Our weak political leadership (and I include the politicized upper echelons of the military) are sapping our morale & the morale of the IDF. They are draining the spirit out of us, leaving many alienated, apathetic, & without hope.

This is a common error in the translation from ancient Arabic. It's not 72 virgins, it's a 72-year old virgin. Sorry for all your martyrs.

The purpose of the I.D.F. is to protect Israel. Not to accumulate modern weapons for the sake of accumulating modern weapons. In order to achieve peace, Israel needs to resoundingly defeat "Palestinians" and end their hopes of destroying our state. Than they will eagerly take up our offer of compensation to leave our land. Resounding military victory is necessary for peace in Israel as the Allies' resounding WW II victory was necessary for peace in Europe and Asia.

so don't under estimate them.

For all those retarded individuals who are laughing because, thank G-d, the IDF is strong just remember the words of the great US President Reagen "Peace through Strength". When we have a superior army then that will make any rational person think twice before attacking us but unfortunately the Arabs are not rational and they do not care if they lose another war so they will start a new front and then they will get their A...s kicked as usual.

Thats why when there are missile attacks from terrror groups like Hizbollah and Hamas, the sirens are blazing through half the country. Oh, you must live Tel Aviv, the city that thinks its LA with the nearest border 1000 miles away. Israel can not suffer a first wave attack while it uses its deterrence to punish the attackers. When the suicide nukes start playing, all bets are off.

comatose just like Sharon did then wait for while until Jesus come back and all those lost sheep are reborn then we all can sing a lasting song called peace along the way evil people shall die

a good chest thumping on ynetnews. In the meantime, google "C-802", "Eilat Sa'ar 5" and Iran. The first is a very old missile which Hezbollah defenders used to blow the crap out of the second which is very new and powerful. Once you get what happened to Israel's shiny boat off the coast of Lebanon thanks to Iranian help, we can talk about Israel's "unprecedented military advantage over enemies" ;) Until then keep hallucinating.

Get used to it. Maybe Mr Bechor's intention is to brag - I don't know. As far as I am concerned his article merely informs. But since anti-Semites have generally speaking a very low IQ and very low self esteem and self confidence they feel threatened by the very existence of Jews and Israel and therefore they cannot tolerate Israeli military superiority for that superiority is what saves Israel and serves as an obstacle for our enemies to kill us. No of course not - you are not ant-Semitic. If we have a strong military apparatus - you're angry, accusing us of being "aggressive", "militaristic" and you are accusing of "bragging". If Israel's economic growth is astounding in contrast with the economic downturn in America, EU and the rest of the world - you are accusing us of "parasitizing" on others - implying and refering to the ancient accusation that Jews "want to take over the world and use blood for Matzah". If Israel is more technologically and scientifically advanced than most nations - we are being accused of obtaining or "stealing" technology from America. If we win our wars - again we are accused of relying on America. If we combat the deserts, drought and malaria swamps, then geniuses like Salma will accuse us of uprooting trees. If there is overwhelming evidence that we Jews are the ancient, historical and native population of Israel, we are being accused of being "newcomers" or "colonialists". If Jews are attacked you are silent. If Jews strike back - you protest. You are not anti-Semitic - you are just "critical". Anything that is bad - you attribute that to us. Anything that is good - you deny. Demonization of Jews is called ANTI-SEMITISM. Oh, I can't say that! You are just critical! You want to take our lives, our freedom and our land and you want to enslave us and do anything harmful to us without being called anti-Semites. I guess I can say: "I'm not against Arabs. I just want to destroy their countries. I'm just critical." Yes I understand that you envy us Jews. Envy is one of the reasons that you hate us so much. Your hatred however doesn't harm us. It only harms yourselves. Speaking of "arrogance": if non Jews have weapons and they inform others that they have weapons then it is not arrogance. When Jews do the same it is "arrogance". It's called double standards. That's the real arrogance. If Israel doesn't mean anything to you anti-Semites you sure have a strange way of showing it, since you have no lives of your own and you can't stay away from Israel and Jews. I can tell all of you how the Arab-Israeli conflict will end: WE WIN - YOU LOSE.

Perhaps you should have a look a what happened to Syria's fancy Al Kibar reactor. That gives you an impression what's to come for Iran if you're stupid enough to attack Israel (either directly or through your aides from Hamas and Hezbollah).

