Shame on you.How can you be so cruel?

a product of the poison that all the people around you (specially your family) fed you with since you were born. If you are so matture as to write this, you should also realize you must have compasion for the one who needs it (it doesn't matter if he is jew, sharon or the pope). we are all human beings and until all of us understand it...our days are counted... i've never agreed with sharon's policies, but he was the prime minister of our country, and he deserves at least respect. if you don't want to pray for him, don't do it, but don't be proud of it...cause it is a shame (not only as a jew, but as a human being)

. . . then you are no longer a fellow Jew. You have become Amalek (also from Gaza) - go daven to your idols. Just to remind you - Arik Sharon sacrificed greatly for his country, and, in the process, saved Israel and hundreds of thousands of Jews from anihilation in 73, not to mention his sacrifices in 67 and other wars. What did you sacrifice for your country? Just a large living room and backyard pool. Grow up and start feeling ashamed for your violation of halakha. You don't want people to "laugh and sneer" at you. Well then don't behave like a spoiled brat. Go join the army and defend your country like Arik, instead of always asking for welfare of others like a false beggar at the Kotel. I'm so sorry you miss your home - so did millions of Jews who perished in the Shoah - so do hundreds of thousands of Jews who were expulsed from Arab lands - are you comparing your situation to them? Are you still wearing your orange star and orange concentration camp clothes? Israel and the Jewish people don't need these type of whiners. We need people who, when a fellow Jew is ill, performs the mitzvah of praying refuah shleima for them - not invoking a pagan pulsa demura. To paraphrase what we say at Pesach to the wicked child, "If you were present at the foundation of the State of Israel, you would not have deserved to live in it." Arik was present at the foundation and has done everything in his power to protect the majority of Jews - if you cannot bring your sorry self to pray for him - have the common decency to shut the hell up!

Guy from Rishon - 1939 and 1995 were not in "this century". Just goes to show that you are living in the past - but more like the medieval past. You have lived in Arab land for so long that you have begun to think like the Arabs. Go take your unhalakhic curses and join them in Syria or Jordan if you want to live in land given to Jews (Reuven and Gad and Menashe) by HaShem - we Jews who want to make this country great for the thousandth generation don't want you anymore. I don't want to compromise the security of Israel - and I understand the dangerous nature of shallow borders with a dangerous enemy close by - but I don't want to get shot at or maimed trying to protect your worthless behind as you sit in your Gaza estate doing nothing at all to protect the State of Israel - just your own narrow, selfish interests.

Steiner's reply may contain something true, but I couldn't find it. I like how he suddenly lectures about the evils of welfare (unknown in the EU, I'm sure) and the merits of democracy (the EU is not even a democratic entity, but a bureaucratic one). It is outrageous that someone who makes a personal decision not to pray for a particular politician elicits comments likening her to a terrorist or a fascist. The spin in the Israeli media is that everyone is suddenly full of prayers for Sharon. There is nothing wrong with disputing this spin.

My phone # in Israel is 054-7388-054.....Herbert....do you have the courage to call me and conduct a one-on-one debate of this issue? or email me your number and I will pay for the call...how dare you Sir make the comments against a teenage girl who with great courage is speaking truth and is under great and intense stress. Have you ever had your government enter your home and take you out, lie to the world about compensation payments, destroy your schools, pizza parlor, swimming pools, synagogue, communal life, lock up all your possessions in leaky (vandalized as well) containers, and have your father and mother lose their incomes, have your dead unburied, and then sit in a hotel for months watching terrorists on TV build "training camps" for Hamas on the place where you were married, had your bar mitzvah, or learned to ride a bike for the first time? Have you Sir? And if not, where is your sensitivity? It is natural (and in fact accurate and totally healthy) for this child to direct hard feelings at sharon, yet you feel she is not really Jewish not to pray for him...Fine....I don't agree but I accept that...BUT by the same logic, you should have sympathy for her plight even if you don't agree with her "decision" to live in Gush Katif....I found you very guilty of what you seem to accuse her of....having no empathy for that which you disagree with....Herbert....where is your heart and head? and would you say this to her face or give her words of growth and encouragement...You should know that Gush Katif people also have feelings, limitations, and are some of the greatest Jews in the world...I suggest you go to where they are living now (have you visited them? to help?) and reconsider your attitude towards Jews that are suffering, as you suggest to the author of the article...even if you are right, and I believe you are 100% misguided, your method of delivery under the circumstances is borderline cruel.

