Jews are extremely patient people. Through centuries of persecution and dozens of enemies conquering Israel over the Millenia, I think it is more about jealousy. Jews are native to Israel, not Europe. Since Israel was re-created the Arab world is at a loss because they DONT understand Jewish patience, nor are they willing to accept the historical reality that Jews were there before them and the land they had lived in for centures was as squatters on someone elses land. It doesnt jive with their revisionist history books but it is factual.

And rescuing this young Israeli soldier from islamic torture would prove just the opposite. You're so evilly wrong, MISTER Kedar. Israel's strength lies in getting back ALL kidnapped soldiers, just like it does for foreign countries. Politics to the contrary are just plain dirty. Israel should focus on getting back the terrorists it releases AFTER it gets back Shalit - PERIOD. I'm definitely not a holocaust denier, but you can add Entebbe to the list. Entebbe was Israel's LAST STAND, apparently. OF COURSE, these evil terrorists want to kidnap more young Israeli soldiers - they can get away with it. WRONG MESSAGE, Mr. Kedar - get a heart.

No one I speak with want's to hear it though. Before everyone starts posting their idiotic talkbacks maybe you should look into who Mordechai Keder is, he deserves respect, he can be found on youtube, arguing on Al Jazeera in perfect fluent Arabic, he is a highly respectable and intelligent man. Who knows more about Israel than most Israelis and more about Arab history than most Arabs, unlike the morons posting on here who usually haven't a clue about this nation, the region, or anything for that matter.

is he the master in fearless vampire killer in Arabic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D1jeG6YtLU

Why didn't we go after the leadership of ham-ass. They should have been killed long ago along with all the prisoners on their lists. gaza should have been sealed and let the civilians suffer. All tunnels should have been destroyed and all the buildings surrounding them razed. The attack that took place when Gilad was wounded and captured should have had a massive bombing of gaza in retaliation. But we have cowards in control of our government and the I.D.F. And the neo nazi world hates us more than they hate the terrorist killers.

While the image of HAMAS leaders toasting each other on the "success" of their abduction of Gilad Shalit seems to be rising, the reality is, HAMAS attempt at hostage taking left Gaza in ruins, and approximately 1,500 Palestinians dead from the two IDF incursions since then. Bankrupt and beholden to one's enemy is hardly a reality any leader wants to leave with his followers. But that's the reality that the Palestinians are dealing with. Yes, there will be a day or week's worth of celebrations for the Palestinian terrorists that go free. But the larger strategic picture remains the same and its not one of 'victory' except to the most delusional of party stalwarts. There are plenty who have paid the price, that one who hasn't still is breathing shouldn't be seen as a sign of systemic Israeli weakness. The same delusion guides those who see Israel as unable to sustain themselves miss the same Israel that has grown its economy by multiples while their own nations remain mired in poverty and tyranny. Just because one's enemies are content to wallow in their own self delusions and inability to improve their own lives, doesn't mean that we should follow them down that path.

before gaza, sharon dealth with west bank terror with good tough tactics. IDF moved well and israelis felt better about things.Then olmert talked sharon into inilateral withdrawal, sharon takes sick and olmert takes over. Since then, israel has gone to the dogs. Everything olmert touched turned rotten. Now his accomplices risbi, zaken, ask for delays, new lawyers al directed by the king of crooks olmert to deceive and extort. And beilin wanted to support this cheap crook. we will all be so happy did he say? yes he was happy to double bill adn rip off jewish charities -thank you alicia olmert for this gift tot he nation. israel will have a long time to recover from him.

with common sense, & Jewish identity, the better. what we have are 2 bit weaklings who wouldnt know strength of conviction if it stared them in the face

life , thats why they sided with Nazis in ww2 sided with genocidal (kurds) leader saddam hussein reject history and facts of the Jews in Israel you are a 2 bit anti semite who is fixated on the Jews. Have fun choosing to be miserable. you reap what you sow.

David (#1), JEWS may have demonstrated patience over those 2,000 years, but ISRAELIS don't have the same kind of patience. Arabs speak of maintaining resistance for a hundred years if necessary. Iran has spent three decades preparing for an assault on the West. But Israel wants peace NOW, a captive released NOW, no matter the cost. Unlike most of Israel's leaders, who are buckling under the emotional pressure from the Shalit family and their media enablers, Kedar reflects the lesson of the kidnapping of Rabbi Meir of Rothenberg centuries ago. The Rabbi refused to allow the Jews to ransom him, because he foresaw that it would only encourage more such kidnappings. Unless Israel is prepared for more casualties from the acts of released prisoners, the strengthening of Hamas and the weakening of the more "moderate" camp, Israel should just say no to this deal. As an aside, how curious that left-wing academics like Shlomo Sand and Neve Gordon have tenure, and a real scholar like Kedar does not.

