The existence of Israel is too precarious to guarantee anything ,one must take nothing for granted.

Zaev Schev, Israeli military commentator: "For the Israeli army, this is the first war in which many soldiers suffered combat shock and needed psychological treatment. Some of them forgot their own names. The October War has shaken Israel from top to bottom. In the place of our former overconfidence, suspicions have emerged and questions surfaced: could we stand another war?" -- The October Earthquake: Yom Kippur War

Without a restored Jewish state there can be no Battle of Armageddon, massacring All Jews, nor Second Coming of the Messiah.

You really have to laugh at Bechor and his delusions. Firstly it should be remembered that Israel would not exist without the support and funding from the US. Secondly Israel cannot act without the green light from the US and even then it cannot ‘go it alone’ without US support. Thirdly in regard to so-called “US weakness”, what weakness? If anything the US dominance over Israel has increased in recent years. Fourthly what ‘strongest guarantees for Mideastern stability’ can Israel offer the West?! Israel has zero influence over Turkey, Jordan and Egypt in regard to their foreign policies and can only threaten countries like Syira, Lebanon and Iran but can never act upon such threats unless it gets a green light from the US! Fifthly lets looks at what Israel has accomplished in relation ‘stability management’ over the last 10 years: Hamas and Hizbollah have increased their power bases and vastly upgraded their weaponry, Israel has managed to alienate Turkey, Iran has nothing to fear from Israel as it continues to develop its civilian nuclear programme, relationships with Egypt and Jordan have stagnated, Syria continues to improve its defences, the relationships between Iran/Syria/Hamas/Hizbollah have strengthened. In short Israel’s track record in relation to regional stability has been dismal yet Bechor would try and have us believe that Israel is now a greater force in the region that the US?!?! At best Israel is a pawn of the US, if the US wants Israel to ‘serve as a strong guarantee for Mideastern stability’ I’m sure Obama will send Bibi a memo with instructions.

You are so full of yourself and of militaristic arrogance that you fail to see the obvious : US of HUSSEIN wants Israel weak or preferably dead. Think about it : they push Israel to commit suicide by giving to terrorists strategic territory AND by accepting a terrorist state. and Obama does everything to gain time so Iran will get its bomb so Israel will be weaker or nuked. Third, Obama WANTS the US army weak and does his best for that. For a journalist you are very gullible.

Why they don't understand the meaining of peace. Peace can not be acchieved with war.

How exactly would Israel cease to exist without the less than 3% of GDP that the US provides in aid that can only be spent in the US? Israel can and has gone it alone. The fact that Israel is the only ally that the US that regularly takes into account US interests is a bad thing for you? Israel isn't the Middle East. Like any playground bully, Obama is hard as nails with Israel because he knows it is openly, uncritically and unconditionally pro-American and so he can kick it around to his hearts content. Unfortunately when it comes to people who are willing and able to stick two fingers up he resorts to his usual position of getting down on his knees and opening wide. Hamas has increased its power base? Really? In what way? They are more or less limited to a base in Gaza where they have refused to put their "popularity" to the democratic test. Hizbollah? They have kept 100% silent since the last war. Israel has not "alienated" Turkey, they have been used as a whipping boy by the Islamist leadership who on a current basis will be history soon. We'll see what happens with Iran. After all weren't they meant to be going live in Busher a while back? As for Syria, Israel has shown over and over that it can act at will inside Syria, whether it is bombing a nuclear reactor or blowing up a terrorist in the most secure part of Damascus.

While much of your argument makes sense, you make some crazy allegations. Flight from Iraq??? George W. Bush as an agent of peace and security?? Last I checked we still have 50,000 of our armed forces there. Last I checked there is no policy of the previous administration that is sustainable as a force for change. Obama has tried to restore the US image as an honest broker. W, on the other hand alienated and frustrated those who would try diplomacy on the Arab side. You may not like Obama but he is steadfast in support of Israel and sees peace as in the USA and Israeli interest.

You fools!!!! Israel exists because of God, the US just played a role in God's plan. How dare you call Israel a "pawn" of the US, because the success of the US is based on how we treat Israel. Remember, I will bless those that bless you, and CURSE those that curse you. And based on how the current administration is treating Israel, we are in for a cursing.

I thought the US was pretty bad, but Israeli conceit has achieved a whole new level.

If anyone knows the ME, it's this guy. So ya'll better listen to what he has to say. He knows a thing or two about the mindset in the region, the language, the codes etc., etc., and his has proven reliable.

