Opinion
Is Israel turning into Iraq?
Eitan Haber
Published: 28.01.10, 10:09
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35 Talkbacks for this article
1. Yes.
Lama Aliti ,   Netanya, Israel   (01.28.10)
2. No i think Iran would be a better description
Avi ,   Israel   (01.28.10)
Say no to religious Coercion !
3. Do Something To Change Things
Christy ,   Boston, US   (01.28.10)
Don't just throw up your hands while you watch these things happen. Do something, however small, to counter this trend you see. Get together with like-minded people and become a group of people who will demand, and work for, change. Stay with it for the long haul. Change comes slowly. Start at the local level. Look at the 'teabaggers' in the US. Many people make fun of them. But, they are joining together in small groups around the country to work for change. People here are listening because they're getting their message out. They are encouraging other people to act and get involved. I *know* it can seem overwhelming and seem like nothing can be done. If you keep thinking this way, nothing will be done. Nobody will do it for you.
4. There is nobody to put things in order.
bruce ,   hula valley israel   (01.28.10)
i agree it's like the wild west in the mid east
5. Mr. Haber
Ricardo Macher ,   KarneiShomron Israel   (01.28.10)
Order! Respect for the Supreme Court! No crooks in the streets! Dear Mr. Haber, your way of thinking is at least antediluvian, you long for a Stalinist state were the government takes Gd's place. People act like that because of the complete failure of your ways (highly shared by Mrs. Beinish) and all the high echelon of politicians who think when elected they still represent just their followers and are not civil servants for the whole of Israel's people. You need some lessons about democracy, your system has been in use for more than 60 years and it failed in education, moral, etc., being saved only by the inner strength and believe of the Jewish people. Please! Do step aside and rethink, maybe you will understan reality!
6. So much for the so called civilized society of israel...
Peter ,   Vienna-Austria   (01.28.10)
7. That's why he threw the shoe!!!
Airborne ,   Jerusalem   (01.28.10)
This guy knows nothing will happen to him. A slap on the wrist maybe. People like attorney Avigdor Klagsbald for example who killed two people while drunk driving gets a 10k nis fine and 13 months in jail. 10k NIS FOR KILLING TWO PEOPLE??? GOTTA BE KIDDING ME. Their car was worth more than that! What is the public to think with rulings like that?? People think they can get away with anything because the courts are a joke. Why is the most favorite phrase in this country, "Me atah bichlal"? - Who are you anyways? People always yell this because they feel that nobody can tell them what to do. They are above all including the law. This place has turned into the wild west and the courts are to blame.
8. to #2 arabs also don't pay taxes what is
ghostq   (01.28.10)
your point? and they also drink and drive.
9. Such a great theory!!!!
Philip ,   Afula,Israel   (01.28.10)
Another crap article by a "B" grade journalist writing a midweek potboiler. Somebody throws a shoe and suddenly everything is getting worse.Law enforcement never was very good in Israel and maybe because everybody thought that if the Government can cheat us then we can cheat them back.The old story of a chain , cant be stronger than its weakest link, or that the example must come from the top. If the truth be known things have improved over the last decades because of the media, just to give you some idea of how corrupt things used to be.
10. to #6 oh don't even go there, we all know
ghostq   (01.28.10)
what happened after the 20th pint of beer ;P
11. No. 6 Peter
NYC Girl   (01.28.10)
Interesting to see an Austrian appointing himself the arbiter of civility in Israel. After all, wasn't your country one of those, that when the thin veneer of civility was stripped away, turned out to be a society that welcomed the racist, genocidal Nazis? And if you're going to claim that Austria was also a victim of Nazi tyranny, you can spare us the historical revisionism.
12. The problems started when Haber brought in 50.000 terrorists
Tomer ,   Herzeliyya   (01.28.10)
and gave them guns.
13. legal branch worked hard to deserve contempt
Gregory ,   Rehovot, Israel   (01.28.10)
Part of the problem is that journalists complain together with the rest rather than analyze problems. Even a simple analysis shows that in this country the main problem of ungovernability is that the law branch interferes with the other two branches. On the other hand, unlawful interference of the executive branch and Knesset into legal proceedings is not seen despite many cases against politicians. Therefore, our legal system deserves some contempt for it legal activism, which makes the country ungovernable.
14. I wouldn't call it the law of the jungle....Yet
Jojo ,   PRTWASHNY   (01.28.10)
Yes Eitan Haber, Israelis do whatever they feel like doing. Laws galore do exist in the books (only), but our not so glorious Govt is too busy?. --- Flying around the world (1st class), having countless meetings, hiring maids and chauffeurs according to their status, asking for raises (for themselves) and, you will notice that their embonpoint (girth for you) is expanding nicely--- so The food must be good. Yes they are to busy to be bothered with slaughter on the roads, on the beaches, in cafes (terrific tools these motorcycles); as well as robberies plaguing homes, stores, warehouses. Lets not forget drugs that Israelis love to death, or soldiers selling weapons to the enemy and some mayors of some cities and towns using their treasuries as private banking. Did I miss padding expense accts?. Anyone watching "honest weight ' in our stores or open markets?, like the CEO of a chain last year telling us that he sleeps well, while employees were busy changing " sell by " dates or the one selling us something called "fish" made in China ? I don't think so
15. #10
Israel Israeli ,   Tel Aviv   (01.28.10)
There is something missing from the articles about the shoe incident. Mr. Cohen says that Benish ruined his life. Why aren't we told what Mr. Cohen thinks she did? Did she make a fair decision he wasn't happy with, or is he another victim of the "justice system" which doesn't care about the little guy. And a question to Haber. Why is he so concerned about Benish? Where was he when an extreme-Left activist attacked then-minister Ruby Rivlin?
