AG refuses to ok use of Hamas officials as 'bargaining chips'

If the IRA had free run of the border areas, and launched missiles across the border, with no restrcitions by the Irish Government, and then kidnapped a British soldier, would you be surprised if the British attacked the countries infrastructure and demanded the return of their soldier?? No more than i'm surprised at what the Lebabanese have brought on themselves.!!!!

Mr. Olmert - you have plenty of nukes. To expend just one on Iran or Syria would certainly put an end to much of this madness. To those who decry the idea that nuclear weapons kill - that's the idea. Besides, conventional war does the same thing only over a longer period of time. And, as if they haven't been used before in history? Atomic bombs brought WWII to a screeching halt. If this matter isn't ended decisively now, eventually the entire middle-eastern region will serve as a wonderful international parking lot instead of a tiny secluded one.

well good for you,you dont hate the isrealies.i guess the land your living on didnt come from the indians,what a fool!tell you what is a good idea,why dont you go to ramallaand give those good old boys a hand!dumbass!your frind,rick

first lets get one thing straight,when talking about the pals,no one is innocent.when every man ,woman,and child is raised to be a martyer,no one is innocent.and why is it that almost all the conflicts in the world today ,are cause by islamic coward bastards.and most,in the name of allah or another piece of land.the only ones that can stop these coward bastards are the muslims themselves but their to ignorant to give them up.why dont all you bleeding hearts that write in here,in favor of the islam fools,get a life!

inshallah

How easily jews forget ... when it suits them

Hey Neutral, 250,000 Arabs had decent paying jobs in Israel, they brought their brats to Israeli clinics for medicines, and had access to all sorts of goods and services. They were offered 95% of the West Bank, all of Gaza, 3 billion dollars to start from the World Bank, the U.S. and the E.U. and they rejected it all in order to blow up Jewish mothers and children in pizzerias, buses, schools, Passover dinners, etc. Is it any wonder, with one a day blowing up Jewish folks in Israel (~20 where thrawted on any given day by security services), that the Jews would say "No more..ya can't come to my country to work?"

I've scrolled down the page and have seen enough, how on earth are people supporting THIS ?! Is it not enough that Palestinians have their land, farms, livelyhoods CONFISCATED in the name of Israel ? The separation war, Israels racist interior legislation, media perception, mass murder, biological warfare frequent flights over Lebanon and Syria....when will it END? The fact that Israel takes these actions out with US FUNDING is even more of a farce. There was a point in time where I thought peace in the middle east after Israel was stamped down upon the middle east was obtainable, its actions like Israels that truley make me ashamed of being apart of the Human Race.

that is what you are... but remember that the last one will later be first

More than ever its time to bomb israels political figures and all military targets, before this creapy totally sickminded nation gets out of hand in global perspective!!!!

Send the money back to the Treasury Now!

Top Nazis were targets son, but as the US and Britain came in from the West, the Nazis soon were in full blown retreat back into Germany, making catching them harder until the end and Nuremberg. My Dad, a TSgt, did catch a Nazi Major. Every red blooded American soldier wanted to catch a top Nazi. JJI 6-30-06.

No

nothing to write home about.

understood the youth retention when I heard about the other one. No S.

D with a mask I think. Seemed too tall. Maybe her daughter.

Don't worry about American pressure on Israel. We, the Jewish people, control America, and the Americans know it." - Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, October 3, 2001, to Shimon Peres, as reported on Kol Yisrael radio.

what do you expect for land robbery ?

Arrest all the murders/terrorist, try them, then excute them. Trust me in a few years they will not even be part of history. Just a bunch of murders who kept 1 1/2 million people hostage.All these people need is a chance to be able to think for them selves. The rest will work it self out.

Israel's response to this soldier's capture has been totally ridiculous, disproportionate and criminal. It will certainly end with this young lad's death. The militants holding him will not allow Olmert a triumph or reward ferocious aggression. The situation called for quiet, patient negotiation. Instead, Olmert has behaved with all the subtlety of a blind, mad elephant in a china shop.

clickfool wrote: "I`m not the slightest bit interested in football, Harry, and I do not brawl. How about you?" I prefer ice hockey, not for the violence, but for the high levels of skill required and displayed. I haven't been in a brawl in many years... Harry

Dav wrote: "Official Palestinian sources and eyewitnesses are reporting on a major Israeli raid early Friday morning on several institutions and humanitarian services charities. Israeli forces invaded the Bethlehem area early this morning, smashing windows, confiscating computers, files, and crucial materials from several humanitarian organizations." Bravo, Israel! Give 'em hell until your soldier is safely released! Don't hold back; punish these tit-for-tat jihadists. They wanted endless war? Give them all-out war! Do not let the tit-for-tatters have war on their terms. Give them war on your terms! Make it painful. That is how wars end and peace starts: the war is so painful, people prefer peace and want peace. Harry

for PEACE in the aria. 600 quassams must be answered.

Bring the Bandits to Den Haag! Israeli forces raid three Bethlehem charitable institutions “because they are affiliated with the Hamas party” Official Palestinian sources and eyewitnesses are reporting on a major Israeli raid early Friday morning on several institutions and humanitarian services charities. Israeli forces invaded the Bethlehem area early this morning, smashing windows, confiscating computers, files, and crucial materials from several humanitarian organizations. http://www.pnn.ps/english/

The primary problem with the geneva conventions is that they were written based upon the premis that the civilian and military populations were cearly defined and distinct and that a State of War was equally defined and distinct from a State of Peace. However, it is becomming increasinly difficult to adequately define and separate either the civilian or militia population of the Gaza Strip or West Bank or whether Israel is in a state of war or peace, or in the increasingly popular grey area in between. The Geneva Conventions weren't written with the current geo-political landcape that exists in the middle east in mind, and they makes no provisions for dealing with a situation like this.

ever notice how these 'poor' 'palistineans' kids are very well dressed, in the best cloths, with recnt haircuts, and picutres often show expensive cars. even during riots they look more wealthy then I see in other parts of the world. what gives?

Who gave Sharon the wrong medicine to get a stroke? When Peretz and Olmert left him, Sharon was still OK.

hundreds of Qassams fired at Sderot was not enough of an excuse, a dead teenager was not enough of an excuse, they needed some military dead. An explaination almost as simple as you.

and as usual the correlation between giving land to Palestinians and the rise in Palestinian violence kept it perfect 1-1. Virtually all of US aid to Israel is in the form of credits to buy American goods - it never leaves your shores. Presumably you prefer you money to go people like the Palestinians(400million USD) who kill your diplomats, Egyptians(2.2billion USD) who fly planes into your buildings or Jordan(over 1billion USD) whose citzen - until recently - passed his time cutting Americans heads off. Wierd, never hear ANY complaints about that - except when the Pals money was cut off.....

At the very end - and after- top nazis were hunted down. Of course, during the war, the allies prefered to carpet bomb enemy cities...

since at least 1982, anyway I thought the nuclear power was purely for civilian purposes...

First off, I missed your responses yesterday. It was very late and when the articles changed, I was asleep. I'll try and google them in the morning when I'm again awake. I was aware of the debate between BG and Jeff. I even put in two cent worth now and then. At this point, I think the question is moot for awhile. I did like BG's idea of getting a formal opinion from the UNSC, but that would be problematic. To my dismay, I only learned yesterday that the US us not part of the Fourth Geneva Convention. We're only members of the first three, apparently. Also, out President got a shock, too. He found out that the Constitution and Third Geneva Convention apply to his office, too. I hope this particular string is still going when I wake up, so I can read responses. I think this string is finally getting rational enough for honest discussion. Also there are a couple of American jingoists who should have the ability to see what I said to them. Goodnight for now. 1:44 am.

