Opinion  Ron Ben-Yishai
The logic of striking
Ron Ben-Yishai
Published: 11.12.08, 11:03
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12 Talkbacks for this article
1. We have no long-term strategy.
Terry ,   Eilat, Israel   (12.11.08)
As with most issues in Israel, we have no consensus on a long term goal. We don't know our objectives. Partially, this is the result of our bizarre political system & the disparate elements of coalition gov't.'s with conflicting ideologies. There is also the question of the rather low quality of our decision makers, few of whom would be classified as particularly smart. By now it should be apparant to anyone capable of reading a newspaper that we have reached a state of paralysis. Everything is done for short-term political advantage, the only purpose of which is to get a headline. Put simply, we are adrift, going nowhere. Gaza is a complex equation. Simplistic ideas will fail or lead us into even more of a mess. The lack of a long-term strategy with achievable goals , however difficult & unpleasant, will only result in failure & unintended consequences.
2. What a load of dross !
Vinnie ,   Derry   (12.11.08)
I particularly liked that joke about the Fatah taking power over Hamas in Gaza. Hilariuos. Heres a crazy thought....... why doesn't Israel actually observe the conditions of the existing truce and open the border to allow the people of Gaza to live. That would stop the rocket fire. Then why doesnt Israel release the 1000 innocent women and children from the dungeons ? That will gain good will. Then , and this is the real clincher for ISrael, why dont you get your leaders to make a proper prisoner trade with Hamas. Then you get Schalit back. Its a win win win situation.
3. Vinnie suggests surrender to terror
james ,   Phoenix   (12.11.08)
Israel has observed all of the conditions of the ceasefire while Hamas observed none. There are no "1000 innocent women and children" held in Israeli prison but rather terror enablers and those who were used to perpetrate terror. Their cases are reviewed constantly and if they were indeed innocent they would be released. Israel is a country of laws, and even terrorists get legal protections. There is no "proper prisoner trade" with Hamas because it would mean releasing convicted murderers for an illegally kidnapped IDF soldier. Under all international conventions and logic such trade would be illegal and would encourage more terror. Hamas is not interested in co-existence so any deal with it will not bring peace. Hamas uses Gaza residents as shields and hoards supplies to create a "crisis." Meanwhile they smuggle weapons and use Israeli-supplied gasoline and food to prop up their terrorist regime. Vinnie is just an apologist and a coward with a hidden agenda.
4. To Vinnie
Ofer   (12.11.08)
Here's a crazy thought--look at a map. Gaza shares a border with Egypt, their Arab brothers. Why doesn't Egypt open the border. Israel had an open border for many years and what did it bring us? Suicide bombers. Also why should Israel help people who democratically elected a government sworn to destroy Israel>
5. You need to look at what your government is doing to you.
Vinnie ,   Derry   (12.11.08)
The terms of the ceasefire involved the ceasing fire of both sides and the phased opening of the border. Israel from day one shot at gaza fishermen and gaza farmers and kept the border shut. This is all well documented by humanitarian organisaitons. Israel should not have a greed to conditons then double crossed. You can blame your own government for the Qassams. Schalit is a prisoner of War captured in action whilst he manned a tank unit shelling civilians. Egypt is not allowed to open its borders by the US or Israel. It is a totalitarian regime that survives on US Grants , same as Israel.
6. #5 Vinnie, your post is an illusion based on fiction
Jake   (12.12.08)
Dear Vinnie from Londonderry: Your judgment is severely warped, and that is putting it mildly. Perhaps you should preoccupy ourself with problems closer to home, before venturing your opinion where it is unwarranted. The "documentation" of your "humanitarian organizations" is irrelevant, because they do not record the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. They lie and make kneejerk condemnations of Israel, even worse than you. Their claims are not needed for establishing what really happened, and you know it well. Fuel, food, medical supplies, and much much more entered Gaza from Israel throughout the ceasefire. Kassams fell on Israel from Gaza intermittently throughout the ceasefire. The Israeli government was under severe criticism from its own people for repeatedly ignoring these salvos to "give peace a chance". Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel was still permitted to defend itself against those who approached closed military zones adjacent to the fence, and in waters off the coast of Gaza. Just for your information, the ceasefire was terminated when Hamas militants decided to dig a tunnel from Gaza into Israel, so that they could abduct more soldiers like Gilad Shalit (the person whose kidnapping from from Israeli territory you attempted to justify), and Israel decided to break up their party, killing 6 militants. If it is a crime to foil such an operation, then Israel should wear the badge of "criminal" with honor.
7. Vinnie too bad you are such a liar
Gee ,   Zikron Yaakov   (12.12.08)
From day one Hamas launched rockets and mortars, whereas Israel did not respond period. Month after month the rockets and mortars increased and yes we did finally start responding. Your 'well documented by humanitarian organisaitons' (sic) lie just as much as you do. We can blame you and idiots like you that support genocide and we do.
8. This sounds exactly like the "strategy" Lebanon
Danny   (12.12.08)
trying to bring about a "consciousness of defeat", but here is a crazy idea.... why don't we ACTUALLY defeat them?
9. Honour among thugs.
Vinnie ,   Derry   (12.12.08)
Thats right boys , everybody else is telling lies ! All the Humanitarians are liars, all the journalists are liars, the whole world is lying. Only you are telling the truth. Some right wing army general says that the Arabs are diggin a tunnel and straight away he must be telling the truth the whole truth and nothing bu the truth. No proof ncessary. Good enough for you , ay ? You got one thing right Jake, and its the one that perplexes the whole world. Israel does wear the Criminal badge with "honour". ???????
10. 100% Right Terry
Yaron ,   USA   (12.13.08)
It is a shame to see....as the enemies of Israel and the US are very clear in their goal and their strategy is being played on the news line by line every night. Israeli and American politics has been transformed into a canibalistic orgy of greed and self interest that is frankly disgusting to watch already. What ever happened to a government of the people for the people?
11. Vinnieland=Dadaland !!!
(12.13.08)
12. # 5, Vincenzo, reinventing history !
(12.13.08)
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