Renana, everyone who moved to Gaza signed a declaration that they would move when required to by the government of Israel. The heartbreak and sorrow of the settlers leaving their homes was compounded many times over by their own attitudes of refusal. If everyone had left Gaza in the same spirit of goodwill toward the country that they showed when they moved in perhaps your neighbour's heart attack would have been prevented. Watching the televised account of the move I was convinced that the children of the settlers are being bred to dissatisfaction and hatred of the country and its government. I know that your generation will harbour resentment and ill-will forever. It's time for you to understand that you did a service for the country by leaving Gaza. My advice to you is to go forward in your life and live in the future. Resentment and hatred will poison you eventually.

... the very same soldiers who defended her life daily. That says just about all that needs to be said about her. While I respect and feel sympathy for some of the Gaza settlers, Ms. Marmelstein squandered my sympathy toward her by viciously attacking soldiers and those who tried to help her. Ms. Marmelstein -- the comparison between Azzam Azzam and you is stark. Whereas he rotted in an Egyptian prison for 8 long years, and yet reaches out and brings healing, your travail was to lose a home, but you received compensation and all sorts of assistance, and yet instead of focusing on rebuilding, you focus on hurting others. Frankly, you are irrelevant. It's a wonder that I even respond to htis.

If you pray or don't pray for Sharon, it's the same as when you prayed against disengagement. Nobody is listening.

Shlomo - The only "borderline cruel" behavior is Ms. Mermelstein declaring to the world that she, as an observant Jew, won't pray for an ailing fellow Jew. She may feel that way, and many of those from Gush Katif may feel that way, but, in the week that the PM is fighting for his life, she should keep it to herself and not, by publicly proclaiming her intent, align herself with the pulsa denura fanatics that have peppered this feedback board with their comments. If Ms. Mermelstein is shocked or hurt by the vitriol of comments against her (and there are many), then good - she should understand the pain that her comments inflict on others who are trying to pray for the recovery of a lion of Israel. She should understand the horrible timing of publishing such thoughts. Clearly, she would like others to think about withholding their prayers on behalf of the PM or she wouldn't say that she is doing so. Although she tempers her piece slightly, it is not enough to keep her from being lumped in with the likes of Iran's "President" and Pat Robertson. She doesn't have to pray that he will be PM again, but it is chilul HaShem to publicly declare that she won't pray for an ailing Jew, especially one who has saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of Jews. She can rant and rave against Sharon in the harshest of language for all I care - that is a political act (tasteless at this time, but still fair if she believes it), but once she brings disrepute upon observant Jews by suggesting that it is okay to withhold prayer from a fellow Jew in such a time of crisis, then she has presented herself as fair game to be subject to severe religious criticism. She should also thank HaShem that she is living in the State of Israel, that she has her whole future ahead of her in a vibrant country shaped and formed by giants like Mr. Sharon. Yes, she had a horrible displacement, but a horrible displacement is not justification to curse G-D's name by making others think twice about saying a refuah shleima.

