That's as stupid an opinion as I've heard for some weeks. Think, just for a moment,how Israel gave back all the oil-rich Sinai to Egypt. You may have your moments of brilliance (whoever you are) but posting that talkback was not one of those moments.

Trengo and posters Marcella (always brilliant in her delivery) and Steve. Much appreciated. It is not only Hamas, incidentally, which in its charter proposes, as a significant goal, the obliteration of the state of Israel. The New Fatah Charter also declares (in English translation) that the eradication of the Zionist entity including its military, economy, politics and, lastly, culture is a major goal. I think the latter (culture) is the most significant as it indicates that Fatah possesses, as a primary purpose, the complete destruction of the remains of any Jewish presence on the land (not defined) of Palestine. And what neither Hamas nor Fatah so adroitly indicate is any acceptance of the "Zionist entity" in any part of the region of "Palestine". I have been niave of late, advocating for a two-state solution and admiring Salaam Fayyaad for his activity re establishing an entity identified as "Palestine" by peaceful means. While I believe that Mr. Fayyaad may stand as a significant figure for a peaceful resolution to our mutual problems, how can we make peace with a neighbour (Westbank) whose leading political party (Fatah) refuses to accept our Israel's existence and legitimacy and, in fact, advocates for our destruction? I know that Mr. Fayyaad is not a member of Fatah (nor Hamas) but who does he represent? As to the question of cutting off supplies to Gaza and allowing it to depend on the goodwill of Egypt or entirely on the UN or on shipments from the sea with, or without, an Israeli authority inspecting such shipments or reinvesting ourselves (settlements) in Gaza, I remain perplexed. But I do thank our author and posters for the challenging arguments and the positions they have taken.

If the blockade is lifted won't more rockets pour into Gaza to be used against Israel? I don't get your point. What good is getting Israel off the hook for its share of responsibility for humanitarian need of Gazans if you're only letting an enemy next door build up militarily?

Agreed!

Nice, well-written analysis. I agree with you completely, save for your fears that Gaza left on its own will be allowed to re-arm. Sealing the border with Gaza is one thing. No one said anything about lifting the embargo.

Seal the border, and end this bizarre arrangement of supplying petrol, electricity, and goods to a fiefdom that yearns & schemes to harm Israel. Cut that millstone from your neck.

If the world would stop to think of what would happen if Israel lifted the blockade, they would not want the blockade lifted. Cut off food, water, electricity, medical aid from Israel. Stop the blockade and allow iran, russia, china, and north korea to set up military bases in gaza - and then watch the world squirm after it sees the danger this puts them in. The world is unjustly forcing Israel to stop the blockade so give them what they want - Mediterranean military bases for of all the enemies of the western world. G-d will protect Israel - and the rest of the world may see how foolish it was to stop Israel from protecting its people............ Of course, this will lead to the Obadiah prophecies which will be quickly followed by gog-magog. If the world would realize the above would happen if Israel was forced to lift the blockade, they would not be so quick to condemn Israel for stopping a major threat in the Mediterranean. Israel's blockade is protecting the entire world.

Damn! this is so simple it is brilliant! And, it was just as simple in 2005, so, why the hell it takes forever for any one with half a brain to understand this and do something about it?

I agree, if possible seal the border now the Egypt has opened their crossing. UN personnel can now live in Egypt, not Jerusalem. But do not expect that the corrupt people who condemn Israel now will stop doing so. The leadership of Israel and the people of Israel should really minimize contact with those countries outside of Israel who hate Israel. Now that the Obama administration has shown its true colors, Israel should not seek the US as an ally. The tide has turned against Israel in the Obama administration, though most Americans do still support Israel.

ISRAEL WILL REMIAN REPONSIBLE FOR THE WELL BEING OF GAZARESIDENTS. GAZA STRIP STILL UNDER OUR OCCUPATION. PULLING OUT OF GAZA DOES NOT RELIEF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARD ITS CITIZENS.

It's only a block aid if Israel stops ships and supplies from getting into Gaza. Israel would be sealing her side of the border after all Israel can give electricity or supplies to anyone she wants as a sovereign country in this case nothing would be given to Gaza at all from Israel no electricity etc. No one would stop Gaza from getting it from Egypt. Read my blog from two years ago about this. http://ralphsrant1.blogspot.com/2008_06_01_archive.html

Close the Erez crossing now.Turn of the water and electricity and let all aid come through Rafah under auspices of the Egyptians. I am in total agreement with the article.No more pussy footing around. Hamas is at war with Israel-act now.