Chest thumping? That's why you are refering to Google - which is a JEWISH INVENTION? Chest thumping? That's why you deliver vitriolic remarks in here always aimed at delegitimizing and demonizing Jews? Words without actions - that's chest thumping. And speaking about your home country - Iran - you deliver words and threats. Where are your actions? All you can do is to hide behind proxies such as Hamas and Hizbollah. Regarding specific military data: maybe you're right on these issues. Unlike yourself, I do not pretent that I know everything. But since these problems can be solved by developing new technology and a new strategy there is no real reason to be worried. There is no reason to worry about issues that can be solved. And if some issues cannot be solved then there is still no reason to be worried since you can't do anything about it. But since Israel has nukes, modern tanks, subs, fighter jets, radar, satellites and since Israel has won every single war (militarily, not politcally) ever since Arabs started attacing Israel 1948, I see no real reason to worry. In case you don't get, for it takes some intellectual capacity to realize this instead of Persian chest thumping with vitriolic and rude remarks, the real reason why the Arab world and Iran rely on Hamas ans Hizbollah is because they do not dare to attack Israel officially with their armies, navies and air forces. You resort to terrorism and guerilla warfare if you are weak. And if Israel wants to, it can pulverize Iran, Syria and Lebanon. I hope you get the point Mr Persian Chest Thumping. If I were you, I would focus on keeping Iran together before it collapses economically and will enter a civil war.

So said missile expert Uzi Rubin recently, and he should know. "This is a revolution," he added. Syria, Hizballah, Iran, and Hamas have guided missiles that can hit any part of Israel, including airfields, and the Iron Dome, Slingshot, and other air defenses will not stop them. It's a crisis, so Bechor's triumphalism is dangerous and stupid. (Who knows, perhaps it's defense-ministry propaganda?). Israel is strongest when it takes the initiative. It should preempt the genocidal Arab and Iranian bastards now. I say, start with Hizballah and tell the Iranians: "If you lift a finger, we nuke you." To all pro-Arab and Pro-Iranian talk-backers: Go to hell. Don't bother to bark. Your side may be gaining strength, but this only means Israel will be forced to hit you sooner.Israel is still very powerful, so be careful of what you wish for.

thank god, guy bechor ISN'T making decisions. this piece is full of bad assumptions and inaccuracies. belief in super-weapons that haven't been deployed yet is not typical of israelis. and most of this stuff isn't even supposed to be delivered for years, so what does this have to do with the thousands of rockets that are in lebanon TODAY? and the f-35s do not land or take off vertically. they are not invisible, or invincible. and by the time they are delivered, the "crisis" which they are intended to solve will be long over and forgotten. (just a reminder, they are SUPPOSED to reinforce israel's security against fatah to facilitate the "piece" talks.) but the biggest flaw in this argument is that it doesn't take into account the real motivation of the puppeteers - namely the suicidal belief of the iranian mullahcracy in mahdaviat. if their goal is armageddon, which they intend to lose in order to fulfill the prophesy, then how will these new-fangled weapons deter them? death threats are not an effective way to stop a suicide bomber! israel needs to find less overt means to eliminate the insane leadership that is behind the threats, rather than trading blows with their highly expendable pawns.

But what does Israel have to do with NATO and USA and "Alexander The Great"? And what does Hizbollah and Hamas have got to do with the Taliban in Afghanistan? We Jews are the natives, the ancient, historical and original population of Israel - Arabs and Moslems are newcomers. People of Afghanistan are not Arabs. Arabs and Moslems are foreigners and newcomers in Israel - NATO and USA are newcomers in Afghanistan.

that the sun can go through it admit it israel wont last one day without america we portect you dont bite the hand that feed you you donot have to show off remmeber in 1973 how Golda was begging Nixon" the plane the plane send me the plane boss" we save then we are saving you now

Arms are even more powerful when we do not even need to use them. This new balance of power may have the same consequence as Reagan's star wars had on Soviet Union. Like the USSR, Iran will exhaust all its resources trying to catch until their neo nazi regime collapses.

yet, since most modern weaponry is to some extent controled by computers, the most important weapon to have is computer viruses capable of either disabling enemy weapons or taking them over and turning them against the enemy. Every enemy weapon should be infested by sleeper virus, ready to be activated in time of war to neutralize the enemy. Major investments are required of the IDF to make sure not only that it has such software weaponry but that it is immune to it if it falls in enemy hands. This is also a great industry for Israel to get into, and lead the world in, selling services to friendly countries against unfriendly regimes. No doubt this is already part of the doctrine of the IDF, judging by the Iranian example, but the above article does not mention it.

to lead the Mass of 1.8 billion Muslims willing to eat you for breakfast (lunch is too too far ) . what is unique about this case is the furthest you move away from the holy land the further the animosity is .. demographically you are melting like an ice cream .. stronger is fine ..we are stronger too . deterrant!!! ....Bechor ..you need to read the Quran my friend ...this will never happen ...people will always stand in line to fight you until the end of time ...the reward is amazing ..and the prizes are waywayway high . you are really stuck . the mass are groing in #s , resilience,and power .. only waiting for a leader to lead them to the holy land . trust me ,this is an open minded view .. justice will be served ..