Israel created Hamas with their brutal repression. Israel created Hizbullah with their adventurism in Lebanon. Now they will create worse. Eventually the governments of Egypt and Jordan will renounce their peace treaties with Israel or face the overwhelming wrath of their own people. The Israeli cowboys will eventually be sorry. They are drunk with power. The hangover will be severe for the Israeli people.

My post #717 was meant as a general comment on occupation since that debate has been raging on for many weeks between BG, who is very stubborn and erratic, and Jeff Northridge, who is very logical. Mark's post is not legally correct either. At this point, it is correct to say that parts of Gaza are occupied, and if the situation does not reverse, Israel might once again be in the unpleasant position of an occupying power. I sincerely hope not, or not for long. My post #605 is about war crimes under Geneva Fourth. People have a tendancy to think that all acts of war are war crimes. I had not heard about the problem regarding newspaper sites, although nothing would surprise me. I thought that given the present situation, haaretz would naturally be more careful about postings. I thought that my post on Fourth Geneva did not come out for that reason. By the way, did you see my response to your post yesterday regarding annexation, etc...? Regards, Cipora

Israel will never have peace unless it is willing to resolve these issues with the PA

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS ENFORCEABLE INTERNATIONAL LAW. THERE ARE NO POLICE THERE ARE NO COURTS THERE ARE NO ENFORCEABLE JUDGEMENTS. GAZA IS AND REMAINS ISRAEL BY THE UNCHANGEABLE TERMS OF THE 1922 MANDATE . IT IS BY AN ISRAEL DECREEE SELF GOVERNING HOWEEVER AS ARABS NEVER CHANGE IS IT A HOTBED OF TERRORISM . NO TREATY IS EVER WORTH THE PAPER IT IS WRITTEN ON WITH ARABS .

Israel will never resolve this issue without a fair and peaceful resolution

Umm El Kul Naqba, Might is not always Right and working with a civilian population on both sides military might can often get in the way and cause unnecessary harm and loss of life. In addition, according to the fourth Geneva Convention it is inappropriate for the army to be using its might in the protected territories. Gaza is one of the most densely populated areas in the Middle East and over a half of the population are under the age of 17 years. So there are many important concerns with the use of excessive force. Thank you, Dutch

Boyd, please stop! Let's say your theory (#141) is correct. So what? All is fair in...

Hi again Cipora, I've had lots of delays, too. I just heard on the late news here that there's a group in Morrocco that's attacking US government and Israeli Newspaper websites. I've had access problems, here, today, too. Might be volume, might be hackers, too. Haaretz should do a story about the problems.

My thanks to the AG for putting his foot down on Shin Bet's request to place Hamas officials under administrative leave and to hold as a "bargaining chips". What Shin Bet was proposing is a violation of the Hamas members Human Rights, article #9 in the Declaration of Human Rights: "No one shall be subjected to Arbitrary arrest , detention or exile". Thus I commend the Attorney General for upholding the law". Former Vice President Al Gore recently said in a forum on Peace & Security the real risks to peoples' freedom is when the law is in the hands of a few. Thus I commend the AG's action. And surely, the real success in overcoming terrorism is that people are able to live their lives as ordinary as possible without the need for a police state. Too bad, Israel has placed the Palestinians under a siege & behind checkpoints. It all seems so wrong to me. Many Thanks anyway, Dutch

Hi Cipora, Are all those tanks and APCs parked in Gaza Palestinian? Before this operation, it might have been an interesting argument, but those tanks I see on TV sure look real to me. Israel has a government. The PA government went out of business yesterday. If you think this will end when CPL Shalit is returned, you're kidding yourself. Israel will not leave all those Al Aqsa and Hamas guys in charge. The missiles would be flying the next day. Shalit is only step one of this operation. Olmert delayed the northern offensive, according to JP, because it wasn't planned to be long or harsh enough. Israel is in this for a long time to come.

I wonder what is Israel going to achieve by these arrested (more exactly: kidnapping). These conflict being set backed for at least 30 years by these illegal acts. I am trying to digest what on the Israelis minds. Is that true that these action represented most of Israelis citizens wanted? Does Israelis think that muslims world would accepted this JUST LIKE THAT? Or actually she wanted all of this hostlities would going forever? Why did they do this? I keep asking to myself. The more I try to understand Israel, the more I am confused.

I wonder what is Israel going to achieve by these arrested (more exactly: kidnapping). These conflict being set backed for at least 30 years by these illegal acts. I am trying to digest what on the Israelis minds. Is that true that these action represented most of Israelis citizens wanted? Does Israelis think that muslims world would accepted this JUST LIKE THAT? Or actually she wanted all of this hostlities would going forever? Why did they do this? I keep asking to myself. The more I try to understand Israel, the more I am confused.

Hi this message is for Daniel BENSIMON Do you have a reaction for this madness. The palestinians are more than desperate. The modarates will be attracted by extremists and the two states solution will die. If tomorrow the palestinians declare that they don't want a state and they belong to the state of Israel with all their relatives abroad? Please stop that and go back to the good will like any one normal world's citizen want. Diging a tunel will happen again and again and at last all the walls and fences will be brought down. So leave the territories and go back to talks : the only way to solve the problems. You do have made people in Israel to remember Igal Amir and Prime Minister RABIN.. Goog luck A real Friend

Absolutely Ruby, but disengagement should have never been permitted twelve months ago. Did you think that GOD ALMIGHTY would just roll over, play dead and allow satan (HIS enemy) to take over sacred ground? The only hallowed ground that remains on this globe. We have permitted satan to turn this GOD created planet into a seething septic pool. It awaits GOD's final judgement! Be blessed! Where are you from?

I sent it many hours ago. If at all possible, please post.

It's not about "might", it's about survival. For 2000 years we were persecuted and had no state.We need our army just in order to "survive". The rest of the world did nothing when we were gassed even though the Brittish new about the camps in 1942 already. The Mufti of Jeruselem backed hitler.We have been forced to build the best and most powerful army in the region (not because we wanted to). We "WILL" defend the Jewish nation because no one else will. Stop fighting us and we will go back to the field and farm !!

Alex! Thank you! I had to google "COL HA CAVOD" to understand. lol I'm usually an easy going person. Until I see and hear "murder" so cavalierly tolerated and justified. The Islamic world doesn't comprehend that their tolerance of the cold-blooded murder of Israelis, and later, Westerners, has led them to cultivate those who gladly murder their own....

Mark, you are the one who is really clueless. Gaza stopped being occupied once the IDF left the territory. Under the Hague Convention IV Respecting Laws and Customs of War, there is belligerent occupation if a territory "is placed under the authority of a hostile army;" and "The occupation extends only to the territory where such authority has been established and can be exercised." According to Amnesty International, the sole two criteria for deciding belligerent occupation are: de facto effective control of territory by foreign armed forces coupled with the possibility to enforce their decisions, and the de facto absence of a national governmental authority in effective control. It is obvious that once Israel left Gaza, it had neither effective control, nor the ability to enforce such control. Furthermore, Gaza had its own governmental authority in effective control.

You are, of course, absolutely right. Israel has no sovereign borders, other than those given to it by the UN back in 1948. It has been careful not to be too specific about its borders, since this would constrain its ability to steal more Palestinian land

William - you appear to be unaware of the legal position of Israel over Gaza. Since it controls the sky over Gaza, the waters in front of it, and the borders, Israel is still regarded in international law as the ocuupying power, with all the duties to respect and care for the lives of the occupied people that implies.

