cannot be that Zionism is defined on the basis of supporting or opposing withdrawals. Anyone who believes in the people of Israel’s right to have a sovereign Jewish state on some part of the Land of Israel is a Zionist. Agreeing on a new, broader definition of Zionism is pivotal to safeguarding the internal unity of Israeli society.”" So, Merlot's going to "safeguard ... internal unity" by playing definitional tricks (a.k.a. spin) involving the word "Zionist"? That will go over well. How could Israelis gave this guy a plurality of the vote? And how could Peretz have gotten #2? (You can't blame Sharon for Labor's showing.)

P.M. Olmert said: "Anyone who believes in the people of Israel’s right to have a sovereign Jewish state on some part of the Land of Israel is a Zionist." No, I'm sorry. When a Zionist turns and supports the relinquishing of our land to our enemies, he leaves the Zionist fold. We have seen this time and time again. From David ben Gurion to Ariel Sharon to Ehud Olmert. As a Jew and a Zionist, albeit not as religious a Jew as I should be, I no longer trust Mr. Olmert. He has betrayed my trust and my confidence.

There will be no dialogue with religious fundamentalists who are no better than their ilk Hizbullah. They lost the right to " dialogue " the night they murdered Rabin.

Bet you havent heard of the Altalena Affair, it is when RABIN killed over many Jews back in the 40s or when they kidnapped Irgun fighters. OR when under the regimes of Gurion and those who followed afterwords discriminated against Sephardic Jews. These leftist regimes aligned with folks like the Britsh government who blocked passages from European Jews who tried to enter Israel but who were blocked. Read Perfidy. The same ones who shook hands with Arafat who signed the Oslo accords and who have allowed the daily stone throwings at Jewish buses and cars, who have allowed thousands of rockets to be shot over the wall, who GAVE AWAY THE TEMPLE MOUNT. Their punishment will come, whether in this life or in the next, punishment will be served who have spilled fellow Jewish blood and who have allowed our Exile to continue. Was this the dream for 2000 years, to be scared in our own homeland.

...Bunnie Meier words,even a stoped watch is right once a day! Any way,this time he seems right. Israel,when (re)created ,was a very innovative country:the kibutzim,the new pedagogy related to children ,where they lived together instead of with their families,etc. It was an essay that succeded partially ,and failed by creating a strange radical secularism,I guess. I guess the children education should be re-thought, by including in all curriculums the ethic Jewish principles,the Jewish philosophy and religion,along with old fashioned subjects as arts,music ,languages and even hand works. Israel should return to its own values and all People, to its own deep beings,more and more far from this "modern"western liberal ,consumist culture,I think.

We are to assume that Olmert is an expert on Zionism as well Ho-Hum .For all the haters ,zionism is dead except there was no burial.Time to move on ,next time you make a Jewish state if anyone needs it check out the neighborhood first

Olmert is so full of crap it is oozing out of his pores. He couldn't care less about the feelings or the fate of the religious zionists. He would rather they disappear from the scene altogether and fade into the twilight. What he DOES care about is mollifying and sweet talking those he can convince to keep his hold in power. He knows that the mood in the country is against him and his policies. He also knows that the Orange camp can damage him and his regime like never before. His support of 'land for peace' has been proven as an unmitigated disaster. Even the leftists in Haifa who were huddled in bombshelters understand now what these 'concessions' mean for them too, and not only for the rightwing camp. The Oslo Death Accords have proven a disaster and Olmert & his corrupt crew are living on borrowed time.

B"H I do not see myself in the periphery. I see myself in the Diaspora -- exciled by G-d from out of Israeli government sovereignty. Feeling neglected is often a sign of neglect! That is, how is it that those Jews uprooted are still not fully compensated yet in permanent homes!? Perhaps you are right to say that the feeling of neglect goes even deeper than that. But that is a good starting point, the actual neglect. “Religious Zionism, the population that lives on the periphery and has felt neglected for years; another sector opposes with all their might Israel’s holding onto the territories, and sees them as the source of all evil and would like to refuse to serve there.”

B"H I do not have evidence showing clearly that the murder of Rabin was to blame on the religious public. Rather, this is slander as far as I can tell that is used to justify moves against the religious public. Secular Sabra, present your proof that Rabin was murdered by the religious public. I am tired of empty accusations that I feel are not true. I have reviewed the video footage aired on Israeli television, and it did not point to the conclusions publically distributed. Get your facts straight Secular Sabra, please.

