Its one thing slaughtering Palestinians from a distance using rockets (an activity that requires no courage or commitment) and quite another shooting from a tank which might itself get blown up at any second. No soldier ever wants to get killed, but especially not for a worthless cause like securing an illegal and ruthless occupation, when not even his parents can expect to be honoured in the same way that a Palestinian martyr's family is honoured. That is the difference between Israel and Palestine, and demonstrates the justice behind both camps: only for Palestine are people willing to die. (and its not for those 80 virgins so dear to the heart of the Israel propaganda machine).

Now we see that it was a really smart thing to destroy the Jewish communities in Gaza. I wonder when Kadima, Labor, Mazuz and the Supreme Court will apologize for the expulsion of Gush Katif.

while you're talking and talking and talking....the hamas is getting stronger and stronger, and....(?) stronger ! in 2000 barak left lebanon thinking and hoping that this will lead to peace....bullshit ! during the 6 years israel was lying to himself by thinking war with lebanon will never come again; the hezbollah armed himself and prepared himself for the war of summer 2006 ! and now, instead of learning the lessons of the second lebanon war, israel is doing EXACTLY the same mistake that it did concerning lebanon: you left gaza, expelled jews from their homes for NOTHING! hamas is taking advantage of the vacum left by reinforcing himself! no matter when you will start a big operation, anyway, unfortunately, tsahal will suffer losses.but the more we wait, the more hamas will be ready. what does olmerd waiting for ? the hamas to launch katyoucha toward beersheba? if israel don't move; it's a matter of time till hamas launc missiles on beersheba or tel aviv...

Hamas and Jihad pay money for the poor families so they can send their 16-year-old sons to blow themselves up in Israel? And the mothers don´t even care about their sons, it´s easy for them to send them to kill themselves among Israeli civilians? You think that´s honourable? You must really have a warped conception of ´honourable´. Those young boys are victims of ruthless, cruel militant leaders and careless parents, not martyrs, who know what they are doing. Young kids are being mentally abused, manipulated and exploited by militant leaders and you are PROUD of that? You should be ashamed. Gaza is not Israel´s number one priority right now, Iran is. Resources should be focused on preparing attack for Iran and defending Israel against Iran. That´s the main reason why Israelis are unwilling to execute major military operations in Gaza right now.

agree'd, 100% The current govt is weak, its pathetic.

The way to do it is simple- as follows (and yes, I do have combat military experience): 1. Choose target area- say Beit Hanun. 2. Give civilians 3 hours to leave. 3. Commence bombardment. 4. Use artillery. 5. Send in commandos to secure strategic points. 6. Send in ground forces; tanks and infantry. 7. Repeat as neccessary until ALL terrorists surrender unconditionally or are all dead,and do not stop until that point. 8. Do NOT allow these usurpers sovereignty here in OUR land.

Am I better than General( Strike) PERETZ

Why should Israel focus all of its efforts, all of its resources and spend huge amounts of money on Gaza right now? Because those Quassams are more dangerous than nuclear weapons? Which is more important a threat to a few cities or a threat that can destroy the whole country? Israel made a huge mistake to fight in two separate front lines in the Lebanon war. If Israel had only concentrated on fighting against Hizbollah, the terrorist organization would have bee completely destroyed. Talking about making the same mistakes again. This time, there will be a war against enemy, but only one enemy. Palestinians can be dealt with later.

Political paralysis is the problem. We have many options in dealing with Gaza but we do not have the political will to carry them out. In a sense, we have lost control of our own foreign policy & security. Our actions are determined in Washington & Ramallah .... Ms Rice is the new PM & Abbas is her foreign secretary. We are being out-manoeuvered on every issue. While it is certainly necessary to take into consideration the reaction of the US & to a lesser extent, world opinion, this should not stop us from taking action on security issues. There should be no consideration given to the effect on the "peace process" - if negotiations collapse, we are not the loser, they are. Our position should be that we don't need peace, that we are holding all the cards. We are not being defeated by the Palestinians, we are defeating ourselves.

Yesterday, you told us that Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi said that a Gaza operation was inevitable. Today the IDF, with no one specifically the source, said that an operation now would be too dangerous. Do we conclude that these are two different opinions or that General Ashkenazi is recommending an operation at some time in the furture when the IDf is better prepared? Sadly, one draws the conclusion that Hamas is winning at present. Poor people of Sderot!

You have allowed a person using the name Esther to demand the carpet bombing of Gaza. Yet at the top of the message box you say 'comments containing incitement ... won't be published'. Presumably what you really mean to say is incitement against Jews is prohibited, whereas against Palestinians, mass-murder, genocide, dispossession, transfer ... everything is permitted.

Maybe after they get round to apologising for Oslo?

That is insane. Why don't we just go door to door and ask "Is there a terrorist inside?" This peaceful Judaism surely is not the Torah that Moshe gave. Like Moshe was a peaceful man? He was Just, that's a huge difference then this leftist, defeatist "Judaism" in Yesha. Why are your rabbi's teaching you against the Torah? Where in the Torah does it say to hold up signs in protest? If we did an eye for an eye, or measure for measure, we would not have to have a massive response, only a just one. Thus lives saved on both sides. When we attempt to be more moral in a war, then we loose. What's worse is when the enemy sees you as weak (lets make peace), they hate you more, despise and disrespect you as you are a traitor to your own cause. Go ask your rabbi's in Yesha about that one. Shabbat Shalom.

