Personally, I am starting to believe that Hamas & our triumverate of losers, Olmert, Barak, & Livni, are coordinating this propaganda effort. It certainly sounds like there is some cooperation going on. Then, of course, it could be that Gazans just can't believe how stupid we are. Even they think it's incredible that we take no military action. I mean, really, who else on earth would take this crap with no reaction? Gazans should relax - as long as Olmert, Barak, & Livni are around, they are safe. They can shoot all the missiles they like, fire mortars day & night. We won't do a thing. They take more casualties in ''work accidents'' than by our feeble efforts. The thrust of this dual propaganda effort is to give in to all of Hamas' demands for a ''new & improved'' lull. Hamas basically helps Olmert, Barak, & Livni in their effort to sell this load of BS to the Israeli public.

Here we have Dear Livni asking permission of the Egyptians to hit the Hamas with wet noodles. I do not see Israeli tanks moving to Gaza border. Relax Haverim Olmert and the Utopians will do nothing. They have lost pride 100%. Sad bunch in power.

Always blame the jews. Of course the border closing had nothing to do with the 10,000 kassams that hamassoles have fired into israel. But the gazans ignore the reality, Their suffering now is nothing to what they will have soon because of hamas actions. Israel needs to ignore world opinion when it starts bombing. Let it rip

To the people of Gaza if you want the crossings reopened and supplies allowed in stop the rocket fire because as long as our lives are threatened in Sderot and ashkelon why should we feed you? Ask yourselves if you were in our shoes what would you do? Cease the cross border violence it is the only logical thing you can do!

How strange that Gazans are standing in line and stocking up on the basic foodstuffs in case Israel should attack! Where did all these basic foodstuffs suddenly appear from? Just two days ago, people were crying that they were starving and there was no basic foodstuffs to be had anywhere in Gaza because of the blockades! How incredibly strange!

Given the fatal combination of ignorance, hate and fantasy, is it any wonder these people remain losers? Muslims think of themselves as "the greatest people", the Arabs recall a fantasy "golden age" when they "ruled the world". Yet by the UN's own measures of development, they remain at the bottom of the barrel. They blame everyone but themselves for their condition. Until they break free from that hate, ignorance and fantasy, they will remain losers.

Last time I asked a cab driver opinion, he replied that the financial crisis was bad, gas prices high and temperature low... I did not write a newspaper article with it.

during the "ceasefire". And if you opened up our crossings, you wouldn't have to "feed us" you sick freak.

The pals say "We vote and you say you don't like how we vote." In America when we get our licenses, if we hit cars and run over people, guess what happens? Next time vote for yourselves and tell your Iranian masters to take a hike.

They're firing rockets and mortars to force Israel to open their border crossings? Really? Can someone explain to me why Hamas is not launching rockets into Egypt to force the Egyptians to open their border with Gaza.

For a massive attack in to the Gaza Strip Hamas is oursuing the way of the war instead the way of peace a fair one.So is important now that you open your eyes and see what your real enemy is.Israel that will be available to help you like it is for Abbas or Hamas that in name of the Iran and the other most extreme Islamic wing are making you suffer?Prepare your self for the worst because if those that are continuosly attacking civilian with rocket rains are realy friends of yours you may face consequences too. Not because a revenge but because your friends having no other places will start to use your house as rocket launcer or they start do it only to score more compassion.Gazpeople peace is now in your hands keep it. A fair peace is always possible.

if palestinians actually want this,why is israel so upset about it? maybe it's better to just take the rocket attacks in silence,no?

While so much of the rest of the world celebrates at this time, surrounded by family & friends, you have your menfolk hiding in the shadows, with your women and children thrashing about for more bread to gnaw on. Keep on searching the horizon for those tanks & helicopters. Today, the civilized world wipes it's tail with the Islamic trainwreck that is Gaza. Enjoy!

My dear Khalid, Why should anyone, let alone Israel, FEED YOU? Why can't you feed yourselves? You were given greenhouses by Israel which you summarily destroyed for propaganda purposes. You have a border with Egypt, your Muslim brethren. But you persist in blaming Israel for everything. All you people know how to do is hate and destroy. Try building and creating for a change. It might do you some good. I believe it is you and your Hamas rulers who are the "Freaks".

...now they get the payback.

#9. Yuo Gazans were firing rockets into Israel even when the crossings were open. You are the biggest masochists with no logic. That's why yuo will never have a viable State and will live in the stone Ages forever.

Mike, please listen Hamaz has had so many chances to reach peace and open borders. Only a few of them spoil it and keep on firing rockets to Israel, not for a reason but just stupid hate. According to me Israel is justified to react. This story of hate and civilans suffering has to end. For both sides!! Hamaz has to be eliminated because they don't care about humans, they keep creating war with innocent victims.

The twisted logic practiced here is that Israel should help Gaza while Egypt and the rest of the world keep them IN Gaza. When the border with Egypt was opened, Egypt forced them back INTO Gaza. Your Arab brothers don't want you! Where is their aid? Weapons and ammunition so that you can fight the hand that feeds you? I guess the Arab world realizes that you are too stupid to see what pawns you are. Perhaps the rest of the world will see beyond this propaganda campaign that YNET is playing into. Stocking up on non-existent supplies? How does that happen?

