You've had nothing but far-left opinion pieces since the campaign began. I know that if you want to maintain your dignity as a major media outlet you have to lean left, but would it kill you to have one right-wing opinion piece on the subject. And don't tell me Ben-Yeshi counts as right-wing, because if he is a rightist then I'm Mahatma Ghandi.

Mr. Oz, we have had enough of the like of you, you see, if there were folks like you on the other side, that would make you and your opinions relevant, but since there is none like you on the other side, you are simply irelevant, so sad...

There can NEVER be a REAL truce with Hamas et al. Even if Hamas would agree to a "lull" nothing will have changed. That is unacceptable. Want to wait another three years of regular rocket attacks to do something? Israel MUST accomplish something pivotal.

keep on bombing untill they beg for mercy like cowards that they are.

Very wise and practical assessment. There is no military solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Both Hamas and Israel want a sustained and honest truce-but they are both too pigheaded to admit it. Even if it requires international troops or monitors, it needs to be done. Peace is not made between friends, but between enemies--secure the truce now before this mess gets bigger.

Here are the things that Amos urged us to do that resulted in the current fix we are in. Read the list and then decide if he should be daring to give advice: Allow Arafat into the territories Sign the Oslo accords Withdraw from Lebanon Withdraw from Gaza Stop the war in Lebanon before Hizbullah was decisively defeated. His record speaks for itself. Stick to writing books and getting awards from your fellow travelers in Europe.

Why is he not prime minister? perhaps it is because his opinion on our statehood and our will to survive is a little bit stronger than his.He does not seem to know anything about arab mentality, does not have the slightest idea how a extremist mind works.His utterings are detrimental to our warefforts and a real help to our enemies rudzeev

Sounds nice, Mr. Oz. However, I am not sure whether the Hamas is ready to take the deal. To my mind, it is much more probable that Hamas will simply continue to shoot rockets in order to prove that it had gained another "divine victory". Perhaps only a ground incursion can destroy the complete rocket cache of Hamas. And the renewed control f the Philadelphia corridor might be unevitable in order to prevent Hamas from smuggling Grad rockets into Gaza again and again.

Hamas wanted that Israel cease the blocus, they send you some missiles, the israeli left send them some missiles and made a capitulation.... What a victory for hamas !!!!! Why Barak has bombed hamas if he wanted to capitulate ???? If Israel had left the blocus Hamas would have made a cease fire. Hundreds of deads and millions of dollars spent for an hamas victory and nothing gained for israel !!!! STUPID !!! Leftitst are DANGEROUS

but how many times can this man be wrong and still have people paying attention. Remember that apparently when we pulled out of Lebanon we'd be able to "forget the word Hizbollah"?

They don not have to love you. Just respect me in the morning!

But unfortunately our adversaries, Hamas, do not want a permanent ceasefire, so what to do, Amos? Like usual you are transferring what you want onto them..is there anything more racist? take them as fully concious, mature adults, who know right from wrong, but who always choose wrong.

I am not going to call the author any of the really bad names that spring to mind, because unlike a Gaza incursion, that really would bring no benifit. Instead, I'm going to forgive him, understanding that he is a far-left ideologue, and just look at what's going to happen if we do what he proposes. Because of the blockade, Gaza is in deep economic trouble. Everything is hard to come by; fuel, food, and of course, weaponry. That means that Hamas' military capability is weakened along with Gaza's general economy. Even if they can smuggle in everything they need, all of it costs more because they have to pay the smugglers, so they can get fewer rockets, guns, bombs, etc. If we ease trhe siege we make the Palestinians' lives easier, but we also make it easier for Hamas to arm itself. Now, Oz is betting that the Palestinian People, in gratitude for our easing the siege, will restrain Hamas. That's where his logic falls appart. We have already announced that as soon as the rocket-fire stops the bombing will stop as well, but the Palestinians have made no effort to make Hamas stop launching rockets. There hasn't been a single anti-kassam demonstration in Gaza over the past five days (not to mention the last eight years). Firing rockets at us is so important to them that they are willing to suffer bombardment to let it go on, so they will certainly not stop it just for a few extra tons of food. In fact, we've already tried that approach, for the past year we've been responding to rocket-fire by shutting the crossings; that hasn't produced a revolt in Gaza against Hamas, and it won't occur if we ease the siege now. Hamas exists for the purpose of destroying us, so whatever new ceasfire we get with it will be temporary, just like all the previous ones, and at the end of that cease-fire Hamas will be stronger than it is now and the next war will be bloodier than this one, especially if they have better economic conditions to arm under. As for a ground incursion, if it doesn't create a buffer zone in Gaza it won't stop the Kassams. But at the very least it will cause enough damage to Hamas that by the end of the truce that will be concluded once its over, Hamas will be no stronger than it is now. A ground incursion won't make things better, but unlike at truce it will at least not make them worse.

Mr. Oz, You are a recognized and respected writer. Why do you express your political opinions? I believe that closeness between you family name and The Wizard of OZ explains your naivete and you disengagement from reality.

Do you mean Israel by its own can decide when and to what extent to start ceasefire even if her original goal in this war has yet achieved?

What tunnel did this outfit amos oz come out of? This is the very type of material that Israel doesn't need. It says there is nothing to be gained from a ground incursion. Surely this one originates from hamas!

