To remind Mr. Avineri, the Party of God was the one who dragged us into war. There is no question the state's political and military leadership were wrong and were not ready for the war - and could have saved many lives of our citizens and soldiers. However, Hezbollah was the one constantly attacking the Israeli north, especially IDF's positions all over the border (not to mention the three kidnapped soldiers from the "Assaf" battalion). And Hezbollah was the one to start the war.

two israeli prisoners of war POW.. and whats the result of the war ... a strategic blow to israel''s miltary ... scores of destroyed mirkava tanks .. two destroyers sunk ... how many helicopters shot down .. sorry i meant (accidents and friendly fire) just one thought ... if he didnt know that there will be all out war ... why did he sell his stocks :D

The author still does not get that Lebanon started the war. It is completely another point the fact that Israel was preparing another expulsion of Jews and had no time for defence of the borders. A similar situation in Gaza. Peres said that katushas from Gaza are not a big problem and he can live with it. As to Sharon family, everyone knows by now that they wanted war to save themselves from jail.

I agree with Shlomo Avineri. The fact that the Hizbulla started all this doesn't mean one must rush into a crazy operation. Is this on the level of "gan yeladim" - he started it, so I gave him back. There were cleverer ways to respond to a provocation. At any rate the war is done, and the lessons must be extracted. Halutz must definitly go- this was his responsability. I do not, though buy the naivity of PM and The defence Minister. Eshkol was no military man as well, but knew what to do. This is a question of common sense. neither the PM nor DM had enough common sense.

It seems clear that the State of Israel is being led by fools. Jews cannot rely on Tzahal, and the concept, mocked in the Bible, of "kochi v'otzem yadi" (i.e I will win by "my power and the strength of my arm[s]") is passe to put it mildly. We have no choice but to pray to God while working for systemic change. The next war will probably make this one look like child's play. It's not too late, but the fools on top are too self-centered to do what is needed.

First of, it's not about responding to Hezbollah's attack. Before calling others "stupid", I'd advice you to learn some history. Hezbollah been attacking Israeli north for six and a half years after Israeli withdrawal. I myself, while serving in the north, spent enough time in the bomb shelter during the bombing. This war would come anyway, and Hezbollah didn't win it - it got hurt quite badly, both militarily and politically. Also, what exactly did you mean by "Eshkol...knew what to do"?

we hit and kill our neighbours then cry for help that we 're helpess and need help !!! is there any better example for this attitiude than israel !!! israel has 320 nukes and cries for help from the world that the bad bad arabs want to destroy it ... ooooooh how terrible this is !!! and how peaceful israel is !?

"two destroyers sunk" --- waw I didnt know Israel had "destroyers". Dont forget hezballa "sunk" all Israeli aircraft carriers (100 of them). Plus entire elefant cavalry.

How the hell do you say the army dragged us into war, when Israel was attacked and soldiers were captured? There is no winning with you morons. If the IDF had done nothing, you would be crying and whining that the IDF didnt offer a stern enough response. Furthermore, the problem is not with the army. It is with the leadership.

Not even half of the facts you state are accurate. Anyways. You are lucky Israel restrained itself against your pathetic country. Even so, you guys are crying all day like the pathetic Arabs you are.

ok;if u israel win th war ;but first answer me some question? Ans let's be sincere;israel didn't realise anything of her objective;and I think that u are an intelligent people to know that we can't win the war by counting who destroy more houses or who kill more children; the one who wins the war;is the one who realise their objective ; olmert have declared since the first daythat the war objective is to eliminate hezbollah;and getting back th 2 soldiers;you know that he didn's realise anything of that;then the objective became to be hitting the missile capabilities of the party ;and we know that the missiles were falling in israel to the last moment;then the objective became to be the establishing of a weapon free_zone (the south of the litani river)and please don't tell me that there are no hezbollah in the south of litani(let's be sincere);I feel sorry for those israeli officials who are lying to their people saying that they expelled hezbollah from the south of litani;we know that all the fighter of hizbollah and their family live in that villages;because they are th sons of this lands;and they tries to kill nassrallah and failed too;and the big victory that olmert declared that he is walking in the north and nassrallah in th shelter,but we all see that he get out from the shelter;ok we know that you realise one thing ;about the unifil and the soldiers of lebanon;I lived in lebanon for 15 years;and I know that most soldiers of lebanon are shiites;and I know that they are like botheres;(u know that 95%of shiites are with hezbollah);and u know that the unifil don't have the courage to fight with hezbollah;the unifil will not make a war for israel;and about the army we know that syria are giving every day armies to hezbollah(there are no unifil there) let's talk about the objective of hezbollah;the objective are to getting back the lebanese prisioners ;and we know that they will get back them;(if u want to see your 2 soldiers)and the other ojective was that when israel enter to lebanon will pay big price(118 soldiers and 50 mikava ;3 hilicoptere and many more things); and don't tell me tha u kill 600 of hezbollah;all this fightere of hezbollah have a family ;and these families wiil ask for their sons; hezbollah won thousands of muslims hearts;and non-muslims in lebanon(80% of the people of lebanon love hezbollah) and u israel what did you won???????????????