Mr. Wollins - In your "challenge" to me, you didn't mention that you have a financial stake in your voluble position. I note from your website that "israelreporter.com is available under contract for a nominal monthly fee for exclusive license for global media outlets." Of course it is. You make some money off of pumping up the volume of the hysteria of Gush Katifniks like Ms. Mermelstein. How sad for you to manipulate a "child" like that. I note from your website, as well, that you have "lived in Israel for over 5 years [OH, MY!], and [have] focused on the relevant issues for nearly 9 years [WHAT A SCHOLAR!]" and that you even spent 100 days in Gush Katif "up to and including the deportation of the residents and the destruction of the communities." Gee, I bet that last part was very exciting for you. I hope you met your expectations of making some money off other people's tragedy. Your hundred days of pain really equates to their ordeal. Although I am quite happy that you recently made Aliyah and I am quite sure that you support Israel's right to exist as a Jewish State and a democracy governed by elected leaders who are charged with the difficult decisions of protecting Jews from anihilation, I would ask that you be a bit more humble in denouncing those that support Mr. Sharon, especially at this critical period of time when he is fighting for his life; that is, at least, until your 5 years of residency in Israel matches Arik Sharon's 77 years, until your 9 years of interest in the "relevant issues" matches Mr. Sharon's lifetime interest from the moment he could walk and talk and carry a gun, and, finally, until you have spent the amount of time that General Sharon has wearing the green uniform of the defenders of Israel. Please remember that without people like Ariel Sharon, Israel would not exist and the Jordanian flag would fly in Yerushalayim and Tel Aviv and that the entire area would be Judenrein except for the Naturei Karta and the Satmars. Please remember, as well, that the people of Gush Katif signed up for the job of creating facts on the ground in Gaza to enhance Israel's security position - they all signed legal documents acknowledging that they might have to leave if the Government requested it. They weren't driven out by Arabs and subject to a pogrom; they were relocated subject to the laws of their government that is trying to do its best to protect all Jews, not just the 9000 of Gush Katif. And you certainly weren't driven out - you just went there so you could get some clicks on your website under the Visa/MasterCard "donation" link. If that's not so, please remove the request for donations and stop charging your "nominal" fees to news outlets. I hope that your personal goal of "significant . . . media exposure regarding the issues and situation in Gush Katif, including CBS TV, ABC, MSNBC, Fox News, Sky News, World Net Daily, Israel National News, Reuters TV, BBC, AP, The Jewish Press, Kol Yisrael Radio, Israel National Radio, among numerous others" continues to be met, but that perhaps you daven at least once today (and give tzedakah for) the speedy and full recovery of Ariel ben Devorah and just a little less for your own financial well-being.

Just as I only read a fraction of these posts, I doubt anyone will read mine. But let me say this, Sharon is one of the greatest Jewish leaders in modern times, He is a true Jewish patriot who put his life on the line to save Israel adn the Jewish people from extermination and destruction. I ask, how many can claim that who post here? He is human, and thus makes human mistakes. Staying in Gaza created a problem, and leaving created anothe rproblem. This is the history of that area. Some wanted Israel to remain in the Gaza Strip too. Some say Israel should leave E. Jerusalem and the Golan. The jury is out as far as the Gaza withdrawal. It's done. An attitude like the author of this article shows a childlike mind, of which there are many in Israel. Israelis are not as sophisticated as some believe. On the surface they seem confident and sure of themselves, but that is only skin deep. Hopefully there are others there who can step in Sharon's shoes.

is what the author is- and hopefully she outgrows it- she gives a BAD name and image to good jews.

Sorry, in my earlier haste I 'transposed' some verses concerning Israel's right to the land which was given to the tribe of Judah (for those who don't believe Gaza is part of Israel.) The verses suggested (to prayerfully study) should have been ... 1. Judges 1:18-20 2. Joshua 15 (and pull out a map) 3. ... and Joshua 14:9-15 for those who are now ready to expel the Jews from Hebron I apologize for the mix-up earier (#55 with 'Joshua 49' ... I meant Joshua 15, but was thinking of Genesis 49 (prophecies of Judah). Best regards, www.alphanewsdaily.com www.theprophecies.com

How often have we heard the evacuees speak about not being shown any sympathy.... I'm truly sorry, but when I think of all the young boys who lost their lives defending your "right" to live in Gaza, a "right" most of them didn't believe in in the first place, I cannot feel any sympathy towards you nor any of the other mitnahlim for that matter....Sharon, however, a man I never really cared for , has finally over the last 5 years shown the courage to change his ways. For that he has recieved my full admiration and of course sympathy at his condition...I pray, just like 95% of Israel, for a speedy recovery.

Don't be sorry for not praying for our Prime Minister, because God doesn't listen to you anymore anyway, as we've seen when your prayers for not being evacuated from Gaza were to no avail. Instead it is me that is praying for Ariel Sharon, reinforced by a better recent record at being listened by God, as my prayers for you to be evacuated were listened indeed. I even explained in my prayers that I feel that it is not fair for me and my country to pay with my and its security, with my and its money for you to feel at home in Gaza. Now I pray again for Arik Shelanu, for the Man, for our benefactor that didn't finish his blessed job. And if not to me, there are enough good people, I know, to whom God is ready to listen for Arik's life and soul well-being.