Olmert, people like me are not interested in pretty words, but a sincere apology will go a long way. Over and above that, you must impress me with your actions. As you are the leader of Israel, I naturally wish you to be successful. Even with all their shortcomings, men like Begin and Sharon are still held in the highest esteem for their deep convictions. Perhaps you too are a man with a good moral compass, and it is not too late for you to accomplish something great. You must start by putting fear back into the hearts of our enemies. If Nasrallah feels that he can attend a rally in Beirut without being kissed by a missile then it is because he thinks you are soft. I urge you to address the nation, and then our enemies. Apologise to the nation for your mistakes. Then you must tell our enemies these things: To Iran - Dismantle your nuclear program within X days or Israel will destroy it To Hisbollah - Give back the soldiers within X days or I will send the IDF back into Lebanon To Hamas - Give back the soldier within X days or I will annex part of the Gaza strip for the settlers It is not a good thing to be a bully, so you must show your good faith to Lebanon and the Arabs of former Roman Palestine. Perhaps you are holding some prisoners simply as bargaining tokens, people who are not murderous criminals. If so, release them immediately. Assist the Lebanese to clean up the devastation that Nasrallah brought upon them, starting with the unexploded cluster bombs (an abomination). Give those who mock the Holocaust in Tehran nothing but fire and death. Above all, always do exactly what you say you will do. You are the leader and defender of Zion, Olmert. HaShem is watching over you. If you want to truly unite the nation, then you must rout all of our enemies. Only HaShem can grant you this victory. I will continue to pray for your success in this endeavour.

Olmert should understand that dialogue is a two way street. It means that he must listen not just talk. The message of the vast majority of the Israeli people according to all polls is that they do want want Olmert as their leader. If Olmert does not listen to the Israeli public, how does he define dialogue?

" He also knows that the Orange camp can damage him and his regime like never before. " In youre dreams habibi. The only camp the Orange Kahanists hurt is themselves :o)

The Altalena was full of traitors to the State who deserved their fate. Much like the Orange traitors of today who deserve all that is coming their way ;)

you only have to read the selfhatred and understand why the world hates israelis and frankly a lot of them are not very likable.Secular zionism is a self destructing force and olmert is just a continuation of bs we have been fed by people only interested in power.He is a phony and it shows how arrogant he is ,with his stupid remarks like that.It is truly amazing and scary that the sob is still in power,on the other hand like a friend of mine wrote in a democracy the people get the leaders they deserve.And thanks to our enlightend secular sabra "s we are going to get a serious beating from iran and syria.We should just get rid of the word zionist altogether and work towards creating a jewish state.Zionism is out and judaism in and that also means by by olmert and his secular nasty sabra buddies

THis guy will say anything to keep his balls in the PM chair. Too bad they are running on empty.

are you talking from israel in my rationality the fact that you are in israel negates your statement a tiny strip of land you are in but sleep well because you are bleesed to be there and fundamentaly the guy who murdered rabin will pay cause fundamentaly murder is wrong

Let's keep Hebron and give away Tel Aviv.

Zionisim should not be the domain of the fringe on the right. There should be a consensis on the issue of settlements, settlements should not just be imposed by the right. Most of people in Israel don't want settlements, and this is probably the most burning issue of the Arab-Israeli issue today.

Zionism doesn't not need any new definition, it needs new leaders.

in the latest yediot poll they are down to 15 (from 29) ... another 3 months of desperation and pandering and they will be below 10 ... where is the center party today? shinui? this is the future of kadima. Meir Sheetrit, Tzipi Livni and Zeev Boim, you are Beitar at heart, come home!!!

New definition of Olmert is needed urgently. See www.jewishyisrael.org

I attack you personally, "secular sabra": You are an extremist, dangerous for the Jewish People. You also are arrogant, in as much as you fail to learn from your own (group's) deadly mistakes.

unfortunatly you must not like being Jewish nor have a Jewish Identity. You are ashamed of our traditions and history. Hense you call yourself "secular sabra". Quit spending your summers on the beaches of tel aviv and your winters waiting on line at the US consulate waiting for approval to recieve a green card through lottery. Maybe come here to Judea or the samaria. Spend a shabbat here and connect with your brothers and sisters. You will see that all that you know of these religious fundamentalists is all but a made up lie by the leftist press. Dont be ignorant...its only a short cut to thinking. And yes, I also opened this letter with a bit of ignorance. I did generalize what the image of a "secular sabra" is. Though this is not my ignorance, I know that this is not always, or even mostly true. Just somewhat.

I served three years in the Wild West Bank and guarded the settlers there and those in Hevron. I know what I am talking about . Read these : http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/israel/ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,251-1856469,00.html http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1136361015313&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull It is we who have lived the past that will build our future...... not American Jews who understand nothing about us or our history.