ABSOLUTELY 100% the complete truth. this is what's happening and it couldn't be said more accurately.

couldnt agree more however...I will go one step further. Look at the polls just released (if to be believed) how Livni with Kadima a 'non' party would beat Likud led by Bibi what does that tell you? The people who can actually vote for a party that stands for nothing, a party/government worst in Israels history, a party full of corrupt self serving individuals......and yet the people of Israel would still have the same stupidity to vote for them as they voted before. It seems the quote of every people deserve the government they get for they are a true reflection of the people. IE, its not just the government who is stupid but all the people who vote them in. The people of Israel have been dumbed down to stupid as. And not to say Bibi is any better then Olmerde, a better speaker but thats about it. He has no spine or principles he sticks by they are as flexible as jelly. Only a Likud led by Moshe Feiglin presents some hope of intelligence and heading in the right direction, however going by all of the above I expect the people of Israel to be to stupid to see that, they simply would judge him on the basis he wears a kippah and not on what he says.

for his classes benefit, Ameica is going down the drain, soon to be a tillion war fought by the poor, have you seen any one of the 4500 caskets, no, have you seen the any of the thousands of wounded, mentally destroyed, the brain injured and the amputees, no, a middle class disappearing faster than their jobs to China, so Wall Street can get richer, 30 million illegals undermining any liveable wage, there is not a unions to speak of, what does average America do except cash in pension money, while the super rich clean up with war profits and oil money. Olmert is a small time con artist.

This article is right on. I can hardly read the news anymore out of fear that the Israeli govt. is going to do another rediculous thing to harm the citizens of it's land. Instead of protecting the interests of it's people, the "stupid" govt. is trying to appease the rest of the world. And the world gets appeasement amnesia very quickly. Terminal stupidity is the right phrase. I hope they wake up soon.

This is what happens when Israelis try to be Americans/Europeans. Long live narcissism.

This article states the common sense points we all know - whether we admit it or not. The subtle message of our government seems to be there is no hope for the long-term existence of the state and we are on our own regarding individual survival. Examples, in addition to those mentioned above, abound: Corruption and venality at every level of government and the private sector (with the consequent cynicism and hopelesssness this has bred in the citizenry); total inability of authorities to deal with organized crime; lowering of academic standards in our schools and acceptance of violence against faculty, staff and students; growing inequality in all areas of daily life and the erosion of the middle class. Once can go on and on. Before Oslo, Israel seemed to be strong, confident and secure, its continued existence internationally accepted - even by our enemies. Today, it has lost its confidence in the future and seems to question its very right to be here. This is reflected in the way we are treated internationally.

Bravo - cogent and well stated

I call it 'psychotic denial.'We are being led to suicide by our 'leaders ' who deny reality.

Apparently one of the masterminds has gone into journalism, too. Everything you say is true, so if you chastise the would-be saviors of our nation for persuing other interests, then step in where you think they should have.

they are all IDIOTS and most are corrupt.

I was gratified to see others in this article using the word perfidy to describe some of the idiotic, insane, or downright suicidally treacherous decisions made by people completely devoid of common sense. I also enjoyed the use of the term I've used in many talkbacks, since the Leb war, about mental midgets and pigmies. I only pray that it is not too late to save Israel from the scum Israeli's call leaders.

Now our politicians are in favour of euthanasia.

Let us face it, this sham of a country is hostage to the whims of the amateurs devoid of decency ,honesty and common sense who are the so-called leaders.They are a direct consequence of israeli '" Proteksia' mentality and culture where it is who you know and not your abilities that count.

Brilliantly said ! What a prospect that we are subjected to more of the same as someone superbly wrote (an Arab in Egypt) that Livni is in we have "the Queen of Surrender". Perfect description and that could be said about the wohole of Kadima and Labour

This piece appears under the "Opinion" column and is a legitimate expression of his opinion. Since anybody's opinion is as good as the next one's, my opinion of his opinion is that it is incredibly moronic.

The leaders lead to disaster while the people remain asleep. Only one end in sight.