Okay...so like so many of these people that think that God punished Sharon for giving up land, let me tell you what REALLY happened. God feels that Sharon's work is done, and now he has made way for Olmert who will give more settlements to the Palestinians in the West Bank and get rid of all the illegal settlements and reach an agreement, because that's what God REALLY wants because he told me. See? I can be a wacko pretending to know God's will, too!

I alwaysdisliked the so-called "religious" zionists... You only show I was right... All the worse to you and your kind!

I would not know where to start, except to state that you failed the challenge to call or email me, and instead attacked my personal integrity and reputation in a public forum. And, belittled my efforts to save Gush Katif down to pure financial motivation. I am very sorry for you, sir...very sorry. In defense of my reputation, I have 25 years of investment banking experience, and am able to make significant money consulting here in Israel. I have created and sat on the Boards of public companies, founded companies with billions in revenues (example upon request), and have appeared in virtually every business publication (WSJ/NYT etc etc) hundreds of times during the height of my investment banking career (prior to making aliyah). Before I moved to Gush Katif, I quit $100,000+ assignment which I had just secured (proof upon request), which is big money in Israel, to go down and fight for Gush Katif. 10 months later, I am trying to recover from personal debt undertaken to support the website (israelreporter.com) and the bus tours (savethegush.com)...to help defend my brothers....I took a big hit financially, sir. This fact should relieve your suspicions of my financial intentions. It is very clear that our main point of dispute is your attitude on Sharon and his status as "fellow Jew',a "lion",saved 1000s of lives etc. etc. Let's say I agree that once he was a hero...he transformed into a corrupt, cruel, terrorist-appeasing, left wing liar (proof of his many lies available upon request) that has presided over 1000+ terrorist killings (with a tepid reaction) and turned Gaza into the most dynamic terrorist center in the world, which will no doubt result in major loss of life here. I believe what he represents at this stage could result in the destruction of the State of Israel, and I wish him no pain, but I don't pray for his recovery...perhaps if I can find the "time" after my prayers for 1000s of terrorist victims (many of which are due to the lion's policies or lack of strategy) as well as the 9000 evacuees from Gush...maybe after that...please stick to the issues, and refrain from personal assault, particularly when you are unaware of the facts on the ground. My love for the Jewish people is well-documented, and my fight for Gush Katif, and now a section of Jewish settlement in Chevron is well-known. What have you done lately, my friend? with blessings Shlomo

What? Jury is "out to lunch" on results of withdrawal of Gaza, perhaps....but the verdict has been rendered to any objective analyst: (1) Over 150 Kassam missiles have been fired out of the "disengaged" Gaza in last 3 months; (2) Gaza has turned into the most dynamic terrorist center on the planet-al Qaeda has established a cell there,and the level of smuggling from Egypt has increased 4x to 10x depending on weapon class; (3) IDF has had to "re-enter" Gaza from the skies and with artillary; (4) all of the former settlements have NOT been repopulated by the poor, ancient, downtrodden "palestinians", but have been turned into TERRORIST TRAINING CAMPS; (5) Hamas has taken over the Strip, socially and politically, and they are sworn to the total destruction of the state (wave goodbye to any hope for moderate "palestinians" if they even exist, and (6) all the major synagogues were burnt and desecrated. That's just the beginning...the jury is not still out....every security claim made about the "disengagement" has proven false. What disengagement is in its essence is avoidance of the inevitable conflict of cultures here, a signpost to terrorism to go forward to eliminate Israel, and a "disengagement" from sanity. All this not even referring to great cruelty and cover-up of horrible state of 9000 evacuees (1700 families), which should annoy even supporters of the withdrawal...what did they do to deserve punishment? And why is everyone so ready to jump down the throat of Gush Katifers, they are going through a private hell....can't we feel their pain and leave our stuff behind....

The Zohar in parshat Nasso (and it is brought in halacha-Jewish law)...that it is not appropriate to pray for someone that you do not feel positive feelings for....the idea of turning the other cheek and non-requested forgiveness (sharon never even asked for forgiveness from those whose life he recklessly and needlessly destroyed)....the teaching continues to say that praying for someone that you don't have good feelings for is dangerous both from the person praying and the person being prayed for. Also, our Rabbis are very careful that we should not pray with dishonesty and improper motivations. So, if someone, particularly a growing young person who was thrown out of their homes 5 months ago, feels negative or more towards sharon, I think that is easily understandable....And therefore, to pray for sharon from that position, is dishonest, and not likely to have any effect in the Heavens. Please, if someone responds to this, do not attack our Sages, the Zohar, or this teaching...have respect in disagreement, particularly considering these are not my words or thoughts, I am communicating an ancient Jewish teaching. Judaism is not american democracy or christian values. By the same token, those who feel love and desire for Sharon's well-being, should pray and may Hashem's will be done.

