One team takes the field, agrees to play by league rules, and welcomes all opponents who wish to play in good faith. The other teams all refuse to acknowledge that the first team is on the field at all, hurls trash and invective at it from the stands, and then get upset when the first team responds in kind. Why this moron is given a weekly forum in this newspaper is beyond me.

Ray Hanania's article under the same title hit's the proverbial nail on the head in my opinion. In a world gone crazy with violence; how do we decide who's right and who's wrong. The soccer players and politicians ("leaders") should be ashamed of themselves. Most of all the so-called "leaders" since it is their constituents that are paying the price with their lives. Zidane and Materazzi are highly over paid spoilt brats with nothing but their own personal agendas...hey, wait a minute...that sounds just like the political leadership I've been moaning about...

You claim that our side was provoked the same way that their side was provoked. I ask you to think back to a year ago. Which side made a positive move. A move in the RIGHT direction? Obviously I am talking of the pullout from Gaza. Was this a move of provocation? Did we deserve to get barraged with Qassams daily? Did we bring THAT upon ourselves by provocation? And what did we do??? We held our breath in the hopes that it would stop. And when it did not we could have easily reconquered that litte strip of land (soon to be wasteland). But we didn't. We showed RESTRAINT and fired occassional shells into strategic areas. They used THAT as an excuse to kidnap Gilad. Are we to continue to show restraint, Ray?? And when the Hizbullah murders eight of our boys and takes another two, what you expect us to do then??? Shall we say to the Hizbullah " Please give them back, we are asking nicely.."..?? I don't think so. You are to blinded by your aspirations to be the worlds best "humanitarian" to see who who really has been provoked and who really has provoked. In fact it is obvious that the arab (christian and sunnite) populations of Lebanon and Israel understand completely why we have acted in this manner. So stop trivializing our agony by comparing our situation to a soccer match. I am as much a humanitarian as anyone but on the other hand ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

dear sir, i would just like to state that the Palestinians have been taking their cases to the international community for decades now!! in response to all the attacks, plus asking Israel to go back to the 1967 borders and have only started doing the (Zidane) as its called now when all the un resolutions have been vetoed and ignored like we arabs do not have a say or are not human like ah its okay if a dozen arabs get slaughtered compared to one israeli...which is a chilling reminder to how jews were treated under the nazi regime...i would like to say that am not supporting violance, but israel has to agree, accept AND ACT! on the un resolution that was agreed on, that the lands taken after 1967 war should be given back to its rightfull owners! then people shouldnt have an excuse to attack or do anything you have noticed that we have radicals/nutcases in the arab world that want israel to keep aggressing the terrerising the palestinans so they have justification to commit crimes and just annoyingly keep ruining what people try to build. What if israel acts, pulls out and lets palestine be? what would happen?

The analogy is flawed on 2 counts. First, rhetoric != violence. Israel ALLOWS hate speech to be spewed against it everyday by so called holy men. The Zhidane reaction would be to fire bomb the mosques everytime some mullah talks about destroying Israel, and spread radioactive dust on the crowds who dance around in masks and fire rifle in the air. Second, there are no impartial refs in International Relations. Going to the UN is like asking the fans in the stand for rulings - right and wrong doesn't matter, it only depends on who has more fans present. Violence is a terrible course of action, but what is left for Israel? Short of killing itself, what else could it do?

It's a great analogy, Ray. But maybe you read it wrong. It's something you do pretty regularly. One way to read this is that, instead of focusing on what really mattered, Zidane let pride upset him. Yeah, that famous Arab pride that lets a small thing become a major setback to a much more important achievement. Zidane's legacy and reputation is an embarassment. Another way to read it - and the way everyone else observing reads it - is that Zidane is a sore loser. And, like the Pals, there is an attempt to hide that behind a convenient but fake excuse. Zidane was not really responding to an insult. This wasn't the first time he's heard this kind of smack talk. He was simply frustrated that he lost and wanted to lash out. he was a sore loser. The insult gave him cover and justification. That is the real analogy. Pals lost the struggle to defeat the Israelis but can't show class and dignity. They'd rather pick fights and perform petty acts that achieve nothing and cause pain to others. And the world is giving them a red-card for bad behavior.

