Opinion
Try talking to Hamas
Avner Fainguelernt
Published: 19.11.12, 11:10
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31. Very FAINGUELERNT but NO kescher to REALITY!
Jerry ,   The Netherlands   (11.19.12)
32. How dare those Palestinians want their homes and lands back
Edithann ,   USA   (11.19.12)
Why was their land given to Jews without their consent? Why is it so difficult for Israel/Jews to understand those simple facts...it's not rocket science? They're fighting for their homes and lands... TATA
33. Go righ ahead sir
Roy ,   Canada   (11.19.12)
So if your such a genius, go ahead and try. Someone arm this guy with a list of our position and send him in. When you go to Gaza and find yourself hung from a construction crain, you'll then realize with whom you have gone to talk to. We are our leaders, and our leaders are us. Nobody in the Israeli gov't has bad intentions for our people, because they would be out if they did. Welcome to democracy sir.
34. Article on YNET--Try talking to Hamas
George Weiss ,   Teaneck, USA   (11.19.12)
The only thing you can talk to Hamas about is how you want to surrender. Avner is either a dope or a fool.
35. I stopped reading right after this:
leo ,   usa   (11.19.12)
"Like Clint Eastwood's embarrassing spectacle with the empty chair during the US election campaign". - Author is clueless, Clint's skit was hilarious.
36. I support Dr. Avner Fainguelernt
Avi Israeli ,   Etanim   (11.19.12)
I hope universities, think tanks and foreign powers around the world who are reading this op-ed will donate to the Doctor's important research. Please contact me at the email above for details.
37. How do you talk to someone who does not recognize you??
(11.19.12)
38. This reads like a Gideon Levy article
Zionist forever   (11.19.12)
39. You sane Jews
mahmoud ,   Jordan   (11.19.12)
I think it is a good thing that you have a sane man like Dr. Avner Fainguelernt.. Do not be tough
40. Try ground-based artillery
TINSC ,   Fairbanks, AK (USA)   (11.19.12)
I strongly object to US-made aircraft being used to bombard Gaza. This is expensive. Since HAMAS has defined the rules of war by using ground-based artillery on civilian targets, Israel is best served by responding in kind. Aircraft should be used as forward observers to identify the specific "bad guys" they are targeting. However, the munitions should be fired from ground-based artillery with as many rounds as required to insure a successful strike. If this causes collateral damage, then HAMAS should re-think its military tactics. Israel has plenty of ground-based artillery units which can reach deep into Gaza. There's no sense placing aircraft at risk. These aircraft should be used to defend the skies over Israel, not attack lone assassins and HAMAS leaders. This can best be done with ground-based artillery supported by airborne forward observers. A few days of non-stop salvos of ground-based artillery from the IDF should tell HAMAS all it needs to know about the sense of firing artillery at Israel.
41. Wage Peace!
Adam ,   Carmiel, Israel   (11.19.12)
Everyone is so angry but Hamas has launched everything they have at us and has Israel really suffered so much? We have pounded Gaza over and over and over and still they rise from the dust. We won't beat them until we wipe them clean from the map - and what will we have become then? Israel has proven to the world that it is strong enough to wage war. It has yet to show that it is strong enough to wage peace. Strength, Dr. Fainguelernt, keep writing. Don't let these mouth-breathing idiots in the comment section get you down... our biggest mistake was giving them the vote.