"You really have to laugh at Bechor and his delusions. " I laugh at your lack of any historical knowledge or perspective. "Firstly it should be remembered that Israel would not exist without the support and funding from the US. " Firstly it should be noted that America's and Israel's relationship did not start until after 1967. From 1948-67, the US was relatively hands off and in some ways more in the Arab court. Going so far as to directly intervene in the 1956 war by demanding the withdrawal of British-Franco forces from the Suez Canal and forcing an Israeli withdrawal from the Sinai. The major weapons seller to Israel at that time was France. It wasn't until after that 1967 did France say it wanted to have closer relations with the Arab world turning it's back on Israel, hoping it would lead to major weapons sales to them. Deservedly so the Arabs sided with the USSR, Israel to the USA, and France ended with nothing. "Secondly Israel cannot act without the green light from the US and even then it cannot ‘go it alone’ without US support. " Yes and no, it depends on the security matter. The fact was that Osiraq attack was done by 'going it alone' and the US was outraged, at that time. The fact is that Israel can and will act unilaterally, however must measure the importance the matter to the security of the state. While their is indeed and sometimes a deserved stereotype of overemotional 'look before you leap attitude' in Israel. When it comes to matters such as Iran or Iraq in that case, hard and deep introspective thought reigns. "Thirdly in regard to so-called “US weakness”, what weakness? If anything the US dominance over Israel has increased in recent years. " This is more due simply to the fact that the recent slew of Israeli PM's put simply have been terrible and weak personalities. The fact is that none of the recent PM's Netanyahu, Olmert, Sharon, Barak, and etc. could measure against Israel's greatest PM Levi Eshkol. The fact is that the top of the Israeli political echelon is rotten and hollow, leading to a vacuum where dominant US presidents have more control. " Israel has zero influence over Turkey, Jordan and Egypt in regard to their foreign policies and can only threaten countries like Syira, Lebanon and Iran but can never act upon such threats unless it gets a green light from the US! " Wrong again Pnut matty, Jordan wouldn't exist today if it weren't for Israel. Immediately after black september, Syria attempted to invade Jordan as a repercussion of their dismantling of the palestinian terror organizations. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,904341-3,00.html Israel massed troops and tanks on the border. And then the IAF flew over Syrian troops. After this Syria withdrew, this is just one example of the IDFs stabilizing influence via deterrence. Egypt is now in the throws of selecting a new Pharaoh, and one indirect factor is indeed Israel. Simply because of concern that Israel won't allow instability after Hosni Mubarak, encouraging a far more stable transition of power. Yet another example is that the PA only exists now today, because the IDF props up Abbas. Without them, Abbas would be defenestrated from the Muqata. Turkey in itself is in the process of islamization, but the fact is that Israel here isn't fairly to be blamed, as much of the influence of EU has led to this. In particular with the EU tampering and demanding the dismantling of the fail safes that Attaturk had initially put in to stop this Islamic revolution.

"You really have to laugh at Bechor and his delusions. " I laugh at your lack of any historical knowledge or perspective. "Firstly it should be remembered that Israel would not exist without the support and funding from the US. " Firstly it should be noted that America's and Israel's relationship did not start until after 1967. From 1948-67, the US was relatively hands off and in some ways more in the Arab court. Going so far as to directly intervene in the 1956 war by demanding the withdrawal of British-Franco forces from the Suez Canal and forcing an Israeli withdrawal from the Sinai. The major weapons seller to Israel at that time was France. It wasn't until after that 1967 did France say it wanted to have closer relations with the Arab world turning it's back on Israel, hoping it would lead to major weapons sales to them. Deservedly so the Arabs sided with the USSR, Israel to the USA, and France ended with nothing. "Secondly Israel cannot act without the green light from the US and even then it cannot ‘go it alone’ without US support. " Yes and no, it depends on the security matter. The fact was that Osiraq attack was done by 'going it alone' and the US was outraged, at that time. The fact is that Israel can and will act unilaterally, however must measure the importance the matter to the security of the state. While their is indeed and sometimes a deserved stereotype of overemotional 'look before you leap attitude' in Israel. When it comes to matters such as Iran or Iraq in that case, hard and deep introspective thought reigns. "Thirdly in regard to so-called “US weakness”, what weakness? If anything the US dominance over Israel has increased in recent years. " This is more due simply to the fact that the recent slew of Israeli PM's put simply have been terrible and weak personalities. The fact is that none of the recent PM's Netanyahu, Olmert, Sharon, Barak, and etc. could measure against Israel's greatest PM Levi Eshkol. The fact is that the top of the Israeli political echelon is rotten and hollow, leading to a vacuum where dominant US presidents have more control. " Israel has zero influence over Turkey, Jordan and Egypt in regard to their foreign policies and can only threaten countries like Syira, Lebanon and Iran but can never act upon such threats unless it gets a green light from the US! " Wrong again Pnut matty, Jordan wouldn't exist today if it weren't for Israel. Immediately after black september, Syria attempted to invade Jordan as a repercussion of their dismantling of the palestinian terror organizations. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,904341-3,00.html Israel massed troops and tanks on the border. And then the IAF flew over Syrian troops. After this Syria withdrew, this is just one example of the IDFs stabilizing influence via deterrence. Egypt is now in the throws of selecting a new Pharaoh, and one indirect factor is indeed Israel. Simply because of concern that Israel won't allow instability after Hosni Mubarak, encouraging a far more stable transition of power. Yet another example is that the PA only exists now today, because the IDF props up Abbas. Without them, Abbas would be defenestrated from the Muqata. Turkey in itself is in the process of islamization, but the fact is that Israel here isn't fairly to be blamed, as much of the influence of EU has led to this. In particular with the EU tampering and demanding the dismantling of the fail safes that Attaturk had initially put in to stop this Islamic revolution.

