A civilian population that VOTED Hamas into power and dances in the street when our school children are murdered, is the enemy, you incredible fool. This is a war. Not a nice thing, but necessary.

period. They brought this disaster upon themselves. It's that simple.

israel has no moral highground ever again. you have no shame for the lives you are destroying and when you finally reap what you are sowing, we will have no sympathy for you.

If Hamas terrorists used a school as a base of operations or launching site, THEY (not Israel) turn it ifrom a "refuge for civilians" into a military target. If I was in charge, I'd level the entire Gaza Strip, leaving nothing standing higher than a few inches of rubble. But then, Israel would have to endure the censure of "World Opinion" for "disproportionate response". Oh, wait, Israel is getting that drivel already...

I can see Haaretz printing a trash article like this. But YNET?

Do what you must, IDF.

Many of you "brave" talbackers keep saying "what about the southern residents, what about their suffering?" How can you compare the death and destruction in Gaza to the plight of southern Israelis. There is no comparsion! Quasams are neither accurate nor constant, and over 75% (by your own governments admittance) fall in open and un-populated areas. Meanwhile US made, Israeli smart bombs are both accurate, constant and extremely deadly. Yes, living under rocket fire is terrible, and i do feel sympathy for those that must live with it. But only 5 civilans have been killed since the truce ended, and 19 died all last year as a result of rocket fire. Compare that to the 370 dead civilans in Gaza in 12 days! You can't compare those numbers! In Israel, you have early warning systems, bomb shelters, and safehouses every 100 yards. In Gaza they have only UN schools (which are not safe from your bombs), mosques (which you also bomb) and their basements (which are often "cleared" with a hand gernade). There is no where for them to hide and feel safe. How dare you people try to justify your actions in Gaza because of the suffering of your southern residents. There is no justification and no comparison. The world does not believe you and will never forgive, or forget, your war crimes in Gaza. I know, I know... you don't care what the world says or thinks, and I'm sure I will be called names and anti-semitic. Go ahead, post your rantings and anger. That does not cancel out the truths I have written here. I pray for your country and do hope to see ME peace in my life time. But the reality on the ground and the polictial situations in Israel, the West Bank, and America, force me to think otherwise. This is a sad day for everyone...Jew, Arab, Christian, Muslim,etc.

This quote is from the movie "Breaker Morant", and is one I have never forgotten. It is well remembered in times like these. it is impossible to fairly judge men for their behaviour under the circumstances of war, where conventional norms do not apply.

without population suuport tacit or open a regime has no staying.The turnouts at the funerals ,the antisemitic lectures in mosques ,the antimetic literature in school,the harboring of terrorists,all this and more are indicative of the fact that there are no innocent civilians,6 yearolds throw molotov cocktails.This is a war we need to win,"humanitarian aid"=aiding and abbetting the enemy-Lets be pro Israel not pro Arab and not Pro the world for once

The terrorists use the schools packed with civilians to fire from there so converting them into military centers and using the civilians as shileds. What should be condemned is this barbarian behavior.

A vast majority of Gazans voted for the terrorist gang because it was terrorising Israel.

and terrorism, attacking Israel and using civilians as shields.

So big civilian casualities are really disaster. But Israel had no choce - you must defend yourself! I hope you manage to solve this problem soon. Solve for good, in a diplomatic way! Greetings for all Israelians!

Here on Earth, Mr Jaffe, in case you are not familiar with the place, as it seems from your comment, war is chaotic, often confusing, full of uncertainty - this in addition to the violence, danger, & fear. And, it is carried out by large numbers of young men, each with his own perceptions about what is happening in the mess around him. This is reality. Whatever there is in international law, this often vague & frequently contradictory collection of essentially non-binding opinion, allows for targeting sites even if civilians are present. Citing the UN as a source for unbiased & accurate information is not convincing. It seems that other accounts offer different evidence. Using such exagerated language as ''extermination'' & ''final solution'' is not just in poor taste but can hardly be accurate in a situation where in total, 600 people are reported killed in 12 days of fighting. This does not qualify as ''extermination'' or ''final solution'' & even the use of these terms in this context is offensive. I would appreciate a list of the wars in which no civilians were killed, in which there were no accidents & mistakes, & which were carried out with the high standards you say we lack. I doubt if this will be a long list. Personally, I find your comment to be hypocritical & intellectually dishonest.