The plan of closing Gaza land borders and leave the territory seems perfect. There is only one problem : If Israel wanted to be seen as leaving Gaza it would have to stop the sea blockade of the territory. It does happen that arms could be imported by sea. I doubt Israel would enjoy watching Gaza receiving weapons from Iran . The other solution is to open borders to all trade but not heavy weapons ( Tanks, Missiles , Etc). In that case some kind of sea control could be done in order to prevent weapons smuggling without Israel being grilled by the world

You are assuming a priori that Egypt would provide electricity and fresh water to Gaza. Frankly, I'm not all that sure that they would.

Just expel the Palestinians from both Gaza and the West Bank and send them into Egypt or Jordan. Let someone else take a turn babysitting them!

for obvious reasons, but I've been wondering ever after Cast Lead was over. Why not open sea access for Gaza, then stop all communications with Gaza including transfer of anything and everything and seal Israel-Gaza border. Of course any belligerence coming from Gaza side however small should be dealt with swiftly and harshly. Use of force can be considered disproportional as long as it does not yield desired result. The moment use of force will become "just right" peace will ensue.

Israel should immediately recognize Gaza as an independant state. Open Air Space and Sea Space and cut off all electricity and Aid. Any beligerence from it to be met with normal international war. Then include WB as part of Israel with Jewish majority

you guys were whinning like the little bitches you are.

Thank you. And I also like Steve's comments. He's been indefatigable for years in his advocacy for a strong Israel.

It has several benefits: 1 - it seperates the two conquered entities as they were and begins tying them back to those entities. 2 - If you look at a map, only 1 state can be contiguous. They was 2 chances for a Contigous Palestinian State, 1937, 1947 both rejected by Palestinians. This helps to ensure this outcome which is crucial for strategic and economic viability of Israel. 3 - It removes israel as the OCCUPIER of Gaza, a claim used in Goldstone report which as such restricted Israel's recourse and increased its liability. 4 - No Electricity or Water is better detterant than the siege. Israel should make sure the water is available during the interim period as PR wise it would not bode well for them. But Electricity is by no means a natural human right, how could it be, Water yes, but even today many countries and places do not have electricity, even here in Canada. No, or limited (reduction of some 70%) would be much more detrimental to Hamas' ability to Govern and Fight israel. 5 - THE TERRIBLE DOWNSIDE OF ACTING TOO FAST ON THIS STRATEGY IT REDUCES OUR CHANCES SIGNIFICANTLY OF RETURNING OUR SON TO HIS MOTHER AND FATHER AND THAT IS WHY THIS MUST NOT BE IMPLEMENTED UNTIL GILAD SHALIT IS HOME.

And moreover let us be the first state to recognize the independent state of Gaza. And let us negotiate directly with Hamas, without intermediary, no US no Germany, nobody, just Hanieh and Bibi. Nothing can be worse than what we have now.

What is emerging is that the blockade, which of course is a legal passive form of defense against the aggression of the Islamist Hamas presently controlling Gaza, will change. The new configuration appears to involve maintaining the Egyptian border pass at Rafah open, under supervision of course, while all other access points into and out of the Gaza Strip will be closed. This will enable Egypt to gradually get a handle over Gaza and eventually taking over the Strip and, under UN Security Council 242, as is, will incorporate the Strip into Egypt. As for the flow of water, electricity and fuel, this too should be changed within a year, gradually lowering the amounts from Israel and increasing the amount of supply from Egypt. It only stands to reason that an Arab state, and the largest of them, will be the patron of this Arab territory and not Israel which has been in conflict with the Hamas controlled territory.

The foreign Press exploit our open society, benefiting from the facilities of Jerusalem but making use of the taxpayer funded Media Centre to send unbalanced reports back to their home countries. Press accreditation issued by the Government should restrict reporting to within the Green Line. News organisations wishing to report in the West Bank or Gaza should not be permitted into Israel, forcing the foreign media to create separate facilities and also to live within these areas ( e.g. Ramallah or Rafah) with the sole means of access being via Jordan or Egypt, as appropriate.

I agree 100% with a closure of Gaza, and let somebody else take care of them, but if they still do attack Israel thyey should wiped out. Why does Israel have to justify in front of the world the defense of the country, why a commission. Do the rest of other countries involved in killings do that too? Enough of double standarts!!.