Only a nation instilled with ideology and possessing a collective sense of mission and confidence in its righteousness, feeling that it is part of a just historical process and willing to pay and suffer the price of survival in blood, sweat and tears can survive in the Mideast. This region is not a place for European-style guests, who lost the willingness to fight for their freedom and pay for it in the blood. EXACTLY !!!. FOLLOW THE WORD OF JEHOWAH AND PUT ALL WITH BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS TO DEATH. IN THE BATTLEFIELS SUCH TERRORISTS SHOULD BE EXTERMINATED AND EXECUTED. IN COURT SENTENCED TO DEATH AND THEN EXECUTED. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrCal6kE-r4 THE ROAD AHEAD - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWSATpx7uzk Arn-Orao.

Funny, but Hezbollah knows that if they try anything funny again with us, we'll beat the every loving crap out of them again. If Hamas tries to launch lots of missiles at us again, we'll beat Gaza senseless, again. Kedar does not mention Lebanon or Gaza in this article and it's a major oversight on his part. The Arabs understand an iron fist, and they understand in Gaza and in Lebanon that Israel is most certainly at the point where we are using an iron fist. Hamas knows we'll knock of their leadership. Hezbollah knows it too, and their leaders live like rats, scurrying from burrow to burrow. Kedar has this read wrong. Jews are compassionate and value life. This upcoming exchange simply shows the Palestinians again how good life is in Israel, and how pathetic their own mess is. Israel should exploit the opportunity and remind the Palestinians over and over that even though Hamas freed some thugs for one single Israeli soldier, the price included 1500 Palestinian dead, billions of dollars in damage, and a closed border that leaves them dependent on Egyptian goodwill. And we see how much the Egyptians love Hamas.

quite diligently. In the mideast, Arabs only understand unremitting force. Capitulation on our part to appeasers such as Barak, Olmert and Tzpi Livni only left us in worse conditions vis a vis the Arab communities and also undermined Israeli resoluteness. We even allow Arab prisoners, including terrorists and would-be terrorists, educational venues and family visits. From within the prison grounds they sabotage Israeli society and organize for the days when they are released. This is an example of how our "humanity" has gone askew and works against us.

What about the Israelis who brutally and systematically tortured Palestinians? As morally repugnant as it sounds it was 'legal' for decades for Israelis to torture and abuse Palestinian prisoners and detainees. DO YOU THINK ANYBODYS RIGHT, STANDS AGAINST ANYBODY ELSES ???. IF YOU CAN NOT DISRIMINATE BETWEEN WHAT IS THE RIGHT COURSE IN HISTORY, YOU WILL END UP IN OPPOSITE RIGHTS, AGAINST EACH OTHER, JUST AS NOW. WHAT AN SELFDECEIVER YOU ARE. IF INDEED TORTURE ON WOLVES, WITH THE BLOOD ON INNOCENT SHEEPS ON THEIR CONSCIENSE, CAN BRING INFORMATION TO SAVE SHEEPS, WOULD NOT THAT BE THE RIGHTS THING TO DO ???. I AM WRITING OF WARRIORS AND WARRIORMENTALITYS HERE. WOULD NOT GOD SACRIFISE THE WOLVES INSTEAD OF THE SHEEPS ???. FOR THOSE WHO UNDERSTANDS THIS, TORTURE IN SUCH CASES IS AN OBLIGATION ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF JEHOWAH, EVEN IF IT IS A ROTTEN THING TO DO, AGAINST A FELLOW HUMAN BEEING AS SUCH. TAKE YOUR PIC. Arn-Orao.

Kedar is absolutely correct. In fact, the situation is well within the comprehension of an average school child, both logically and morally. It is obvious that freeing hundreds of murderous terrorists to ransom Schalit is a disaster waiting to happen. Who knows how many more Israelis will be maimed and murdered as a result of this lunacy? The average Israeli knows better. That is why the right wing continues to gain strength. However, under Bibi, the right is acting every bit as stupidly and appeasingly as the left. Likud should replace Bibi immediately.

