Opinion
We must reshuffle the deck
Ophir Falk
Published: 01.01.09, 09:58
Comment Comment
Print comment Print comment
Back to article
27 Talkbacks for this article
1. What a total nonsense, no wonder israelis are losing
AK   (01.01.09)
Talk, talk, talk and more talk. There must be a permanent disarmament of Hamas? Really? So what was all that exercise last week about? Just to kill a couple hundred terrorists, if that? Israel has lost it chance to win when the ground forces didn't enter Gaza on day #. Now israeli young man are going to pay the prize with their lives for the errors of their government, just like in Lebanon? When fighting for the survival, israeli establishment should worry about winning. It should be obvious by now that Israel will not get a fair hearing at the UN, EU or from the press, so either israeli military goes and does its job, or send the Army home, but don't do half-hearty exercises like the one we are seeing. And why are those incompetents Barak, Olmert and Livni still in power. The number # 1 priority is to remove those people from power.
2. Change regional realities?
Terry ,   Eilat, Israel   (01.01.09)
Without attacking the source, namely Iran, nothing will change. Unless Iran is seriously weakened by a sustained military effort, no regional realities will change - they will continue to deteriorate & not in our favour. That's reality.
3. teach the world to sing first
(01.01.09)
4. Thank you very much
Francisco   (01.01.09)
Since the begining of the Operation Cast Lead, I've been listening to several opinions and definately this one was the most interesting.It doesn't miss a point and that's what should be done.
5. Israel Conflict
Donulvi Dolam ,   Sydney, Australia   (01.01.09)
The comments in your article are exactly correct what I would ask you now is to come up with some way or solution for removing the horse blinds of the Israeli and world populations as to what you say being truth. I cannot comprehend why it is that the international community expects solutions to come only from their leaders when people such as yourselves have always had the correct answers. Perhaps God is blinding their eyes and closing their ears for purposes only he understands. Good work, great article.
6. hospitals
future1   (01.01.09)
I cant wait for the Israeli troops to takeover the hospitals....and of course discover command and control centers in the basement along with terrorists disguised as doctors and nurses...RUN HAMAS RUN...
7. #1 What A Total Nonsense
Bill Foonman ,   Jacksonville, USA   (01.01.09)
The only nonsense is your Talkback. Israel was wise not to launch an immediate ground attack. That is precisely what Hamas was hoping for and would have caused major Israeli casualties. This time around Israel is picking its timing and its methods. Even the Egyptians have abandoned Hamas and now we can only hope that Israel will do the right thing and ensure that Hamas' terrorist capabilities are permanently disabled.
8. The final stage
mike cato ,   USA   (01.01.09)
after the total annihilation of Hamas, etc and the imposition of an effective international military peacekeeping force, would be the transition to an autonomous, arab zone, or country in which the rich West and the ultra-rich Saudis and Emirates will invest in Gaza for the purpose of making it a kind of mini-Dubai--luxury hotels, beach resorts , malls, casinos, convention centers, etc. A booming economy in Gaza will put an end to any terrorism there.
9. Luca Brassi choice is still an option
Gideon Reader   (01.01.09)
What Author Falk is trying to say is that most people realize that Hamas are basically dumbassed savages that have tried to meld the 7th and 21st century by using the glue of hate and stupidity. Sort of like bringing a really large knife to a gunfight.. Then having shown every swinging Rrichard involved in the international political game of " 'rabs n' Joos", from every corner of the globe, that the Hamasmorons are not up to pouring pee out of a boot with the directions on the heel; the observing players, excepting the very slow learners have decided not to back the three legged horse in the race, barring a miracle of biblical proportions that give them, Hamas, a clear chance at a moral and military victory. Thing is such miracles are not entirely without precedent, except it is the Joooos, that usually pull that little number off, and do it very well at that. Note to the surviving Hamastoonians. Get a bath and a shave, a clean shirt. A decent suit. Polish your shoes and start acting like adult human beings who are gifted with more than a searing hate of the neighbors and a self destructive death wish. You may hate the whole concept of living next to the Joooos, but you owe it to your captive population in Gaza.
10. Sip slowly. Bubbles go up your nose
Gideon Reader   (01.01.09)
Prisoner#3 Buy 'em a coke!
