Barak Livni and co. couldnt care less about the residents of the south that are in the line of fire, they are interested in the elections coming up in February, thus a limited Gaza op would make them appear strong and buy them votes.

not many people can do that - what will he do next, walk on the Kinneret?

He is telling people to believe in the toothless fairy. Olmert cannot fight his way out of a wet paper bag, he is only trying to keep himself out of jail at the moment.

Of course they won't do a thing about the Gaza missile issue. They are crooks who are just interested in getting re-elected. But it's not going to happen and that's why they are desperately trying to convince everyone that they actually care about Israel. I can't help myself but to feel there's a special place in hell prepared just for them (Olmert, Barak and Livni). And some others as well. May a divine force have mercy on them or better, not.

Under the circumstances, what is needed is not negotiations with Hamas, but strong military action against it. Israel should not undertake a brief incursion, but a major invasion of Gaza to uproot Hamas once and for all. If the Israeli leadership doesn’t take such action, it risks Hamas growing into an even greater menace to the State of Israel than it is today as described at : http://xrl.us/kkxrc

There is no chance , zero, of olmerde approving a gaza operation. He is scared to death of one broken body. Beside, he is illogical and wouldn't understand it. Barak is tricky, likes commando, and steathy operations in the past. Today, he is detached and does not want to launch IDF to do much of anything,. Besides, IDF soldiers are frankly not impressed with him and may not really want to follow him. Livni is the boldest of the lot and could be part of an operation. But her judgment is suspect. The fact that she pleaded with the moron and olmert a**kisser Ramon to stay in kadima, means she is somewhat stupid. There is no chance of an operation. Barak's record since 1999 is lousy, marked by do nothing or withdrawal.That he didn't level ramallah when 2 idf soldiers were publically lynched there,will follow him to his grave.

Before this truce came into effect Hamas said on the record WE WILL CONTINUE TO SMUGGLE IN WEAPONS BECAUSE ITS OUR RIGHT OR RESISTANCE they also stated this truce was going to be 6 month maximum. The Olmert/Livni/Barak regime agreed to it in the hope that if things got quieter then the public would stop demanding an election and they could continue sell out policies so even when the rockets were falling down because Hamas were breaking the truce they turned a blind eye, closed the border for a couple of days and then opened up again. Now Olmert doesn't want to get tough on Hamas becase it will ruin all chances to carry our his sell out policies. Barak is just plain spineless and a complete political amuter. Livni is now trying to be the one who is tough on terror because she knows the public trust Bibi more on security issues so now she is trying to lead the way in a badly planned rushed Gaza operation just so she can get something in before the election. The main reason we lost Lebanon was because it was badly planned and Olmert rushed in trying to play tough with no objectives on what he wanted to acheive or how he intended to do it. Then even though Bush tried to delay the UN calls for a ceacefre to allow him to finish the job he came running out tail between his legs acheiving nothing. If there is going to be a Gaza operation it needs to be carefully planned and implimented with clear objectives that must be achieved before the operation ends. That career oportunist Livni wants to show she has the making of a great PM and so wants to look tough before the elction but once she wins it will be the more of the same sell out Livni that we all know and hate.

Olmert, Livni, Barak. I wouldn't trust them to make a sandwich. And we let them run a country!!!!! We must be crazy.

Barak is hiding under the table. Olmert is standing on top of the table ranting & raving. Livni can't find the table.

This is a failed and sick Govt electioneering by using the lives of soldiers to do it. Such is the mind and policies of the Left . They should have acted years ago when the first rocket came

Yes, politicians are driven by agendas and public opinion. That is how it is supposed to work. Livni wants to gain support from the right. Barak wants to consolidate his support from the left. The fact that elections are so close is significant, but only because we the public have such a short memory. I will never vote Barak simply because he failed when he had a chance. I will never vote Bibi simply because he gave Shas so much power last time around. Really, the fact that these decisions look like PR stunts is only because the public allows them to work. With regards to Gaza. Barak must support an operation. I supported the operation in Hebron. That was merely civil disorder and politics. This on the other hand is clear terrorism. He is being inconsistent. Barak is defence minister, his job is to propose military solutions to problems. We cannot "avoid military escalation". This is already happening in Gaza no matter what we do. PR stunt or no, Livni is consistent in voicing precisely what I want to hear.

#1,4,9 PR stunts are only as effective as the public is gullible. If we exercise judgement this won't be a problem. Ultimately I'd like to see an operation in Gaza. Livni's words seem rather decisive to me. #2 considering all the garbage floating there I'm sure that's possible #3 probably a wet paper bag he picked up while walking on the Kineret. #5 agreed, although you do realise that posting your blog link all the time looks like spam :P #6 agreed #7 Good analysis, but I think you miss the fact that all politicians are opportunists. How else should it work? I'm also no as certain that Livni will be more of the same. Her differences with Olmert are not new. #8 What is your alternative? I doubt you could hand-pick a government with sandwich-making skills from the politicians available. Some don't know how to slice bread evenly, and others won't let my put ham on mine. #10 Is this the same table where they were serving sandwiches? #11 I'm not sure what you mean "by using the lives of soldiers". This is inevitable with any military operation. I do agree that they should have done this years ago, with the first rocket.