16. Israel turning into Iraq
khalil Beg ,   london.uk   (01.28.10)
I wish not that Israel should be in the same state as Iraq is. I prefer it will be better of for Israel to be as was Iraq was in previous regime Israel is the only stable state in the middle east.you arew changing because you are depending on the American influence ,come of this and become a kosher state . thank you
17. haber and chaos
alexi   (01.28.10)
haber, blame your self for your delusional iraq and israel comparison. israel is not islamic.and you put mr. corruption in ower-olmert. You dankner, haaeretz with yoiur phony olmert lies, you, livni, ben ami, beilin. Take antidepressants. See adoctor. Infrequently, incidents happen in a society, in the courts and they don't mean what you think they do. It is clear from yoiur comments for some time that you need 30 days in a pych ward because you are suffering from depression. oslo was a disaster. Wake up!
18. in any other normal country,it would not have been a shoe
chaim ,   brooklyn ny   (01.28.10)
in any other normal country,these criminaly insane traitorous so called judges,would have been put on trial for sedition,and if found guilty they would be marched in front of a firing squad and would get a bullet between the eyes,not a harmless pair of shoes
19. "Deterioration of impartiality"
DT ,   TA Israel   (01.28.10)
It is a reflection of the Left wing nepotism of the Supreme Court
20. More Civilized than Austria...
stephen ,   NYC, USA   (01.28.10)
Aren't you from the same Austria in which even the far left goes to polically pander at the grave of a Nazi war hero? Wait, do you live in the same Austria in where Skin Heads proudly strut around college campuses spreading hate and 'national pride'? The very proof of Israel's civilized nature is this critical article. An article, I might add, that would never be printed in Gaza, Syria, Iran or, for that matter, Nazi Austria. Why is it that whenever Israel does some national soul searching (the mark of a civilived nation) so many people jump on the State's back screaming 'savage?' Peter, maybe you should spend more time looking at ways to make Austria a more civilized member of the community of nations.
21. Thank you ...
Rafi ,   US   (01.28.10)
Eitan Haber for having the courage to point out the reality of the current corrosive trends. To #17 Alexi and others with similar views: know that your approach will ultimately be responsible for adding another chapter to the list of Tisha B'Av-type tragedies.
22. to #10 the point is that phisically attacking
ghostq   (01.28.10)
jusge isn't the answer, if he think the legal system failed him he should have turn to the media or file complaint on the judge like everyone else you as well don't know all the fine detailes of his case, true the democratic system suck sometimes and judges can realy ruined someone life but now not only none will help him he is arrested for not using his head, he made his situation even worse, take my advice since he doesn't look like a person who can effort a lawyer go to the media or get some legall charity org involved, they can realy help in some cases, but now after this with all the witnesses he got lost case, none will take his especially when he got no money.
23. The Left suddenly gets upset
William ,   Israel   (01.28.10)
When terrorists were streaming into Israel and targeting civilians, many on the Left were protesting against IDF actions and even making themselves human shields to protect the homes of terrorists. Suddenly, a bastion of their power is attacked, and not as a regular occurence but a one-off incident. NOW the Left is called to action - to proclaim that society is breaking down and their values are being attacked. In reality - the Left is quite comfortable in siding with terrorists and despots, to sending innocent people to jail while keeping Arabs MKs who work against the State blatantly OUT of jail....UNTIL they feel the pinch personally. The Left wasn't concerned for the lives lost in Jerusalem, Sderot, and Netanya by terrorists, but once Tel Aviv coffee houses were hit, they suddenly have a semblence of humanity. Their reaction to this show-thrower is no less than a shining example of their hypocrisy and egotism.
24. To: No. 6
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (01.28.10)
Rather strange, coming from someone who has "gifted" to the world the likes of Lueger, Hitler, Eichmann, Heim, Seyss-Inquart, Bothe, Brunner, Kaltenbrunner and Waldheim, to name but a few (and may all their names be cursed throughout eternity). One scarcely remembers Mozart -- the foregoing are your legacy, Peter. Mass murderers and thugs. You are the last person on the face of the earth to comment upon civilized society -- coming from Austria, as you do, you have no experience with civilized society. You should refrain from addressing topics that you know nothing about.
25. The president of the high court acts like saddam!
jason white ,   afula,israel   (01.28.10)
26. A guy throws a shoe and you
Josh   (01.28.10)
27. Chill, Haber... It was only a verkakte shoe!
Josh   (01.28.10)
28. throw a shoe
nana ,   jerusalem   (01.29.10)
it is to deminise the other or to say you do not agree with the other but it do not tell that it is wright or the other is wrong it does not means israil will be iraq or any other country .. i think using of a shoewas well known in this land between brothers and neibours but newly it is used in polices
29. I used to live 5 years in TA
John ,   formerly Tel Aviv   (01.29.10)
and I can assure you, that everything is right, what the author wrote in this article. People behave horribly to each other, just the word "sorry" is just unknown to the major crowd. It s a pity, because it could be the land of milk and honey!
30. Israel and Iraq
cares1996 ,   usa   (01.29.10)
While these states have some mutual adversaries,such as Iran,terrorism and other people that just seem to have a problem with freedom and democracy,Israel is a successful democracy that`s under assault,Iraq is a newborne democracy that hasn`t realized the benefits of democracy yet.
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