Cool is being honest and not delusional in thinking you gave the world anything but problems! Oh, and what you think you gave..you got from US... TATA

none of the above mentioned is cool as u claim lapid... the idf is moral!!??human rights org. criticize Israel for no reason..!!? u kill kids in gaza by mistake?!!!what the hell r u talking about... it's the filthy occupation that makes every1 thinks u r not cool, and never been...u were cool in the eyes of some racist regimes like S.africa's. but not in the eyes of free democratic ones... wake up and c the light

a simple: correct! !!!especially the last sentence- there is a lot to say about this and the first step is to let go the past completely!!!! for you, for us the Jews - we harm ourselves with this long past of persecution- we need badly to heal this, to forgive and LET GO- we are a great and loving people but we are carrying ceenturies of persecution with us and it poisens ourselves and nobody else!!! - therefore it is the main issue to release all this stuff. and it is the most important step to self-love which is something else then selfishnes. Schanah Towa and hopefully a New Year of Inner change and true integrity- only then change can be seen and be realized also in the outside world. Its a hard work but it is a work we have to do to be free and at the same time we will free also the others as we are all connected and bound together. We started to do the work - we have to finish it as well...

Mr Lapid, This is one of your finer articles (since I have started reading most of them in the past year or so). It is true that many of our most advertised success stories now appear tainted (often exactly for the reasons you stated). Israel is being tarnished. The army of triumph is now the army of occupation! The image of the Israeli scientist and intellectual is now replaced by rude, loud and often stingy holidaygoers. Israel is now known as a country to export arms and Jerusalem as a place of eternal damnation of religious extremism, rather than a place of heritage. And it is true that in quite a lot of the cases Israelis have themselves to blame. As you said, Israelis often advertise how other Israelis try to rip them off and are rude. It is also well known that cultured Israelis often try to ignore other Israelis when abroad, for fear of getting stuck with the loud rude guys... But worst of all, Israelis do little to act except say 'the world is against us'. The world IS against Israel, but there is a LOT Israelis can do about it and instead of helping, they continue to hinder. It's a sad sad state of affairs, however not a surprising one. There is a cultural shift in Israel itself from the fearless communitee workers to the always-working-i'll-never-be-a-'frier' (sucker) individualist society it is becoming. I'm not saying the former was perfect, it was far far from perfect.. however more and more it feels like there is a lack of balance for many people in the country, and they end up overly individual to the point of distrusting others in their society, which has clear repercussions.

What exactly caused the world to think israel was "cool?" Wasn't it things like entebbe, or just the fact that Jews didnt just go "to the beach"--we actually took up arms and asserted out right to be here. THAT's what made us cool. Are you trying to tell me that giving in or apologizing for a few civilian casualties will make things better? THAT is what gives them ammunition to weaken us. Sure we can admit a mistake, but if the israeli left thinks surrendering prisoners, money, ideals, our homeland, etc. makes us cool, then reread lapid's "cool" list above.

If we were cool we would: 1. Stand up for ourselves at all times. 2. Promote our identity, not wash it out with other peoples' languages and culture. Ever Israeli was a linguist in Israel's early days. 3. Be willing to defend ourselves with arms if needed. (see lapid's examples) 4. Be willing to play politics like all other "cool" countries. 5. Learn that giving in leads to a perception of weakness and leads to even more giving in. 6. Learn history. Don't believe what western media tell us (which TV stations do Israelis watch?). 7. Learn what we are rebelling against. The establishment is western imperialism--Israel was cool when it asserted its identity to the world (east and west), and came back home.

It's not just what others think that matters. Since most israelis watch western TV, the common perceptions in these outlets will become our children's. Also, most Jews are still outside Israel and their opinions of israel hinge on what they see us do. If we are self-respecting and outwardly show it, they will want to join us. If we are weak then we have more Israelis leaving. External perception is a tool that has been neglected for too long in this land and the world's perception has become our own. They will never love us, but if you want the world and all the Jews in it to respect us we need to show them who we really are. We settled for 23% of palestine, our homeland, and now we are ready to settle for even less. Is this who we are?

Ok im not even Israel, (well yet), i speak hebrew after living there for ages after seeing the way all the israeli pick up so easily here in australia, i have started to use my hebrew with girls in clubs and bars here It works They Love It Israel is very cool If the blonds of Australia think so, who else matter!!!!

Well I'm a Christian~American and I say Israel is still VERY COOL and I still love you and you all, because you are still God's people and He still loves you and all of Israel... God will always win when it comes to Israel, as He always has...

Hot: Girls; beaches; kibbutz; wine; cheeses; strappy tops; bikinis; sailing; kite surfing; democracy; rule of law; free press; work ethic; leftists; importance of family; basic decency of most Israelis; care for your own (e.g. Shalit) What's not: Bibi; extremist settlers; scowling faces under knitted kippas; French and Americans being more Israeli than Israelis; surly teenagers at checkpoints; guns everywhere; thinking God is a realtor; burning tires because a car park is open round the corner; putting women at the back of buses. Simple really. It's not that Israel is not cool. It's that the cool bits are masked by the deeply uncool elements. Sort them out and bask in the love again.