11. Ophir Falk's lack of insight
Ben Alofs ,   Bangor, UK   (01.01.09)
Disarmament of Hamas? Unconditional return of Gilad Shalit? These sound like rather ambitious, even unrealistic objectives. A ground invasion will not be a picknick. How long do you intend to stay? And what will happen once you inevitably have to withdraw? The first missile into Israel will make it clear to the world that Israel has failed and thereby it will have weakened itself further, having lost more of its deterrent ability. So what to do to make the missiles stop flying? A first step is of course to give Hamas no excuse to make the missiles fly. If you keep the Gazan population under siege, like Israel has been doing, leading to widespread starvation and chronic malnutrition, then that gives Hamas not much choice. It largely stuck to the cease-fire agreed in June 2008, but did not get anything in return, like the lifting of the blockade. I cannot blame it for wanting a cease-fire with better terms, that includes the lifting of the siege of Gaza. And what about the 10.000 Palestinian prisoners languishing in Israeli jails, many of them in so-called 'administrative detention', without any charge or trial. If you want the release of soldier Gilad Shalit, then you will have to free many Palestinian prisoners. Regarding a longer term solution, there is no substitute for sitting down and talk to your enemy. Your enemy will stick to a cease-fire, when it will bring economic and political benefits, but certainly NOT, when Israel continues its stupid and self defeating policy by closing the Strip off from the outside world and make it a giant prison. It is all pretty straightforward. Live and let live!!! Better think of that, Ophir Falk. For all the Talkbackers, who after reading this get ready to roll out Hamas's Charter: don't bother. I have read it many times. The Charter does sound silly and stupid, but Hamas does not use it to make policy. It is much more pragmatic than the Charter would suggest. But of course the people who are well informed know that.
12. Richard Falk
Patrick ,   Montreal, Canada   (01.01.09)
This can't be the Richard Falk that I have heard such good things about. This Ophir guy is a raving nutcase. If you let crazies like this guy run your country you get ... Likud.
13. One small problem
Ken ,   Edinburg, TX   (01.01.09)
A good article and very well articulated idea. However, I see your solution has a problem. The international force with enough guts to enforce peace in the gaza will only postpone the inevitable replay of what is now happening. An Israeli force will have the same outcome, only sooner. The answer is obvious and simple, but one that no one wants to say outloud. Which is: The entire population of gaza (hamas and all) must be relocated to Egypt and the gaza repopulated with Israelis. Then, and only then, you will have a lasting peace. Also, just as obvious, Israel will have to do the same with the PA in the west bank, only they must be pushed into Jordan or Lebanon. No one likes to hear this, but no one can argue with this logical reality of how to realize true peace in Israel.
14. Ben Alofs
Tahl ,   Ashdod, Israel   (01.01.09)
1. Even when missiles fly to my own town Ashdod, I know Israel is not failing. Hamas is now considerably weaker, demoralized and in panic, after taking out its leaders, and the lack of international support. As a resident under fire, I fully support the IDF's operation. 2. Missiles flew by long before we have given Hamas "excuses". After we pulled out of Gaza as an act of peace and goodwill, and prior to the "siege" (see point 3), they started firing incessantly at Sderot. They simply perceived the disnegagement as weakness. 3. Gazans get plenty of food supplies under this "siege". Israel is the only country in the world to offer vital supplies to an enemy that fires on it. If they suffer so much from "starvation and chronic malnutrition", then alas, why don't they use those smuggling tunnels to smuggle in more food instead of rockets??? And where do all these multimillions of dollars of international aid disappearing to? 4. Most Palestinian prisoners "languishing" in Israeli jails are not car theives... And trust me, they have it much better than Guantanamo. 5. Would you sit down and talk with an enemy who does not recognize Britain's right to exist, and wants it to disappear off the maps? Would you urge the US to talk with Al Qaida? Would you sit to negotiate with a snake that is about to bite you? How easily can you discount Hamas's charter... Heck, even when the Palestinians DID accept our right to exist here, back in Oslo, and we exteded our hand for peace with them - we all remember the terror wave that ensued, in the full support of Nobel Prize for Peace laureate, Yasser Arafat. We know damn well who these people are, much better than anything Arab apologists like you may claim. The best thing for you and your ilk these days to do, is to simply stay quiet.
15. Talk then bring in the UN
David H. ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (01.01.09)
Just like they did with Hizbullah, I'm 100% sure that the UN(Useless cowardly Nations)will protect us just like they have done there. Talk to Hamas, agree that they won't shoot too many rockets into Israel, then let them bring in all the weapons that they think they need to destroy Israel. I say, "skruu the UN and all of these countries that want to destroy us".
16. to 1
sawsanah ,   jerusalem   (01.01.09)
i can not believe that you are the previose AK but sure it is easier to change man reality than this regional reality for the best world .. are they are the light on the world but light do not come from bombs only .. and if israil want this wide range of win by bombing gaza ... why most of people are against its violence .. sure no one is with terrorests but sure hamass is not the only in this horrible war in gaza israil is the same or it is superior
17. Strike when the iron is hot. Strike now!
Kirk Simms ,   New York   (01.01.09)
Chance to turn the tables and do what is right.
18. Silly article with no solution
Mike ,   Haifa   (01.01.09)
Gaza must be liberated. We must return to our Gaza. Settle it with Jews again. And send Sudanese to Sudan, Egyptians to Egypt, and the rest of the guys to Somalia or Iran. Enough is enough. Gaza is Jewish not a province of Iran or Somalia.