42. Avner Fainguelent extreme leftist proof here
Rod ,   Fargo N.Dakota   (11.19.12)
Dear Hazem ..See Fainguerlernt signature to the letter below Judging from Tom Segev's rather frivolous response ( I never really considered him to be a "leftist" in anyway, but rather an Oppenheimer-type with less scruples, whose "fairness" was that of someone trying to expiate for original sins that, everyone knows this by now, have been commited during the creation of Israel) your analysis is right. This is not a time that is conducive to any form of dialogue, least of all with people like Segev. Other people, like the film-makers who have signed a letter of solidarity with arab film-makers condemning in unequivocal terms the babrbarity of occupation and of the war on Lebanon, did not need any of us to speak out. Here is their letter: We, the undersigned Israeli filmmakers, greet the Arab filmmakers who have gathered in Paris for the Arab Film Biennial. Through you, we wish to convey a message of camaraderie and solidarity with our Lebanese and Palestinian colleagues who are currently besieged and bombarded by our country's army. We unequivocally oppose the brutality and cruelty of Israeli policy, which has reached new heights in recent weeks. Nothing justifies the continued occupation, closure, and oppression in Palestine. Nothing justifies the bombing of civilians and the destruction of infrastructures in Lebanon and Gaza. Allow us to tell you that your films, which we try to see and circulate among us, are extremely important in our eyes. They enable us to know and understand you better. Thanks to these films, the men, women, and children who suffer in Gaza, Beirut, and everywhere else our army exercises its violence - have names and faces. We would like to thank you and encourage you to keep on filming, despite the difficulties. For our part, we will continue to express through our films, with our raised voices, and in our personal actions our vehement opposition to the occupation, and we will continue to express our desire for freedom, justice, and equality among all the peoples of the region. Nurith Aviv / Ilil Alexander / Adi Arbel / Yael Bartana / Philippe Bellaiche / Simone Bitton / Michale Boganim / Amit Breuer / Shai Carmeli-Pollack / Sami S. Chetrit / Danae Elon / Anat Even / Jack Faber / Avner Fainguelernt / Ari Folman / Gali Gold / BZ Goldberg / Sharon Hamou / Amir Harel / Avraham Heffner / Rachel Leah Jones / Dalia Karpel / Avi Kleinberger / Elonor Kowarsky / Edna Kowarsky / Philippa Kowarsky / Ram Loevi / Avi Mograbi / Jud Neeman / David Ofek / Iris Rubin / Abraham Segal / Nurith Shareth / Julie Shlez / Eyal Sivan / Yael Shavit / Eran Torbiner / Osnat Trabelsi / Daniel Waxman / Keren Yedaya
43. Retake Gaza forever. Drive out our enemies.
Chaim ,   Israel   (11.19.12)
The only reason Israel suffers rockets from Gaza is Israel's lunatic retreat from Gaza. The answer couldn't be simper. Retake Gaza forever. Drive out our enemies. Virtually all Israel's serious problems are direct results of Israeli retreats. End Israeli retreats and end most of Israel's problems.
44. Words of a normal, sane person - a breath of fresh air
Hanoch ,   NYC   (11.19.12)
No matter how Israel tries to avoid civilian casualties the media describes the conflict as tit-for-tat exchange. The beauty of your proposal, TINSK, it will bring the reality close to that description. Not to mention the immense benefit in cost and effectiveness.
45. avi, zohar can be reasonable as you say
milson   (11.19.12)
hamas would be very peaceful if israel does the following: 1) dismantle the state 2) 50,000 jews get killed oon the spot 3)the rest go back to poland 4) Zohar can be very reasonable- if he will appoint the following figures to the government of palestine -olmert- minister of justice -beilin-minister of peace -livni-united nations deputy ambassador -ben ami- miinister of remainning jewish affairs Jews have learned nothing from the holocaust, nothing.' Maybe barak now understands why strategic borders are important.
46. Dialogue?
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (11.19.12)
Would someone mind telling me how it is possible to conduct a "dialogue" with people whose very reason for being is the destruction of the State of Israel? "Dialogue" is merely an excuse for buying time while Hamas and other terrorist elements recoup from the staggering blow they received at the hands of the State of Israel and regroup. Hamas is not interested in dialogue, and anyone who believes that Hamas is interested in dialogue is a complete idiot.
47. Deterrant Peace
Zivron   (11.19.12)
Israel has being talking indirectly with Hamas for years but despite what the authors contends only military superiority allows Hamas and its Populace to compromise their ideology with Reality.the alternatives Right of return for Arabs to Israel even mass return to a Palestinian State is unacceptable to the vast majority of Jewish voters there are not enough Jews in Israel.Certainly allowing Gaza to prosper economically Could Work but the mutual hatreds and aminonositis will remain and utopia remedies have never worked yet.
48. I don't see anyone gunning down Abbas
Ryan ,   Netanya   (11.19.12)
The civilians in Gaza deserve fair leaders. However Hamas is not fair to anyone. Their goal is destruction based on hatred. Their leaders are the epitome of this. They see us as the devil, and would never open a line of communication. If they had a leader we could talk to and show them that both sides can benefit from peace, I assure you we would take it. That is not the case and likely will not be the case for a long time.
49. # 44 is meant for #40
Hanoch ,   NYC   (11.19.12)
50. To #42
Hanoch ,   NYC   (11.19.12)
Want to endear yourself with the Western liberal establishment, eh? Want to make sure you have some nice and cozy sinecure in some European college when "occupation" is over and Israel is finally free of Jews, eh? The "artists" in your lengthy list are dime a dozen. Not a smidgen of talent or sense, nothing but empty unbearable pretentiousness.