or erased by Ynet staff. Does Ynet staff wants that people really participated in discussion? In my previous talkback I asked Ray that if he is really interested in promoting peace and reconsolidation, he should start to publish his articles in Arabs press - in the same format – bitwise compatible and without any tricks. And I asked, as a proof, to send me the link to verify this. Without this I don’t believe in his intention to promote peace. Or this guy simply doesn’t have balls at all, so it doesn’t matter what he is saying; this is just irrelevant - he cannot deliver anything. But my comments were ignored or rejected by anonymous censor.

Israel withdrew every last Israeli from Gaza, & was making plans to pull back from much of the WB. Any sane person would have said, "let's see, now we can prove that the occupation is the only reason for the violence, and that ought to be enough to make the international community see things from our viewpoint", right? But HAMAS / etc. decided instead to shoot more than 1000 rockets at Israeli towns, then invaded Israel and kidnapped a soldier to hold as a hostage. The PA backed these actions. Your Gaza buddies can't cope with an Israel-free Gaza, can they? Then their lives have no meaning. They just HAD to bring Israel back. A katyusha rocket isn't an insult to someone's mother, Ray. You're trivializing deliberate terrorist attacks on civilians, and the deliberate violation of a line that the Palestinians were supposedly trying to establish as an international border. Waste of a column.

Wanis, you asked what if Israel pulled out and let the Palestinians be. They did. And the Palestinians in Gaza launched rockets on average of 4 times a day over the past year. Israel pulled out of Lebanon and Hizb attacked them for the past 6 years. It isn't about occupation. The world now knows that that is a lie. It's always been about one thing: kill the Jew. The Palestinians elected a government that is honest: Hamas says it wants to kill Jews and overthrow Israel and they put their efforts into it. Do you think Israel will sit and wait for yet another Arab attack? 1300 years of that have taught us a lesson. Apparently Arabs need to learn a lesson too: hitting someone makes them hit back. Or maybe they don't wait to be hit. Forget the blame placing. So what if - as you imagine - it's all Israel's fault. What do you want your children's legacy to be? Because right now, you are only planning for more destruction and waste. if you choose war, then accept the consequences. It's that simple. The low-level war of the past 5 years has finally reached a turning point and is out in the open where it should be. You guys are going to lose again except this time the rest of the world will blame you, not Israel.

1) Israel did pull out of Gaza to the so-called '67 line and look what happened... a rain of Kassams into sovereign Israel. 2) Israel completely pulled out of Lebanon and look what's happening... terrorists are, with no provocation, sending missiles into Israel propper. 3) Israel states its target of aggression very clearly: terrorists. The reason why civilians also get killed is because they are used as human shields, or they actively support terrorists logistically by storing and supplying ammo (in their homes), throwing rocks and molotovs at Israeli soldiers, and providing transportation to Kassam launching areas (many times in backyards). Nobody can deny that civilians are being killed on both sides, and that it's a tragedy, but you must stop looking purely at the numbers of casualties and start looking deeper into this issue. You'll find that the constant barrage of Kassams into Israel and now Katyushas from Lebanon, completely unjustified after both pullouts, proves that the Palestinian/Lebanese opposition is the aggressor and Israel is defending its territory. Israel wants an end to the violence, but it has no alternative but to fight back, as only the aggressor has the power to end this conflict.

The first match is called Palestinian Independence - a game that both teams should enjoy as both teams 2. Islamic Revolution - a war that the world must fight. If Israel is left to fight it alne it will have no choice but to fight as hard, as fast and as viciously as it can. It will cease to exist if it does not win. Ray, I support your goal for Palestinian Independence using peaceful means, but the Palestinians must show that most of them do not support the Islamic Revolution. Voting for Hammas is hardly assuring.