"Had we seen an effective, powerful US Administration in the region, as was the case with George W. Bush, many of these destabilizing elements would have been curbed" LMAO Wow, Bechor is deluded. Bush Jr succeeded undermining US influence in the region when he squandered so much political capital in Iraq. "Bring it on" and oh boy did the Iraqis oblige. Shortly afterward all Bush Admin plans of attacking Iran were shelved and Bush Jr attempted a rapprochement with Iran but whoops too late; the Reformer was ousted and now we have to deal with a megalomaniac by the name of Ahmenhijad. However, in 2-years since Obama has been in power American power has increased. Pakistani sovereignty was totally trampled and continues to be. Iran is surrounded and the US is stocking up on bunker busters as well as reinforcing the naval presence at the Straits of Hormuz. The very idea that the US is weak is the same kind of misconceptions that cost the Japanese and Germans dearly many years ago. USA is an imperial power with imperial interests; it is the sharp edge of the collective imperial interests of the West. There is a growing consensus among European elites that Iran is troubling their collective interests in the ME. If Iran pushes too far the USA will reply. Perhaps, it won't do it on a time-scale that Guy Bechor will find palatable but to claim that Israel is now the guarantor of regional stability and is more influential than the USA in the ME is as ridiculous as when the Iranians do it.

Are you joking? bush did what? He invaded Iraq and cost America over 4000 dead and counting and almost a trillion dollars in tax dollars when it is all said and done. Don't blame the ME current state on Obama just because he wants a comprehensive peace and the withdrawal of American troops from that disgusting sand storm called Iraq. Our job is done in Iraq ie., Baghdad captured and Saddam is done, new Iraqi government (unstable) and army ( weak) but what do you expect in less than 5 years. America can't afford to use its power now we need to reset our military and coffers.

"‘stability management’ over the last 10 years: Hamas and Hizbollah have increased their power bases and vastly upgraded their weaponry, " Sweeping generalization. In the case of Hamas, cast lead and the blockade has forced a more subdued position on them. In the case of Hizb'allah, the failure of the trifecta of stupidity Olmert, Peretz, and Halutz, who all subdued and refused to allow the IDF to use it's full capacity. "Israel has managed to alienate Turkey," Turkey has long been in the process of alienating Israel, ever since Sultan Edrogan has taken over. Or do you forget the Davos incident. http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israel-erdogan-s-davos-behavior-may-ruin-turkey-s-eu-chances-1.267033 There has been a long road before we ever reached the flotilla. " Iran has nothing to fear from Israel as it continues to develop its [nuclear weapons program] (sic), " Keep thinking that, but Israels training missions to Greece and its recently displayed capacity to strike weapons convoys in Sudan tell another story. "relationships with Egypt and Jordan have stagnated," Stagnated? Relationships have always been cold between these countries. The fact that an Egyptian needs a visa from Egypt to visit Israel, is a sign that the Egyptians have long wanted to keep relations frosty. But the recent issues in Gaza have actually dramatically improved relations. We may not be holding hands and dancing in a circle, but Egypt has willingly out of it's volition (read: interests) blockaded the southern entrance to Gaza as well. And Jordan, in all cases is just now a minor player in the region. His only interest is to keep himself king and to pass the thrown on. "Syria continues to improve its defences, " Like how they completely stopped those Israeli jets from destroying that secret nuclear program! Oh wait... Thats another stabilizing factor from the IDF. "the relationships between Iran/Syria/Hamas/Hizbollah have strengthened." It's more like Iran's takeover of Syria, Lebanon and Gaza is nearly complete. "In short Israel’s track record in relation to regional stability has been dismal " In the world of Matty Grooves, devoid of fact, logic, and 'undesirables', yes. "yet Bechor would try and have us believe that Israel is now a greater force in the region that the US?!?! " That is not the case, but the fact is that Omar Bradley once said that Israel is the unsinkable US aircraft carrier in the middle east. "At best Israel is a pawn of the US, if the US wants Israel to ‘serve as a strong guarantee for Mideastern stability’ I’m sure Obama will send Bibi a memo with instructions." And Bibi should return the memo with this statement "Lets talk on Nov 3, hugs and kisses!"

