A beautiful article.

purely for dangerous xenophobes to nod along to. you are a rogue nation, with values not in synch with genuine humans and should be ashamed of yourselves. frauds, liars and killers with the sole aim of personal enrichment and land stealing. the world sees you for what you are, and those that you bribe and blackmail for support will turn against you in the end, as will your god.

Thank you for your apt and accurate description of Britain : " Xenophobes ,not in synch with genuine humans ,frauds liars and killers with the sole aim of enrichment and land stealing ,the world sees you for what you are." Should you disagree john ,please ask yourself just how did england acquire its Empire (Malvinas ,Gibraltar ,Hong- Kong and countless other places stolen by the British ) and how did Britain acquire its wealth : Elgin marbles ,stolen gold etc etc .Brits in glass houses have zero business throwing stones at others. Y'all have a nice day now.

Take a look in the mirror ,you have just described england perfectly : immoral ,wicked ,murderous, land thieving ,fraudulent. The psychiatrists call this "Projection." It means "projecting" everything you dislike about yourself onto others.Go visit a good shrink and enjoy your broken ,bankrupt Britain .May you sink and be overrun by untold millions of foreigners like you deserve ,G-d Willing.

Mumbo -jumbo merchant ,aka John .Please visit THE BRITISH MUSEUM in London ,in Bloomsbury if I am not mistaken .There ,you will see priceless treasures plundered and looted from foreign countries by you brits. Hurts doesn't it ??

Thank you for your kind words. I'd be happy if you could forward the article to friends, family and co-workers. Thanks again.

Based on your words you need to come join us here in Israel and help bring about the much- needed changes. What do you think?

Thanks for your comment. To answer your question, I’m speaking very generally about some of our leaders. Although it’s true that relatively speaking the current leadership has some good people, when push comes to shove they’re not so different than the others.

Thanks for your comment. I agree that freedom comes with responsibilities and in this realm Israel is more responsible than most nations (and frequently ‘too responsible’ to the point of sometimes putting their own soldiers at risk). The problem with Israel is that they’re so sensitive to criticism and that they so much want to be liked and accepted, that frequently they’re afraid to do what is in their best interest because of possible negative reactions both from without and from within. The level of hypocrisy directed at Israel is insane but for the most part their leaders are too afraid to tackle this. The reasons for all these problems are very important but beyond this short comment.

Excellent well written atricle that makes so much sense. Thankyou for answering some of the various talkbacks. Its great to know that we are able to interact with you here.

Brovo again to Ynet and the author of this fine article.

Thanks for your compliment. Regarding the interaction, it's my pleasure. There is nothing that I would love more than to create a true dialogue in order to help advance ideas and eventually change the whole mindset of the nation.

I know you ignored my earlier question, the fact that you see Israel's actions in the War on Gaza puts you squarely at odds with reality and the way the world perceives Israel. But OK, leave that aside and please tell me, or show me would be better, an official map of Israel showing the final borders. Frankly, as an American, I find myself just like the Palestinians who are being asked to recognize Israel and yet not know where Israel actually stops. Please provide a link to an official map to clear this up for everyone.

referring to Ashkenazi Jews, says that we spend too much time excusing and explaining ourselves as though we have no legitemate right to exist (see the novels and short stories of Franz Kafka). My son-in-law, a Sephardic Jew born in Israel is, in his indelicate way, quite right. So, as you indicate, we need to respect ourselves more as true citizens of Eretz Yisrael and as Jews. More to the point, I think diaspora Jews are overloaded with the problems of identity as Jews. I had that problem myself, given my upbringing in North America and my poor Jewish education. It was only resolved on coming to Israel as an old man. Even that would not have been accomplished had my daughter not converted (mother not Jewish) and had she not married an Israeli (my dear but sometimes difficult son-in-law whom I love as the son I never had) and had they not moved to Israel. It's really a bonus that you, the writer of the article, take part in the Talkbacks. I wish this would become a permanent part of Ynet writers and posters. Here my feminine side may be "coming out" but I do wish we had more interaction and fewer (none) anonymous posters. I think the latter fact often ruins communication as it allows people to insult, taunt and deride without any effective consequences. Ynet take notice!