Hamas offered to give Israel "INFORMATION ABOUT THE FATE OF CPL SHALIT" (not Cpl Shalit himself) in exchange for the women and teenagers who have been arrested for terrorist activities. Most of these female and teenage inmates are suicide bombers who didn't finish their missions. These women and teenagers would probably die if they returned to their homes. In any case, HAMAS DIDN'T OFFER TO RETURN THE SOLDIER IN EXCHANGE FOR RELEASING WOMEN AND "CHILDREN." HAMAS ONLY OFFERED "INFORMATION," WHICH IS NOT THE SAME THING AS OFFERING A LIVING PERSON. Israel isn't going to spend the next 25 years making deals for "information about his fate." Israel won't negotiate with Hamas in this way.

You know you have these Palestinians on the one hand that just want to work and support their families and then there are these fanatics that just want to fight with Israel. These fanatics will kill any Palestinian that steps out of line. Well maybe it's time to separate the fanatic Palestinians from the hard working and honest Palestinians. Send the fanatics to Iran and Syria and give the hardworkers jobs. I'd like to also say to replace the Arab Mullahs with Italian ones but they wouldn't survive a day in Ramallah! Selah!

I have no idea what you are talking about Vladimir. Perhaps it is a simple language problem. Had Britain bombed Auschwitz, a camp packed with people, no doubt you'd now be complaining that Britain had done Hitler's work of extermination for him. I would also remind you that the US Air Force was busy pounding Germany at about the same time, so go make the same complaint to the American contributors to Talkback. I would further remind you that it was British troops who liberated Belsen.

ldupont, why on earth should Israel follow what the United Nations orders. We sure didn't with the Oil for Food Program, and any land gained in the six-day war by israel is israeli by conquest. let's not forget that israeli didn't start the six-day war, and let's not forget that it has been the Arabs throughout the middle east who have initiated this 50+ year war of attrition, not Israel. I fail to understand why Israel should listen to the United Nations, when it is so heavily biased against Israel. It's taken 60 years for the UN to finally commemorate the Holocaust. Emergency Special Sessions of the United Nations General Assembly are rare. No such session has ever been convened with respect to the Chinese occupation of Tibet,the Syrian occupation of Lebanon, the slaughters in Rwanda, the disappearances in Zaire or the horrors of Bosnia. In fact, during the last 15 years they have been called only to condemn Israel. So tell me, why should Israel respect the United Nations.

DID YOU EXPECT HAMAS TO BUILD A NEW POWER STATION SO THAT ISRAEL COULD BOMB IT ? HOW OLD ARE THE HYDRO ELECTRIC PLANTS IN CANADA ??? IF THEY FIND IT SO FUNNY TELL THEM TO TRY LIVING IN 95F WITHOUT WATER AND POWER !

You Go Yisreal! Your cause is honorable. Unlike Pres. Bush, Who lied about WMD to build his $569 billion palace in Babylon, have Muslim children worship him in their text books and shed innocent blood. JESUE said, "Think not that I have come to bring peace, but a sword". HE will permit you to run through this troop and leap over this wall to v-i-c-t-o-r-y! Stay the course! Saints of JESUS let's continue to pray, because JESUS is LORD! Mr. G. Shalit, we are praying for you, as well.

the difference is, those Hamas terrorists will be tried and convicted in a court of law, they won't be kidnapped and shot dead, and given that Israel doesn't negotiate with terrorists, i highly doubt they'll bargain using these hamas criminals.

Doris/Dutch, "Israel`s might does not give it the right" You are correct. It is the constant terrorist attempts against us, adductions, murders, Qassam launches, stabbing, driveby shootings, desecration of religious sites, and suicide bombings that not only gives us the complete right but the moral and civic obligation to do everything in our power to obstruct, disrupt, contain, and destroy the terrorists that are totally committed to our destruction. It is our enormous MIGHT & military, intellectual & scientific superiority, strong economy, political strength, and leadership in the world in the fight against ARAB TERROR which is the scourge of the 20th and 21st century that gives us the capability to do not WHAT WE WANT but WHAT IS NECESSARY to defeat Arab Fundamentalist Terror in our region. Thankfully the world is watching and learning how to stand tall against terror and not to capitulate.

The truth of the matter is Israel is using this "kidnapped" soldier thing to their advantage. They could have easily returned the palestinians the innocent kids and women that where arrested and end this conflict and recieve the soldier instantly- But than they couldnt arrest Hamas without public outcry- Now as you see they get to arrest as many Hamas members as they want that had nothing to do with the Prisoner Of War, simply because Israel as President G. Bush said "Israel has a right to "defend" itself" -with love and peace Omar

And move the rest of Arabs to Jordan, The Palestinian State and secure the nation from those murderous and HATER.

Just prove one thing: Israel is the only country in the world above the LAW. Even the US will never do such a thing as destroying all the infrastructure of a third world nation, for ONE soldier. Israeli will kill any goy (including child) for saving a soldier. Its a country similar to the ex-South-Africa, but the european and US press doesnt care, since it is controlled by jews. But believe me, people in Europe and in North America are more and more tired about the illegal and criminal action of the jewish state...Its clear that the Israeli government is so happy to use the excuse of the kidnapp soldier to destroy all the Gaza territory...disgusting!

The capturing of the Israeli soldier let to hundreds of arrests, and when Israelies put the palestinians in prisons- they put them in the worst condition- they treat them awful- unlike the condition the israeli soldier is in now.

My take is "to hell with tolerance" already. Tolerance is a Judeo/Christian virtue anyway, not a Muslim one as I read the Koran anyway. All tolerance means for Hamas (and Islamic hegemony in general) is time to reload. I just love the Hamas charter..."we will be tolerant of everyone...as long as we are calling all the shots". I do feel pity for the "inocent" Palestinian public...pity that they remain so short after all these years of breeding like rabits and wallowing in victimhood. Are all the other Muslim states around the region lining up to aid these people? Not on your life. The "issue" of a few JEWS on a narrow strip of "their" soil is more important to them than human life...even their own. A Palestinian success story would destroy the Islamist's ability to complain!!! The real message of ISLAM is becoming more and more clear as we "get to know" them. Tolerance toward these people is just another was of saying "bend over".

I found your post to me condescending and not innocent.Many of my posts have been censored or hackers have gotten to my posts and Haaretz never received them.Your posts are not helpful,your severe criticism of Israel encourages terror attacks and perhaps overly harsh responses by people like me toward the enemy,as well.If you are a Jew,you must live in a special place where Anti-Semitism doesn't exist in your daily life but it's thriving all over the world and you fuel that Anti-Semitism with what "you" consider brutal honesty.

Don't see much tolerance in your posts, guy. You know who your enemies are, don't you?

mommy help me, allah help me. the israeli's finally understand our words. quick get the double barrelled shot gun, fill it of double meaning words, that should get the uk, un , eu and russia to grap a hold of one arm and pin it behind israel's back. i'm to young to see bare naked breasts. they scare me, oh no what am i to do?

I don't dispute your analysis on this one. But as Ol' George and Alberto discovered today, there is a Third Geneva Convention. And guess what? It's not so quaint and outdated as we were told. Further, Ol' George found out today he has a coequal branch of government, the Congress. A state of war does not make for a monarchy.

what our real intentions are. they refuse to fight with one hand held back by the uk, eu and un. what will we do, run for cover, the usual double barreled double talk doesn't work anymore. oh allah oh allah i'm to young to learn about sex, mommy help me. no no keep that blouse on

"Leaders who think with their guts instead of their brains make big, big, mistakes." - Mark Lincoln I think the body parts are a bit lower. They love the smell of testosterone in the morning.