I’ve read through your posts and I still fail to see where you point out that Israel has indeed been a stabilizing force in the ME? And if you had have read my post you would have noticed that I did state quite clearly: “lets looks at what Israel has accomplished in relation ‘stability management’ *over the last 10 years*”. Alluding back to events (eg: Black September) 40 years ago is not keeping with the timeframe I was referring to. Also alluding to ‘possible’ instances of Israeli influence (eg: “Simply because of concern that Israel won't allow instability after Hosni Mubarak, encouraging a far more stable transition of power”) doesn’t count either as this is just conjecture. Regarding: “Yet another example is that the PA only exists now today, because the IDF props up Abbas”. The simple truth is that Israel has no choice in the matter as if the PA didn’t exist Hamas would rise up and fill the vacuum. You point out that “In the case of Hamas, cast lead and the blockade has forced a more subdued position on them” while it is true that Hamas is less active on a military front this is primarily due to the fact that Hamas is now the de facto ruling body in Gaza since 2007 when neither Israel nor the US could stop Hamas from getting elected. Hamas had to change its tactics because it came to power rather than any blockade or Op Cast Lead. It should also be noted that the majority of rocket attacks from Gaza since 2006 and before the blockade have been by PIJ and not Hamas. If anything you reinforce my points by stating that due to incompetent Israeli leadership Israel has been unable to rein in the destabilizing elements in the ME.

You missed a crucial bit of chronology here. Yes Erdogan un-diplomatically exploded in rage at Peres at Davos and this was probably more embarrassing for the Turks than anyone else but this was the result of him being given assurances that there would be no Gaza War when he is in Syria negotiating on behalf of Israel for a settlement. Why else do you think Erdogan takes everything so personally these days? Your final line "Let's talk on Nov 3" reveals your political bias and your utter naivety. Elections have nothing to do with the protection of imperial interests and the elections that matter least are Congressional elections in this matter. Why was Bush Jr considered so radical? Because he broke a time honoured tradition of US imperial policy, which was to abruptly and radically go against previously set precedent. Before him it didn't matter from what side of the aisle the President came from they more or less maintained USA interests the same way. After the serious miscalculation in Iraq the radical neo-cons were ousted out of the Pentagon and State Dept and replaced with more traditionally conservatively minded imperial administrators. It is one of the reasons why Gates was kept at the Pentagon. Obama represents a return to the USA's traditional methods of enforcing its global hegemony after the reversals suffered during the Radical Neo-Con take over of the establishment. The very idea that Obama is a leftist radical is so absurd it beggars belief given his foreign policies. Obama's demands of Israel are no different than Bush's. Obama isn't constrained by sentimentality and one day there will also be a Republican President who will be as brash as Obama is that is, of course, if the occupation continues beyond Obama's tenure as President. You're really clinging to straws if you think elections change foreign policies. Look at history since 2000. Bush Jr is famous for "demanding" Israel adhere to the road map and doing nothing. It made America look like a joke in addition to the fiasco in Iraq.

The author errs in presuming there is broad support in Israel for a "peace deal" with the P.A. Israelis have suffered through far too many deals with the P.A. to want more deals. Many Israelis always pay, with their lives and wellbeing, every time a deal is made with the P.A. Today the P.A. seeks to render Israel indefensible, with an 8 mile waist, and flood Israel with rockets and hostile Arabs as part of the "peace deal". Most Israelis don't want it. It is incomprehensible how any Israeli Jew, outside a lunatic asylum, would favour it.

