think that fortifying is like permitting HAMAS and the terror groups to build a wall around you, taking away your freedoms? Talk about apathy, get rid of your problem which is HAMAS and any of its supporters. Leave GAZA to the UN or EGYPT, its not your problem and never was.

What's need to be fortified is not Sderot but the will and the fighting spirit of Israeli leaders. Fortifications and anti-missile shileds won't resolve the problem. Some other solution need to be found.

The more Israel allows others to encourage fort-building the closer Israel gets to the Masada Complex. The delay is ONLY about how certain individuals can profit from the expected opening of another government feeding trough. But least accurate in the article is about how well equipped soldiers are at the front. Doesn't anyone remember the stories from Lebanon 2006? Purely a result apathy and self-interest by individual citizens, since the politicians are responsible to no-one!

Fortify S'derot today, Ashkelon tomorrow and, inexorably, you'll have to fortify Tel Aviv AND invite Khiz'b-Allah and Iran to do like Hamas because you -- our political nincompoops -- are sending the signal that we'll just hunker down tolerate incoming missiles. That's what the incompetent politicians have been doing in S'derot. If you were the enemy wouldn't YOU launch missiles if you enjoyed such impunity??? What else can we expect? As other tb-ers have also noted, large-scale invasion followed by re-occupation, so that we can restore the daily killings of our soldiers, is a fool's solution. What's needed is American military protocol of overwhelming and crushing killing and destruction (air, missilies and artillery) that brings the enemy to its knees and forces them to capitulate, begging for unconditional peace. Digging holes in sand with artillery, hoping the noise will scare terrorists and the headlines will pacify Israelis, is big-time dumb-ass. (On the other hand, Israeli lemmings ARE pacified by it, aren't they!?!) IN ADDITION TO "smart" missiles continuing to take out terrorist leaders REGULARLY WITHOUT END, 10 "dumb" rockets must fall in Gaza City and every Gazan village of any size, at random times of day and night, in retaliation for each missile launched into Israel. Which, if any, lives they lose as a result is then no different than those launched at us; any deaths are unintentional by Israel and left to the will of the Almighty. Terrorists AND their families must learn the cost of prosecuting terror. There's a tendency among tb-ers to think through a pipe, seeing only one alternative (e.g. Terry, re: annexing land). Alternatives are not usually mutually exclusive and all should be pursued simultaneously. PS: the most popular Israeli Jewish newspaper not publishing candlelighting times on Erev Shabbat and Erev Khag in its on-line counterpart is a disservice to Jewish readers and a disgrace to Israel. Even ha-Aretz publishes candlelighting times. Paqid Yirmeyahu IIsraeli Orthodox Jew Advancing Logic as Halakhic Authority Welcoming Jews & non-Jews www.netzarim.co.il

One more shell and we will give the residents of Beit Hanun 12 hours to vacate it. The the tanks move in and Beit Hanun ceases to exist. That is the answer. Collective punishment? No. In Gaza they ALL support terror, activley and passively and thus must be dealt with accordingly. After all, the USA does this in Iraq and the Turks are doing it with the Kurds and remember the Lebanese Army did this in Lebanon just a few months ago! Our folk in Sderot must be allowed to live without fear and terror. The only way is to stamp it out! The world will squeal a bit but they will get over it when CNN broadcasts the next Bin Laden tape.

Is he going to suggest that Askelon, Hairfa, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv get fortified next?! Israel has many options that would stop the kassams almost instantly. Can you imagine how Russia would react if Kassams were being fired against one of it's towns!? We simply have a weak PM who sick with cancer that should resign and instead is determined to leave his mark. His mark would be Israel's end but fortunately he will only be remembered as a weak and perhaps the worst PM that Israel ever had! Israel needs to respond to Hamas in a language that it understands - force! Mike

Just read Annapolis texts.

Wasting defence budget to fortify Sderot is panic playing into the hands of the enemy. Completing the security fence needs all the civil defence budgets; one suicide bomber kills more than all the Qassams ever launched. Qassams are the dumbest things the Palestinanians have ever made. After creation of Palestine by 2009 nearly all of Israel will be in Qassam range. Are you going to fortify all houses in Israel?

forttify? how many fortifications do the have in Gaza?

I believe it is a little late in the day to start investing in heavy fortifications - although perhaps schools should have the benefit of reinforcement. Aren't we supposed to be on the path to finding a peaceful solution ? I hope those counties that have recently offered the Palestinians an enormous sum -about $7 billion - will start to send specialists here to recommend the constructive investment / spending of this money. Perhaps this will help the Palestinians to begin to lead normal lives and their outlook on LIFE will change for the better.

Sitting in Australia, Ben Livson knows more about Israel then the corrupt fools in the government of Israel. As Livson says, if a new Arab state is established, every Jewish home will be under constant threat. Israel will become a tiny threatened ghetto. Israel can choose to reverse all the "peace agreements" the Road Map, the expulsion of Gush Katif, Wye plantation, Oslo II and Oslo I . Or Israel can choose to die.

That you want to have American troops stationed in Israel? This would definitely mark a precedent in the relations between the 2 countries. Any commitment of US troops is likely to be a long term strategy. It would also mean linking your foreign policy to some degree with those of the US in the region. It would mean compromise and give and take.