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Last update - 02:18 08/01/2009 We must let ourselves win By Israel Harel Tags: hamas, israel, israel news  "We shall restore honor to the people of Israel," wrote Dvir Emmanueloff, the first soldier to fall in Operation Cast Lead, in his final text message to his mother. And Daliah, his mother, is already concerned and urging the political leadership: "Let them win. Don't stop them halfway." This is also what wounded soldiers in the hospital - and their parents - asked the prime minister to do, and it is the request of the people in the south. It is also what the prime minister and ministers say when they promise in public, at every opportunity, that the campaign will cease only when "a new security reality" is established. Emmanueloff directed her plea to the decision makers - "Don't stop them halfway" - as early as the first day of the ground offensive, when they were still radiating determination and self-confidence. Her words expressed the built-in fear of all Israelis, who have experienced weak governments, which, lacking vision, have ended campaigns just shy of victory, or turned victories in the field to diplomatic and morale downfalls. It is necessary to fight to achieve our aims. And in Israel's condition, there is also a war against external pressures; this also requires wisdom, strategies, courage and a willingness to suffer the costs and bear the consequences. Even when faced with Nicolas Sarkozy or Barack Obama. What will be the point of a costly military operation, the people will ask themselves, if the cabinet stops it at its peak and receives a "diplomatic arrangement" frustratingly similar to the infamous Security Council Resolution 1701 that ended the Second Lebanon War. Advertisement Does Tzipi Livni, one of those who initiated 1701, not understand this? And how can Ehud Barak, who at every opportunity mocks the international force meant to prevent the rearmament of Hezbollah, support the Egyptian initiative? Can he allow himself - can we allow ourselves - to let Operation Cast Lead not achieve even its more minimal objectives? The government must not agree again, as a result of pressures from within and without, to an arrangement like the one in Lebanon. During the cabinet deliberations yesterday, someone said the losses have caused great sorrow and have begun to gnaw at the public's support for continuing the operation. Sorrow - yes; not supporting the operation - definitely not. Hear the worker from Sderot, an immigrant from Russia, who was putting up Israeli flags between Qassam and Grad rocket attacks: "After years of humiliation, I finally feel Israeli." See the 120 percent rate of reservists reporting for duty. Hear the families of the dead and wounded. Listen to them, cabinet members, and to the people in the south who declare that they are willing to endure the Grads as long as the Israel Defense Forces put an end to their constant suffering. The people who bear the brunt of the war are willing to pay the price until its aims are achieved. It is absurd that those who almost bear no brunt of the war and whose main "contribution" is weakening the army's resolve and the nation's positive underpinnings are apparently beginning to guide the government's next steps. The political leaders will secure their place in history - and certainly their position in the upcoming elections - if this time they ignore the subversive elements. They will achieve this if, contrary to their behavior in previous campaigns, if they find the courage, despite the strong psychological warfare being conducted mostly from within, and fulfill their promises to the people in general and the citizens of the Negev in particular, to carry on until victory. Because this campaign will determine the future of the State of Israel. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Fallen hero Relatives mourn Maj. Roey Rosner, 27, killed Wednesday by Gaza militants. On the northern front Hezbollah denies responsibility for two rockets fired at Israel from Lebanon.   1.   WIN !!! 16:05  |  JIM 08/01/09   2.   Human Rights 16:56  |  Anonymous 08/01/09   3.   Conflict of civilizations and war of ideologies 16:59  |  Anonymous 08/01/09   4.   About "We must let ourselves win" 21:46  |  Alberto 08/01/09   5.   The IDF soldiers want a win so do the people of Israel 22:26  |  Roni 08/01/09

Read & React Red Cross: Israel breaking int'l law, letting children starve in Gaza Responses: 112 Two Lebanon rockets hit North; Hezbollah denies involvment Responses: 68 Yossi Melman: Excellent intel on Gaza shows Israel learned from Lebanon errors Responses: 21 Yoav Stern: Rocket fire on North may be realization of Iran threat Responses: 25 Gideon Lichfield: So, why isn't Israel winning the PR war? Responses: 72 More Headlines 23:04 Third IDF soldier killed in Gaza over past 24 hours 22:37 Draft UN Security Council resolution doesn't call for immediate Gaza truce 22:05 IDF Chief of Staff Ashkenazi tours Gaza battlefields 22:35 Israel to present complaint to UN over Lebanon rocket fire 21:49 Iran bans volunteer suicide bombers from traveling to Israel 23:11 WATCH: Olmert spokesman says Israel never sought war in Gaza 22:10 'I pray that he will watch over us, he died a hero' 22:38 At least two Lebanon rockets hit north Israel; Hezbollah denies involvment 18:26 7 IDF troops hurt, one seriously, in mortar strike on Negev 18:20 Get up to the minute coverage of the warfare in Gaza directly to your email 18:12 ANALYSIS / Rocket fire on North may be realization of Iran threat 19:57 UN says halting aid to Gaza, citing danger to staff from IDF 15:01 ANALYSIS / Excellent intel on Gaza shows Israel learned from its errors in Lebanon 19:07 Palestinians: 35 found dead in rubble of Gaza battle zone 17:07 Olmert: IDF has not yet achieved all its goals in Gaza offensive 20:35 WATCH: U.S. Senate voices strong support for Israel's Gaza battle against Hamas 18:53 Sarkozy: Halt to arms smuggling is key to Gaza cease-fire 16:08 Red Cross: Israel breaking int'l law, letting children starve in Gaza 20:28 Hamas executes collaborators and restricts Fatah movement 17:18 Palestinian shot dead after trying to blow up settlement gas station Previous Editions Select Day 08 jan 07 jan 06 jan 05 jan 04 jan 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec 30 dec 29 dec 28 dec 26 dec

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