Shlomo - You call Ariel Sharon a "left wing liar" and a "cruel" terrorist-appeaser. I am not going to call you because there is no point - you are set in your position and, by your mischaracterization of the PM, I don't think any dialogue with you would be fruitful. I simply don't agree with you and believe you are not seeing the forest for the trees. Of course I would love to have those Palestinians who hate Jews and want to destroy Israel leave Judea, Samaria and Gaza. Frankly, I would like to see Jew-haters leave the entire Mid-East. But, that's not going to happen short of Israel dropping bombs on civilian centers. And, in the real world, Israel can't do that in the same way that the United States can't simply drop a nuclear bomb on Iran. Mr. Sharon is a tough pragmatist. He is far from left-leaning and he is far from having a motivation to destroy the State of Israel or Jewish life. Short of murdering all of the non-Jews in the region, we cannot have the Muslimrein area that you would like. Would you rather have Baruch Goldstein or Meir Kahane running the country? If so, you might as well call the country Masada. Do you want to start emulating Arab and Persian countries' leadership? In short, as I said, Ms. Mermelstein does not have to pray for Mr. Sharon if she does not have proper kavanah to do so, but she is a horrible person for publishing those views to the world at this time. Take a look again at the headline of her article - it says -We warned PM whoever messes with Land of Israel pays price". That is patently offensive - it presumes to speak for G-D; she is no Prophetess; that, together with what amounts to a call not to pray for Mr. Sharon, makes me believe that she has abandoned Jewish values in pursuit of her narrow interests of the trees instead of the forest. Maybe, to use her twisted logic, HaShem is punishing her and the Gush Katifniks for their incredible hubris and malignment of Sharon. Maybe HaShem is saying that whoever messes with Mr. Sharon and the larger interest of protecting the majority of Jews in the region will receive the wrath of G-D by being evicted from their homes. I am sure you would not want some simple-minded columnist from Tel Aviv writing such a position in a newspaper viewed by millions. I am sure you would be as angry with them as I am at Ms. Mermelstein. Perhaps what you should do Shlomo is join the army full time and protect Chevron and Tel Aviv and Beersheva - perhaps if you become a full-time soldier, putting your life on the line every day and helping to defend the entire State, not just your constituency, then I will reconsider your evaluation of the situation. Finally, I see in your response to another poster asking "why is everyone so ready to jump down the throat of Gush Katifers"? Well, Shlomo, it is because we saw them act like Hamas acolytes and throw acid and paint and rocks on Jewish boys and girls of the IDF and the Jewish people support the IDF over such types of people; it is because of Pulsa Denura fanatics (who you have not denounced in your responses to me) behaving like the witches from Shakespeare's Macbeth; and it is because of Ms. Mermelstein behaving like a televangelist and telling us all that G-D did this for the Gush Katifniks (rather than saying what a miracle it is that G-D let an obese old man live just long enough to withdraw from Gaza and set up a framework for the majority of Israelis to live in some better form of security.

Shlomo - You said that "The Zohar in parshat Nasso (and it is brought in halacha-Jewish law)...that it is not appropriate to pray for someone that you do not feel positive feelings for." OK. What are the halochos of urging other people NOT to pray for for someon that they do not have positive feelings for"? I think that the Chofetz Chaim may provide you with an answer to this question and to the question of whether it is proper to slander a Hero of Israel as "a corrupt, cruel, terrorist-appeasing, left wing liar" (with or without so-called "proof"). And please, if you respond to this, do not attack our great Sage, OBM, the Chofetz Chaim.

To Renana and Shlomo and the others who say that the Gaza withdrawal is a huge mistake, read the following article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2006/01/10/do1003.xml&sSheet=/portal/2006/01/10/ixportal.html Aparantly, the Pali's will all kill each other within the year and you can move back with room to spare. This is tactical brilliance.