Thanks #8 for your half intelligent and half whatever comments :) Once my columns are posted on YnetNews, I send them to every Arab Newspaper in the United States and in the Middle East. Few if any are republished. The questions isn't whether I am interested in promoting peace and reconcilliation, but rather whether you are interested in peace and reconcilliation. Maybe the analogy of Israel and Zidane (a real irony in that he is Arab) is too close and hurts a bit too much. Hamas commits a crime and Israel responds with an even greater crime, collective punishment of an entire people in Gaza. Shame on that. Hezbollah crosses the border and attacks soldiers (not civilians) and Israel responds by reaching over Hezbollah and attacking civilian targets and killing scores of civilians. Shame on that, too. What Hamas and Hezbollah have done is wrong. But what Israel is doing is wrong, too. As to #9 and #4, your namecalling is what is sophmoric. Obviously, from the emotional attacks I sustain, my words must ring a chord :) Thanks for writing Ray Hanania www.hanania.com

Ray - ever notice what happens when a baseball player gets into an argument or fight? Usually the first thing you see is that player's Manager and teammates rush out and pull that player from trouble. They stand in front of him to protect him, and they also hold him back from making matters worse for himself. The Palestinian leaders could have stood in front of those launching rockets and held them back from doing what they were doing. But instead they stood behind them and cheered for more fighting, more like the crowd in the stands then their teamates and manager. Lebanon is more of the same. The Lebanese government agreed to stop those Hizballah "players" from figthing, but when they started, well, they pleaded incompetence. Unfortunately the whole thing has now exploded into a full-fledged fight and even the fans in the seats are involved.

I really enjoyed reading your analogy piece. I am not an expert in the Middle East conflicts and of the region's various religious beliefs, however, for peace and the future of the middle east countries, why is so hard for all government to settle on the issues? The Israel and its people are not going to vanish and based on Google Earth and current technology...it looks like there's enough land in the Middle East for all countries. The one little piece of land that every government seems to want due to the "birth place for "god" ...wouldn't you think that "all" god would want everyone to "share", and to for give and forget??? hmm? As you've written...cool off and "let world opinion mete out the justice."

...from the BBC news... "On Thursday, the United States vetoed a UN resolution calling on Israel to halt its military operations in Gaza. Washington's UN ambassador, John Bolton, said the resolution laid disproportionate blame on Israel for the current crisis." It's like pouring more oil (excuse the pund) into an already exploded and buring oil well!! duh!???

Ray - Since you are interested in a dialogue, might I respond to your point about the irony of Zidane being Arab. Actually, in my comments, I say that this isn't ironic at all but exactly the point. Zidane's Arab pride and the self-inflicted damage it causes is a microcosm of the Middle East's problems. It's just unacceptable and the world is finally seeing what Israel sees and is red-carding it. Now, what are we going to do. Let's get real. No blame placing. Start with the Palestinians (put aside the Iran/US proxy battle being fought by Hizb/Israel) There was a period where Palestinian/Israeli partnership was possible. The recent Intifada scuttled that. Today, Israel wants to wash its hands of Palestinians and move on. Hamas wants to kill Israelis. What is the compromise? We let them kill half of the Israelis? Seriously - what do you do with a neighbor that wants to kill you? Next we have two othe rissues - the land and the refugees. The land is actually easy and the solutions are straightforward (barring the Temple Mount). The harder part is the refugees. The most ethical solution is to let true refugees come home or compensate them. Nevermind that no other country today is being asked to do this when faced with the exact same problem (Germany/Czech, Russia/Poland, Pkashmir, China/Tibet, Old Yugoslavia). However, we need to be honest about what constitutes a refugee. Because the UN put folks in refugee camps who weren't fleeing - they already lived in that area. So we need better definitions. We also know that a lot of folks currently labeled Palestinians were migrants who moved into Israel and weren't born there. They and their kids don't count. Sorry - they are Egyptian, yemenite, Jordanian, Syrian - whatever. They were not natives. Next, we need to check the refugee's original villages. Anyone who lived in the West Bank - well, go there. No issue for Israel - it'll be Palestinian. No need for compensation. See, the definition is taking shape - Israell need only concern itself with those who live in Gaza, the West Bank or Lebanon but came from towns inside terrirotial Israel. They have to show residency that went back 4 generations (to prove non-migrant status). The UNWRA probably can help. How many residents of West Bank towns ended up in refugee camps? Quite a lot I suspect. Anyway, I'm sure that a formula can be worked out. A lot of mythmaking on both sides will have to be unwound. Next we come to compensate the Jews who were forced to flee the Arab countries. Same thing - confirm that they lived there and weren't migrants and then compensate them or let them move back - their choice. Yes, that has to be part of the arrangement as well for this to be ethical. I mean, we do want to be ethical, correct? So you figure, the refugee compensation issues basically net out. The issue is really - where do the Palestinian refugees live. Why, in Palestine. Let a bunch come to Israel as well, as long as they can prove that they originated in those area. Now, what happens with, say, 1 million poor Palestinians in the expensive land of Israel? Nothing good. Poverty and crime. Maybe they decide to move because poor in Israel is rich anywhere else in the Arab world. Maybe they become productive members of society. But why does Israel or the world owe them anything? They chose to leave (sorry, but I don't buy the myth that Israel drove them out). They made a bad choice. But they made it, not Israel.