This guys approach is so old-fashioned and outdated, I wonder if anyone with a brain actually takes him seriously...

110billion since 1949 is even less as a percentage of Israeli GDP. In fact 110 billion is not even one years worth of GDP. 26% of 2.55 billion is a grand total of 663 million USD or 0.3% of Israel's economy. Are you suggesting that Israel would collapse with only 99.7%? So Israel would come under pressure from the UN if it was not for the US? Is this a joke? The US is the main plauers in keeping Israel's nuclear programme a secret? Is this another joke? As for minor matters - I would argue that bombing the Iraqi nuclear reactor was not minor either to Israel, nor the Middle East and certainly not to the US. If you think it is then try and see how Gulf War One would have played out with a nuclear Iraq. So Hamas is in charge of a tiny strip of land and has repeatedly had to resort to force to keep that power. 12 months prior to 2006 Hizbollah carried out 6 unprovoked attacks on Israel. Since 2006 it has carried out zero. "Hizbollah’s purpose is to protect Lebanon not preemptively attack Israel, " - wow, I didn't realise anyone was actually stupid enough to believe this. Turkey is more widely respected by who? Iran? Syria? Wankers shouting free Gaza? Busher primed? Lets see....

They just question its willingness to use it s power. Everyone knows that that the problems in Afghanistan could be cured in a few minutes with a few presses of the right buttons.

Your point? Wishing to show the utter depravity of the Arabs that they would attack the Jewish state on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar? That was 37 years ago, and -- with apologies to The Who -- we won't get fooled again. The 1973 war was a benchmark for Israel for a number of reasons, not the least of which was learning that Israel cannot rely or trust any country. That said -- I remind you that we kicked your ragged asses to the curb. Remember? Israel took a painful number of casualties, but I assure you that Egypt and Syria took far, far more. The difference is that Israelis care; the Arabs don't.

Why is Steve Benassi, obviously not a native American aborigine, living in Minnesota? Because American settlers successfully conquered and occupied the nations already living there. We're doing the exact same thing, only treating the Palestinians a LOT better than Benassi's American settlers and occupation army treating the native Americans.

Well, I have personally dealt with Guy Bechor over the years, and know for a fact that he reads the daily Iranian newspapers in Farsi, and the main Arabic newspapers in Arabic. I somehow doubt the you do that, Edan. And his job is to study the region intensely and he's been doing that for over 20 years. I don't necessarily agree with everything he writes, but he's got a lot of right points in this article.

Danny you seem pretty clueless on most of the matters that we have broached and I suggest that you start Googling. If Israel is so economically solvent why does it continue to need US aid? I can understand that back in the 70’s when the Israeli economy was on its knees it was thanking its lucky stars that it had the US to bail it out but nowadays why does Israel need foreign aid? Danny have you any idea of the amount of times the US has used its veto power in the UNSC to block resolutions against Israel? I assume you don’t so look it up and get back to me once you know what you are talking about. Danny do you even know what the Nixon-Meir accord is? Ie: a 40-year-old secret U.S. agreement to shield Israel's nuclear weapons from international scrutiny. You can Google “Nixon-Meir accord” quite easily and see that it is no joke. When you familiarize yourself with this accord then come back to me and we can discuss how the US has protected Israel for over 40 years. Actually the Iraqi nuclear reactor was not designed to produce nuclear material for nuclear weapons, it was basically a civilian nuclear reactor and you have absolutely no evidence to prove otherwise. In fact all evidence shows that *after* Israel bombed the Iraqi nuclear reactor Saddam started his nuclear weapons programme. So in essence this Israeli attacks started Iraq on the road to develop nukes rather than to destroy a nuclear programme. I fail to see the point you are trying to make - if any. <12 months prior to 2006 Hizbollah carried out 6 unprovoked attacks on Israel> 6 unprovoked attacks you say - not according to my records, why don’t you list these 6 unprovoked attacks? <"Hizbollah’s purpose is to protect Lebanon not preemptively attack Israel, " - wow, I didn't realise anyone was actually stupid enough to believe this> Tell me Danny what is Hizbollah’s purpose? Do you know? Can you actually quote Hizbollah on it’s stated goals?

To both pro and con; Keep your talkbacks brief. I don't read the long winded ones and probably neither do most readers.