is why we are the choosen people.Its not me saying this,but GOD.The only problem with Israelis is that they have NO MANNERS.A nation that likes too travel all over the world ,its a huge problem.Please learn some manners Israelis,thank you.

Irish sailors are no more tattooed than any others. Likely less. If you're insistent on challenging stereotypes then eradicate your own of other peoples too. However, I have to take issue with a few errors of perception you have. Israeli women the best looking in the world? Not according to this recent tourist, they're not. Russians not integrating? Yup, that's the case. Russian language shops, Russian-only settlements, Russian ghettos in Tel Aviv. Sounds like not integrating to me alright. You are absolutely right in relation to the Israeli persecution complex that everyone hates Israel however. Palestinians generally hate Israel, and have good reason to. But I've never encountered any hostility to Israel anywhere else, except in the paranoid minds of Israelis themselves. No, not even in other Arab countries.

They worked hard, very hard but complained all the time about everything. I believe that that was due to superstition . It is much better for the goim to think that we live in terrible conditions. Let the complainers and the protesters continue what they are doing. It is good for Israel. Grandma was right, we don't need Ayin Arah......

I am Ole HAdash from Guatemala, before i live in Miami, NYC, Mexico and visit almost all American countries and Europe. Idecide to come life here because the peace, the beauty and the services I didnt find in other country's. How talk bad of Israel needs to go around the world and sure he will come back soon.

Israel and the people of Isarel can beproud of theit country because it is much better to live in israel than in so many countries in the world. Sorry jew haters, you just failed !!!

There is no doubt - part of what Lapid says is true. But it is half the picture. Sure, Israel is pretty successful - most complaints are not about Israel but about our politicians. But we have no right to be complacent - the problems are real & without much better political leadership, we will have no solutions.

I never thought Israel was bad. I think it's one of the best country in the world, the most beautiful in the world and the most friendly in the world. I've been to Israel twice and I felt so welcome when the Israelis treat us like their families. People there are so kind and funny! Although they're voices are pretty loud. I agree with my friends who had been there said the people from Israel are the most stunning people in the universe. Hope to go there again. Peace

Those Israelis that think it's so bad around here are simply making a point that we have so much potential. Always be satisfied with what you have, but always strive harder to make it better.

For once, a good article. Kol Hakavod Yair Lapid.

is that part of the reason people in this land feel bad is: 1- When you enjoy life, and you know few miles away there are battles raging! There is no way to feel happy about anything... 2- The same apply to us too. We are not happy because we see blood every day on TVs, and we know you guys are enjoying the life you mentioned in the article. 3- What can we do about it? I do not know. I just know that it is not our fault that you happen to be living amongst ourselves... You have chosen to come to this land and expell us, and you get always what you ask for at the end.

Actually nothing is wrong, We have the usual problems that every country has, from USA to Sweden. Democracies are never perfect and go through remodeling. What is wrong with Israel more than any other country is Israeli academia who bad mouth Israel, Zionism and Judaism? From Zand who denied Jewish and Israeli entity, Strenger who denies Judaism and the existence of Israel, Neve Gordon who is Hamas mouthpiece, Pappe who accuses Israel of ethnic cleansing. These Israeli academic have a self serving organization of Israeli academics (Alef) who undermine democratic process and academic ethics. They create boycotts against the State, lectures and books to hurt the self esteem of the country and Israeli. The more radical the more audience they have abroad. Unless Israel will control the Israeli radical academic decadence the situation will further deteriorate. The best way to deal with it is to create a "center for advancement of Israel identity."

Not only is Israel not that bad - Israel is incredible! We have the most amazing society, the greatest scientists and doctors and a truly caring society. Only those who have never really lived elsewhere or alternatively have never lived here, complain about Israel. I am proud of every aspect of this wonderful country!

And in that spirit....... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Og1pdFGMUMg&feature=related

IT IS PRECISELY THIS SORT OF "WE'RE BETTER THAN YOU" ARROGANCE THAT JEWS AND NON-JEWS ABROAD DESPISE ABOUT ISRAELIS. SOMETHINGS ARE BETTER LEFT UNSAID. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S THE ISRAELI MEDIA THAT 'SELLS' THE CONFUSION IN THE FIRST PLACE.

tell me some good things??????tell me why i should stay here with my children and have my grandchildren go in the army when the army/goverment cannot protect them and bring them home safely????? tell my why ohlmert is strill PM and Livne is still FM????? and senior citizen #1 is president of this country?