Doing the shell game isn't very convincing, and it's far too easy to follow. I point out that the prisoners document mentions captured territory in '67 and doesn't specify west bank and gaza, leaving the golan up in the air and you keep rotating the shells like it will go away. I point out that it calls for focusing attacks on the territories and not exclusive to, and you keep with the shells , and toss in a misdirection of Abbas. Any street cleaner would flip over the correct shell and toss you the pea, because he has the street smarts. Have you ever done anything in your life aside from watching other people do things? Tossing a barb here and there and then sitting back with a smile doesn't make your fantasy any more believable. When they say it exlicitly I'll have trouble believing them, when they need to "save face" and deny it, I certainly don't believe what you're selling. I don't need a big trunk, and that fluid is oil.

When she feels like it she screams that if only Israel would let the Pals exist then everything would be dandy. Most of the time she shrieks that Israel has no right to exist. WHICH IS IT, MY DEAR, HATE-FILLED DARLING FROM NEW ENGLAND?

You might try some history from before your grandad was born, too. Did you know about the involvement of Poles and Germans and in particular, the French in making sure that a United States would be born? Did you know that the French expended so much in national treasure that it lead directly to the conditions overthrowing their government and the Reign of Terror? Did you know that more Frenchmen died at Yorktown then Americans. When was the last time you thanked the French for that sacrifice?

hu?? maybe you had your head in the sand you cry for a few arabs killed have you read the papers over the last years thousands of civilan israelis have been killed and the israelis have killed many combatants and some civies but the diff is israel regrets it doesnt do it on purpose and tries to learn and not repet it( read todays jerusalem post article by the israeli air force commader)the arabs seek out civies and does its most to kill them and maim them they are a plague on the world totaly inhuman and without feelings bec they want the world run according to allah but i guess for you 32 arabs are woth more then any jew and jewish life is cheap by he way did you realize israel stopped bobming when those civies died would the arabs do that lastly did you notice how the arabs put there rockets in mosqes and on top of apt buildings with civilans and fire fro mcrowed areas with civilans there???????

And move the rest of Arabs to Jordan, The Palestinian State and secure the nation from those murderous and HATER.

Without the Poles and French and some Germans, we'd be part of Canada. Visit Yorktown and see the monument. More Frenchmen died there than Americans to secure your rights to be an American. Gratitude has it's limits. I got my 'thank you from a WWII survivor in 1972. I don't expect it from his grandkids and great grandkids. When he thanked me for what my parents generation did, I also thanked him for the fact that without France and other Europeans, we would probably not have had a country. Your jingoism is ugly.

Do you think Muslims in your countries have high birthrights by chance? Go to memritv.org and you'll see a lot of it is premeditated and encouraged by Arab media. Jihad is about forcibly reconquering Muslim lands, even if through demographic means. Is it by chance that 1 in every 10 residents of France is a very unhappy and poorly integrated Muslim? You are being repaid for the Crusades and the horrible things you have done to peoples throughout humanity, and soon you will be in the same position as Israel. The only difference is your government does not know how to handle the situation, whereas the Israeli government does. Decline of European nations is on the way. And they deserve it. -- Americans support Israel.

read the interview the israeli air force commander had today in the jerusalem post no other air force commander can speak in those terms not even englands

She doesn't hear other voices, only her own, as she sits alone in her rubber room, writing screeds and laughing demonically. If only they could hook her ever-typing hands to a generator, then she might be of SOME use to this world. As of now, she is only of use to those psychologists who take an interest in her particularly hideous disease.

better to be quiet and thought a fool then to open ones mouth and be confirmed a fool israel pulled out of gaza when many israelis and the idf said not towhat did we get back what did barak get back when he offered araft 95% of the west bank and 5 % of the negev(do u know anyone who gets 95% of what he wants when negotating?) he said no way so what did we get in return a couple of hundred missles on sderot and 20000 people leaving the town also didnt the arabs say they would turn sedrot into a ghost town also what would have happened if the hatred of the arabs for the jews wasnt there in 1948 and the split israel into 2 parts( sounds like a 2 state solution??) it would be hong kong of the middle east lastly what would your country do if northern ireland shot missiles over to enland they would flatten it

I mean, come on people. You Europeans are completely blind and trust me, you'll be in the same position (especially France). Hamas had been firing Qassam rockets into Sderot for months and plenty of children died there, too (doesn't just happen in Gaza). What's significant about Sderot? It's the hometown of Defense Minister Amir Peretz. HAMAS WAS PROVOKING A RESPONSE FOR MONTHS - the attack on the Israeli outpost - which was by the way on the Israeli side of the 1967 Green Line (where Hamas supposedly accepts the Israeli state, though the message is mixed - took two months of planning. They wanted a response. So they got one - only on a larger scale that they anticipated. Hamas only responds with force and this was a case that Israel had to show terrorists that she wouldn't accept kidnappings and murder. I admit it happens on both sides, but the Israelis were justified in this operation. ONE MORE THING - you Europeans will be in the same position quite soon. To be continued.

"You must be referring to the Arab translation of the Fourth Geneva Convention" LOL

Do you really believe any body going lesson to your nonsense except some Arabs terrorist gang? Israel never had a real Partner and never will have it, Because Islam never believed in your existence.

In this case I do not agree with you. The Israelis are not being self-righteous, they are fighting for their lives. I realize that to Palestinians the Israelis seem overwhelming, but as a nation they feel surrounded and hated. Nobody can act like normal, reasonable beings under those circumstances. You know that many in the "Arab Street" would love to see us all dead. So I will say two things to you 1. Wishing for a free, independent Palestine but also 2. Am Yisroel Chai. If number 2 were a part of the Palestinian agenda, there would have been peace a long time ago, there would be a free and independent Palestine and there would be no settlers in the territories.

with all the love of me my family and all israeli citizen and all te jewish COL HA CAVOD give it to them my lovly friend whoever you are

You state that anyone from any religion is the "preferred" of God, if they save or preserve life,build instead of destroy-yet, you start of with God not Hamas will destroy Israel in 10-15 years because of your supposed attrocities committed by Israel when in fact it's the reverse,it is Hamas and fanatic Muslims who commit attrocities against Israel and others.Of course, your "real " Torah confirms the destruction of Israel as your Koran.You claim,"{God)HE created the human being to worship Him and not to kill each other." I was tought that any law can be broken to preserve life and the belief in God is not requisit to being a good Jew or human being-God is not vain.If Israel is destroyed,it will happen when the world is destroyed and that has not come to pass despite prophesies to that affect.One hopes, there are good people in every religion but by claiming Israel commits attrocities and will susequently be destroyed, you are not one of them.

calling Israelis sick is not going to solve anything here!

A Hamas official called the arrests an "open war against the Palestinian government and people," and said that Israel must be prepared to pay their" No body understands those Arabs. They talk too much and when they see resistance they screem. I think they do not know different between open and close

for months on end?? They did not kill as many Israeli civillians as intended,not due to lack of trying.

