For years, I've berated folks like Peres who've insisted "We want peace!" for conveying weakness, the mark of a loser and supplicant. That's especially dangerous in a region that respects, as Lee Smith describes it in his new book, the Strong Horse. Instead, I've argued that Israel's message should be "Don't mess with us!" Israel has its own rights and interests, and it must make clear - to friend and foe alike - that it will defend them. They must accept that Israel is here to stay, and that if they challenge Israel they will lose.

This is meant with affection, respect and hope to see Israel's glory days again: : GO GET 'EM HEBES!!! As we say around here: "If you got it, flaunt it."

On September 3, 1939 the day Britain declared war on Germany, Churchill was appointed First Lord of the Admiralty. In his memoirs he writes: “ But the opening hours of war may be vital with navies. I therefore sent wotrd to the Admiralty that I would take charge forthwith and arrive at 6’o’clock. On this the Board was kind enough to signal to the Fleet, “Winston is back.” http://www.winstonisback.com/ Let us hope that Israeli leaders will take note of how Winston Churchill led his country to victory after he became Prime Minster on May 10, 1940.

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this article just shows me how stupid the israel thinkers are, will power trumps all tech. weaponry. u have ur space age weapons but no heart, and u make fun of the lack of tech. that hezbolla has but their deterent is better than urs, u know if u hit lebanon again then ordinary life in tel aviv as u know it would cease.

There not anyone more crazy that the one who believes himself. Life, time is long. Do you really believe you made a breaktrough? It is just a temporal stop and the way back will be worst than before. There are more unforgiveble thing that the crazy guys on the other side will remember.

Listen, Mr. Moderate Jew in New Jersey USA. We have regained our sanity. We are no longer Olmert wussies.

What allies did we lose? Soldiers refusing orders? That's isolated insignificant noise in an ocean of Israeli support for the Gaza war, just like your views if you review this comment section. You think the US is an ally because of sympathy to Israel? Then where were they during our first two major wars, that we one without any US military aid? Why did Turkey and Iran, who voted no the UN partition, later recognize Israel? Because if you have any knowledge of history, few experts thought that Israel would survive even her first 10 years. Strength and survival leads to respect and allies, not pity and victimhood. Your pathetic begging and crying for peace is ONLY seen as a weakness by the enemy. Snap out of it and get a grip of yourself.

Unlike the Tel-Aviv cafe warriors that whine how the Arabs hate us and if just give them some more Jewish homes that the whole world will love us. I just wish this was not reversible. But the fact is that it is. We still have a very leftist government in power. Bibi has all the backbone of a jellyfish. We need somebody like Moshe Feiglin, that will really make us safe.

Israel's enemies are less eager to attack after the destruction left them in Gaza and Lebanon. They are trying to get the international community to tie Israel's hands in future combat. It is the threat of being reduced to rubble that makes Israel's enemies think twice about attacking.

Israel will have to learn to press Hamas that they will rush to liberate Gilad Shalit.

i agree with the writer, i think the problem with the west is it refuser to see the hatred of the arabs toward israel even among the so called western world, israel has every write to the land. the arabs do not want the existence of israel, israel need to be strong to be able ward off the arabs

I'm a 'moderate' settler, living a moderate life. Thankfully, I'm not inclined to worry about the possibility of losing 'great friends' like you. You on the other hand are worried about your self-image more than me. Moderate settlers, the moderate left, our IDF & police, our Mossad, and every other entity concerned with preserving our existense in Israel really don't need to worry about your thoughts, as opposed to the real threats against our people. You obviously live amongst a moderate people that probably have a better appreciation for Jews standing up for ourselves, rather than those who prefer that we don't bring attention to their own pitiful moderate existence. Moderate Jew, I prefer to argue with passionate lefties in Israel who are proud of our country, even some genuinely moderate Arabs, rather than someone who's afraid that our success might hurt their self-image. I hope you become less moderate, find yourself, become a 'real' Jew and discover the inner man.

