Chaim Oron has been wrong about every single thing he has said since 1992. Finally he is right about a few things. He is right that economic sanctions against Gaza won't help. He is also right that there is no point in talking to Hamas. But his proposed solution is the meaningless "short-term target-specific dialogue with Hamas". What is the right way? Rebuild the Jewish communities destroyed by Sharon. Only when the enemy understands that Israel is here to stay will there be peace.

the siege IS making a real positive difference, like it or not.

Let the people of Gaza leave and let them travel by thousands to Egypt. Just don't let them come back. The condition for them to go home is to stop the Qassam attacks and free Gilad Shalit.

well, keep on trying to solve problems your way and excluding other, essential factors, i'll give you a heads up: just like you didnt get anywhere then, you wont now. and why dont you go ask an actual hamas supporter what would really weaken and fear hamas, than give your (the opposite party)perspective its only fair. you know, its not talks that would offer gaza residents a better life worth living, its giving up and succumb to israel's wishes, all of them. stop trying to "beat around the bush," it is prevalent amongst israelis, no doubt. a "solution" with israel's and ONLY israel's demands will never come into being. i dont think that they want an alternative to hamas. look at abbas, for example. instead of trying to help his people now with talks, the only talks that is in the news is that he is in conjunction with israel in closing the boarder with egypt. thats because he is in no need of supplies unlike his people, so as long as his needs are taken care of, the hell with his people. what a fine leader he is for his people alright! the only life worth living is in conjunction with israel, but thats of course never going to happen because its only "israel or bust. " right?

But for the rest of us the difference between whether we are murdered by people who hate Jews and don't want to steal from their people vs people who want to kill us and also profit by theiving from their people is not a signifcant factor.

Stop the lies....there is NO siege in Gazza. Just retaliations to missiles being fired. To call it a siege is a complete overstatement perpetuated by the moronic left as in this article. Israel has no moral obligation to supply food, electricity and services to invaders from other Arab countries that want us destroyed. Let Egypt worry about their brothers. not us monkeys and pigs like they refer to us as. Chaim needs to add a M to his surname! That would be more accurate.

"Hence, for example, surgical strikes against terrorists that achieve substantial aims and are directly connected to the prevention of terror are justified." The problem is that Israel is been criticised even for this kind of actions, known also as "massacres of Gazan civilians" as there often are casualties among civilians, although in a small amount and on low level, esp. compared to other terrorism fighting measures used around the world. We have to face a reality where we are de jure allowed to defend ourselves but de facto cannot get engaged in any kind of actions without being attacked for "unproportional" use of force. I agree that the blockade of Gaza wasn't a good move but in the same time I don't have any alternative proposal. The problem is also that every step back from our side is being interpreted by our enemies (enemies, not necessarily peaceful civilians) as signs of weakness and cowardice and strengthening their propaganda machinery. In the same time, when we do something we are immediately being accused of crimes against humanity. Well, what to do? One thing is sure: a truce would only stregthen HAMAS, and letting them control the border without supervision more than ever. And that is what they want from Israel.

The author is quite wrong. Seige does work when it is applied completely, and with science and appropriate timing. Food, medical supplies, fuel, power, and continual non relenting bombardment of those centers that provide for the social stability of the zone of interest, show sound returns of the force utilized. The residents of Gaza are not Russians and Gaza is not Stalingrad. All it takes if the will to win. something the current PM has stated quite clearly in past quotes, he has no interest in.

These comments about collective punishment are absurd. Every missile fired from Gaza into Israel is collective punishment of Jews. Hamas has declared war on Israel and they try to kill as many Jews as possible every day. When one group declares war, it does not get to control the level of the other side's response.

guess we'll never know.

Sure, leave the borders open, give them gas and electricity and food and medicine and cable tv. However, for every Qassam and mortar shell launched at Israel, Israel moves the northern Gaza border 10 meters south. For every 100 explosions aimed at Israeli civlians, the Pals will lose a kilometer of Gazan land. My guess is they'll stop after the first 500 meters. Nobody dies, nobody shot unless they shoot at us first. However, the Pals will pay with land for every missile fired with the intent of killing Israeli civilians.

the best of your post is the title hahaha /but sure there is nothing to make you laugh

You have a choice Invasion or Quit supplying power to Gaza. Dead Israelis in the South or a inconvenience in Gaza. What Olmert did was a half job power was still supplied by Israel. We have no obligation to give them power, water or food for that matter. We don't occupy Gaza. http://ralphsrant1.blogspot.com/

Nothing will force those people to go on their knies , more than 60 years and they still fighting and they will never stop ... and the lesson Israel doesn't want to learn it that each time they punish the inocent Palistinians Hamas become more heros , Israel help Hams more than Hamas them selfs

This government has stated unequivocally that at the moment it is not launching a grand military thrust into Gaza. Hamas, is competing with Fatah for the leadership of the Palestinians and maintains that negotiations are not the way; only an armed struggle will put an end to the state of Israel. Since a real armed struggle against Israel is not within their capabilities, they resort to Kassams and kidnappings. Only if the citizens of Gaza reject the rule of Hamas and the PA take over, will Sderot and the Western Negev communities be safe. Depriving the citizens of Gaza seems to be counter-productive and reflects our frustration more than clear insight as to a plan of action. If an agreement is reached with the PA, it is hoped that the citizens of Gaza will make the wise choice and opt to become part of the Palestinian state.

"our experience has shown that this type of cruel collective punishment" Hamas is the elected gov't of Gaza. It refuses to recognize Israel & shoots rockets into Israel. Gaza has, in effect, declared war on Israel. I wonder if Mr. Oron would have used the same logic that bombing Nazi Germany was collective punishment. Or does the author care more about the Arabs than he does about Jews.