Opinion
Head to head: Is our deterrence gone?
Hagai Segal and Amir Peleg
Published: 24.08.11, 10:18
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39 Talkbacks for this article
1. All we need is to win once to take our homes back
Palestinian   (08.24.11)
2. Deterence
Moshe ,   T/A Israel   (08.24.11)
What deterence - Defence Minister Barak telling us they will pay dearly or PM Netanayu telling us they will wish they had never been born. If I was living in Gaza I would be thanking Allah night and day for these pair of big mouthed jokers Let us wait for Hezbollah who cant have helped but notice just how effective our leaders are. Sigh - We can all sleep well at night cant we? Moshe
3. Hagai Segal makes a better argument.
Terry ,   Eilat - Israel   (08.24.11)
Amir Peleg creates a straw man argument. A strong response to the Eilat attacks does not necessarily mean a ground invasion. We have many other options short of another Cast Lead. The Israeli response was feeble. Reliance on Iron Dome is not just bad strategy but an excuse to not take decisive action. In any case, it should be very obvious that we have lost whatever power of deterrence we had. It's also obvious that deterrence will not always work with religious fanatics, only killing them actually works along with degrading their capabilities, meaning premptive action to prevent arms build-ups. Fighting terrorists is a constant occupation, a non-stop operation.
4. Great article
David ,   On this planet   (08.24.11)
They are both right, We no longer care for victories, just some more quite time to live our life. To me it spells pure surrender and keeping the enemy's fire alive
5. ynet and the other leftie-loonies are rationalizing
Gur2   (08.24.11)
but the result is always innocent dead Jews - that is Ehud Barak's main contribution to defence - innocent dead Jews... unfortunately, Israel is now deliberately very weak-kneed and has lost respect from friends and foes alike.
6. Be serious: WHAT deterrence?!! Can you go below 0...?
tom ,   tel aviv   (08.24.11)
7. Deterence
Werner Marti ,   Switzerlsand, Zürich   (08.24.11)
As usual, a weak response of the Israeli forces.Sooner or later, you will understand, that you have to fight, because, the Arabs, all of them, don't want you to be in your owen land. Will it be too late then?
8.  YES "Israel" lost its deterrence.
Salma ,   Palestine   (08.24.11)
It's interesting to note that this happens despite the fact that most of the Arab and Islamic peoples are still asleep. As I told you many times, peace with Palestinians is an "Israeli" interest par excellence. Wake Up Zionists before It's too late.
9. Netanyahu and Barak
Israel Israeli ,   Tel Aviv   (08.24.11)
For Hamas and Fatah, losing a few tens of thousands of people to exterminate Israel is a reasonable price. The only deterrence that will work against Hamas and Fatah is making clear that Israel is here to stay and that their time is running out. When Netanyahu and Barak decided to forbid Jewish building in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to use the full force of the dreaded Jewish Section of Shabak, Hamas and Fatah knew they had won. Deterrence will only be regained when Jewish building resumes.
10. Who is a castrated idiot ? Haniyeh or Barak ?
Gabe ,   Canada   (08.24.11)
11. Fear
michaelpielet ,   boca raton, Israel   (08.24.11)
The PM and DM were afraid of the impact of offensive action would have on the armistice with Egypt. Time wiil tell if they made the right decision. Meanwhile the Iranian war with its proxies will continue against Israel. Iron domb is it a good investment for Israel, or is it Israel's maginot line. Again time will tell.
12. External factors leave 1 option: BIG ISRAEL
Jerry ,   The Netherlands   (08.24.11)
13. where's the Zionist philosophy
Eyal ,   Tronto Canada   (08.24.11)
I am very disappointed and dismayed with the inaction that we saw this week when close to 100 missiles were fired on the south. there's absolutely no deterrence when Israel fails to respond forcefully and promptly. In fact, I strongly believe that it emboldens the evil monsters in Gaza, especially when Barak promised retaliation. Of course, the opinion not to strike back, is a bunch of hollow excuses. And I am quite frankly bewildered how the Israel that we always knew, has an excuse of, "a UN vote for statehood."
14. Restraint is perceived as weakness in the Mideast
Stephen in New York   (08.24.11)
and perception is reality.
15. Thank you
michaelpielet ,   boca raton, Israel   (08.24.11)
Thank you all of you American and Canadian Jews for your armchair opinions. When your sons are in fighting units you may think differently. Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Barak are calling the shots. As long as they do not rely on Eli Zeira we have a chance. Nobody is calling for Tsipi the total incompetent to take over. Mofaz?, he is the guy who withdrew from the Philadelphia corridor, ignored the ability of Israeli forces in the corridor to interdict weapons flow into Gaza. Thanks, Shaul. Remember Olmert, Peretz, Tsipi and Halutz precipitously responded to the Hezbollah attack in 2006, the army was not prepared, and israel lost the war. Israel needs competent decision makers and the IDF and the nation must be prepared for the conflict(s) that are sure to come.
