Opinion
Israel’s good year
Raanan Shaked
Published: 28.09.11, 14:00
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14 Talkbacks for this article
1. Maybe I am wrong, but this killed entire
leo ,   usa   (09.28.11)
article for me: "diplomatic isolation forced upon us by Lieberman, Netanyahu and Ayalon". Raanan Shaked, are you one of those people who would rather die to please than stay alive? Besides, it is a process. Jews are perceived as timid people. This image was built for the last 2000 years and this is the very image, which keeps Israel constantly under attack. Don't you think it is time to have a change if not for your own sake, then for the sake of your children. As to this protest, my American mind still cannot wrap itself abound the idea that I have a reason (The Right I have) to protest just because I cannot afford to rent/buy an apartment at Central Park West. You, guys, better kill these socialistic tendencies of yours. Again, do it for your children if not for yourselves.
2. diplomatic isolation ???
Jules   (09.28.11)
The Karmiel fire was fought by a number of international teams, which arrived practically immediately , when asked for by Netanyahu and Lieberman. With Olmert/Livni at the helm, half of the country would have burnt to the ground.
3. Agree with Leo #2
(09.28.11)
The notion of "Israel's isolation" is bullshit. A country of Israel's size that predicts growth of what? 5% has to be selling that into world markets. That will not stop overnight .Again BS. And also, there's a lot more people in the world that dont really understand what the Israeli / palestinian thing is all about anyway. Everytime the media posts something negative about Israel - the Pals commit some despicable act that they and the media cant sell to average folk as justification for their "cause". So, when these idiots carry on with their protests and boycotts - actually makes them look bad. The average person thinks that this is going too far and doesnt support "boycotts" etc, That those who pursue this sort of thing are just left-wing "ratbags" and at the least - dont want to take sides or be denied buying the products they like because of some loud-mouthed do-gooders.
4. To #1
Yossi ,   USA   (09.28.11)
Why kill humanistic tendencies ("socialistic" as you called them..)? Why not divide the pie into shares that are a little more equal, a little more humane, and mostly, for a change, a little more satisfying? True, this concept is unknown to you Americans...you love your jungle of social cruelty and huge inequalities between classes: masters on top, suckers at the bottom!
5. The writer is a demagogue
Daniel Teeboom ,   Netherlands   (09.28.11)
Like Erdogan and other deceivers he wants to bribe the population with goodies. Meanwhile Israel is the ONLY Western country which has it's financial house in order. And, except for America, the only which has a demographic future. None of which the author contributed to. Quite the contrary, it is despite of him and his ilk. People who would have loved placing israel's head on the chopping block and who would have gladly sacrificed it's future for a couple of years of feel good policies. Of course he has the freedom to speak his mind, but the editors of this site should show some reapinsibilty and stop lending themselves to those who spread simple minded populist propaganda. Yes, the left is populist. It tries to deceive the population with appealing lies. But reality is strong, stronger then the lies of the left. Say no to debt, no to democratic decline, no to pre-emptive surrender, no to groveling to our enemies. Say no to the left. I am secular, I am a liberal, but I know who my friends are and it is not the left.
6. The best years for ISRAEL are coming
josi ,   norway   (09.28.11)
SHANA TOVA
7. To n° 5
Marcela Araújo ,   Brazil   (09.28.11)
Apologize right now...
8. To n° 4
Marcela Araújo ,   Brazil   (09.28.11)
Please do not take into account what he says in these moments of insanity...
9. Yossi @ 4, I personally have enough experience
leo ,   usa   (09.28.11)
to be able to compare "socialist paradise" and "jungle of social cruelty" and let me tell you - the latter is much more humane. In my American jungle I am only as good and only as successful as I am willing to be and my failures are solely of my doing. In your social paradise half of you will be killed simply because there is not enough of stuff to go around and later another half will be killed because there is not enough of stuff still. It hasn't failed in Russia, it did not fail in China, it did not fail any any other socialist paradise. Bottom line, if you want something - work for it. Do not falsely assume that you are entitled to it just because you were born. You are not entitled to anything except equal opportunity, which in countries like Israel and USA you already have in abundance.
10. It was a good year but not for reasons cited in the article
Avner ,   Tel Aviv   (09.28.11)
It is a good year, because our economy is growing by up to 5%, because inflation is the lowest ever, and because terrorism is still relatively low compared with previous highs of a decade ago. However, none of this is mentioned in the article, which instead seems to think the 'social protest' is the only positive aspect. In fact, the social protest is the worst thing to happen in the year, insofar as it might lead to a reduction in defense spending and an increase government spending to other areas. Nothing could threaten Israel's future more than those two things, demanded by the unelected and unqualified protest leaders against our democratically elected government.
11. The Fogel family...
Susan ,   New York, USA   (09.29.11)
12. Equal society
Marcela Araújo ,   Brazil   (09.29.11)
If think about economies like Norway or Denmark, we will see they aren't socialist economies. But, They have a very equal society. If we have an apartement that cost 1,000,000 or more and a house that cost 100, 000 in the same town, as I already see it is happens in Tel Aviv, We really are going to have problems...
13. To n° 10, Avner
Marcela Araújo ,   Brazil   (09.29.11)
If 250,000 people took to the streets to protest, it means that a large proportion of the population is dissatisfied with some things ... And I personally believe that people have the right to protest when they feel unsatisfied with something.
14. No. 7 about no. 5
AJ - Raalte   (09.29.11)
Apologize??? What for, for Peter's sake??? Telling it like it is??? Great post, Daniel.
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