Opinion
Limits of restraint
Dan Shiftan
Published: 17.01.09, 19:02
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31. you cannot really defeat evil as widespread...
not amsterdam   (01.18.09)
as Islam. But you surly must defend it against it and let them know jihad is not going to be free or cheap. Best anyone can do really beside killing crazies is to lock them up. But then again Nukes have worked to bring peace in the past. Go Israel, You are right to fight.
32. Mark that is not hard to understand coming from the UK
u r not ,   serious?   (01.18.09)
Something about no sun saps the brain of reason. Is the Hamass#oles' and Hellzzbullys' religious drive something you never have heard of? your brain dead man. To think any of this Islamic madness is justified is Retarded. wake up man go south and get some sun...
33. "Limits of Restraint" - to what Limit?
Bader S Abu-Ghosh ,   London, England   (01.18.09)
A very interesting and a highly perceptive and intellectual article. However, as is the case with most Israeli scholars recently, they appear to engage in the mechanisms of the strategies and counter-strategies and yet miss the true resolution. This article states most succinctly the mind frame of the major combatants, and Israel's apparent counter-measures. Indeed, it is questions of raising the costs - but can Israel endure such a race in costs? Surely, Israel's enemies will oblige eagerly in such a race, if the main issues remain effectively unattended. Rocketry would certainly develop into ever more devastating instruments; geography and proximity of targets would be a major factor. The real question, therefore, is: Who will have more to lose ultimately? Proportionality of response is a highly variable measure, with material deviations in the course of things.
34. in the next war...
Akram ,   Ramallah   (01.18.09)
In the next war Israel will be completely destroyed, since the Arabs now know that Israel is so weak and after some 23 days of fighting in Gaza they can't deal with a small group like Hamas... and for the second time in 3 years israel was defeated by Hizbulaah and now by Hamas, so the next war will happened from different fronts, and its duration will be for a long period say more than 6 months in a way that Israel will not be able to live after that... Israel will not be defeated by Arab armies, classical armies can't destroy your country, you will be defeated by huge numbers of guerrillas trained to fight like Hezbollah and Hamas... in the mountains, valleys and most important of all and for the first time since 48 inside your cities.
35. Throughout history, conflicts involving an armed aggressor
Stewart ,   U.S.A.   (01.18.09)
have never been resolved until the armed aggressor was anihilated or vanquished. Israel does not have a choice in dealing with Hamas or Hezbollah.
36. 34# If Israel is destroyed then
(01.18.09)
you are coming with us baby you know this is a small country. Maybe then you will cry..why didn't we let the jews stay here? they were so nice people...
37. 34 arkam
didier ,   france   (01.18.09)
Autosuggestion Why do you never understand what's going on,how can such stupidity prevails? Where is your brain? Whith such hatred we now pals & radicals do not deserve any consideration
38. To #19 Mark
TOM ,   USA   (01.18.09)
Please read little bit history before you talk about "their land". When you say "brave men in resistance", I guess your gov, knows more about them, back to earlier time last 30s-40s. They didn't have "their land" and so your gov. tried to give them "their land" by Peel Commission. Where does "their land come from?
39. #34 Akram: Keep dreaming
Ace ,   USA   (01.18.09)
After 60 years, people like you are still dreaming. Keep going. Never back to the real world.
40. to JJ from Israel
Mr Popoff ,   Russia   (01.18.09)
You see, if it is a DEMO, it seems to be rather unimpressive to the Hamas. Has Israel got something more impressive in the sleeve? You have the modern army, right, so :just fight when and where it is necessary. You will never defeat the enemy if you stop the fire while the other side is fighting! Here in Russia people think differently, yes, partly due to our "bad asian nature" as we do not buy those "fantasies" of being "civilized" and "ready to make painful compromises". We live in the tough world where being strong means just that! You Israelis live among the beasts trying to do all in their power to harm you. I tell you, JJ, what victory in your case woul look like : dead leadership of Hamas in Gaza, dozens or hundreds dead militants every day, pale and blood-stained faces of the rest of them creeping among the rubble for life, and finally - the OUTCRY to stop the fire, unconditionally. But in Israel there are no leaders or "guts" to make it happen!
41. Mark #19 - why not free Ireland too then?
Eran ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (01.19.09)
You seem so ready to return Israeli land to the fictitious Palestinian people, whose "elected" representatives don't really want peace and continue to fire upon Israeli civilians despite being unprovoked. Why do these same standards not apply to the UK? Why not simply give Ireland independence? Why did the UK fight the IRA for so long? Why did the UK wage war thousands of miles away in the Falkland islands? Europeans are hypocrites who expect Israel to suffer attacks and makes sacrifices no other sovereign nation on Earth would tolerate, likely all out of lingering anti-semitism. Europe failed to kill all of the world Jews several times before in history, and Israel is here to remind you and other idiots - never again.
42. Spot on Eran! But I wonder if Europe is more driven by the
Stewart ,   U.S.A.   (01.19.09)
need for Arab Oil and Gas than antisemetism. Look what Russia is doing to Europe regarding gas. New Europe especially Polland sides with Israel. When you look at what Europe has done lately, it is more pro Israel. I even wonder if Frances cease fire is more smoke and mirrors than anything else. They need to keep good relations with the Arabs as well, but it wouldn't surprise me if they have all this public posturing worked out way in advance with Israel or that Israel knows what to expect. France openly supported Israels right to a state and self defense. Public posturing must be considered.
43. #19 as u well know, some of the "settlers" came from england
r.f.   (01.19.09)
i guess you don't mind having them back, or at least prefare them to pali refugies, who filled your skyline with mosks in all your cities.
44. Limits of restraint
24/01/09   (01.25.09)
It's so unbelievable to read an objective , and not fact-distorting, Israel bashing, 100% pro-Hamas article, written by HAIFA UNIVERSITY professor!!! Unbelievable! Before that I was prone to think that Haifa University was a branch of Bir Zet.
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