Why the destruction of Palestinian Infrastructure? This is senseless. If the Israelis were concerned about the prisoner being moved from one area to another they could easily put a checkpoint on either end of the bridge(s) and stop and search every vehicle. The destruction of the Power Station depriving Palestinians of drinking water (no electricity for their pumps) is an act of senseless stupidity. I don't think Israel is really concerned about the release of the prisoner but are just trying to use the situation to use its massive might to destroy Palestine and all its occupants. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely

This is not Sharon. The response feels different -- more thoughtfull, maybe even more logical -- then Shaon's "hit them till it hurts" responses to Palestianian attacks. I don't know what the current government's thinking is --- which could mean neither do the Palestinians. But it seems that there is a plan, "THINKING" behind this stradegy -- both in the withdrawal from the occupied land, and the strategic response to the raid and prisoner capture. Who knows? In some unforeseen way, this may lead to peace. I'm encouraged. It couldn't get much worse than it was.

Was the administrative detention law only changed recently , from 48 hrs to 96 hrs?

Not to mention 60 million,committed,pro-Israel, Christians in the USA. You are right good always wins against evil. Vastly larger Arab armies have fought numerous wars against Israel-and lost. Where are your statistics (from a reliable source) that the "world's patience with Israel will soon come to an end"? The world is actually getting sick of worldwide Islamist terror. Last week there was a survey published on how much of Europe and the USA view Moslems -as fanatics.

Palestinians are pursuing a deliberate policy of disrupting, destabilizing life in Sderot and other cities. If the Qassams are being launched from population centers, Israel should give 24 hour warning for them to evacuate area and level the area. If they choose to stay in a combatant area, they are responsible for their own lives.

The Palestinians have to let go of the fantasy and accept the reality that Israel is here to stay and will be the sovereign power in the area now and in the years to come. They can't go around anymore and make deals with Islamo-Fachist States to bring in their armies so that Israel faces Iranians in the North and Iranians in the South. It is a dream and the Israelis will not allow this to happen. I hope Israel sticks to their program and doesn't allow terrorists to run the Palestinians anymore. Hopefully things will get better once the Palestinians accept the status quo for once and get on a path of working together with Israel to make two states that do not desire the destruction of each other and stop this terrorist nonsense! Give it up El-Birawi! Enough is enough! No more Meshals and no more Kahanes! Selah!

Indeed, we need to turn over new leaves and begin to practice the tolerance modeled so perfectly by the Zionist Jews on this blog.

Round them up and lay down the law! No one gets out of jail until they settle this thing correctly, with Israel in control of the entire area, and Iran and Syria out of the game! Selah!

- The only thing keeping Israel afloat is a bought and paid for American congress. So which way is it - US Congress is bought by an Israel's lobby, or Israel is bought by US Congress?

So we're working with Abu Mazen, big whoop. I've read enough quotes from the man to see that he too stands by the Palestinian demands, including the right of return. I've seen him flail about for 18 months now declaring his impotance. Now you tell me that his word is going to be the final one? Again, you push this Panglossian view that all will be well, if only we let him make the deal. To date, his credibility is zero. What makes you think that after all this, he's going to get his way without HAMAS playing spoiler.

It's all in there, and its the wiggle room that allows the Palestinians to maintian their fight anywhere any time against anyone. The key word here is "focusing". You interpet this to mean ONLY, but it is not. Focus may mean concentration, in may mean the majority of, or some of. But there is nothing to say that resistance cannot occur outside the realm of focus. Second, there is no definition or restriction on what constitutes legitimate "resistance" (if one can have such a term in regards to a euphamism for terrorism. According to this definition, the "resistance" used by the Palestinians was entirely justified in killing Eliyahu Asheri, because of his location. You want to see the glass as half full Ben Gurion. That's admirable. I don't hold such utopian views at this point.

You seem to have a very warped view of recent history. Israel have offered Palestinians peace and recognition of an independent state many times - Arafat and Hamas have refused. Rockets fired from Gaza have precipitated an Israeli response, not the other way around. Moreover, the so called "Prisoner's Agreement" does not recognise a two-state solution. Hamas has stated as much and the Hamas chater certainly does not - going so far as to call it blasphemous and condemning anyone that would consider the notion. It is you choice not to support Israel but don't do this in isolation to facts.

The 3 bridges blown up were used by the Jews for the gaza settlements and the power station was in need of major repairs and the airport has not been in use for years and... the IDF is sitting in open feilds. The arrested Hamas leaders got there wish come true. What a platform. Olmert and Perezt do not have what it takes to destroy terror. Now the issue of Gazan Arab poverty will be an issue and all the bravado on this post site is meaningless. Even my Arab freinds that like Israel and Jews, say the Arab world is rolling over laughing at the IDF and Israel government. What to do? What to do?

The SLOOOW censor is here. Can't cope with the amount of work everybody else copes with easily. What is his solution? SKIP posts, leave dead posts behind. Here are some examples: 22:19-23:39, no posts. Posts come in at a rate of about one every 4 minutes. Estimate 20 posts buried alive in this blackhole. 01:47-02:37, no posts. About half dozen posts slaughtered. What is wrong with you, Mr. censor? NEVER leave posts behind. Do as many as you can. You will be falling further and further behind, but this will make you work faster. I ask all Talkback participants to complain to the responsible manager, Mr.radley Burston, about this Black Hole inventor. His email: bburston@haaretz.co.il Let's rid ourselves of the Slowman.

RE:But so far there are "NO" evidence of Hamas being part of such a conspiracy. There are "NO" evidence of Hamas being complicit in kidnapping and murder. Your blindness cannot be innocent as Hamas itself is claiming these deeds.

RE:not to recognize their attitude toward Palestinians is infamous ? Because they are not blinded by outrageous media like France 2 that staged the fake death of Al Dura in Sept 2000 (one example among hundreds). The only one that are blinded are the euro left judging the ME conflict in view of their own colonial experience. I am also convinced that the focus on the alleged Israeli occupation is just to mask the real occupation occuring now: that of Europe by the Islamists.

"I read the document, and there is no limitation on the action of armed resistance." - J's Blues Try par.3: "The right..to the option of resistance with the various means and focusing the resistance in the occupied territories of 1967 alongside with the political actions and negotiations". I am tired of repetition, Jacob. For more, please read the Document more carefully, then read post #525 by Peter, and my reply #558. Will save us time. Can you switch to classical music? More soothing. BG

""Israel planned these mass arrests weeks ago. Most likely, because they knew Hamas was on the verge of an agreement with Fateh on two state solution and endorsement of peace talks with Israel."" What about the militants who dug a tunnel 200 meters long under the Gaza/Israel border to attack Israeli soldiers in Israel proper? Didn't they take weeks to do it? Did they do it because they are on the verge of an agreement on a two states solution? What two states solution? Palestine in Gaza,West Bank and East Jerusalem and the Islamic Republic of Falasteen everywhere else from the Lebanese border to the Red Sea and from the Jordan River to the Mediteranean free of Jews and other "infidels".

Bring your numbers from a reliable source or shut up. The world's patience with Israel will soon come to an end... Good always win against evil...

And were exactly do Israels sovereign borders lie ? Even Olmert doesn't know the answer to that. The only thing keeping Israel afloat is a bought and paid for American congress.

I am a U.S. born palestinian who just recently visited the west bank, I too was put under the IDF scrutiny through there checkpoints in various villages. The question I want to know is why?? Israel will never have peace without having a peaceful palestinian state next to them. Hopefully the days of peace will come soon and wash away these bad times the palestinians are living in now.

Israel has no right 2 invade the gaza strip..they took the Palestinians land a long tyme ago and the media never mentions anything about how much palestians the israelites kill everyday do they? no one knows..israel needs 2 give back our land if they want peace...they're holding soo many of our prisoners and if we take one soldier, they wannt 2 bomb us...what about our rights?...PALESTINE WILL BE VICTORIOUS!!! WE ARE PROMISED!!!