You israelis just dont think you even need this tool untill your put against the wall....for every lie the arabs drum you should of made a bigger louder drum of the facts....but you guys have thought ...we dont need too....now the arab lies are understood too be truth in the world arena...so now every israeli needs too make a louder much bigger drum so the world can hear.

We don't have to be cool. We never were and never will be. Look at our history. What we have to do is believe in ourselves. That we do have a right to be here. If we are attacked,we attack back. We don't have to suck up to the world and explain everything. What other country has to explain defending theirselves. NONE A bomb for a bomb,a rocket for a rocket. We have to be Proud,not cool.

Well then, in that case- You are definitely not cool. Not too savvy in world politics either, or the way the military game is played, apparently. The US gave Israel what it needed to give Israel, for the US self-interests in the Middle East. Oh, and the country you think is yours... really belongs to the Native Americans, that cute politically correct term you use for Indians over there.

keffyas around their necks are "miserable people", sad, tragical history has proven plenty that quite a lot of them are. Mr Lapid most surely refered to these when he meant who this miserable and ignorant Julio wants to identify with. So, go on cringing till you get blue in your Jew hating face. Nothing will help the likes of you because I am never going to ask forgiveness from the Israel-hating world for simply defending myself and for willing to survive.

post is sheer and frightful threat to my fellow Israelis make me never wish to be cool. In the face of such raw and outright millitant hatred I can only say NEVER let it happen. And, believe me Biladi, when I start defending myself people like you should better mark my words. You know, this century-long hatred initiated by the intransigent, murderous Arab world and put into practice against the Jews and then against Israel has to be finally put an end to, that is, by us. By doing this, we don't give one damn to whether we are or not cool. And by the way, since when do you speak on behalf of the entire world seeing us this or that? Oh, it's only little people like you posing into megalomaniacs !

Two American losers looking for an outlet for their blind hatred of Israel, using the usual lies, disinformation and silly cliches. Well you two can get stuffed... The friendship between the US and Israel would survive idiots like you.

Do not concern yourself with trivia such as whether you are cool or not,leave the narcisism for Obama.

About being cool / uncool.I am naturally cool and I don't give a damn..

The new Hitler of Iran,monkey boy,would have been eliminated by the Mossad long ago.When a few million Israelis will go up in smoke do NOT say you were not warned.Rather,focus on the really important issues such as whether the nations regard you Israelis as cool or uncool..

Just go be cool ,jump into a swimming pool just don't be a fool nor a useful tool,just move your feet and get with the beat and suffer the heat,the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune ,it aint what you wear that makes the world unfair ,so save your indignation for the United Nations with their deliberations and procrastinations for the nation.Hey brother,don't be such a mother let's just love and respect each other.RESPECT DUDE...

IF you can keep your head when all about you.Are losing theirs and blaming it on you ; IF you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,But make allowance for their doubting too, IF you can wait and not be tired by waiting,or,being lied about don't deal in lies,or ,being hated don't give way to hating,And yet don't look too good,nor talk too wise ; IF you can dream and not make dreams your master ; IF you can think and not make thoughts your aim ;If you can meet with triumph and disaster. And treat those two impostors just the same ;If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch ;If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you.If all men count with you,but none too much. If you can fill the unforgiving minute with 60 seconds worth of distance run -Yours is the earth and everything that's in it,And-which is more,you'll be a man my son ....AND COOL.

One reason for our t failure is that we do not show the murderous nature of our enemies - how the suicide bombers' mothers took such pride in them, their kindergartens that educate towards killing Jews, and how they named their streets and football teams after the murderers, and the like... But the main reason for our failure is that Israel has abandoned the hasbara [public relations] front. Shimon Peres said after Oslo that hasbara is no longer necessary in Europe... To understand what really hapend consult : http://xrl.us/bi3f7

it is not becouse i was cool but i was uncconciouse. and it was to wake up ..lapid what do you want you want to say that the -others - slap israil becouse it deserve it

Now, go and beat yourself up and then take a good, long look in the mirror.

coming when you are unite. Israel has been torn apart. Morokaim, Russim, Ethiopim etc. Do you, Yair, see any unity among what you, Israelis, call 'one nation'? Do you, Yair, put on the same level all Jews from all parts of the World? Do you, Yair, feel the same feelings towards Russians, Ethiopians and Morokaim? There are no one united Israel. There have never been before one Israel, Yair. It's a bluff, Yair, your united people of Israel. That's why there are no any signs of coolness. Many people will leave Israel soon. That will be cool for them. New, free of Zionist's lairs life.

On your head Yair at least you will have the satisfaction of knowing you were cool.Just like the german jews of seventy years ago who did not believe it could happen to them.

want to become cool again? Put your safety and well being above all else and stop caring what each and every "well meaning" delusional fool thinks Israel should do to look cool. And lastly, cemetery is full of cool idiots. P.S. He wants to look cool. You are a Jew and you are alive in the middle of huge pack of rabid dogs who do not dare to jump you. What is more cool than that?

That is the only one cool thing they can do to make all the World a little bit better.

I gave up wanting to be cool, just like most people, when I graduated from high school. The definition of cool changes with each generation and it isn't something a mature citizenry should aspire to. Israel should NOT aim to be regarded as cool by other nations of the world. Aim for feared and/or respected. Whatever it takes to cause your enemies to leave you alone... this is what you should strive for.