Ze'ev Schiff

What lesson has Hamas drawn after the Israeli government unconditionally accepted the cease-fire in the Gaza Strip? The best way to get out of trouble is to use force, and if needed, even more force.

Former Chief of Military Intelligence Aharon Ze'evi Farkash' letter to Sharon in 2005 bore prophetic and unheralded warnings about the situation on Israel's northern border.

There is no need for another commission of inquiry on the IDF's actions, even if headed by a major general, because the situation is clear.

The approach must include a firm decision that only the prime minister, or someone who is speaking on his behalf after coordinating with him, will speak about nuclear matters.

Before the whole dam collapses and floods the world, there is one important step that the international community can take: immediate, vigorous action against North Korea.

The war in Lebanon affected events among the Palestinians. According to public opinion surveys, many Palestinians support 'resistance,' i.e., a continuation of terror attacks. In their view, only resistance brings results and victories.

The list of problematic examples cited includes dealing with 'projects in the area of sensitive means.' The term 'sensitive means' should turn on a warning light even in the minds of those who do not have well-developed imaginations.

While one of the most prominent protesters today is a group seeking the conclusion that Israel is a criminal state that uses aggression to defend itself and violates international law, this was not the case in 1973.

We Israelis would be wise not to treat our army officers with ingratitude, even if they erred and faltered.

The most recent military confrontation in Lebanon demonstrated that being overly preoccupied with the Palestinian front caused us to neglect the threat posed by Hezbollah.

In its second Lebanon war, Israel was surprised by Hezbollah's anti-tank weapons and the way they used them. The Israel Defense Forces was similarly surprised on the Egyptian front in the Yom Kippur War.

The IDF must do everything possible to avoid the modus operandi it used during its protracted stay in Lebanon after the 1982 Lebanon War.

Historical cease fire agreements with south Lebanon have not been worth the paper they were written on.

The current conflict differs from its 1982 predecessor in terms of its background, objective and modus operandi.

The aim of the operations Israel is conducting is not only to free the captives or to punish, but also to prevent future kidnappings and bombardments.

Ankara called for the release of the Hamas detainees. In private conversations, the Turks were saying: You behaved just like Hamas - You took hostages.

The starting point of the authors of the Palestinian doctrine is that the Palestinian state will always be the weak side in the balance of power.

Since in essence, the convergence plan is a unilateral withdrawal, it is important to clarify to the public that the chances are the convergence lines will be Israel's new combat lines.

A wrong impression was formed this week, as if Israel had avoided major trouble after the defense minister blocked the Israel Defense Forces from implementing a plan to invade Gaza.

Israel, which defeated the Palestine Liberation Organization in Lebanon, also had problems when it coped with a smaller force there - that of Hezbollah.

The original list of candidates for assassination included 23 Arab leaders and high-ranking officers from all over the country.

The question now facing Israel is what Jerusalem is doing to fill with content the promises made by Bush, Cheney and Rice to defend Israelm in case of an attack from Iran.

There is a gloomy atmosphere in Washington regarding anything to do with the war - just as in the Vietnam War period when thousands of young people avoided the draft.

The first big decisions that the new defense minister, Amir Peretz, will have to make will not be related to combat issues but to the defense budget and the convergence plan.