You must be kidding?

To hell with the Arabs and Jews ??? How about to hell with intolerance.

I recently had the experience of dining at a business meeting for a few hours with Noah Cohen, a pro-Hamas and pro-terrorist activist who helps run a Boston-based organization called onepalestine.org. If Mr. Cohen is any indication of what pro-terrorist individuals believe and are prepared to do to further their cause, it is unfortunately imperative to make clear to Hamas that Israel will respond with force and vigor and creativity to violent acts designed to, in Mr. Cohen's words, "bring insecurity to the settler state." Until moderate speakers for a state of Palestine emerge who have the courage to do away with extremists, it remains up to Israel to defend itself.

Bill, Uno,as long as the West Bank is still occupied, there will be no ""new" ennemy" state. Secundo, Israel started the whole ball when it shelled the Gaza beach at the begining of June, killing 7 innocent civilian. Get a reality check.

Mark, Please understand that if you can not write correctly you should stop posting. It is sad to see an intelligent but uneducated man , unaware of his limitations. Mark Lincoln quote : And, as Israel has destroyed the PA by arresting it`s elected Parliament, ...

So you also know full well yourself that the Palestinians could be arresting terrorists on the information of the Israelis. How about Hamas yesterday calling for more abductions of Israeli civilians? You elect leaders who call for Israeli abductions (as with the soldier and the civilian murdered yesterday), then your cries of "war crimes" fall on deaf ears.

Where does ignorance end and bigotry begin? Seems consistent with the rest of the postings.

Presently, Israel has unique opportunity to take a definite stand on Hamas-led PA and to set forth in place a clear programme for dealing with threats to Israeli sovereignity from outside its borders. Since Israeli pull-out from Gaza, Israel legally ceased to be an occupying force in that region; however, the new Palestinian govt continues to authorize attacks against Israeli citizens. By all international standards, this latest attack was nothing less than as a declaration of war. As a sovereign state, Israel should use its military forces to strike a decisive blow against the "new" enemy state, destroying its infrastructure and armed forces. The climate is particularly appropriate for a strike given Hamas-ordered evacuation of civilians and, for the first time, appearance of definite targets for Israeli marksmen. Finally, Israel should cancel all economic agreements that benefit PA. Enemies don't get economic aid. This includes taxes, water, and electricity.

Abbas is guilty of being weak. I presume his intention's are good but I wonder if he is another Rumkovski, trying to do his best for his ghetto dwellers. Perhaps it is more sinister. Even after the IDF killed 20 civilians, Abbas was photographed shaking hands and smiling with the Israelis. What is his motivation? The only 'Partner for Peace' acceptable to the Israelis is a Quizling. You make peace with your enemy. It will come all conflicts have a resolution.

As you pointed out, the Palestinians are too splintered to be trusted. The fact that they seem to have empowered Abbas to negotiate means nothing if he cannot control the terrorists. Even Hamas is split in a number of ways. Just as importantly, all of them are still glued to this so-called right of return, a non-starter for Israel.

"How can anyone expect the PA, with barely enough gas to move their security vehicles (thanks to the US/Israeli financial blockade) to do any better." They seem to have enough gas, even now, to move their rocket launchers. Even today they fired seeral into Israel. Poor Palestininas - not enough gas to move their security vehices - whatever these are!

What plans will our Government execute to bring the Pals to their knees. No Electricity. No Water, No Comms, No Bridges (wait for Winter), 9,5000 prisoners, twenty civilians killed by our army in last two weeks. Their knees havn't bent yet. Nothing left really but to bomb the s--t out of them!

You are right and the irak experience is making americans understand clearly what you are facing.

BS meter, I understand you once to come once a year to Quebec. It is the most civilized place in North America with the most beautiful women. And if you have such a lovely time whith us, whinners, you should think about visiting the other country you wee making allusionin post #553... :) I have never said you CANNOT talk about the FRENCH. I just want you to have a balannced view. I understand that I have not seen balanced view on this forum (Scary people who love blood here....). Regarding the heroic version, I think you are totally wrong. Do you speak french or do you rely on the psycopathic version of the republican theory on the freedom fries to have an opinion on what happened during the occupation?

TonyL, the Geneva Convention established that an occupying power is responsible for providing all necessary services and ensuring that the population is governed. Israel has had a sweet deal in that respect. Until Oslo it had the Jordanian government supplying such to the West Bank, after Oslo, it had the PA responsible. You, I am certain, have not noticed that neither Mr. Ben Gurion or I made any comment like "Israel has no right to go in to Gaza", for the simple reason that Israel IS the OCCUPYING POWER, and has not only the right, but the responsibility. Now, with the Palestinian Authority destroyed, Israel has assumed all governmental responsibilities for Palestine in the eyes of the world, and under international law.

Howdy Clickfool; You must be referring to the Arab translation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. In the English translation, electrical power plants are legimate military targets if they or their outputs are being used by the enemy in anyway, shape, or form. Lack of electricity is not life-threatening to people since they have managed to do quite well without it for most of recorded history. On the other hand, electricity is being used by the Gazans to manufacture weapons such as Qassam rockets so taking out the power plant hampers the ability of the enemy to make war. The same is true of infrastructure such as bridges and communications. Even though they have "dual use" by civilians and combatants, their use by the enemy military removes their protected status and they can be legitimatedly targeted. There is no "clear breach" of the Geneva Convention at all except in your head.

The weird thing about all this Mr. Ben Gurion, is that I don't really think the firm of Olmert & Peretz have a coherent mission in mind to accomplish. They have proven Israel can destroy the infrastructure in Gaza. Big deal, everyone knew that. They have proven that they can administer collective punishment upon the Palestinians for electing Hamas. They were already doing that. What have they accomplished?

i remember your great generals in WW2 that happily helped hitler killing jews - moine, or did not want to bomb aushwitz since criminal brits did not know what to do with living jews. your country criminal acts against jews is below only of germany and russia.

"That will be the least of it, Mark. Destroyed transformers valued at $6 million. Let`s start with feeding the Gazans, or providing jobs if you don`t want to feed forever. I think once Israel has the responsibility, the Europeans will stop their shipments. Hundred of millions per year right there. And more and more." - Ben Gurion And, as Israel has destroyed the PA by arresting it's elected Parliament, then it has assumed 100% responsibility for the humanitarian crisis unfolding. Leaders who think with their guts instead of their brains make big, big, mistakes.

Enough...the world will be better off when the Israelis and Arabs kill off each others populations...then maybe the world will have peace. For over five thousand years you morons have been at each others' throat...end it now for the rest of our sakes...and can you take out the christians too!

1. when you are delousing your home it does not matter how many cocroaches you have - 1000 or 1000.000, anyway you will finish all of them with additional DDT. 2. your giant - arab/muslim world - is in coma and maybe sleeping for good. you can chose your own preference, i as most of westerners do prefer the first.

speak hebrew?

totally agree but without pals, only land. for each killed israeli 1km2, for each wunded 0.1km2 etc.

Why dont you go and partner with Tom Clancy for a novel. You have good ideas and an extraordinary wisdom . You know how to connect the dots. you really do... But leave us alone, dont contaminate us with your garbage. You hate Jews as much as you hate America.

I think Abbas and Haniya should be sent to the Hague War Crimes Tribunal. Sending rockets against civilians, blowing up buses and falafel stands with only civilians constitutes war crimes and the Palestinian president and prime minister are responsible due to their position. (If they couldn't control the terrorists they should have resigned.) If they only avoid the tasty trans fatty acids they may live a long and healthy life in prison. The antisemitic propaganda in Palestinian school books should be stopped. Also the satellite broadcasters of antisemitic propaganda should be stopped. Muslim democratic leaders should be interviewed about their position on the antisemitic hadith in Hamas Charter.