Every single word in this article is a pur LIE, It's impossible for IRAN to fear Israel specially after israel Lost the war in 2006 in lebanon and got the gold medal for killing civilians, Iran can take out isreal in moments, thats why israel keeps pushing the US and europe to attack Iran, Syria's minister of foreigh affairs just went on tv and threatned to attack isreal and 2 Hrs after Olmart and the prime minister of israel went on tv and apologized from syria. and Hizbulla leader went on tv 2 days ago and explained to you how he will be destroying isreal this time and specified the areas, SO THIS ARTICLE IS ALL LIES, WAKE UP ISRAELI PEOPLE BECAUSE YOUR GOV. IS STRUGGELING

Hizbollah fears more the pre-electric age each provocation brings to their own peoples villages more than IDF or death of their militants

The reason we see all this new activity to de-legitimize Israel is because, in a word, she is winning. The military and intelligence services have never been stronger or more effective. The economy, based on Human resources and NOT on natural resources is booming. Once the natural gas fields off of Haifa come on line tiny Israel will start to EXPORT energy. Already she has a very positive balance of payments situation. And it will only improve greatly. Israels' enemies are in deep panic mode the world over. And they know things are going from bad to worse. So they are increasing their whining. We American People know who is morally right and surrounded by blood thirsty enemies. So our support for the only democratic state in the area will NEVER die. Am Yisroel Chai! G*d Bless America!

Every neighbourhood bully is enamored with his macho status. It will get him some groupies but respect and friends are never going to come along his way.

This is a very good article, with a clever analysis of the situation in the Middle East, and a clear understanding of the mentality of the Arab people. Israel not only must be strong, also she need to show it to all the world !! Congratulations Guy Bechor and Ynet for this article !!!!

I've been a bit puzzled by all the hoopla and jumping up & down over the Dubai operation by the international set. You fight fire with fire. Quite right to actively hunt down & liquidate declared enemies who forever scheme & move to off you and yours when possible. Always keep your enemies off-balance, and looking over their shoulder. Keep the pathological bastards sweating it, Israel.

Absolutely wonderful article that speaks great truths about our situation, here in the Middle East. Life is incredibly tough here; we are surrounded by neighbors who would love nothing more than to kill every single one of us; and yet we still persevere, while constantly pressed with insurmountable odds. Congratulations to Israel, my country, for getting some backbone again; for the longest time, this was my only wish; and thank god it came true!

Seems to be the Israeli national disease. The article above is pure garbage based upon a ridiculously false premise. As weaponry grows more accurate and more lethal, its ability to fall onto the hands of those who feel 'they have nothing left to lose' becomes inevitable. There is no safety, no safe place to hide. Unless everyone resolves to live under the same rules for all human beings, the seeds of our own destruction have already been sown. And no propagandist, or his adherents, can change that immutable fact.

israel on one hand wants the world to feel sorry for them as if they are the underdog and the one defending and not the aggressor, but on the other hand the facts on the ground say something totally diff. israel thinks it can push anyone around since they have military might and usa money and i'm sure goliath thought the same going up against david. my question for israelis is if goliath didnt have the might would he have fought david, u c the israelis only fight when they have superior weaponry and imperilistic backing, but hezbolla fights knowing that they will probably die yet they still fight, u cant scare whats ready to die. r u going to threaten to kill a man ready to give his life. now tell me who is david and who is goliath. i'll take a man with heart and just a blade any day over a scared lil punk in a hi tech. tank

this talk of hezbolla being scared is crazy these guys will strap a bomb to their chest and go put in work, i dont think thats fear. on the other hand u israelis run really fast to those bunkers when those 1980 rockets come flying inn. stroke ur ego all u want about ur military capabilities, hezbolla won the last round of fighting as did hamas, if u dont think hamas won then go back and read israelis stated objectives in that sorry sucka attack ya'll called op. cast lead, all it did was lead ya'll in a deeper hole cuz now the pals know they can fight u guys inside of palestine and hold u back, b4 then that was never done. so build more tanks and missle interceptors and all that stuff that scary ppl do. but remember that little rock slung from david's sling shot and remember it dont take much to knock down a coward bully

is on the right track. Maybe not there yet but Nasrallah's blustering is just that. One hit to Tel Aviv and the response of bunker busting bombs will be overwhelming. Lebanon will be powdered, Sulieman can cry his eyes out and even the bunker wont' protect the tunnel rat Nasrallah. Israel has had enough of this crap. There are no peace partners so deal through strength and move the arab population to where they belong in arab countries. no Jews in arab countries. give them the same compensation Jews got when leaving arab countries-nothing- however the Jews should be more honorable and let them carry their possessions with them-more than the clothes on their back. Israel is not a pariah nation-ask the Haitians if Israel isn't a light unto the nations