"Gaza, itself, the latest phase, began on June 24. It was when Israel abducted two Gaza civilians, a doctor and his brother. We don’t know their names. You don’t know the names of victims. They were taken to Israel, presumably, and nobody knows their fate. The next day, something happened, which we do know about, a lot. ‘Militants’ in Gaza, probably Islamic Jihad, abducted an Israeli soldier across the border. That’s Corporal Gilad Shalit. And that’s well known; first abduction is not. Then followed the escalation of Israeli attacks on Gaza, which I don’t have to repeat. It’s reported on adequately.The next stage was Hezbollah’s abduction of two Israeli soldiers, they say on the border. Their official reason for this is that they are aiming for prisoner release. There are a few, nobody knows how many. Officially, there are three Lebanese prisoners in Israel. There’s allegedly a couple hundred people missing. Who knows where they are?" -Chomsky

mutual destruction in 20 years? Anybody ever thinks about political solutions?

A LONG TIME AGO IF THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT JUST TRADED THE 3 LEBANESE PRISONERS FOR THE 2 SOLDIERS... BUT THAT'S NOT THE POINT OF THIS INVASION, AND IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE HIZBULLAH IS THE TARGET EITHER....LEBANON IS THE TARGET....THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT WANTS TO DESTROY LEBANON...THAT'S ALL!!

Despite bitter lessons from the past, Israel's political and military leaders' brains are glued to the notion that, whatever they have a right to do, they have a right to overdo, to the point where they lose what international support they had when they began their retaliatory measures.

Israel abducted two Gaza civilians, a doctor and his brother.We don’t know their names. You don’t know the names of victims. Tell us the names, then... Go marching "Free Samir Quntar" Nik Telavivian.

What nonsense! If Israel wanted to destroy Lebanon completely it would have done so long ago. If only it was a simple as thing as trading 2 for 3. Honestly, it will never end there will it?

You got the name wrong . It's Major General Chomsky head of Fifth Column Propaganda Forces

Just heard from the CNN-correspondent in Beirut: Israeli warplanes pounding Beirut. The libanese army firing at the warplanes. NOW: Israel has warned the libanese army not to shoot at israeli planes!! ARE THE ISRAELI MENTALLY INSANE??? They destruct the infastucture of a whole country as revenge for some border incidents and forbid any resistance?? As I wrote before: Headshrinkers of the world, unite and come to Israel - a liftime-job is guaranted!!!

It's impractical to have dialogue with a group whose goal is to destroy Israel. what compromise would you propose?

Between the world's most famous self-hating Jew and a German I really don't think we're going to get anywhere near the truth. And it is of no surprise that you are not mourning the loss of innocent Jewish lives. No surprise whatsoever.

This is all thanks to the lebanease goverment. The goverment didnt carry out the UN decision to take authority over all its sovereign(the decision was made LONG ago.) The lebanon goverment allowed the Hizbullah to sit at the border, and gain power and war materials, in order to commit terror in israel. The hizullah shot tens of misslies at israeli cities and villages before it kidnapped the two soldiers, also it killed while kidnapping 13 addition soldiers The leabanease prisoners are murdereds with blood on thier hands. Your goverment encourage terror.

This would have been over... Nay. This would have not happened if the Lebanese government had stopped HezbAllab instead of being biatched by them. You know what? I don't like the current Syrian government but if Lebanon seems unable to govern itself then I don't mind if they are returned to Syria. After all, that partition was carved out by French imperialists.

Your name is wrong, it must be BS=bullshit! And time for blaikmail is over my 'friend'. NO MORE! Lebanon cannot controle it's border and what hezbollah is doing to lebanon? Stop the party in beirut and start working on a democratic lebanon without army from syrie in your country and without iranian elite army groups to handle rockets aimed at Israel. You are being taking over by Iran and you don't know it?

How long will the arabs have this myoptic dillusional concept of denying asmall people the right yo live in peace in their own land? you guys just don't get it. You start with Israel and you talk tough. Then when Israel responds you pretend your the victims. Lebanon can't be an aggressor and then cry that their the victims. If you truly don't want war reign in Hezbollah and release the kidnapped soldiers. and don't bother us.If you don't it just shows you are not interested in peace.

No probs at all in Israel asking the Lebanese army not to fight their warplanes. Israel is doing the dirty job the Lebanese government should have done ages ago, but instead of disarming HezbAllah the Lebanese gov. let itself to be biatched by the terrorists.

I'm glad to see your interest in our little country. But before you pass judgment on us, be honest and ask yourselves what your countries would do if faced with entities that openly ask for your destruction and shoot missiles into your country. We only have look into recent history to know that Gaza and Lebanon would be flattened beyond recognition if they had the temerity to attack US, European, Chinese, or Russian soil. The lack of intellectual honesty on the part of the responders, and use of double standards towards Israel, only reinforces our belief that we are alone and must defend ourselves vigorously. We must never let others determine our fate.