"What Hamas and Hezbollah have done is wrong. But what Israel is doing is wrong, too. " If it were only so simple... But you don't understand what it is like to be a jew and an israeli. And you don't understand what it is like to be a Palestinian or a Hizbullon. You may claim to be Palestinian, but trust me, you are far from it. You see we jews are not your typical group, ang god knows that either are they. We've been through too much, and because of that, you kidnap one of our boys, we start seeing RED. I told you before (though you probably didn't read it or acknowledge it) that kidnapping a soldier completely changes the entire equation. In fact, ironically it would have been better for them if they would have killed them (god forbid). You see jews hold human life in the highest regard. I cannot say the same about them. I have to agree that it IS utterly sophomoric of you to try and symplify what is going on here to a soccer match. What is that?? Do YOU actually believe that?? OK so who is Zidane and who is Matarazzi? BUT WAIT A MINUTE.... WHO IS IRAN and WHO IS SYRIA??? "It is wrong".... And have you ever heard of an army distributing flyers to neighborhoods and villages with warnings before they attack?? I have never heard of another army which does that. Do we target innocent civilians? Only the "innocent civilians" who protect the bastards. And I would still like an answer as to wether or not you believe that the withdrawal from Gaza was an act of provocation. What positive steps have the palestinians made lately? And not just words. It is easy to proclaim a cease-fire when you are not actually doing anything to prevent the rockets from being fired. In any case the fact that you neglect the issue of Iran and Syria just proves my point that you are oversimplifying a complicated situation. You once called me an inspiration Ray, you remember that? My desire for peace is still alive....but .... "Prick us, shall we not bleed? ...Wrong us, shall we not revenge?"...

Ray had people like me banned from commenting on his stupid articles. Nice going Ynet. I thought this was an Israeli website not a Plo site.

Never, never in history "International community" didn't press arabs to stop the violence. The best we could hear was "to stop the violence on both sides" in cases when there was unprovoked agression against Israel. I agree that whether international community had fair judgment pointing fingure and issuing pressure on agressor there could be less violence and Israel - Palestenian conflict was probably over. Now we have the opposite: whatever happens - it is Israel to blame. Hey, International Community! If you are unable to enforce justice, at lest give the right side to win and there will be peace. And it is not so difficult to define who is right and who is wrong. When there is pause in violence (and there were a lot of times) - the first who performs acts of violence and agression is an agressor. Just that simple. Guess who? Haim

|What if israel acts, pulls out and lets palestine be? what would happen?" Wanis, we don't need to ask. We know the answer. Israel has pulled its troops from Lebanon and the result is continued Katyusha strikes, kidnapping going and going on whenever Hisballa finds it conveniet. We pulled out of Gaza and the result was Kassms on our southen cities. Come on, I believe there are paletenians and lebanees that would accept peace with Israel on some conditions (76 borders, etc.), but the are neve in power. The fact is that your democratic choice is for those that never recognized Israel existance and will do all possible to break peace as for them it is death. Wanis, I with you and people like you will unite with our left wing, but not as it workign now - both are blaming Israel in all troubles. Let's palestenian left struggle for peace against Palestenian extrimeists while Israely with Israelis. Help each other and ... god help you.