I read the document, and there is no limitation on the action of armed resistance. If you see otherwise, then point it out. I remain unimpressed with your self congratulations. As for the difference between Fatah and HAMAS, its a choice of blood today vs. blood tomorrow. or 67 today and 48 tomorrow. Given that HAMAS leaders immediately denounced the idea that they implicitally recognized Israel by their acceptance of this document shows just how thin their support is for it. More verbal wranglings. Did HAMAS REALLY mean that they accept the PA position, or not, because the issue of Fatah vs. PA is a worthless one. If we now have to go back to the issue of whether or not it was the PLO, or Fatah, or al-Aqsa who has signed off on this, and accepts its dictates just means that any day that they want, the Palestinians can come up with another organization that states it doesn't abide by what the other group MAY have said. Too much equivocation.

second front in france was opened in 06/44 to prevent USSR to get all europe only. in the time USSR did occupy part of poland and without second front would occupy by the end of 45 all german territories. american aid was very important to russia, brits after 06/41 and french forever were totally unimportant. if you don't know all german losses in the west from 41 to 05/45 were 80000. of course they lost 6 times that to brave french in 05/45-47 in slave labor, hunger etc.

The 'rabs understand one thing well - the use of power. Hitting them, and hitting them HARD, is the only solution to the 'dual' state, NOT conceding yet more (West Bank) territory! An old Arab saying: "The Arabs are either at your feet, or at your throat!" says it all!

Only in Israel killing is legal. Just put the prefix target-

Israel has been trying to provoke the Palestinian government (Hamas)since they won a democratic election.Arresting an elected goverment,how could the world sit back and watch,now have those idiots realize this will only provoke more violence and kidnappings.Make capturing oe soldier wasn't enough for Israel,maybe the Palestinians needs to capture more soldiers and maybe these idiots will learn a lesson.

All the little worms asking for human blood from women and children is begining to sound as if they are having trouble functioning. The redrawal syndrome is obvious and just a tiny massacre would put it all right, but the Yanks have said no and even how much the Israelis beg the answer still seems to be "NO".

About time Israel defend itself against these blood thirsty terrorists. These are not polticians. To claim that is a joke. Thank God Israel finally found the cajones to do something

Furthermore, when one declares war/intifada and is uncompromisingly committed to our destruction, the answer is to fight the war with war. Democracy only comes into play as that PAL terror moved Israel's voting population to the right, put Arik Sharon in govt. and brought about the required military answer to the war initiated by PALs against us. Now our recently democratically elected govt. is standing up to abductions and murder to show the world how to deal with Arab terrorists. The world should watch and learn from us and defeat this scourge of the 20th and 21st century - ARAB TERRORISM. We do not give in to terrorist and reward terror. I hope USA, RUSSIA, and other follow suit.

Typical communist party propaganda,but both Thorez and Marchais are dead. When the islamist will overrun the french democracy, then you will think: "oh now I understand the Israelis"but it will be too late and you will come to the US begging for help-again. Do you remember the surburbs intifada of last November when islamists fought the horrible occupation of the french caliphate by the french. Free the NINE-THREE

arabs think with their hearts, jews think with our heads and thats why arabs will never defeat us. salaam/shalom

So, unless NATO and the UN takeover Gaza and the West Bank and oversee a controlled transition to Palestinian statehood, how's it all going to end? What other, realistic possibility of peace is there? (Remember,the Kosovo Albanians have had disputes with the UN, but they would never push it too far, unless the UN allowed the Serb army back in. It would be the same with the Pals) The West Bank is a poisoned chalice for Israel. It looks pretty and valuable, but gradually it is poisoning Israel's future prospects in the region and destroying any possibility of peaceful relations with the Arab world. Like many people who basically wish Israel well, I don't understand the inability to drop the chalice.

I am becoming more and more convinced that the entire state of palestine is a scourge and needs to be dealt with in the harshest means. Not necessarily annihilation, but authoritarian rule. Bigger walls, guns, a no-cross policy, immediate retaliation against any rocket attacks. Eventually people will give up on palestine and move to europe. In the meantime, learn from these mistakes, they build a tunnel, you need some seismic detectors. I don't think this kidnapping warrants a full-scale invasion, although it does really burn my nerves. That's why I'm not in government :)

The PA is being desolved. No partner for peace established, but at the same time creating a situation where the unilateral setting of borders are rendered impossible due to the situation created by these actions. The damage done to power plants and transformers leaves Mahmoud Abbas without a way out, due to the length it would take to restore services of sanitation, water and electricity, hence being unable to improve the living conditions. The armed militants will go back to suicide bombings and will be happy the longer Israel is kept bogged down in the Gaza strip. Israel's problem has been that it killed so many civilians before the incursion, in response to an attck on a military target by the militants, that it has been "ordered" not to target civilians. Thus leaving them without the 'feal good factor' to give to the home audience, thirsting for blood. Gilad Shalit will never be released, but kept to inflict an Israeli lingering trauma. Free Palestine!

I have read an article here, ?Hamas grabs international headlines? (section ?Diplomacy?). I would like to add this one and hope the translation can be understood. === Numerous voices (but silenced in Europe) were afraid that the Israeli withdrawal would make Gaza the base for the creation of a rogue state in the Strip and the West Bank. The terrorist organization hamas, the winner in the recent pal elections, gives them more weight every day. Some hamas terrorists have kidnapped an Israeli soldier and threatened to murder him if Jerusalem doesn?t exchange him for pal terrorists enjailed in Israel. [?] Olmert?s cabinet has already replied. With a round ?no? and with military operations aimed at rescuing corporal Gilad Shalit, punishing the criminals who keep him hostage and firmly warning another rogue state, Syria, of the consequences of supporting or sheltering the leaders of the pal terrorist groups. There is nothing to negotiate with terrorists. http://www.libertaddigital.com/opiniones/opi_desa_32215.html

Gaza belonged to Egypt but after Israel took over after the war ,Egypt didnt want the poor Gaza back,but in Sinai the oilwells were more than welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Palestinian game for the last 58 years is to try and get the Arab/Muslim world to fight the Israelis. Should this fear stop Israelis from defending themselves against terror? Jews had their catastrophe/nakba in which millions died and they moved on with their lives- to Norh America ,Israel, all over the world but Palestinians are always waiting for the next big war as a magical solution to everything.

I can not imagine being under the gun for over sixty years, having the land your grandfather's gradfather lived on taken from your family buy some organization of countries. The Palastinians are desperate and they are pissed. Nobody with any power truly cares about them. What I would do, as an American, is capitulate and work from the inside to change things, but I don't hate the Isreali.

From a non Jewish US Citizen. Stay the course, never, never, never give up to this plague of anti Semitic Locusts, both there and in the United States.We must stay united with our Jewish Brethren.

Is it more important for you to discuss whether the power and bridge are war crimes or the actual fate of the people? If it's the people then it's really simple, give us back the lad. If it's the former, keep wandering and mumbling to yourself.

My Bs meter is just pinned at maximum. Collective punishment for the actions of a few you say. Pity. Where do the few get their recruits. Who gives these few safe shelter.Who shields these few from th e Law(IDF). Who wants their 5 year old to be a murdered oops Martyr and who gives out candies when Jews are killed. But you know all that and are just yanking our collective chains to get a high (Cheaper than drugs) Continue posting HaHaAretz need you to increase their circulation.The more outrageous the better.