thats more like it to make u happy ... but that doesnt change the fact that u fled haifa ... next time i hope hizbullah rocket accuracy would be much better :p goood luck moron ... next time ull run all the way to Gaza :p

I actually tried, foolishly. Could you learn to use PERIODS to conclude your sentences, instead of SEMICOLONS? Do you think you could spell words out ("u" is wrong; "you" is correct)? Let's be fair, though. Israel did not achieve its objectives in the war in Lebanon, which were to dismantle Hezbollah (including its missiles) and get the soldiers back. Merlot denies that these were his objectives, but he's lying. In fact, I think you're right until you start talking about Hezbollah's objectives and the "love" the Lebanese have for Hezbollah. H didn't and doesn't give a damn about the "lebanese prisoners." H has been building its capability for years, since Israel fled from Lebanon. H is also Iran's proxy, and it can no more be negotiated with than Iran itself. H was, it seems, seriously damaged by Israel, and Israel and the US know much about Iran's capabiltiies thanks to this war. However, there is every reason to believe that H will soon be restored to its pre-war capabilities. Israel lost this war because it did not achieve its objectives. H probably "won," but that's only because it will be resupplied, and because Arab life, being cheap, is not counted on the "loss" side for H. Lebanon lost big time. The idiot fadi doesn't seem to understand this. He's probably a "Palestinian." You know, they're the group that invaded your country and facilitated your civil war. He doesn't care about Lebanon as long as the Jews get theirs.

this is to the israili and to sk ,if he is not an israili ,,i think that the idf must recognize the d well it is not decorated ,, it is som thing else ...to sk .it is spin key or superking .or subkind or silly kuku ..i think it is the last one ..you will not understand it .and i can not translate to english ha ha ha

apparantly, both side were surprised. --hizbollah has kidnapped soldiers before without starting a war --israel has launched airstrikes without starting a full-scale war. this is just like previous evetns in history where each side misunderstands the other's intent or how they will react and the result in a war neither side wanted but felt "draggged into." both halutz and nasrallah are saying essentially the same thing. let's hope people cant pick themselves up an get something positive out of it. peace with syria perhaps. afterall it took the 73 war for sadat to visit israel afterwards...

Dear Fadi - Marchaba!! why the antagonism..why the nastiness..give me a break Hizbulla ruined Lebanon, whoever won the this stupid war is irrelevant what matters here is that countless people died and for what!! You are so willing to criticise Israel etc.,but what about Hizbulla. Israel's leadership should have done more, planned more and taken into consideration all the pros and cons before entering into war...regardless of how much they learnt about Iran's intentions, these things could have just as well be learnt through proper intelligence and not through war. Fadi, do you have a family, I am sure that you do, is this is what you bring to the table, talk of war, hatred and anger...dont you think that you would set a better example as a leader, who showed insight and strength of character by acknowledging that both sides made mistakes, but that there is hope for a better future if people cultivate more feelings of goodwill and peace rather than hate and war.

the ethos we learned ,and the bitter fact for jews is that:If you want anything from our southern neighbors ,just hijack on of there soldiers:)you never now what u might get!maybe in the next hijack will will trade a nuclear missile:)

http://www.news.faithfreedom.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=539

This is really suprising to see how many people cannot read what is written, and start instantly refuting assertions that were never made. The fact that Hizballah attacked Israel and provided casus belli is a common knowledge. The fact that this war was long overdue, given Hizballah activity in South Lebanon, is also obvious to anybody with basic intellectual capacities. What was wrong, and what the author stresses, is that the response should have been carefully planned, with all necessary logistical steps made in advance and as quietly as possible. Instead we saw the knee-jerk reaction of both the government and the top brass. It was Lenin who once quipped that "first let's engage in fight, later we'll see (what to do)". Neither Halutz nor Olmert are not Lenins (I don't know whether they really aspired to be). The result of such policy is predictably an immediate disaster. Olmert, Halutz and Perez must go as clearly unift for essential decision making.

You say: "the ethos we learned ,and the bitter fact for jews is that:If you want anything from our southern neighbors ,just hijack on of there soldiers:)you never now what u might get!maybe in the next hijack will will trade a nuclear missile:)" This is why Feiglin should be the Israeli PM, as he would avoid the Gentile/leftist/traditional Israeli approach of playing patty cakes with barbarians like you. Rather, he would make war early, kill you and many other Lebanese, seize southern Lebanon (which belongs to Israel anyway), expel the Arab squatters there, and annex the land. Immediately, there will be a ripple throughout the Muslim world. Count on it that kidnappings will not be lightly undertaken again. THE BITTER FACT FOR MUSLIMS is that many Jews have learned what you are from your actions. Happily, a Jewish state has an advantage over a Christian one because Judaism fully supports pre-emptive war and so-called "collective punishment."