We used to be the most patient people in the world, but now all of that is lost and we want everything now. With the return of the Hebrew language also returned the impatient mantality.

Do not forget that when Jews were kidnapped and taken to Entebbe, we sent our finest and they did what needed to be done. That was when Israel could be proud.

Sorry "Matty", Palestinian Arabs do not have a strong collective sense of mission except as perceived in the self-deceptive heart of romantics such as yourself. As I have explained before, Palestinian Arabs are very internally divided in their views of Israelis as a result of economic dependence versus feeling offended by the very fact of a Jewish state in the mideast. Further internal division is caused by the fact that it is only Israel which protects more moderate Palestinians from the brutal and fundamentalist threat of the Hamas personnel residing amongst them. Finally, Israel and Israelis are seen to blame for the modernization of society and the consequent loss of traditions. Many older Palestinian Arabs decry this state of affairs but many younger ones welcome it. At the external level, I hardly need frame for you the divisions between Hamas, on the one hand, and Fatah on the other. The tortuous discourse and violent actions between the two, i.e., during Israel's incursion into Gaza, hardly gives one confidence that Palastinian Arabs are as one in the collective sense. Remember "Matty", wishful thinking on your part and no amount of propaganda can turn your false facts into reality.

Arn-Orao you have just wasted your time as I don’t read posts from people who use All Caps.

How can you say "The pathetically submissive image of the people of Israel "! Do you really think this is the image Israel has all over the world? Quite the contrary: the people of Israel is seen, unfortunately, as agressive, violent and war hungry!

That someone wrote it like it is..BRAVO..BRAVO..BRAVO..!!!

i think you smoke too much fatty

Motti, greetings to you and your family. If Gilad Shalit is released I am overjoyed for his family. The big winner of course is hamas and the terrorist murderers. The losers are the future victims and their families. The biggest losers are the state of Israel and klal yisrael. But, honestly Motti, when it comes to Jews I am not surprised. Are you? Save my place in schul!

Mordecahi kedar, you are a national treasure. It is time, really, for you to become and MK and be part of government. i' m tired of the same old peaceniks with blinders on--beilin, ben-ami,peres, ramon, olmert, dekal, trugeman and turbowicz running foreign policy. We a need a realist, a tough negotiator, a nationalist. You are that man. get into politics.

caps is not unlike some others who employ pseudonyms such as "Matty Gorves" completely u7nsuited for engagement in a Talkback forum like the present one. I, too, find the use of large caps obtrusive and distasteful but I also found myself having to get around your own pseudonym. Perhaps either a little more tolerance on your part would be useful or, on the other hand, you might wish to reflect on how your chosen pseudonym may reflect (awkwardly) on your commentary.

once more. Normally, collectivity of a particular people such as the Palestinian Arabs would have to do with a common culture unique to those selfsame people plus a shared and longlasting history. There may be more prescriptions but in this case, just as is, we cannot identify a unique "Palestinian" culture in spite of the common language -- Arabic -- and a common religion -- Muslim. The "Palestinian people came from all over the mideast in the twentieth century drawn not by a need to be associated with people who shared a common and unique culture with them (there was none) but rather for economic reasons. As to history, Arabs residing in the vicinity of what is now Israel, Gaza, Samaria and Judea, do not share a common (group) history of any longlasting nature. There is no shared governmental system nor body of art nor literature, etc., which would specifically identify such an historical entity. In fact, without a common enemy ( Israel and Jews), no such creature which is currently called "Palestine" would exist at all. Having written the aforementioned, there still remain memories of the people affected by the 1948 war. In time, when and if these memories take on a mythic value, then we can talk about a meaningful "collective". I would refer the Reader, and especially "Matty", to the psychological and anthropological works of Carl Jung where myths and mythwork and their relationships to culture are studied in brilliant detail.

I simply have not got the time to respond to each and every point you bring up. As to the question of torture, I clearly recall spending a good deal of time on the subject, requesting that the subject be reframed within a social context. And I clearly remember you responding to this dilemma. Do you remember? I put it in terms of what would occur if a terrorist was on the loose in London and threatened you, your immediate family, your colleagues, your friends and the remaining members of Fairport Convention sans their late and beautiful lead singer, Sandy Denny. You responded to this missive. So now you ask me to repeat myself. Apparently either I do not make much of an impression on you or that you have a sieve for a memory.