I appreciate your response.. "a horrible person" for publicly calling for people not to pray for Sharon...first of all, she did not say that...and knowing people from Gush slightly better than most, she would likely not try to distract people who want to pray for him... "framework for security" ...and what I will ask you is that framework? the gaza withdrawal as I outlined in prior comment is dismal failure from security standpoint, as warned by every military expert (including chief of staff that was prematurely retired months before withdrawal from Gaza)...you can read his repeated and numerous (on web) comments both to media and Knesset, that post withdrawal, that Gaza would revert to Hamastan (80% completed) and West Bank would become missile launching pads (30-40% completed)....I assume that we would both defer to the head of the army of Israel (current, unlike sharon's service which is quite dated---he has been in politics a long time). And it is moot, all he warned (and worse) in Gaza has occurred...we have no control of southern border since EU monitors ran for lives last week...have you been to funerals of Yossi Shok, or Matat, or Kineret, and numerous others in last few months? What security framework are you referring to? any framework requires an entity that is willing/able to make and fulfill agreements, and the PA is in state of total chaos (today's polls hamas nearly equal to PA leaders--so much for Islamic democracy)...all democracy does to these types is legitimize terror outfits...by the way...did you know that Dr. Abbas (moderate head of PA...lol) received his doctorate for a thesis based on Holocaust denial? so I know that alot of our dispute is the wide gap in assessment...you think sharon gave us a security framework....military experts believe sharon has thrown major level fuel on the Hamas revolution in PA...you think we are safer here? or close to peace? So, it is my love for 5.2 million Jews (of which I am one) that causes me to be so strict about sharon, his ideology, and kadima...which is as corrupt as the day is long...it is not sharon, it is what he started and what he represents, that I believe has placed Israel in unprecedented mortal peril....not to even consider that sharon should have not even paid ANY attention to Gaza situation in light of true threat to Israel's existence....Iran...which has passed point of return...and finally...I am 45 years old, and when I made aliyah, I was not allowed to enter IDF as soldier due to age and lower back curvature (from youth)...but I think all that live in Israel...ride buses, and go to Chevron and Gaza and Shomron to show support, are clearly risking their lives to simply travel here.....enough said...but do you really think calling her "a horrible person" was correct and warranted...given her age, circumstances, and what we are dealing with here...and btw...today the yassamnik riot police shot teargas into home with residents of 3 year old settlement in middle of Gush Etzion to force them to allow bulldozer to destroy new home...this new home was built by young man for his new wife..he is a CC in the IDF-a Jewish house on Jewish JNF land...if this does not indicate that Israeli policies are backwards....expelling settlers and rewarding terrorists...even if you feel that a real war against the terrorists here is not practical, we sure don't have to give them land, money, electricity, and military amnesty on any effective scale....blessings Shlomo...p.s. I love Chofetz Chaim

Herbert...one last point...are you really comfortable with the unbalanced nature of your last remarks and I quote you: " I see in your response to another poster asking "why is everyone so ready to jump down the throat of Gush Katifers"? Well, Shlomo, it is because we saw them act like Hamas acolytes and throw acid and paint and rocks on Jewish boys and girls of the IDF and the Jewish people support the IDF over such types of people; it is because of Pulsa Denura fanatics (who you have not denounced in your responses to me) behaving like the witches from Shakespeare's Macbeth; and it is because of Ms. Mermelstein behaving like a televangelist" end Herbert's wisdom and lashon hara..now back to my comments: Really, Herbert! What % of the 9,000 people used any violence at all...I would guess 1%...and what injuries resulted...almost nothing..to characterize a population by its extreme is not honest communication..and to call them HAMAS is a simply anti-semitic statement...sorry Herbert...it is...HAMAS btw does not throw paint at you...they slit your throat, blow up your bus until your flesh is singed, or blow themselves up in your children's pizza parlor or mall...the comparision is delusional...and cruel language...again...there you go Herbert...Pulsa Denura (which means whip of fire in Aramaic) was done by 20 (read that # out loud) people, most of which don't live in Gush Katif (if not all)....even if they all lived in GK, that would be (help me with the math Herbert)...ouch...about 0.2% of the population..if you would research....you would see the population of Gush Katif opposed such manuevers..and last why compare a Jewish girl in stress (even if as it seems you believe she should be stressed) to a non-jewish preacher? Remember Herbert..I was there...all "you saw" was what the TV wanted you to see....did you see the scenes of Nezter Chazani dancing and crying with soldiers arm-in-arm? So...either you are ignorant of the facts or purposefully generalizing (and slandering 100% against Chofetz Chaim who explains slandering group is nearly impossible to do teshuva) a very heroic and distressed Jewish population....and to take 0.2% or 1.0% and make it the whole population and then attach Hamas adjectives...is border-line anti-semitic...I believe I understand your comments now in a greater light...your are right...sharon is your man...let's review this in 5 years...if Israel can survive that long in face of multi-front terrorist assault (Gaza - south; West Bank-central; North-Hizbullah-with 9,000 katushyas aimed at us--also ignored by your hero sharon), not to mention Iran...The roadmap is nothing but a U.S.-sponsored death map for our holy, but tiny and fragile state...and you are on the program...Herbert...sharon and bush need (and have) many like you to support this "security of framework"...how naive, sophmoric, and negligent can it be to hold to or even suggest such a point of view...Herbert....go study the facts and situation here..and then our discussions would be of how do we survive? and not how to lionize the once-hero's policies of terrorist appeasement par excellance..

