John, "some of our greatest minds" are the Sages of Helm - don't you see THAT? Only idiots without a shadow of pride and honour can respond to rockets sent by murderers over the State Border with building concrete boxes for their hapless citizenry! And it is not like poor Chechoslovakia looking like a rabbit in dead eyes of Hitler - Israel has ALL THE MEANS to annihilate the Gaza cancer once and for all! All the means - apart of the greatest minds you so respectfully call the shameful band of non-entities we call the Government! They are definitely NOT the greatest minds, they are the main disaster of our country! Israel looks, in the eyes of the world, like a bouncer clad in armour sitting in the corner and weeping because an impertinent street gavroche taints him and throws pieces of shit at him, and spits in his eyes. And all the mighty armour-clad but stupid, "tired to win", goliath is doing is asking to be forgiven, and weeping, and smudging the shit all over his face of a retarded child. Yes we BADLY need someone like Arik was in his prime. Most of all we need leaders who are NOT tired to win. It is obvious the Sinai will be again the field of a major war, and quite soon. Do we need to help enemy and get ourselves again in the 1973? Think about it. Think hard!

thousands of egyptian troops willnow prevent israel from doing cast lead ll as their mere presence will cause it to think twice. Eventually they willbe used against israel which is racing towards its grave.\ Barak is wrong again and eveything he touches turns to death or injury for israel. And bibi is dumb like olmert for following him. Jesus. Yaalon should replace him now. barak-you're fired.

Instead of allowing Egypt to bring more and more troops and weaponry into the Sinai, Israel could've demanded concessions of its own. Israel could have insisted on the right to conduct aerial reconnaissance over a defined extent of the Sinai along its border. Israel could have called for *joint* patrols with Egypt, or at least the presence of Israeli observers (so they'd know if those troops were acting seriously and effectively. It could have demanded the right of hot pursuit. And it absolutely should have set time limits on these troop waivers so they don't become permanent. Instead, Barak has allowed a situation in which failure by Egypt to secure the Sinai allows them to demand from Israel permission to bring ever more troops and weaponry into the Sinai to "get the job done".

When can we get rid of Barak? After we all die?

in the whole world.

Before he does any more damage he should be made to resign along with his twin poodle of incompetence Bibi.

We are going from dangerous to nauseous. I sometimes wonder if the mother of Barak was an Arab. As a matter of fact I have similar suspicions with Bibi, Livni, Olmert and Peres. If they were, then they must have been retired terrorists I do not fear incoming rockets, they can only kill if, when, where, and to whom HaShem allows it. What I fear worse than death is evil, self-centered, corrupted and philosophically anti-Jewish politicians holding the reigns of power. I sadly often suspect that international blackmail might be taking place in highest places of government. It is so because I refuse to accept that people can be that stupid and still become rich, or that they can be honest and insist in direct a country to its final demise. One does not need to be a rocket scientist to realize that some apples are very rotten in our sack. Otherwise, why always, and every time, all decisions taken go against the survival of our nation? Why the blatant and insulting disdain for the will of the people who gave them the responsibility to defend us from our genocidal enemies? Why every time the decisions are for the gain and satisfaction of the bestial Arabs, the imperialist US, the neo-colonialist EU, the highly corrupted and anti-Semitic UN, all of who are bent on our annihilation? Why, not even for a single mistake, a GOOD decision is made on behalf of Israel? Why every decision made unavoidably gets us closer to an all out war from all angles -- to the convenience of our enemies -- a war that nobody is going to be happy to fight it? Why these rotten -- if not worse -- politicians without any honor or dignity (otherwise they would retire from politics) feel much happier licking the blood-stained boots of the Americans and the Europeans than truly serving Am Israel? But finally, and maybe even more important: why do the Israeli people vote again, and again, and again, for these rotten corrupted -- if not worst -- apples? In front of the dire situation that we all face – religious, seculars, conservatives, liberals, all! -- is by any chance political fanaticism more important than survival? Will we allow the Second Shoah take place because we refuse to open our eyes and mind and drop our philosophical colors? What do you think? What Israel needs?

instead of "allowing" egypt to just remilitarize the sinai, with no end in sight, it would have been far more logical to make a different arrangement: for each egyptian unit that enters sinai, there should be a matching israeli unit as well. security along the border should be a shared responsibility, and joint patrols would build trust and cooperation. also, it would make liaison easier, provide better support, and make "friendly fire" incidents less likely. but most importantly, it would give egypt a reason to want to honour the peace treaty and withdraw, namely to get the israelis out.

END OF ISRAEL ????

