Opinion
The usual suspects
Uri Orbach
Published: 22.09.07, 21:00
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26 Talkbacks for this article
1. I agree and hopefully Meretz will not be in the next .
redmiike ,   tel aviv and london   (09.22.07)
government. Much of the Israeli press is also culpable, the newspapers more than the TV. They write, 'Israeli paratrooper kills Palestinian youth and show a picture of a PA funeral. They don't say until later that the 'paratrooper' was 21 and the 'youth' 17. They should write, 'Israeli boy killed by PA terrorist and show a picture of the Israeli funeral. They use terms like 'militant' instead of 'terrorist' and thereby undermine people working in Hasbara.
2. roll the Left up in a little ball
RobertK ,   Jerusalem   (09.22.07)
and roll it at pins. Make it go BOOM BOOM against the pins.
3. Soon and very soon, this corrupt gov't will dis-solve. You
can write the check ,   on this info.!!!!!   (09.22.07)
4. the good thing is that
ben ,   paris fr   (09.22.07)
should gal on 's political career go sour, she could always find work as a consultant for the isaeli bureau of french television. I have no doubt she'll fit right in and she''ll be very useful
5. What kind of country do Leftists want?
Gary ,   N. Jersey   (09.22.07)
This is not a rethorical question. I really mean to find out what do they really want? Maybe some real Leftists would care to answer? What kind of rights for religious Jews? Back to 1967 borders, perhaps? What kind of security would be humane enough for you? What to do about 17 or 18 year old "youths" who attack Jews or who plot to blow themselves up? Would counseling be enough? I really would like to know because it seems to me that you can't have a peaceful, benevolent, compassionate and forgiving state when you are surrounded by extremely beligerent and dangerous neighbors. Or maybe the Leftists' whinning won't stop until they get a binational country with an Arab majority. Is that what you really are after? So, Leftists, make your case.
6. Zahava should refrain to smoke so much weed
trumpeldor ,   eurabia   (09.22.07)
and should settle down in gaza along with yosi beilin...
7. Let us hope a new government is elected
jason white ,   afula,israel   (09.22.07)
and they try all the current regime and past leaders of the leftist parties. And prison is too good for them,we need to punish the traitors so that they never return to power.
8. electoral system is bad
Ran ,   London   (09.22.07)
Kadima only represents 20% of the vote, the rest were split among a million parties who were unable to form any unity amongst themselves. If normal, non-left crazies could unite on the basic current issues (war vs. peace), and leave their religious and country-origin differences aside for the moment, we would now not have the idiot Olmert and his orcs in government. Unfortunately the majority of principled people have a difficult time communicating and compromising. This is a fatal flaw in behaviour.
9. Radical Israeli academia
I. Barr ,   Detroit, Michigan,   (09.23.07)
Few Radicals in the Knesset do not match hundreds of Israel Academia who work in Israeli Universities. They are organized well, i.e. Alef in Haifa U. and spread their radical ideology to thousands of students. They are paid by the universities but spend a lot of time producing anti Israel propaganda. A lot of their activity is in UK, EU and USA creating philosophies that they call "post" Zionism and "New" history which basically de legitimize Israel. They were instrumental in boycotts by UK academics, trade unions, physicians and journalists. Parents who send their kids to those Israeli universities risk getting radical children who are anti Israel anti Zionists. Israel radical academia did not come with a plan for peace with the Palestinians. Their propaganda machine creates in EU and UK an anti Semitic atmosphere, and major contributors to Palestinian electronic Intefada. More in http://israel-academia-monitor.com
10. Well said
Sean ,   Leeds   (09.23.07)
At a time when the country should start uniting in what is bound to be a major war in the coming months these lunatics are still whingeing about allowing the IDF to fight. The frightening thing is that you need only look at Baraks' (although he has since grown some balls it appears) negotiating team that was rejected by Arafat to realise how close we came to losing our country 'peacefully'. Beilin, Burg, Ben-Ami, Peres......
11. Leftist camp must be REprogramed in
Rehavam   (09.23.07)
moslims schools. the arab way. They will learn what is real meaning of "peace", "woman and gays rights". If they survive then I'll start listen to them.
12. Delusional leftists are self centered, showing symptoms of
Uzi ,   Haifa   (09.23.07)
the Oslo Syndrome. They behave as if themselves, Israel and maybe the US determine what happens in the Middle East. Feeling besieged they are unaware of "possession is nine tenths of the law" and that it's rather the Arabs who should come forward and spell out what they offer Israel in return for what they want. Delusional leftists also don't get it that in this case "land for peace" is both immoral and unworkable. The Arabs had used the 'territories' to threaten, pester and attack Israel before we took these territories in self defence. They consistently and persistently demonstrate that they don't want, can't make and won't maintain real peace. The Arabs continue to plan, prepare and perpetrate genocide against Israel. Delusional leftists can't see that it would be suicidal to concede anything in response to aggressive threats and action. The delusional leftists must realize that it's rather the Arabs who should offer, accept and be convincingly satisfied with 'painful' territorial compromises.