...as long as it has to. Perhaps Gazans will then realise that voting for Hamas had consequences.

Leader mummies Don't forgot Hamas was created at that time by Israel ,like Taliban and bin Laden by CIA.Israel still need Hamas to keep dividing Palestinian .divide and dominate old rule

If no victory, then defeat. Israel cannot sustain yet another defeat. We have lost or given up so many battles already. The mission is to destroy Hamas. No more, no less.

This is NOT a choice between ground invasion or truce. There are other choices, nearly all of which are better than either of these two. For one, simply continue doing what we're doing, permanently, pretty much as we are. We're doing terrific so we must change that??? Whenever a rocket is launched into Israel, send in the IAF to take out, say, five Hamas targets for every rocket launched into Israel. No delays in response. No wait for authorization. Make it policy. Automatic. Deterrence. Palistanis will eventually become disenamored with Hamas' attacks on Israel territory... or the retaliation continues at least a day longer than their rocket launchings--or other attacks. Or they will simply continue to suffer. It is their call and the world must acknowledge that or we must ignore the world recognizing that the world is justifying the assertion that they are hopelessly biased against Israel. Let all of the "innocent civilians" reject their elected Hamas "heros" or suffer the consequences with them. They are our enemies, they make themselves our enemies by ceaselessly attacking us and vowing to eliminate Israel. They are our enemies with all of the implications that entails. Further, those who provide encouragement, aid or material support for our enemies are also our enemies--regardless if they hold offices in our own government. The idea of fueling, powering and feeding our enemies is perverse. Stop it. Siege them until they agree to an unconditional surrender. No fuel. No power. No food. No water. No medical or humanitarian supplies. We help friends. We fight enemies. Gazan people who elected and support Hamas are NEITHER innocent NOR our friends. Force them to surrender or else there will be no respite. Only after an unconditional surrender can we begin to build peace like the U.S. and Japan did. Everyone will benefit instead of this world-powered everlasting protraction of the killing--perverting the name of "peace." This business of limiting Israel to "proportionate" response is the worlds perverted ensuring that the Gazans are forever able to continue attacking Israel... ensuring that the conflict--and the killing--goes on forever instead of coming to an end. The world ensures that either Gazans can attack Israel forever or they can finally look away if Gazans can someday eliminate Israel. THAT, and killing each other forever, is ok. But Israel cannot be allowed to win. The world biased? Nawww! That's "peace"! So defy the world and make the present policy permanent and automatic. Don't send in IDF ground troops to die because Leftist politicians are retarded. Lebanon redux? Did you miss that movie? Paqid Yirmeyahu Paqid 16, The Netzarim, Ra'anana, Israel Israeli Orthodox Jew (Teimani Baladi Dardai) Advancing Logic as Halakhic Authority Welcoming Jews & non-Jews

How can a man who has been so wrong for so long offer advice? It is absolutely astounding. His argument is built on creating ''straw men'' to knock down while ignoring real issues. No one ever expected Gazans to revolt against Hamas. No one expects to see the emergence of a new regime sympathetic to Israel. This is a phoney issue - this is not the aim of a military operation. Then we come to the standard, ''there is no military solution'' argument - phrased a bit differently. Yes, Gaza is a swamp - but we have no intention of re-occupying Gaza. This is always followed by the ''poor suffering Palestinian'' argument as if they have no responsibility for their self-inflicted mess. Oz reverses causality - it is their hatred of us not our actions which have landed them in this situation. His conclusion - let's have another non-existent truce. Sure, hand Hamas another propaganda victory, accomplish absolutely nothing, leave them with their missiles intact, able to threaten us any time they feel like it. Make any concession as well, I mean, as long as we're losing, let's lose big. Mr Oz, this is why you & those that espouse your views are so marginalized here in Israel. This is why you have to find an audience in Europe - because no one wants to hear you here. Stick to writing fiction & leave practical matters to those who live in the real world.

Amos Oz recently said in an opinion piece entitled 'Israel Must Defend Its Citizens', "The systematic bombing of the citizens in Israel's towns and cities is a war crime and a crime against humanity", but he should have gone much further and written that Hamas is also violating the fundamental human rights of the vast majority of Arabs living in the strip and would like to expand its violations to those living in the West Bank as well. For more on the above - http://www.ourchangingglobe.com/ Mike

pay no attention to the man behind the curtin, he is a non important person,,,,,, Oz pack and move to Gaza please!!!!!!!

Mr Oz, Please do me a favour, get into details explaining the kind of truce which needs to be negotiated, and who this should be achieved with? the French or the US? I know this is a difficult one... and therefore it invalidates the half-heartedness of you opinion. Michael Yattah

Stop half way and Hamas as other islamic militants will view it as a victory. Press on with the knowledge that nothing will placate Hamas except Israels destruction.

when they wake up.. Its a new Year.. and realise they just lost Last years War. ... I wish I could write how happy this makes me .. but its gonna take too long.. ... So Happy new year every one.. I 'm a way to start the party.

B"H "securing, as soon as is possible, a full and absolute ceasefire that brings tranquility and calm to our border" comes with winning decisively the war against our enemies Amos, not by giving it up hal- way as you suggest. An error like this would only strengthen hamas like it strengthened hizbullah in Lebanon.