I see your points. Bute never say never as times will change...and it has started! Does one "always" have to win or to be right? Pointing fingers will never solve the issues. Children do this but in the end, they forgive each other and/or forget almost by the next day! I know the issue is more complex than how my response is noting, but it does NOT have to be complex to have peace if one really wants it. If not for your generation, what about the next, or the next? ... wouldn't you want your generation to be the known as "the" generation that started the peace process and less the killing of civilians ... for "both" sides? Would this not be considered a "win" or the "right" thing to do in the end??

Let's put it in practical terms from wishful thinking to reality. Not just what we want to happen, but also how can it happen. Yes, peace is the goal and let both people, pals and ils have peace and enjoy its frutes. The question is "how can it happen and what should be done". Just as in any state, the justice will be never done if there is no enforcement rules and powers, in international affairs the justice should have the means to be done. As long as intenational community is the the field of interests where majority establishs their rules of the game it is useless to serve the peace, but just making arab-israely conflict endless. E.g., suppose fantastic scenario: UN is "putting fingure" on Hisbolla and suggests Lebanon to disarm it and keep far from IL borders. Suppose Lebanon government is unable to implement and asks for international help. Now iternational forces are deployed in Shouth Lebanon, and enforce the implementation. Don't you think there will be peace in the region? This requires from international community to be fair and set simple rules: 1. Agression is not justified by any goal. 2. Terrorism, targeting civilians is unacceptable and not justified by any goal. 3. Anybody breaking thes rules is the subject of international prosecution including military actions, if necessary. Not just talk, but also act for peace . Do you see the point? As long as it doesn't happen IL not just has a right, but also must defend itself.

Trying to negotiate with Hamas and Hezbollah, is like trying to negotiate with the Nazis, it can't be done. They seek to eliminate Jews, just as Hitler did, and the Jews will never again walk into the gas chambers! Don't you get it , they don't want peace. They have Gaza, have they tried to enhance their society? No! All they want are weapons, to kill. Pull your head out of the sand!

hundreds of rockets were landing on Honolulu? Should us mainlanders just let it go? In the name of peace? Of course not. Neither should Israel have to tolerate being bombed. John Bolton is the best thing to happen to that corrupt entity, the UN!!!

I'd just like to comment on you saying "In the arab world No one is allowed to insult our woman more than we do"....Mr. Hanania I'd like to tell you that insulting our woman is neither a part of our religion nor a part of our culture. It happens that one hear about cases of disrespect to the woman in the arab world. Anyway it remains an odd and criticized act by most of the people here. I wish you pay a visit to the middle east so you can learn more about how things run here. You cannot build assumptions based on short-term visits and biased media.....

You see the problem in extreme situations (involving life and death) is that you cannot be friend with all sides. By being centered in your opinions, you seem friendly to both sides at first but soon you will inevitably become hated by both sides. The situation today is becoming criticaly extreme and everyone has to think which sides he wanna be on. You acknowledge it yourself mentionning a few times the "loyalty" fatcor in the conflict. So do you choose to be part of the Hamas-Hezbollah-Syria-Iran side or the Israeli-American side. I am not a jew. I am a european that came to work in Israel without any prior knowledge (nor loyalty) in this conflict, but if it comes to take side, I am 100% for Israel and America for I know that freedom (of speech, press, ...) is better than the islamo-fascist rules of Hamas and so on. The west is far from perfect but it offers more than Islam for us humans in the world of 2006.

But in all honesty, a professional athlete who can’t take a little name-calling is probably the bigger loser, even if the provocation came from the other side. hahaha wow..thats very true..Hezbollah captured 2 Israeli Soldiers.." a little name calling"..Israel went for an all out war.."the headbutt"..so tell me again..who's the loser?