. . . because you say so. I am not slandering Gush Katifniks, but Ms. Marmelstein is by claiming that HaShem is punishing Ariel Sharon for the withdrawal from Gaza. This makes her and those who support her seem like ignorant fanatics. It brings shame on them and it completely destroys any sympathy that Israelis may have towards the plight of Gush Katifniks. It is not, by the way, anti-semitic to say that someone who attacks an Israeli soldier (by whatever means) is acting like a Hamas animal. Just as it is not necessarily anti-semitic for a Houston Wall-Streeter to spew hatred about the elected Jewish leader of the Jews (although, you come close to the statements of the "President" of Iran whose very similar hatred for Sharon is most definitely anti-semitic). To even use that argument shows the moral bankruptcy that you must sink to in order to push your agenda that Ariel Sharon is somehow a leftist freak whose goal in life is clearly to destroy the Jewish people and make it easy for Arabs to kill Jews. In any event, you live in a democracy where the majority of voters are not going to select Moshe Feiglin as the Prime Minister of Israel - so, I guess, according to you, Israel is full of people who are anti-semitic and want to commit suicide and have their children destroyed. Your position is extreme and very narrow-focused and any merits your position may have are lost to rational people by your virulent and scandalous attack on Sharon. How can I even attempt to agree with your arguments on Gaza and Judea and Samaria, many of which are noteworthy, if you appear to me as a raving lunatic who is willing to slander those that most people see as Defenders of Israel? The chicken-hawk nature of your attack makes people shut themselves off to any good thing you may have to say. Your arguments just serve to push people closer to Peretz and Peres - is that your desire? According to you, it is your way or destruction, even though most other Israelis who have served in the IDF (or, if they were unable to do so due to age or medical condition, served in an alternate service capacity to the State) don't seem to see it your way. By the way, aside from saying that the Pulsa Denura crazies only represent 1% of those who support the Gush Katifniks, you didn't clearly denounce their actions. Do you support them? Is this any way for Jews to behave?

Shlomo - Read the article in Ynet about Arab Knesset Member Azmi Bishara. Apparently, you are soulmates - both of you believe Ariel Sharon is a criminal.

Herbert....comparing me to this arab traitor because both of us have distaste for Sharon is warped/unfair (as common for you) comparison on many levels. But on the simple level, bishara dislikes sharon for "crimes against arabs", whereas my remarks were directed at his "crimes against his own people", which is my viewpoint on the destruction of Jewish Gaza (6th time in 1900 years of Jewish history) which only served to increase Hamas inside the PA, bring al-qaeda from Egypt into Gaza (according to testimony in Knesset and widely-reported), and making a mockery of "compensation" for the evacuees (see report reports-not media spin-on massive failure to provide community solutions or to make payments). So is the comparison fair Herbert? Bishara, may his name be erased, would view the "disengagement" as YOU SEEM TO as Sharon's greatest hour...so in truth I disagree with Bishara's opinion entirely (as I approve of the earlier Sharon that fought bravely against our enemies), whereas you and Bishara are IN TOTAL AGREEMENT as you both think the disengagement was Sharon doing great things.. Herbert & Bishara are one..