in order to answer your own questions as to why israel lives and enjoys life while the palestinians "suffer and live in your so called prison", all one needs to do, especially a person like yourself, is to look at your society, your ideology, your education, your style on spending the eu and american dollar aid on military equipment and your street gang activity. yes, israel and jews do live amongst you arabs, and despite all the wars you brought at our front steps, we have somehow managed despite all the hate and wars which your arab brothers started, to create a most advanced society and country which contributed untold gifts to humanity. and, mind you, this is not very easy to do when you do not have oil resources, fertile vallyes and soil, previous malaria swamps and rocky terrain as well as no natural resources like water to speak of. however, with brains, hope, motivation, survival instinct and self preservation, the israelis have managed somehow to create something from absolutely nothing. you had the same opportunity in the late 40's when you could have chosen to have a country of your own if you really were interested in your own country. but no! you were just interested in expelling the jews, killing them and and denying them a safe refuge of their own. it is not the jews who stood in your way to your own statehood and country. it is you and only you with the war support of your other arab nations that made it impossible for you to accept and live with jews in your midst. i can only imagine what a palestinian country would have looked like had you given the jews some peace and a chance for calm. they would have helped and worked side by side, sweat to sweat and hardship to hardship with you and you both could have built two very prosperous and incredible states living in prosperity and peace with one another. but, you chose war! ideological war; saying that no jew has the right to live in the middle east amongst arabs, no jewish presence will be tolerated amongst you arabs. because it is allah's will!!! is allah's will to have your kids educated in hate, to have your kids exposed to constant wars and bloodshed? find me a muslim leader that will not use the palestinians as pawns and abuse generation after generation marred in conflict. barak offered you a state with everything abbas wants right now and arafat still refused and started the bloodiest intifada in israeli history with thousands killed on both sides. stop choosing the arafats, the hamas, the fateh parties to lead you because they will only lead you to your grave. your future is in the hands of the people not corrupt leaders that suck money from the world countries and give you nothing. tghink! think! have you seen a single penny of the billions of dollars spend on the palestinian territories? no! you know why? it's your leaders that live in luxury and call from all the mosques for you to die for the cause. but they do not volunteer themselves to be suicide bombers. they use you instead!

But from outside, these issues really arent that big or true when you visits. Here in the UK, these issue are far more prevalent, yet people dont admit or adknowledge them. It is a true testament to Israel that open criticism of the state is so common, although it is not always just in its content. Israel is by no means perfect, but believe me, its far more perfect than the UK, and I would imagine most other Western nations for that matter.

Forget about this "light unto the nations" thing, the sooner the better. And don't try to be Sweden or Finland so fast - you're still too young for that. For now, aim to be Brazil, Mexico, Argentina - countries still strugling with problems of development but, believe me, with very happy people.

Reccommending to read this: http://www.muslimtimes.net

high tech & all populated by those who were educated b4 the freefall. nowadays, you gotta be in the upper crust to get that kinda education. rabin square - so much emptier nowadays than once upon a time (once the side roads were filled, nowadays you gotta be lucky to populate as far as the water pool ikn the back. why was ashkenazi passed over twice? coz he wasnt politically affiliated, and what a mess he inherited... as for the 70.8% - mostly russian immigrants. today's ideal is 8200, not 820 sons of PM - one poor shlep does not counter so many others who have made corruption a fine art - to the point of selling the country to land sharks, then calling in the favors to uy leadership (and worse) i will not discuss the press with the offspring of media-celeb who wouldnt be where he was were it not for his surname. less people (percentage wise ) are dying of hunger EVERYWHERE; the fact that the subject even ARRISES in a formerly pseudo-socialist state is bad enough; the fact that we have homeless and people dying of exposure in the streets is worse. the fact that mr. lapid has never seen one close up enough is simply sad. russians - discussed elsewhere. 10s of thousands of youth go to social service (nowhere near enuf) - many instead of the army. drinking is a new phenomenon and we simply havent cought up yet (just wait). low unemployment ? wisconsin? getting them off the dole does not mean they are now gainfully employed. i'll show you how to juggle figures with excel, if you want. it's fun. the health system IS collapsing. a continuing declining percentage of AVAILABLE treatments is being denied to the have-nots. people are kicked out of beds lonog before doctors would otherwise want. everyone hates us - discussed above personal safety? where did you get those numbers? what crap! car jacking - a new phenomenon. police not responding to threats of domestic violence. understaffed, overworked and they frankly dont give a damn anymore. israeli women. dont get me going. yes, i too am proud of our cultural heritage and aspirations. show me a family from sderoth at the israeli festival and i'll show you a flying (kosher) pig . cheap airline tickets? we're still here coz now that borovich owns el al we're too damned scared to get on one of his under-maintained planes. oh, and just because canada wants you doesnt mean she wants me.

Little space, or rather VERY little space 4 breath, crazy mentalyty aborigen's, & becouse they call it Getto (deside that your way of life is ONLY acceptable in Israel) we don't put our mark's, we just leave such Israel 4 U all. Baatzlaha...

Where are you love Israel from? From outside world? Oh, it's so meltingly to love Israel from OUTSIDE.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3403994,00.html Its an Honor for me as a jew to be compared to IRAN

When things were bad, we had no time to complain. Now that things are relatively good, we are looking for imperfections. Reading the talkbacks I even get the impression that our critics are running out of really bad things to say. Finally, we should and must be self-critical and never become complacent.

you guys came to our land

First, thank you for your long and extensive response. In fact, I do not totally disagree with you. I happen to think that 90% of what you say is correct. But the point I am trying to make here is that what is happening to us is not by our choice. Think what would be the situation in this region if there was no Zionism and what this ruthless mentality brought to this region. I only see distruction, expelling people from their homeland, occupation, racism, this is what I see. It is not true that people here do not want to see you guys amongst us. But what we do not like is to be forced to do so when you guys are not a population from withing, but rather immigrants who not only have not much to share with us, but have not much to share among themselves...

Most are messy, violent and corrupt. Are the Jews responsible for Somalia, Sudan Algeria etc..etc. When you look in the mirror you will understand why the purchasing of the all Arab states equals one European country - Spain, which is by the way, is not a rich land. The Arabs who claim the Palestinian identity represent an extension of the rest of the Arab world. There is why 25K Egyptian Arabs have settled in Israel via marrying the Israeli Arabs. How many Jews have gone to live in Egypt?