51. Saaaay! I got an idea! Let's talk to Hamas!
David ,   Jerusalem   (11.19.12)
Saaaay! I got an idea! Let's talk to Hamas! What an original idea! First we heard of THAT! Talk instead of fight? That is SO ORIGINAL! Brilliant! And to think. It's never been tried! Oslo, Madrid, Camp David, like talking was never tried! NOT EVER! That's what we all need!!! Here's what. While they're blowing your family's brains out, try talking! How bout counting to 25? One Missippi, two Missippi… How bout yodeling? Maybe YODELING will stop them from shooting us! Never can tell! Hasn't been tried! What about tap dancing? YOU don't know! Maybe tap dancing will make Hamas turn over a new leaf! And this we did not even know. So here's what. No more war. No ground invasion. Let's take out a telephone book and start reciting names instead of defending Israel. Brilliant! Three Missippi, four Missippi… If we start talking to Hamas they'll be inspired to become poets, speechwriters and psychiatrists and give up terrorism! Five Missippi, six Missippi… How bout playing patty cake with Hamas? What about checkers? Seven Missippi, eight Missippi… Tell you what. Let's all blindfold ourselves and play pin the tail on the donkey while Hamas is blowing our brains out! Suddenly they'll realize that playing scrabble is more fun than killing! They don't REALLY want to hurt us! As soon as they learn how to play hopscotch and jump rope it'll be just like nothing ever happened! Leave Hamas alooooooooooooone!
52. talking to hamas
Bob ,   NY, USA   (11.19.12)
Dr Fainguelernt, what is your degree in, plant biology? Do you know nothing about the history of the middle east or Islam? they want us either dead or dhimmi. That's all they will "negotiate". You pick.
53. Talk to Hamas?
Avi ,   Tel Aviv   (11.19.12)
Why oh why does YNet print this garbage? Are they trying to demoralize or to destroy Israel? This piece is so sick it makes me want to vomit!
54. not sure it'll work
(11.19.12)
you're adorable. let's go drink some tea with hamas and see if we can talk out this destruction of israel and the jewish nation thing. they're so eager for peace, we should go talk to them.
55. The Phoney War
Emiel ,   Belgium   (11.19.12)
Maybe the war in Gaza a mock war in this way attention from Iran Nuclear program. So they can finish their store application without obstacles.
56. hamas
spookey ,   birmingham uk   (11.19.12)
i have just spoken to hamas its a tree in my garden and it is very thick
57. Communication Theory
Adam Neira ,   Paris, France   (11.19.12)
Trust building can only work if the lines of communication are open. When there is a vacuum of leadership and vision at the top things can implode. Good relationships proceed in steps. Sometimes it is two steps forward and one step back. The main thing is that things keep moving forward and something is created. The world is what we make of it after all. The future is not set in stone. Everyone is talking about "If we are attacked" or "If attacked our response will be crushing" or "If a war breaks out our enemies will come off second best" etc. etc. It is getting boring. How about various "leaders" preface their statements with "If we agree to co-operate with..." ? Marshall McLuhan replied to an audience member at a discussion on communications theory at ABC Radio in Australia in 1977... "The solution to violence and conflict is dialogue." There is a real lack of aesthetic and philosophical appreciation in many leaders all throughout the world. The famous Canadian writer/philosopher/linguist mentioned above raised the same point after attending a Bilderberg meeting in 1969. Let's see what unfolds in the coming hours and days. If the current players on the stage are unable to do the job of managing things properly and keeping the lines of communication open, then people should seek out those who can do the job. Prayers for the Middle East.
58. #40
Clearsighted   (11.19.12)
I am not a military strategist but I loved your post. Now I know why I love Alaska so much.
59. Israel's leaders refuse to negotiate with Hamas
Sammi ,   Nassau County USA   (11.19.12)
This man's comments are foolish and devoid of any sense of history - If he can point to one historical example where negotiations led to resolution where one of two parties to the conflict vow to destroy the other as long as it takes and no matter how many "child martyrs are sacrificed to the 70 virgins in heaven" Then his comments would be credible. Until then, this person has made himself irrelevant to this debate -
60. WTF? Israel has been talking with the Hamas for years!
a mother of 3   (11.19.12)
If diplomacy had any effect on the Hamas, if the Hamas would abide by agreements, the Palestinian predicament would have been peacefully solved year ago! When children are taught at home and at school to hate Israel, to dedicate their life to fight and resist the "Zionist entity", instead of prosperity and bettering one's life, how can you convince them to change their brain washed thinking? And to all of you who blame Israel for "occupation" and "apartheid". If there was occupation and apartheid, whould the Hamas be able to amass such an arsenal of rockets through the Egyptian border (which is completely OPEN to them)? Why do they spend all the money that the UN is giving them on weapons and hateful ideology? And here's an even more troubling question: why doesn't the Hamas build shelters for its civilians and children in Gaza? Because they use the casualties in their media offense? And the answer is obvious: because they hate the "Zionist entity" more than they love their children !
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