Why did'nt Israel complete the job? Who held them back? The truth please!

"we are more stubbern and more than ever attached to this land .. " And that is why attached yourself to America instead.

"Did the army draw lessons from its past performance? Unclear." Then wait until it is. "Did the Palestinians learn their lesson? No. Death and destruction do not educate nations." Then you have no clue. Take a look up North. "Was our deterrence was restored? No; among other things, because we never had deterrence." Wrong again. Arab armies no longer even dream of attacking Israel head on. After 2006 war guerilla warfare, which was so much praised by Nasrallah, produced peace and quiet for Israel up North. "Did we prove to the world that Hamas is hiding behind civilians? I’m sorry, but we haven’t done that either." That I agree. Israel can do much better in respect of delivering truth to the World. But let's not forget there are not that many receptive ears around. "Was the army’s morality proven again? Oy vey. A moral army is not one that kills civilians and then rushes to boast how moral it is." When Hamas will start worrying about wellbeing of their people more than IDF does call me. Do you have problem with 'oy vey'? "Did the media draw lessons from the past? Most certainly. Democracy’s watchdog was wonderfully tamed and became a dog hungry for patting that only wishes to safeguard the government." You never side against family, Fredo.

Although I agree with many here that this article is an extremely poor analysis of the operation with its obvious leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeftist slant, which I think is dangerous considering Hamas' openly hostile remarks regarding Israel even after all the destruction. But that said, the writer makes some valid points that should be considered. However, I'm not responding to the article, rather I am responding to perhaps an even more dangerous ideology: Just as Hamas has their god that they cling to so vehemently, so do many others in this world. It is a parasitic mentality bent on ruining this world. It is time that secular people take over this debate and bar all fanatics from it. The debate should be about the ability to "live and let live." It shouldn't be a pissing contest about whose god is bigger or better. As horrid a thing as war is, it is necessary sometimes to maintain our way of life when the opponent WILL NOT listen to reason. We can not sit ideally by while they plot our deaths. But I reject wholly this argument that there is a god directing our movements. The enemy has the same deluded dreams!!

Israel does not care about civilians?? The IDF did what has never been done to pretect civilians.Leaflets,messages,canceling 80% of air raids.Only Israel respects life so much,but the world is too biased to see the facts

educate nations said B.Michael.Really? Go tell it to the japanese,one of the most warlike aggressive nations on earth who are today as quiet and peaceful as little mice and would not say "boo" to a Goose.B.Michael is wrong...SUFFICIENT death and destruction educates every time.

If nothing else,Israel and I.D.F have sent out the message that there is a price to pay for terrorising Israelis with Rockets,and this message was sent out late but better late than never.Hamas will think twice before they mess with Israel again,the arabs understand a hard slap very well.

A bad author of some poorly written and excrutiatingly boring books who is famous because of his extreme Left opinions is hardly an authority on politics or military. His questions demonstrate ignorance and are insulting to Hamas, Fatah and the IDF. The Hamas soldiers fought bravely and tenaciously, far more than Hezbolla, but they were outgunned and outnumbered infantry fighting tanks and helicopters. The only reason the IDF lost in Lebanon II was because of incompetent generals appointed for being Left-wing and because the army had trained to become a Jew-expelling organization and not an army. History shows that death and destruction do educate nations. The Soviet Union educated Nazi Germany and the United States educated Imperial Japan to change their culture and religion by death and destruction. Fatah spokesmen say that Israel stopped the military action too soon to teach the Hamas a lesson or to restore Israeli deterrence. What can one say about B. Michael's support of Hamas and its use of civilians? Did Begin or the Kibbutzim ever wire civilians to explode like Hamas did? But no one really cares. The only question, is how does B. Michael justify that he is more anti-Israeli and pro-Jihad than Fatah which condemns Israel for not attacking even more?

Gaza war summary Despite widespread praise, B. Michael unimpressed with military’s performance in Gaza B. Michael I am prepeared to go along with this but, the shortcoming is to blame the Government for, since the IDF was not allowed to finish Hamas of.. And there is only stupidity and no morality in, sacrificing your own civilians and soldiers, instead of your opponents civilians. Orao.

Reading most of the comments... why it is so difficult for an israeli to recognize an error? When would israelis come down to the ground and live with the rest of the world?