We are weaker, because our enemies have an ideology. All western nations are crumbling because they do not have the proper mental and ideological formation to deal with Islam. This article is pure propaganda.

Piano man, you don´t play your musical instrument very well. If I were you I would quit delivering talkbacks because they reveal your pathetic anti-Semitic nature. Besides, thesis is spelled THESIS, not THEISES. Second, since when are facts a thesis? If you claim something, prove it. I know why you want us to "admit" that we "rely on America" - because it makes you feel better since you have very low self confidence. People that are eager to attack other peoples´ success and integrity is because they themselves have none. In English its called LEVELING - smoothing out differences and bringing down people to one´s own miserable level. If I were you piano man, I would do something about the US economy.

i believe that israel will remain standing with or without modern weapon. remember gideon!

Peter, we don't fear Iran, Hezbollah or any of the Arab states that seek Israel's destruction. (But like in chess we see the worlds reaction a few steps ahead) We fear what we will do to all or any of the above if an attack such as a nuclear one will happen. Simply put, countries such as Iran and Syria will no longer exist!!! and we will have to bare the worlds reaction.

Hizbollah, the IRGC's Lebanese militia, fields a stronger military capability, both defensively and offensively, than its state sponsor, Iran. Iran was just recently parading around oil drums welded together to apparently resemble S-300 SAMs, is still unable to get Natanz and other nuclear facilities online post-Stuxnet (can't have a bomb when your centrifuges are exploding!), and would have a hell of a time getting its own IRBMs over Iraq, much less Israel. So as you say, they play a covert war. And the US and Israel apparently have followed suit, with the Baluchi Jundallah in tow, and lots of things going bump in the night. The Persians may have once stood as a proud nation, but they will fall as effete and decadent clowns with no true national self-image since the Arab conquest suppressed Pahlavi, Zoroastrianism, and most of their language. (Dagestanis speak purer Persian than the Iranians themselves!) Shi'a are born performers - they march in cadence to flagellate themselves, tell taqiyya lies to the world, and even practice prostitution (Shi'ites permit themselves 'quicky marriages' for this purpose in Pakistan and elsewhere), so it'll only be fitting when Ahmadinejad and Nasrallah are sharing the same cage at the zoo.

to survive ,since you are struggling to exist now ,not to survive . a feel good article like this misleads the mass and their leaders . what you need is a good politicians who would try to solve your problems inside ,make peace with the people you took their lands and put them to submission . palestinians are growing in #s and will ,you are going the opposite way . the right of return will not go away ,tell Ayalon that he is an idiot ,dum . you need a good politician to save your EXISTENCE ,not a strong army .. the Quran describe you and your army as a spider web . and remember we do not distort or just read the holy book . we memorise it by heart .

If Israel's so tough and has the most advanced weapons,how come it still cannot attack Iran already?Seems to me there's a great deal of bluster here.Trying to get America to do their dirty job for them with all sorts of excuses.Without America,Israel's nothing.Admit it! Even the US isn't thinking of attacking Iran,for obvious reasons.

Just to refresh your memory: Why do Arabs have to have "the right of return" to Palestine? Don't they already in Palestine, at least most of them (including those in Jordan, Israel, Judea, Samaria and Gaza)? As I understand, Israel just part of Palestine and not vice verse. Didn't Arabs leave Palestine by the advice of their leaders from the neighboring countries? Would you agree with Jewish right of return to Palestine/ Israel or it is only for Arabs? What about Jews who were expelled from Arab countries? Do they have any rights at all in your eyes? If you want to resolve the issue of "the right of return" for Arabs you have to talk about Jewish right in order to be objective. Israelis are not struggling to exist, as most people understand while reading about economical, scientific, military, medical and other success stories. And it really doesn't matter if this article is a pure propaganda. No Arab or any other Muslim country with all their wealth and natural resources are close to the Israel's advances. #54, Lior said it right. What about the leadership in Syria? There is nothing to criticize? And what about Syria's claims to Lebanon's and Israel's territories? As long as Israel was created its neighbors are trying hard to rewrite the history. I believe there are many honest Quran scholars who will find the strongest words in support of Israel in your holy book. While your mind is blinded by misleading guides , you can fuel yourself with this drug called Hatred. At the end all drug abusers are finishing the same.

Oh, but it has attacked Iran. Bloodlessly. It's called Stuxnet. Google it, oh ignorant one.