Israel left gaza 10 months ago, since then the terrorists kept shooting misslies from gaza at israeli cities and villages at the south. Few hamas terror members crossed the border with underground tunnel and attacked 6 soldiers, 3 died, 2 were hurt, and one was kidnnaped. The hamas goverment were very involved in that matter. In Labanon, the hizbullah terrorists members passed the border, and attacked 2 jeeps, they killed about 6 soldiers , 2 were hurt, and kidnapped 2 soldiers. They also killed another 4 soldiers in a tank, and another one who tried to rescuse thier bodies. Before the kidnap, the hizbullah fighters shot tens of rockets at israeli cities and villages at the north of israel, in order to disruct the forces. The Lebanese and Palestinian prisoners in israel are murderers with blood on thier hands, who killed israeli citizens and planned attacks on israeli areas(including suicide attacks on buses.) Please, before you talk, learn some facts.

and save your life, other wisem one of Nasrallah katyushas will screw you. i advice you to escape before the Ben Gurion airport being destroyed.

I think it's time to show Lebanon-Syria-Iran the wonders of Dimona.

You're right Kate, there are some "self-hating" jews. The zionists are not self-hating, they're full of hatred against anyone who's not zionist.

Israeli public opinion believes Nasrallah more then the Israeli Gov't. Now Believe what he said just 2 days ago:" Will take the war to Haifa and beyond, victory is outs". When this guy makes a promis he stands by it. He promissed to hit the gunships, and then (you know the rest). THIS GUY MEANS BUSINESS. ISRAELI DOESNT WANT TO PISS THIS GUY OFF. israel just cant afford an enemy this Strong.

Come on. Those of us who are intelligent and pay attention to world events know Chomsky is simply embarassed by his endorsement of Hizbollah months ago, during which he fraternized with Nasrallah and assured Lebanese that "Hizbollah should keep its weapons as an important deterrent." Even Lebanese people couldn't believe this - read the article on http://www.yalibnan.com. Bottom line is Chomksy is no self-hating Jew - he is self-hating because he realizes how wrong he was. For this reason, he is demonizing Israel. Like he always does. No surprises with this guy.

Few questions to ponder upon: 1.Do attack on civilian targets are justified in retaliation of attacks on purely military targets? 2.If yes then why whole west including US was crying on the attacks by Al Qaeda on civilians. 3.If no, then why Bush is treating attacks on civilans as right of self defense? 4.Do we agree that Hezbollah, Syria and Lebanon too have that right of self defense in same way Israel have? 5. Do taking Military prisoner in captivity is abduction and taking civilians one by Israel is her right.? 6.If no then Hezbollah has every right to take Israeli Military and Civilians into captivity for the release of thousands of Palestinians in Isareli jails. 7.Do anyone previously asked Israel for unconditional release of Palestinian prisoners? 8. If no then they cant ask Hezbollah to do so.

I agree with Michael, if a group verbalises that they want to drive Israel from thier borders and then follow this by attacking the country and kidnapping soldiers - what sort of response do you expect.....

Arabs know HOW TO USE MEDIA PROPAGANDA EVERY WHERE !!!!!!!!!! WHYISRAEL NOT MAKE STRONG STATEMENTS ABOUT REALL SITUATION & REASONS ????????? MEDIA ARE VERY POWERFULL WEAPON YOU SHALL USE !!!!!!!!!!!

please do not be prejuidice while reading an opinion from a lebanese which i know forgranted that you hate my guts for no reason. i just need to tell u one thing, we are destroyed and devastated, do you think we care?? the answer is no because we destroyed our country 30 years ago. this is not the issue, the question is until when we are going to fight and lose people from both sides, you know that three of the israeli sailors were 19 to 21 years old, they are kids. you know that 8 of the 23 people who israel killed yesterday where less than 10 years old. am not talking racially am talking reason and in the name of humanity. this is wrong we need to stop fighting and look for an exit from this crisis. israel retreated from lebanon in 2000 after 10 years of the UN agreement 425, and no one ever told them anything about voilating a un agreement, and since the year 2000 until 2006 all what happened on the borders was some shootings that killed i guess 20 people in six years and nothing serious happened. how can u explain the killing of tens from both sides in 4 days. if you go to northern israel all the people will tell you that they had maybe the calmest days in these six years than before. thank you,

Hard earned money of people go towards terrorism, in Lebanon. They are not protecting anybody. They (Hizb) are just created to fulfill fancy of Iran. Peopl who join Hizb are told, if they die fighting nonmuslim, they go to heaven.