This move is a two edged sword, because more Egyptian soldiers will killed by the terrorists. We all know that Pallywood will seek to falsely blame Israel. As we can see from the last incident, just last week, the Egyptian press, as did the Arab media in general, falsely blame Israel. Which caused a predictable knee-jerk response from the Egyptian people, burning the Israeli flag, while making a hero out of a guy who climbed the Israeli embassy and tore down the Israeli flag. Even after Israel provided clear video evidence that exonerated Israel, it made little difference. In fact the response to the the truth, was a call for a "million man" march against Israel? But I do agree with E. Barak, let the Egyptian army do the fighting and dying. With Egypt hosting the Hamas political leaders, Egypt is actually in a good position to stop the attacks. I agree that sometimes tactical considerations must betaken into account. Israel has drones and satellites to watch the action, and make defensive moves if necessary. But I do understand the massive distrust the Israeli's feel. The pro-Israel crowd has a right to be suspicious as well. Time will tell whether this is a mistake, and if it was, Israel can, and will have plenty of time to respond. Those of you who know my writing, know i wouldn't support anything, that I think would put Israel in unreasonable danger.

Why not let them bring tanks into Ashdod and then on in to Tel Aviv? Why don't we do something for a change and WE go into the Sinai armed to the teeth. Why bring the enemy, and yes, that is what they are, treaty or not, to our back door?

What is the matter with you people. You complain that Egypt is not protecting its border and when Egypt requests aditional resources to be able to do what is in the benfit of both countrys you still whine and complain. Nothing but a bunch of whiners

With pointed and direct specificity; exactly how stupid is DefMin Ehud Barak? It is a question he, himself appears to be trying to answer on a daily, occasionally hourly basis, by clear and unambigious demonstrations; exhibits of fact and fancy. The obvious answer is not "C", as on a multiple choice exam; but a single and forceful word. VERY. Forrest's Momma would have had a pithy comment about Adon Barak.

Prisons do have standards you know.

There is a mob calling for the peace treaty to be canceled and making heros out of men who pulled down and burned the flag from the Israeli embassy. There are 1 million Egyptians marching against Israel. The Muslim Brotherhood will soon be running the country. We have just had the secretary General of the Arab League saying peace treaties are not sacred and can be annulled. Now here comes Barak with big plans to let the Egyptians send troops and helicopters into Sinai against the terms of the 1979 treaty. We will never be able to order the Egyptians to remove them at a later date, its like letting the genie out the bottle because once they are in Siani will will never get them out. Its hard to believe that Barak was one of the most highly decorated soldiers in the IDF considering his performance as both PM & DM. There are only three things Barak does well. 1) Spending tax payer money so he can live in luxury 2) Weakening Israel 3) Getting good deals on equipment for the IDF.

#43 makes me remember the sevaral wars in which thousands of whiny Egiptian soldiers were carry through the desert as prisoners of war. I remember the masses of Egyptians crying to the clouds due to the enormity of their shameful defeats at the hands of the few Jews that beat them into dishonor. What is #43 talking about? Whining! With the proverbial shamelessness so proper to Islamics this pathetic Egyptian qualifies the criticism proper to people living in a democracy as whining. But what can Muslims know about that? They live like silent dogs under the feet of their ruthless masters, and only become "acid" -- like this year -- when directed by the CIA into crating some major chaos in their equally pathetic societies. Now they go around showing their feet to the heads of their fallen Muslim tyrants, but before they were cowardly quiet, including #43. Israel is a free country -- since Mohammed's inhumane teachings have no part here -- in Israel there is Democracy and Freedom of speech because we follow a religion of freedom and observance of human rights. I am a civilized free man because I am a product of the Jewish culture; whereas #43, being the product of a Islamic culture, is a barbaric slave to the current Muslim tyrant, one who cannot even dare thinking on ever being free and say what he wants -- unless it is in a media like this one in -- of all places -- Israel!

your comments are quite accurate. Bibi sees only barak's exploits in beirut and sabena airlines. no one mentions him in 67, 73, 82 . And bad reviews trail him in helicopter accident, marmora, departure from lebanon, not fighting west bank terror and now allowing thousands of egyptians into sinai who will be pointed without a doubt at Israel. On top of this, he apologizes to turkey and eygpt when the facts say otherwise. This is olmert in uniform, it is uttlery unbelievable. there is no other governement since lapid is another version of olmert, livni is a female olmert. Bibi does things by committee which is not the worst thing. But he needs to replace barak with yaalon asap. Israelis do not want barak anymore.