...disinformation does not work here and anarchists and propaganda scammers are not appreciated. Every time the crossings were open, Hamas terrorists were attacking them with mortars or homicide bombers - do you remember when they slammed a truck full of explosives while the crossings were open? Hamas is working hand in hand witht he crime bosses to perpetuate the situation and keep prices high. They are growing rich while the population suffers. They have everything while the population has nothing. They raped their own people, took everythig - even their future! But this is a normal situation, just like in ANY Arab or Muslim country! Islam has made sure that its followers live forever under their own tyranny and terror. This is very visible Khaled, make no mistake about it. ISM and other freaks can lie, moan and bitch all they want. Hamas' days are numbered and the clock has started ticking!

"People on the street are wondering why we didn’t begin firing rockets (toward Israel) earlier and incessantly," My reply to this moron is that he deserves to die with the rest of his heroes in Hamas, the sooner, the better. This is strange how those people can bring the worst out of me who is otherwise a pacifist…you know peace on Earth and all that good stuff. As for spineless Olmert (Olmerde!) is there no end to his stupidity? Appealing to the Gazans People, yeah right! Sometimes, for my own sanity, I take a break from reading YNet and yet other times, I feel compelled to read some articles and add my outraged talkbacks…Most times, they are not published but who cares?. Despite the World’s view about the great IDF and Israel in general, once Kadima stops clipping their wings, not just the Gazans but the entire World will be in shock first, then in denial…how could we have been so wrong about Israel and their great Army, Navy and Air Force, they will ask themselves? As # 3, Real Vision writes, LET IT RIP!!!

They lost it during the Holocaust. All the "Israeli" people have left are paranoia and a blood lust for Goyim. I pray for you and your family in Gaza.

of course israel is justified and hamas deserves and even wants israel to act. but israel seems to be crying about having to do their responsibility to their own citizens and self. this is pathetic and embarrassing. anyone living within rocket range of terrorists should just get used to it and accept it as normal life because this country is too weak mentally to take care of its problems.

I hate to break the news, but ynet is no better than the snakepit haaretz anymore. I don't post here anymore, and I wouldn't have responded to this article,if not but to respond to your post. I can't tell you the number of times I have replied to the worst kind of antisemites, and terrorist supporters on this website only to see their messages always posted and mine are usually censored.

Israel wake up, Gaza wants war, givje it to them, but wipe them out this time, and send the refugees to Egypt, Make Gaza the new buffer zone , no mans land, between Israel and Egypt. start meaning business, keep them in check for 20 years not 20 months

arabs eager for war? whats new? Remember the Lebanon war of 2006? The Lebanese were danmcing in the streets after the kidnap[ping. So eager for war, and after they realise that war means destruction and death they they go crying about their human rights ...

Quoting from the report: "It is our opinion that Israel was given a period of calm but we received nothing in return. " So go ahead and repeat thre same mistake!

There was no period of calm. Hundreds of kassams launched into Israel does not equal calm. The Palestinians are begging for a severe response from Israel.

Aljazeera English reports on the Israeli air strikes on Gaza, which have killed 230 persons, a third of them civilians and wounded 388. The Other 2/3s were largely Palestinian policeman, as targeted 32 police stations, maintaining that they are essentially Hamas foot soldiers. The 100 air sorties killed the Gaza chief of police and other officials, including individuals Israeli intelligence had fingered as masterminds of the rocket attacks on Israel. The outbreak of hostilities affects Americans, since al-Qaeda hit New York and the Pentagon in some important part over the Israeli occupation of the Palestinians. The airstrikes and large death toll also present a challenge to the incoming Obama administration, which may find peace-making more difficult now. The UN Security Council held a special evening session on Saturday and issued a call for an immediate ceasefire. The attacks drew a furious response from the Arab world. Egypt, which has collaborated with Israel in blockading the Gazans, branded its partner's air strikes "murder." The US, which for some odd reason holds an irrational hatred of the Palestinians, branded the dead Gaza policemen "thugs" and blamed the massive aerial strikes solely on Hamas, the fundamentalist Muslim party that controls Gaza. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, outgoing president of the European Union, issued among the more measured responses: "The President of the Republic expresses his lively concern at the escalation of violence in the south of Israel and in the Gaza Strip. He firmly condemns the irresponsible provocations that have led to this situation as well as the use of disproportionate force. The president of the republic deplores the significant loss of civilian life and expresses his condolences to the innocent victims and their families." Sarkozy "requests an immediate cessation of rocket fire directed at Israel as well as of Israeli bombardment of Gaza, and he calls on the parties to exercise self-restraint. He reminds everyone that there is no military solution to Gaza, and demands the implementation of a durable truce. This statement, which I seem to be the only news source to present in full in English, seems to me to be the best issued by any head of state on this particular incident, and shames the insensitive and one-sided statement issued on behalf of the US by Gordon Johndroe. Israel blames Hamas for primitive homemade rocket attacks on the nearby Israeli city of Sederot. In 2001-2008, these rockets killed about 15 Israelis and injured 433, and they have damaged property. In the same period, Gazan mortar attacks on Israel have killed 8 Israelis. Since the Second Intifada broke out in 2000, Israelis have killed nearly 5000 Palestinians, nearly a thousand of them minors. Since fall of 2007, Israel has kept the 1.5 million Gazans under a blockade, interdicting food, fuel and medical supplies to one degree or another. Wreaking collective punishment on civilian populations such as hospital patients denied needed electricity is a crime of war. The Israelis on Saturday killed 5% of all the Palestinians they have killed since the beginning of 2001! 230 people were slaughtered in a day, over 70 of them innocent civilians. In contrast, from the ceasefire Hamas announced in June, 2008 until Saturday, no Israelis had been killed by Hamas. The infliction of this sort of death toll is known in the law of war as a disproportionate response, and it is a war crime. -- Posted By Juan Cole to Informed Comment at 12/28/2008 12:21:00 AM