Congratulations to Mr. Sherman; I have always read your work with interest ,but this article is a masterpiece. The most cogent and concise description of the irresponsibility of national policy over the last 15 years that I've yet to read. I despair, however, that there is much that can be done to change the direction. We can but hope and vote. Please will someone find the courage to change the electoral system to a constituency based arrangement.

This terminal stupidty of our elected officilas is dangerous to Israel's future, they keep cutting the educational budgets, even though our educational system is getting worse each year.Incase they forgot today's children are tommorrow's leaders, and we are hurting them by cutting the budget. Cutting social services hurt the weakest elements of society... this country is falling apart and destroying itself from the inside out. We don't need our enemies to destroy Israel we are allowing our leadership to do that by itself!

To Mr. Sherman and Daniel Pipes As an interested party to the welfare and future of Israel I would like to nominate you to be the Prime Minister and Defense Minister. I will vote for you and will work tirelessly to campaign for you. G-D bless you Leslie Sternberg

I think that a great many Israelis just shake their heads in disbelief at what is happening. Many have been shocked into inertia. How could the majority of cabinet ministers vote for the phenomenally disastrous and irresponsible deal of 5 live terrorists, including a psychopathic child-killer hell-bent on killing more Israelis, for 2 dead Israeli soldiers? How could a "responsible" government not firmly react militarily against attacks on its civilians from the very first rocket or shot, instead of abandoning them to their fate? It can't be just "corruption" or even just "stupidity". This cavalier dismissal of this nation's citizens seems to me to be downright malevolent.

with a story on dropping of Visa controls. Maybe the Pals never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity, but we jump from the frying pan to the fire with zest.

STOP PRESS. This morning,the Granddaughter of an an Israeli cabinet minister who wishes to remain anonymous ,broke in to Ramat Gan zoo and was trampled on by an Elephant.While I wish the poor 17-year old Girl a speedy recovery her stupidity obviously runs in her family.

My opinion of your opinion of his opinion is that ,while you are entitled to it,your opinion is idiotic.

It's written and being executed. These folks are dead set on destroying the Jews thru their acts. The first being to destroy the Torah, which will never happen, and secondly to kill the will of the people just like the Spies did back in the desert. Wake up and see for yourselves.

if only right-wing intellectuals could spend as much time figuring a way out of the morass instead of finding umpteen ways to discredit the political system, the idf command, and the parallel political processes with various Arab groups we might get somewhere. besides, oslo failed for as much of israeli hubris, dishonesty, brutality, and backtracking as much as did for palestinian dishonesty, brutality, and backtracking. as i recall there were only 100,000 settlers in 1995.........

Now it is the cause of shame and depression. The transformation of Israel from a small but courageous and proud country into a weak and pathetic mini state will have a terrible effect on Jewish psyche. The assimilation process will accelerate drastically as many Jews will lose the source of pride they used to have. The Jews will be avoiding each other. Many will cease to care about Israel altogether. There will be a drastic distancing between Israeli and Diaspora Jews. A catastrophe of biblical proportion is upon Jewish nation.

more than they do their real arab, European & american enemies. They believe this is the way into the European Union, while removing the shackle of the " Jewish Zionist occupying Entity" I am waiting for a civil war---which side will the IDF protect?

For decades, Prof. Paul (Peretz) Eidelberg has been warning of the catastrophe that awaits, under the secular elite who run the State. He has argued for election reform and constitutional reform, and against the wholesale abandonment of vital strategic areas for "piece"--ie, a piece of paper. Why are the elite so blind? He argues that this is part of a world historical process with spiritual implications, leading us all to an End of Days scenario. But in the meantime, we can all do our best to counter the perfidy and stupidity of the robber barons who control the State.

From the tone of your message it is obvious you are simply a Bush hater blaming all the ills of the world on him. While at the same time giving the Democratic Congress under Reid and Pelosi a free pass. The important thing is if Bush stayed on as president for four more years America would not disappear, but Israel due to its size and location may very well disappear due to it's poor and corrupt leadership.