Thanks. Regarding your (Robert Haymond) comment about the interaction between the writer and the readers, I agree 100%. Birdi (# 42) also mentioned something about the interaction. I'll bring this to the attention of my contact at Ynet although I'm not sure something will happen. I'm assuming that it depends on the writer himself and his willingness, or time, to read through the talkbacks and to respond. Nonetheless, I'll see what I can do. Thanks again.

I'm not ignoring you but since our worlds/understandings/mindsets are so absolutely different, I don't feel the need to respond because I don't think anything positive will come out of it. Nonetheless, and despite what I just said, I will comment on one thing you wrote. In comment # 45 you wrote that my understanding of Israel's actions in Gaza puts me "squarely at odds with reality and the way the world perceives Israel". Obviously I disagree with you concerning what you call 'reality'. More importantly, my chief concern is not how the world sees Israel but rather how Israel (the Jewish people) sees Israel.

...and the human rights violations that will accompany such a continued and odious enterprise. I'm not surprised you don't care about what the world thinks. If you got out of the self-imposed bubble of censorship and militancy within Israel, you would find that Israel is on such shaky ground you might not have an Israel to preach to in any meaningful way for much longer. Slogans and nationalism are nice and all, but reality has a way of biting hard.

Cherokee (Michael Hess) why is it so impossible for you to show respect to your fellow man ? Do you think that by you pushing & prodding Yoel to answer you, he will answer ? I have tried to explain to you (& Matty) so many times; we Israelis DONT appreciate being prodded,pushed & spoken down to (disrespected) There are not many journalists around who will answer talkbacks about their own articles & we are more than lucky to be able to enteract with Yoel here.

Excellent article. Touched on many of things we were discussing over pesach (family/friends) and I agree with everything you wrote. As well, excellent job on receiving such great feedback, especially in relation to your involvement in the talk back. Hope to read some more of your writing soon.

...tell me sweetie, how do you think asking for the official map of Israel showing its borders is disrespectful? That's right sweetie, it's not. I can provide an official map of any number of countries. But not Israel, never Israel. The only Middle East state with ever expanding borders... And sweetie, Yoel's silence is acquiescence. And it speaks volumes.

Cherokee, the "any numbers of other countries" have not been fighting for their survival since their inception, whereas Israel has. For a map of Israel,simply refer to google. "Israel within Boundries & Ceasefire Lines."

...you see in a civilized country, a real democracy, a country proud of itself, it declares it final borders. Like the United States. We don't illegally occupy others land, this country is ours and I can provide you with official US Government Printing Office maps of our borders. Israel, a occupying and expanding pseudo colonial entity, is not a real country, you don't even have an official map... Come to think of it, that's why Israel seems to be under attack. Instead of being happy with the half of the original Mandate that Israel got, Israel is so far up to 78% of the Mandate and it is quite obvious to the world that the religious extremists in charge of Israel will not stop until you get 100%. However, that won't happen because Fayyad is going to declare independence and President Obama will be first to recognize the new state of Palestine. Attack and laugh then Birdie, laugh very hard...

By the time the Palestinians get their state, your Obama wont be in power any longer. Israel is not under "attack" physically but verbally. Right Cherokee, "Israel is not a real country" nope we are a figment of our imagination ! I am not in an attacking mood and I am laughing at you. Your Obama cannot force Israel into anything she refuses to do. If the US sanctions Israel,believe me, we will manage.Our survival as a nation is foremost in our minds. You pretend to know so much about Israel, but,alas,you really dont.

It's really hard for you to claim Israel is a real country yet you have no official map. How unfortunate for you. P. S. Maybe you should read a little more wildly. Contrary to some wingnut prognosticators ideas that President Obama will be a one term President. It is most likely he will be reelected, my wife and I and all of our neighbors will be voting for him. He's doing a great job. President Obama wants to see a state of Palestine one year before his first term ends. With General Dayton and Salem Fayyad's great work on institution building it will be a reality. Then there will be a map.