19. Bombings guarantee more enemies
MLK's ghost ,   Atlanta, GA, USA   (01.01.09)
The bombings and expected invasion will not solve the problem of terrorists it will make it worse. We've seen this scenario play-out over and over. Israel is making more enemies and will continue to do so as long as it responds to Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran by killing people. How many women and children have died in the bombings in Gaza? It is immoral to carelessly obliterate the lives of innocents for the horrible actions of Hamas. Strong and brave leaders would seek solutions not death and destruction. Israel's leaders have failed again.
20. #7 I agree
avi ,   gaza   (01.01.09)
I agree completely with #7 Don't go in with ground forces yet or at all until all strategic targets have been first destroyed, and that a bomb free avenue has been cleared for troops. Israel has to make full and complete use of technology (drones, satellite etc) to target and isolate movements of terrorists. weapons, bunkers. Don't play into their hands by needlessly risking casualties.
21. Good reasoning but lousy strategy: No option but ground war.
David Turner ,   Richmond, USA   (01.01.09)
Good reasoning by a lawyer and presumed expert from the IDC! *Pound Hamas until it is forced to disarm.* The Hamas Problem is that it cant be defeated. For Hamas complete destruction is a martyr victory, another instance of Palestinian suffering brought on by the overwhelmingly powerful Israel. Likewise the longer Israel pounds Gaza without capitulation, the more damage it inflicts on that hapless people, the more it demonstrates its own helplessness in a never-ending pursuit of sympathy. And thats the problem, 100 years of self-inflicted victimhood have resulted in pathology of self-victimization and failure (who respects and supports so pathetic a person or people; who, beyond temporary sympathy turned to eventual disgust, would intervene, risk self-punishment for the effort, on their behalf? Sure some naive humanists (myself sometimes include!) and Jew-haters from outside. But in the end even these throw in the towel and allow the grovelers to grovel. Israel surrendered choice when she undertook to punish Hamas. Having lost in Lebanon she has only the option of following up the air war with a successful ground operation, and regime change. Anything short of this is another indication that she is losing the long-term war of survival.
22. We must shuffle the deck
Avi Josh ,   Ramat Hasharon, Isra   (01.01.09)
I a respectable international or ever nultinational force is prepared to tro do the job and be prepared to dismiss itself if its performance is deckared unsutisfactory by Israel then Falk's suggestion deserves serious consideration
23. Bill Foonman, This time Israel is choosing its time...?
AK   (01.02.09)
Yes, they Israel has chosen their time, and methods and those are the same methods as in Lebanon and seem to work just as successfully as in Lebanon. Hams terrorist capabilities are not being disabled, as evidenced by rockets landing in Beersheva and elsewhere. Now what? Is Israeli govt waiting to be stopped by the UN and the US from further action? It is obvious that each of the Israeli strikes delivers less and less in terms of military value. The alleged killing of the Hamas 'big fish' only happened (if it indeed did) because he refused to vacate the house after the Israelis had warned him to do so. Which only means that Israeli military reverted into bombing empty buildings to appear to be doing something. You don't win wars by sparing and feeding your enemies.
24. Proper application required. Follow directions
Gideon Reader   (01.02.09)
Prisoner#19 Enough properly applied explosive events guarantee LESS enemies.
25. what about the root causes?
Enrique Bava ,   Portland, OR, 97232   (01.02.09)
May those sparse souls who blocked an IDF base in protest for the Gaza hecatomb continue to uphold the moral honesty that the overwhelming majority of the Israeli population seems to have lost. Would Israelis endure 40 years of occupation, apartheid-like conditions, dispossession of property and water rights passively? Yes, I know, that has been the lot of the Jewish people along most of recorded history so perhaps now it is the time to get even? Victims become victimizers?
26. Lack of Understanding
fahd najjad aldosary ,   Riyadh   (01.03.09)
The key issue is not terrorisim or war but association , the problem of Israeli and westren assocation in the ME is the presumed partners check the list : Abbas &Co. is utterly corrupt while Hamass is not , HizbAluuah is not the other parties are , Saddam palaces were too small for US ocupation offices , no fund were found abroad, while the the elected governing group .Unless ,the westren partners manage to change friends and disasoicate with "good people " , however, this implies you will choose our new leaders which people are not going to accept and you would not know how to pick the forward looking ones , and we doubt you have good intentions any how .So, we will remain in this untenable postion for while .
27. bombing makes friends not enemies
Jack ,   CT, USA   (01.03.09)
Ask Germany and Japan if bombing makes friends or more enemies. They are now peacefull friendly countries to all other peace seeking countries. Total victory is the only solution. US stay out of Israel's way this time. Too many times in the past US has stopped Israel from total victory that is a big reason why we are where we are today. If you need more evidence US never achieved total victory in Iraq. 12 years later we had to go back in. I restmy case.
Back to article