16. To: No. 8
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (08.24.11)
Why would it be in our best interests to make "peace" with so-called "people" who are bent on the destruction of the Jewish state and the extermination of the Jewish people. Wouldn't it make much more sense to simply kill you all? Wake up, ersatz "Palestinians," before it is too late, and mend your evil ways. We can destroy you at will; you seem intent on making us prove it. Doesn't bode well for you.
17. The best solution ...
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (08.24.11)
... is to remove Ehud Barak and appoint Avigdor Lieberman as Defense Minister. Barak is an old, tired coward.
18. #15: Israel never lost war. Stop the kishkush
Israeli 2   (08.24.11)
19. Dear Sarah @ #17:
Israeli 2   (08.24.11)
That would never happen as long as Bibi is in power. Bibi knows how to make great speeches. We all love him for that. Beyond his speeches he is cowering behind Barak. He wanted Barak there. Barak consults with him and he agrees. How many times did he ask Livni to join the government? For what??? He should have said: The likes of you, we shall not want in our government! I knew that nothing would come out of all of this. Israel is just taking it because they want to be "WORLD SAVVY"! Bibi wants to be perceived as a real "Wise" leader. That's all.
20. deterrence fully operative
Wade ,   NYC USA   (08.24.11)
Without disagreeing that Israel could be more aggressive... strong deterrence is in place. Ehud Yaari commented that both Hamas and Hezbollah do not escalate despite prodding from Iran, because they are afraid of the military consequences. Hamas begs for the ceasefire- what more proof do you need? To maintain a deterrence, Israel will have to deliver some strong blows for every rocket fired toward Israel.
21. The best way to deal with someone who
jason white ,   afula, israel   (08.24.11)
wants to kill you and your family is to kill him and his family first.
22. #1/8. Fictional Palestine is finished.
Chaim ,   Israel   (08.24.11)
The upcoming Palestine statehood declaration will be a huge flop. An even bigger flop than the 1988 declaration. Truthfully, conditions were far better for fictional Palestine in 1988 than today. When the smoke clears, Palestine will be finished. Nobody will ever take it seriously again. The upcoming ludicrous declaration will only hasten the end of fictional Palestine. You will never take over Israel. However, we can disperse you at will. Sooner or later, your endless provocations will lead to that exact outcome.
23. deterrence
Joe ,   uk   (08.24.11)
the deterrence has not gone it is not used maybe the goverment thinking what will the world say
24. protests & Torah
yosef ,   memphis   (08.24.11)
Israeli deterrence is maybe lacking - not gone - because of the self absorbed young people headed to Yeruham for Thursdays protest. Deterrence probably would not be lacking if the police would arrest these arrogant "children" instead of the ones learning Torah at various outposts.
25. Amir Peleg: Your appeasement view of
Robert Haymond ,   Israel/Canada   (08.24.11)
the current situation is critically weak on many fronts, not the least, the psychological one. Each time we allow ourselves to be the targets of rocket and missile attacks or terror related activities without a fullscale and broad forceful deterrence, the more humiliated becomes the Jewish population of Israel and the less courage and belief in our state and the purpose of Israel retained. Your section of this article simply encourages such enabling of our weakness. For shame!
26. Deterrence exists, but...
Salomon Mizrahi ,   Brazil   (08.24.11)
...it is not used not because Hussein is president of USA, Lady Aston-Vila is foreign minister of EU and Banki Moon-Sun-Planet is anti-Israel... The big enemy of Israel is part of Israelis: The midia, newspaper, TV, universities, artists, Left, (10-25% of the jewish polpulation) they all hate Israel... and won´t let Netayahu retaliate... If he retaliates they will call him genocidal, promoter of massacres of poor arabs that want their state, etc... Be sure the worst enemies of Israel are the Isralis that vote for Kadime and parties on the Left and not Ahmadinejad and other madmen.
27. To No.22, Best talk back for a long time.
Gabe ,   Canada   (08.24.11)
28. The Battle
John Prophet   (08.24.11)
for middle earth is nigh!
29. the first thing in any equation is
suad and jasin ,   jerusalem   (08.24.11)
to put true factors . is the purpose of deterance to plant fear in the heart of enemy ..yes but how to know what it is in the heart of enemy .. may someone fear a knife in your hand but may other do not fear that you have atomic power ..both may kill sure it kills but fear o f killing is the base .. in lead cast in the first sight of killing the training persons in gaza showed that people did not fear killing .. it is a fact .what do you manage this fact .. here at time of second intifada i lisitned to some working women they were mothers they said - life must be continued even wego out and think may will not be returned home .. one thing about israili they think that palastinians do not like the life or the peace ,,no evry one like to live in peace but not evry one fear the death i think peace is the best option not becouse of fear but becouse it is the best to live with it
30. Sorry #18
Michael Pielet ,   boca, israel   (08.24.11)
Israel won the 2006 war in Lebanon. What did Israel win. My friends in the army told me that the army was totally unprepared for war, the politicians made horrible decisions, yes but israel is still there, so you are right, israel won the war, adon, kishkush!
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