13. He who at 20 not a lefti, no hearth still one at 30 no brain
Jorge ,   Tegucigalpa   (09.23.07)
14. A related column has some interesting thoughts
Tracy W   (09.23.07)
about many Jews' ambivalence regarding their duty to exercise power in the State of Israel and also on the glorification of powerlessness. In a review of Ruth Wisse's book "Jews and Power", Jonathan Tobin writes: "The futility of passivity in the face of hate became apparent as emancipation in 19th-century Europe gave way to modern anti-Semitism and the rise of exterminationist ideologies. "The only sensible response to this dilemma was to recreate the power to defend themselves that Jews had supposedly forsworn after their exile. "With much of the world not willing to acknowledge Israel's right to exist, the battle for Jewish survival now depends on an ability to assume the responsibilities of exercising power. "And after 2,000 years of venerating powerlessness, it's hardly surprising that many Jews have found this difficult. "Wisse sees the Oslo Accords, which she correctly dismisses as a "capitulation" to terror, as an example of Israel adopting a failed Diaspora strategy of accommodation. (And the following paragraph that relates so well to the Leftists Uri Orbach writes about.) "These days, those who prefer to obsess about Israel's inability to achieve an impossible moral perfection rather than about its foes' intentions may find themselves applauded by Jewish and non-Jewish audiences. But given that Israel is a state still marked for death by Iranian mullahs who may soon have nuclear weapons, Palestinian terrorists and a new generation of Western anti-Semites who masquerade as humanists, the triumph of such views is a luxury Jews cannot afford." http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1189411459860&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
15. one is the suspect
nora ,   jerusalem   (09.23.07)
when it is a wolfe and sheep ..sure iam a sheep
16. Zahav Gal-On......Who needs her in Israel
Spencer   (09.23.07)
The only reason that Zahava Gal-On wants a full disclosure of the Israeli operation in Syria is so that she can leak it to those that seek the destruction of Israel. My advice to Zahava.......emigrate to Syria!
17. Ms Zahava Gal-Ron, please....
SD ,   Tel Aviv Israel   (09.23.07)
STFU, will you, Ma'am? :-(
18. Don't stop Gal-On - She is digging Meretz' grave!
David ,   Karmiel, Israel   (09.23.07)
Indeed, MK Gal-On's behavior casts doubts on her attitude to the continuance and survival of the State of Israel but let us not forget that she did this because of her "ideals" and her beliefs. The one did blab was Bibi Netanyahu and he did it not for the good of the country but for his own over-inflated ego! Our politicians, whether left, center or right are a total waste of time! But we are stuck with them until Mr. Whining Israeli gets up off his butt and decides to vote and force change!
19. UZI
Petra ,   USA   (09.23.07)
excuse me but, isn't a rightist US Prez the one insisting on giving Israels land to the Pals? It seems no matter who's the Prez, Israel suffers. If You want to compare right vs. left, perhaps we all need a "Scoop" Jackson. A democrat who was very hawkish when it came to Israel. Most US politicians are taking Saudi money, Bush, and Carter, and now, this university who also gives sway and a platform to this terrorist.
20. Uri Orbach and Ynet get it right
ARA ,   Haifa, Israel   (09.23.07)
Uri, shout your message from the rooftops! I'm sick of that fifth leftish column in Israel.
21. #5: A Bridge Too Far
Ariel ,   London   (09.23.07)
Y-net should really pose these questions to Zahava Galon. I would dearly like to know the answers. I can understand the logic of Hamas, Hezbollah, Al-Qa'ida, Osama Bin Ladin and Ahmadinejad. but for the life of me, the mercurial logic of the likes of Zahava, is for me, an intellectual bridge too far!
22. Re: No. 14: A Related Column...
Irmgard Gesund ,   Lexington, KY USA   (09.25.07)
Thanks for the link to to Jonathan Tobin's review of Ruth Wisse's book, "Jews and Power". This subject is fascinating and so timely. I hope to read Ruth Wisse's book soon.
23. #22 Irmgard
Tracy W   (09.25.07)
You're welcome. I have learned a lot from other talkbackers' comments and the links they sometimes provide. We all help each other. All the best to you.
24. talkbacks #8, #9. read 'em and weep !
dan kaplan ,   usa   (09.25.07)
read, re-read, and re-re-read the subject talkbacks. paraphrasing shakespeare (very loosely) - "the fault, my dear israelis, lies not with the loony left, but with ourselves". the makings of some very practical solutions to this loony left dominance is given in these talkbacks.
25. #14
Richard ,   London UK   (09.28.07)
the question still remains. Why do Palestinians, 'humanists', mullahs, academics, union members, Arabs, etcetera all want to boycott Isreal? Surely there must be a fault with israel? never has a nation been such a sourse of indignation and outrage. Why is this?
26. #5
Richard ,   London UK   (09.28.07)
What do leftists want? I don't know exactly what you mean by a Leftist. The issue of belligerent and dangerous neighbours is not bourne out by the facts. I don't know of any illegal Palestinian settlements in Israel. Have the Palestinians built a wall (A WALL!!) around Israel? Do the Palestinains use bulldozers and tanks to demolish Israeli houses? Do Palestinians send commandos into built-up areas to execute people without trial? Do Palestinians fire missiles from jet fighters aimed at cars? Do Palestinians deny Isrealis the right to travel, to trade, to move freely in Israel? Suicide bombers are the only weapons the militants have. They don't have tanks. And what is the difference to be blown up by a suicide bomber or from a missile fired from a plane? In the end there is no difference.
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