In return for overlooking the First part of the treaty regarding the Zones of Limited militarization on BOTH sides of the border and the mandate to the MFO according to the Peace Treaty: • Zone C: Between Line B and the Egypt-Israel border. Only the MFO and the Egyptian civilian police are permitted within Zone C. • Zone D: Between the Egypt-Israel border and Line D. Israel is permitted only four infantry battalions in Zone D, totaling not more than four thousand personnel. Early warning systems. No one heard of any MFO's presence in Zone D to observe that Israel abides by the Limited militarization in Zone D. Keeping the MFO away of Zone D, as is the case now, has been against the essence of the Peace Treaty which mandates the MFO. The MFO employs a large contingent of civilian observers and about 1,600 troops from 12 nations who patrol the zone closest to the Egyptian-Israeli border.

I agree with Barak's decision, the tactical, as far as this situation is concerned, must take precedent. While we all know Egypt shouldn't be trusted, what choice does Israel really have? It's better to let the Egyptian army fight an die, fighting the Palestinian terrorists. Remember right now, where is K. Marshaal (political head of Hamas) staying since he had to leave Syria, he's in Egypt. If his group starts killing his hosts soldiers, where does that leave him. Even though the Egyptian people have proved, how stupid and gullible they are, even they will see it's the Pals killing there soldiers. Those who think this may be a trick by Egypt to get their army in greater numbers into the Sinai to attack Israel in force, are wrong. There is no cover there, the IAF could easily wipe out the Egyptian force. I don't believe the Egyptian army wants a war with Israel at this point in time. After all the terrorist pose as much a threat to Egypt, as to Israel. Egypt would love to destroy Israel, but the timing isn't right at this moment, and they know that.

We all know the Egyptians are complicit in all of the terrorist activity in the Sinai. We also know that various nations who are looking to exert foreign policy influence would not countenance an Israeli incursion into the Sinai without a valid casus bellum whose basis is the elimination of State supported terrorist activity. Which puts the Egyptians in a tougher spot - either they can put an end to the terrorist activity themselves or they can be proven to have their military aiding and abetting the terrorists. If the latter can be proven, Israel can move substantial forces into Sinai (given a few months of prep time) faster than Egypt, especially if the passages over the Suez are destroyed). Right now Israel needs to buy time, while dealing with keeping this Gaza mess rolled up and contained as much as possible. The US and Europe are rapidly falling apart economically and will as the months pass be less and less able to exert real pressure. Russia and China are only playing Iran and Israel's enemies as bargaining chips and as a way of countering US influence. Without the west in the picture, countries like Iran and Syria are far more a liability than an asset. All of this would give Israel the free hand it doesn't have now, and I'm sure you'll see a very different Israeli foreign policy. From a strategic standpoint, Israel is much better off with Sinai in its possession in the face of an inevitably hostile Egypt than without it. Gaining this insurance policy should be the goal, unless the terrorism ends.

Egyptians, your country has never "protected" its borders, as you whine about. It hasn't POLICED its borders as it was supposed to do. It allowed an allegedly "insane" soldier to murder a family of picnickers in Sinai years ago (and no apology was asked for or received), it allowed terrorists to blow up several hotels near Taba, it has BEEN allowing terrorists to smuggle arms into Gaza via tunnels originating on Egyptian soil for a decade or more. You'd better practice your whine and fake-victimization, since Hamas and worse will soon be overtaking Egypt, and all because you could not POLICE your borders.

your talkback is pure disgusting, horrible, negative, one-sided, unilateral, biased, partial, hate-war-mongering-obsession-disturbance, which is sad, at my opinion. if i were you and if need be for your own people etc., i should try to invent something constuctive to try to solve the conflict/the crisis in western-asia, which lasts already much too long. the jewish people are not going anywhere, so does the palestinian people and the other arab people in that world-region, just as the us/american people are to stay within their national territory of the united states of america etc.

Thank god we still have some sane people in the Knesset prepared to stand up to unelected czar barak.

(note, I'm not politically savvy, I only know what I know, which is what I've studied) Throughout the history of the kings of Israel and Judah, there was only one underlying issue at any point: the relationship of the king and his people with Ha'Shem. The political environment was a direct result of and reflection of this relationship. What Israel needs is a Hezekiah and a Josiah, and a people who return to serving the same G-d who chose them and who promised them the land.

I know that Ha'Shem will protect your people; you have the promises of His word on that. I think it will be more painful when your enemies war on you comes to open field action again. The Sinai was a nice buffer zone, but if Egypt starts there, Israel has no notice when the Egyptians launch their attack. The other part is Egypt and Hamas. If they both hate the Jews (and they do), it looks much more likely that they will join together against you. I am reminded about the rocket Gaza fired at Egypt. But Israel is a tempting target, and co-belligerents don't need to like each other.

Thank you John, that was the exact answer that I hoped someone would give.