"It is time that secular people take over this debate and bar all fanatics from it." Hhmmm...sounds like you are the one who is fanatic. You obviously are right and religious people are nuts. Shut your hypocrite mouth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Bombing_During_World_War_II

You have in Israel such clever and honest people like Mr Michael. This is really unbelievable

even though muslims don't necessarily want jews to leave, they just want the rightful owners to their houses to come back and jews can stay as well...yet you don't seem to get that....in any event, if making extremists like you leave requires pigs to fly...with genetic engeneering, anything is possible ...as for us eating pork...that's NOT gonna happen....

as he mentioned in one of his interviews. As he explained it he did it because he was a pacifist. Now tell me why a pacifist doesn;t have a right to voice his opinion? Another question why only " generals" have the ability to analize things? Therd question: Is ant poster here is a military general. Please be reasonable. This is just HIS opinio. Respect it

IDF did well. Unfortunately your (I being an Israeli living overseas can't vote) politicains didn't learn anything from the Lebanese war. Why did they agree to the ceasefire? Because of inauguration of the USA president, that's why. Therefore why didn't Israel attack Gaza a month earlier to give IDF more time? Unfortunately this war is also lost. Israel has no Shalit, Hamas has still tunnels, Hamas is even more in control, rockets were already fired to Isarel, and more than 10 Israeli soldiers' lives were lost.

why don't you go and stay in Sderot?

Bwahaha! B. Michal should have led the operation himself, together with his sons, if any. It would be easier critizing while you are watching sipping coffee far from the operation.

Reading the article was difficult. Its not based upon fair analogies or comparisons. As others have leapt on: That nations are not educated by death and destruction. That should be: Enemies intoxicated , brainwashed with religious dogma do not learn. They are not there to 'learn', but to kill and destroy at the expense of everything.

Thats when. The one floating in mid air,full of toxic anti semite gas,IS YOU.

well written michael. the rabid right wingers on this site might not like it, but thanks for providing a resonable viewpoint

I cant believe that someone who serves as a media oulet and can influence peoples opinions can write so one sidedly - where is the mention that we were forced into doing this? where do you talk about the fact that we severly damaged the terrorist infrastructure in Gaza? Where do you say that Hamas promised to turn Gaza into an IDF cemetery and instead they ran and hid like school girls and refused to fight and besides why should anyone listen to you anyway - you weren't there, no journalists were - so who are you to say anything if you haven't seen it first hand. You are a terrible excuse for a reporter, an Israeli and a Jew. enjoy your shrimp salad and ham sandwich

My friend is a Palestinian (Christian) & he says that the Jewish left wing is the best weapon that the Muslin Arabs have. It sucks the life out of Israel & saps the ability to focus on the enemy. It causes bickering & division at a time when it is needed the most.

I am very afraid to do so BTW, does anyone know if Muchael is Gay?

Even with freedom of speach his conclusions are bazed on Al Jezira comments. Thought that Ynet has had better commentators.

I'm not sure if he is a total pacifist, meaning no violence, but he perhaps lies in the spectrum of such. I came upon this quote which involves pacifists and war, sorry if it offends anyone, but I thought it was important for people to see. Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them that they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.

B. Mitchel does not start his piece with "TMHO", not even with "TMO". On the contrary, he states everything as fact. No reason to cut him slack.

the writer/ military cook no? What happened here? Everybody absolutely love Joe the plumber as a reporter from Gaza even he doesn't have a license to be a plumber ( documented) B.Micael on the other hand is a famous Writer and used to be in israeli military as a cook in 1973 war. How Joe the plumber has more knoledge and expertise then B.Michael? Please be reasonable and not judgemental. for Allah sake.

You want to criticize Israel for this war and how nothing has come out of it??!!! Your synicism is what makes the operation in gaza fail. You forgot to mention that this war has built unity among the israeli community - IN ISRAEL. This is one of the most important things. Israeli society has come out as attempting to be a united nation against the rocket attacks from Gaza. And that's what your synicism is breaking down. And you're right - it's us and not them. And it's perfectly alright to think that way and there is no reason why you should today take responsibilty for "them" - and when they force you to take responsibility by bombing your country and you bomb them back - then it's ok - because when it comes down to it - YES - IT'S US OR THEM.