for all death and destruction. What part of 'dont shoot rockets into Israel' didnt they understand ? Where were the lefties while israel was on the receiving end of 8000 rockets ? although it is always a sad day when innocence is taken, we must remember we are facing a very cruel enemy that perfer to hide among civilians.....so - to the israeli bashers-what would you do differently ?

dear censor, I see that Israel a such democratic country that even their newspapers, like this don't publish opinion apart from yours....

OK, let's turn it around a little. Suppose a "rogue group of Canadians" were shelling Milwaukee. What would you expect the US to do - not react because the "rogue group" is firing clumsy rockets? Or, carrying the argument even further if the Canadaian gov't could not or would not do anything to stop the shelliing, and even encouraged the rogues to continue; would you expect the US to wipe out the rogues? I believe you would want the Canadian rogues to be destroyed, but expect Israel to continue to live under the horrendous conditons they have had to endure since even before the State of Israel declared its independence (e.g. Hebron massacres of the 1920s and '30s). You are truly either naive or a moron.

unless or until you live under rocket attacks from Gaza every day,like I and others in the south of Israel, then JUST SHUT UP.

Winograd Commission needed to study the lies, manipulations, disinformation and distortion by Israel's political hacks that caused Gaza evacuation and this war. Now pull out of Golan and West Bank also?

Israel does not target schools. Everyone knows that. They were responding to fire.

(A great Torah authority,) The Meshech Chochma (Shemos 12:16) says as follows: "PURIM is not celebrated on the anniversary of the victory against our enemies. Am Yisroel does not rejoice over the downfall and death of its foes. We celebrate PESACH because we were saved, not because our enemies perished, and we rejoice and read the Megillah on the day that we rested, the day after the war, when no one died, but we were saved..." Throughout Pesach we recite the entire Hallel (prayer of praise and rejoicing), but on the last day of Pesach we recite only half Hallel, BECAUSE it was the day the Egyptians were drowned in the Red Sea. We are all G-d's creatures, and we are saddened and sickened by death, but neither can we stand by and allow the killing of our own).

live with them!! If they had fair elections, Hamas won with over 70% of the vote. This is what they want. The population supports terrorism, the destruction of Israel, suicide to kill etc. They will never live in peace with Israel, its against their religion! It's you or them. See 'Escape from Hamas' on youtube and hear it from an exHamas 'palestinian'. For those who do not support Hamas and violence over there, may God protect them. See google video 'Fitna' 'Obsession' YouTube - Gazan woman sends her Hamasnik son to hell http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCz3Euw-97c&NR=1 YouTube - Hamas admits it uses human shields http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTu-AUE9ycs

Hamas violates Geneva Conven,=Hamas war criminals

this writer may have valid points. it is not to exclude that innocent people die in this war and that certain members of the IDF act in unjust manner. but, does it question the motivation of the war itself? hamas wanted this war. unfortunately, the enemies of ISRAEL often are insane in their motivation and do not calculate the costs. Should Israel stop this intervention because of innocent victims? Is it now wrong to destroy the murderous infrastructures of hamas? should ISRAEL retreat in shame and say "sorry" and let the rockets fly farther and farther into their land? it would be utter idiocy.

Woe to us when we sustain those who are unabashedly completely devoted in thought, speech and action to our utter & complete destruction. If the missiles launched from the UN school are aimed at Israel's citizens or soldiers fighting on her behalf, the response is obvious. As has been said so many times, the civilian casualties are blood on the hands of Hamas not Israel.

Before you all criticize us I ask you to notice a simple fact. The Hammas do not protect their population. Instead they use them as a human shield.

Thank God there are Israelis who think the attack on Gaza is unjustified. The whole world is watching you. Olmert and Tivni have replaced Bush as public enemy number 1. We all know about the missile attacks in the south but we also know that they happen because of the strangulation of the Palestinian people and the severe oppression of their destiny by Israel. Until they have a free unhindered self governing state, there will be no peace.