Sending our childeren into Gaza. You clowns and loosers will for sure screw that up also at the expense of our childeren. Send in your own , in order to keep an hold on your power and play with their lives. The way the IDF has been misused as a political tool lately nothing good will come out off any operation. You gave Hamas all the time in the world to build its defenses, so as usual you failed. Nothing will be done and nothing will be achieved ,just a bunch of loosers getting together, lacking vision and resolve.

The cowardThe corrupt and The flussie sit for a round of discussions an what lies can they bring to the people. The people are restless!! Must do something Hamas said BOOO very dangerous!!!!!!.Where are there more JEW3S TO EVICT?? Must let the twisted media print story's,Such heavy responsibility.

You can't do any thing for hamas, It's very strong

Barak said: "the responsibility is mine". You can figure the consequences of two politicians deciding to pursue a "military" operation against Barak's lull.

Our politicians are very fond of ''pork'' but not necessarily in sandwiches. I'm sure the sandwiches are served at a nice buffet lunch table - our politicians would never miss a ''free lunch'' ...... You call Livni decisive - surely you jest? She says what you want to hear - you may be one of the few who actually listen to what she says. I get the impression that her statements are either ignored or made fun of, ridiculed as they deserve. I think that Ms Livni has become irrelevent to her own campaign - a nonentity serving as a facade behind which are hiding a whole collection of opportunists, jobniks, political parasites, & assorted incompetents afraid of rather dim future employment prospects.

but that photograph of him with the child is beautiful.

I wonder how many people in these talkbacks have children who will be going into Gaza in full combat gear. How many parents in these talkbacks will not be sleeping if there is a full scale operation there, now Hamas have had time to amass lots of 'goodies'. No government members have children in the units down south, to my knowledge. How easy it is to send someone else's child in to Gaza so that you feel the inadequate government is doing something. I know they are soldiers of Israel, I know they are sons of God and are trained, but it doesn’t make it easier, especially when Gaza can be bombarded from the air – day in and day out. Impetuous demands that our boys go in are all very well. You need to think how many will come out again. That is too painful to think about. Keeps the boys OUT send the air force IN.

Brings a lump to my throat...

That in the past.To send Soldiers in to that Hornets Nest would be a bloodbath and is perhaps a terrible idea,bombing from the air has all kinds of legal and political repercussions..Israelis at the Hague for war crimes etc.Damned if they do,damned if they don't.

And you need not prove anything.Just get on with your life ,try not to hate your fellow man and learn to accept Israel as a Neighbour because it is not going anywhere I assure you.Salaam...

I don't disagree with you, but I still have to choose. I'm not convinced that Livni's incompetence is not due to being marginalised even by her own party, rather than her own ineptitude. I listen to what she says because it makes sense. She merely reiterates what I've been thinking, which is refreshing. I am not oblivious to the fact that saying something does not imply doing something. But saying the opposite generally implies not doing, and in that respect there are few politicians I could ever agree with.

Unfortunately there is a price for security. Peace would be nice, but tell that to the other side. Over the next few months someone will be hurt. We have the option of choosing who: civilians or soldiers. We have the option of ending it. (Under the assumption that they do this thing right, which is a pretty big assumption.)

We marched into Gaza and took away half their government members and put them in the slammer in Israel. Don't kid yourself Habibi. When the storm comes, you'd better run for cover.

Both Jewish, both have a right to life? Hmmmmm let me think - who is anyone to make that distinction? It doesn't have to be either/or - the mother of all wars in Gaza has to come using the air force. At least until most of Hamas and its savages have been wiped out and deemed not a threat. My son finished in Givati a few months ago. But my heart hurts for the mothers whose sons will be going in. However, the pain and the worry does not end there, I remember all too well the sleepless nights and the incessant worry and fear - I don't wish it on anyone, I also feel hurt for all my fellow countrymen living down south whose lives are on hold right now.

There is no question that it is better that soldiers face the threat head on with the chance to end it than civilians be barraged with no end in sight. After all, what exactly does it mean to be a soldier? This is the civic duty that we all (should) take upon ourselves at some point for the security of the country. The fact that civilians must live under siege is absurd. The fact that soldiers must go to war is not at all absurd. Your solution is clean but monstrous. Too many casualties. I am not making the Palestinians out to be more than they are. They support Hamas and they support terror. They are not in general a peace loving people as can be demonstrated in their celebrations when we are attacked. But you should keep in mind that they are a product of circumstance and propaganda. It does not absolve them, but it certainly doesn't warrant a death sentence. Yes, sending in soldiers will result in more casualties for us, but that is the price of morality. Furthermore, morals aside, as it is the UN is crying about the poor Palestinians. If we simply bomb them it would be more than just the UN, which is pointless anyhow. Ultimately this will be counter-productive, if not apocalyptic, since such action could give Iran justification and legitimacy to its claims of genocide.

1. You clearly have NOT had a child in a combat unit. 2. You are completely oblivious to our capabilities. That's all I have to add here.