Why should Amalek be allowed to exist at all? They should be deleted from history

The Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps” – at all times Jews are protected by G-d. But we are commanded to take part in our own security as well.

Shame on Israel! Has Israel been reduced to such a lamentable state of mind as to think that its only options to fight Hamas is hand-to-hand combat? What happened to this weapons exporting country and regional superpower to now make it think that these rag-tag terrorists cannot be wiped out of existence in two days? Where are all of Israel's superior weapons and technology? I weep for thee O' Israel for electing Peres and Olmert!

For every Qassam and mortar fired against us CUT ALL GAS, ELECTRICITY, AND POWER FOR ONE HOUR. Put the onus on Palestinians. You are responsible for all actions from your territory. If you can't control the terrorist constantly shooting at us then you will pay the price. Oh I forgot - the govt in Gaza is HAMAS and they are terrorists whose charter uncompromisingly calls for our destruction. And the people democratically (or demoncratically) elected the terrorist to represent and govern them. I guess this means that we have full license to do what is necessary since the people voted for terror and are part of the terrorist machinery. IT IS ABSURD THAT THEY CONTINUOUSLY BOMBARD OUR CITIES, TRYING TO KILL OUR PEOPLE, AND WE SUPPLY THEM WITH GAS, ELECTRICITY, AND WATER. THEY DECLARED INTIFADA/JIHAD/WAR WITH THEIR OBJECTIVE BEING OUR DESTRUCTION. FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE AND SHOW NO MERCY UNTIL THEY ARE CRUSHED. AND IF THIS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT UNNECESSARILY RISKING ISRAELI LIVES ALL THE BETTER. CUT THE GAS< ELECTRICITY< AND WATER NOW!!!!!!!

"In 1992, Islamic assassins had gunned down my good and brave friend Farag Foda, a professor and columnist, a human-rights activist, and an outspoken critic of the Islamic militants. The murder had shocked Cairo and terrified intellectuals. . . Egypt's most popular preacher, Abdel Hamid Kishk, a blind sheikh who constantly attacked both the government and its official religious establishment. Kishk had been telling his audience that Muslims who entered paradise would enjoy eternal erections and the company of young boys draped in earrings and necklaces. Some of the ulema, the religious scholars at al-Azhar University, the governments seat of Islamic learning, had disagreed. Yes, they said, men in paradise would have erections, but merely protracted, not perpetual. Other experts disputed the possibility of pederasty in paradise. "Is this what concerns Muslims at the end of the 20th century?" [Farag] Foda asked in a column in October magazine. "The world around us is busy with the conquest of space, genetic engineering and the wonders of the computer, while Muslim scholars," he wrote in sadness and pain, "were worried about sex in paradise." . . . he was killed. " Judith Miller

If Israel decides to invade Gaza, they must avoid the mistakes of the 2006 Lebanon war. Unlike Lebanon, the attack must be a massive assault on the terrorist military of Hamas and the other gangs that are dominating Gaza. In Lebanon, small groups of Israeli commandos were sent into the territory controlled by thousands of entrenched and well-trained Hezbollah terrorist units. Obviously, infantry, armor, air, and naval power must be cooordinated in a way that will reduce Israeli casualties. The victory must be fast---before the UN intervenes with a cease-fire. However, what Israel needs most of all before any invasion is considered is a change in government. Under Kadima, the IDF will not be able to fight a battle that can be won.

This confused person just enjoys lying. Her #1 post contains so many examples f denial and psychological projection, that one could write a textbook about it. Like the other left-wing haters, she talks about a non-existent Israeli occupation of Gaza. However, what makes her posting so bizarre is her accusation of Israeli rocket fire against the Palestinians. She seems to have neglected mentioning the thouands of rockets fired at Sderot since Israel left Gaza. Also, her worship of Palestinian suicide bombers is a clue that she is beyond redemption.

then we won't have to read any more of her self-righteous idiots posts. In post one she has openly glorified "resistance" by the Palestinians. "Resistance" in the case of qassams that have killed ONLY civilians - but Israelis so she apparently doesn't care about them. He post is so incompetent that she can't even get the number of virgins right. Now free speech is all good and well, but when she demands it for herself and wishes to deny it to another who is simply the extreme-right version of her extreme-anti-Israeli views then surely it is time to stop providing her a platform.

it should be "The Hamas regime should be erased from the page of time" because that's perfectly OK.

Do you think Muslims eat babies too? Don’t you even realize how absurd your comments are? I guess it is true; racism blinds people and make them idiots. Next time, think before you write, and probably you should read too.

enough with this bullshit. no more casualties of IDF or Israeli civilians. This is truly ridiculous. If the Egyptians won't stop the smuggling, then push them into Egypt, and create a buffer zone. fewer lives lost.

media blaming everybody including God. The longer the government and the IDF wait, the better prepared for an invasion the terrorists in Gaza will be. The media has somehow convinced the public that Israel's survival in the world can be accomplished without casualties.

removed, too.