The Hamas army and its leaders are cowardly hiding behind the poor civilian Arabs, woman and children. This is already a war crime on the Hamas side. Hamas is to be blamed for those unfortunate casualties. They are shamelessly hiding behind civilians so that when Israel gets them there will be some civilian causality which in turn will be used as propaganda against Israel. But The world will not buy this for a long time.

Any eye for an eye will not bring a soldier back. No military action will bring thsi soldier back. Muslims & Jews shave a lot to learn from the Christians

I am frightened by the amount of blatant anti-Semitism being displayed here by most European posters. One comment after another clearly anti-Semitic in tone coming from Sweden, Germany, France... Obviously they have forgotten the Holocaust. If hoards of intelligent people living in Democratic, westernized nations still hold such antipathy towards Israel and Jews in general that they can find ways to justify the terrorist philosophy of Hamas this world is in serious trouble. Please try to remember that Hamas has been an admitted terrorist organization for decades and the Palestinian people freely elected them in their first democratic election. This makes the Palestinian people just as guilty and deserving of the current IDF incursion. I must admit that I naively thought our "European Friends" had seen the error of their ways but I was clearly, frighteningly wrong. I don't wish death on anyone but until the PL's stop wishing death on others I'm afraid this is their fate!

The Fourth Geneva Convention was not meant to outlaw war, or to deprive sovereign states of their right to self-defense. Art. 28: "The presence of protected persons may not be used to render certain points or areas immune from military operations." Art. 53: "Any destruction by the Occupying Power of real or personal property belonging individually or collectively to private persons, or to the State, or to other public authorities, or to social or cooperative organizations, is prohibited except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations." The bombing of bridges and power stations are clearly within the exception mentioned in Art. 53, since both can be used by the enemy to advance its military objectives. Bridges allow enemy personnel to move around, and electricity allows all machinary to function. Unfortunately, in all war, civilians suffer, which is why people should think twice before voting terror groups into government.

I see here sooo many American voices blindly supporting agression of IDF in Gaza... You should more concentrate on your own country how you devastate the world, not sign Kyoto protocol and electing fanatics like George Bush!!

Aiming for Israeli civillians,aiming to kill and maim as many as possible. Declare war take the consequences.

Partners don't cross International Borders, attack military forces and take prisoners. Nations making war do such things. I can't see why its hard to understand. Its not an eye for an eye. Its making war in response to war. Go IDF.

Hey arablover, if it's arab/muslim/ land and you guys own it, how come you can't seem to get it back? You out number the jews 1,000 to 1, yet they've defeated you in every war over the centuries. What you don't realize is they have God on their side and you don't.

Of course for you and your islamist brothers Hamas will always be right. Hamas claims the kidnapping of the soldier and the murder of the israeli kid from judea. Israel is right to arrest hamas lawmakers and should not prosecute them. They sould kill right away 10 of them for the murder of the kid and 20 for the next murder etc.. Free Eretz Israel from the islamist invasion (same could be said of Europe which means you should be out. using the patronym Dutch does not fool anyone. we all know you are a muslim invader of Europe)

"How do you compare a cold blooded killer to a innocent Isreali solder" They are two different views of the same person

Unfortunately it seems to be endemic in Palestinian society. Remeber the two soldiers in Ramallah, when the entire world witnessed the blood stained hands of the killers that he was parading for applause? Koby Mandel and his schoolpal, their heads beaten and crushed with stones, found in a cave. Israei teenager lured by Pal girl over the Internet, taken Rammala and murdered. Dozenz of Issraelis who came to do business in WB Arab towns dragged from restaurants etc only to be found with bullets in their heads. And the list goes on.

yeah we should all wait for the US to tell us who to vote for. Do you understand the term democracy?

So you did actually read that nonsense called the Prisoner Document and you did actually understand it. But you are hiding behind "Constructive Ambiguity". Do you actually know what that entails. Let me elaborate: It means allowing Hamas and other Rats to attack Israel while Abbas negotiates with inflexible conditions that he must bring to a referandum. This accomplished two thing. Hamas can do and say what it always had and Abbas is spared the indignity of losing the vote on an outdated and useless Prisoners Document. What has changed since Camp David and Arafat(may he rot in hell). The Balestinians have actually regressed since 1993. BUT TO YOU THIS IS PROGRESS.

Once again the IDF must school the Palestinians. Will they never learn their lesson? Israel continues to show itself to be a model of restraint. Hamas has crossed a sharply defined line. They are either a government at war with another or else they are a terrorist group deserving merciless destruction. Any government that attacks a superior force must be ready for defeat in detail. If we in the USA had neighbors like that we would be laying them out in windrows, Old Testament style. I don?t particularly love Israel, but I do love a radiation-free atmosphere. Fallout knows no borders and If the Israelis ever looked like they were about to be defeated militarily, they would undoubtedly take most of the Islamic world with them with nuclear strikes. Israel and the IDF must be supported enough to avoid that outcome. Strontium 90 tastes bad.

Since when does Gaza pay for the power Israel provide it? It owes billions yet Israel kept on supplying. They will hopefully be getting power from Egypt (so they gleefully claim) - the sooner the better Isay. Will it be free too?

"This heavy-handed approach will only end up making Israel look bad in the eyes of the world." - Roger Bacon Borrowing Mark Lincoln's tongue-in-cheek comment, "Mission Accomplished!"

Hmm, arresting Hamas goverment ministers. Let me get this straight. Hamas crosses an Internationally recognized border, attacks and kill soldiers and takes one prisoner. This is of course by International Law an act of war. So Israel goes to war against the government that committed this act, arresting it members. Also an act of war under International Law. Sense a pattern here? They committ an act of war and then we do. Only what Hamas has forgotten is we're much better at it, we have better tools and training. Maybe the should give us back Gilad Shalit and end their war against us. Then maybe we will stop. Though they talk about it too much, have to applaud the Olmert Administration for changing the game from the usual prisoners for soldier to an entirely new one where we gather the bargaining chips we want. Hopefully they'll remember that acts of war, missiles, terror and whatnot have a cost in land and infrastructure. Just like provoking and losing the 1967 war. Hmmm.

The pals will be left without government and parliament. It may be beneficial for the pal people to leave them without their leaders. No lawmakers nor hamas government, no insecurity forces might make them a peaceful people.

Steve how dumb are you if this is a war like war wwII then we would be able to bomb beit hanoun indiscrimantly just like we bombed uh....... Berlin, Dresden, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and everywhere else Where the GOVERMENT wants us dead. So if this is a war then I wuld love to carpet bomb Gaza just liek we did during wwII and if its not a war the we have every right to get our soldier back

Last time we heard about a "sleeping giant" was the one Hitler evoked. I do trust you on this one, since I think we'll all have Arabs & Muslims in general to thank for a massive conflagration, just like we had the hard-done-by Germans to thank for one. I'm not surprised to hear you invoking a "sleeping giant" just like Hitler did. I think the same thing will happen to this one as happened to that one. But thanks again for the confirmation, like Dutch gave a while back, that you and yours are really just bloodthirsty religious ideologues. It's what we all need to be reminded of. Peace to you, too.

All those who keep Israel-bashing will forever Israel-bash, in the most dishonest of terms. They hate Israel because it is strong, free, hi-tech, spiritual, and so far can't be beaten by one or many Arab countries or terrorist organizations. Israel, however, is just the paradigm for the Arab situation, the canary in the mine, so to speak. I mean, look what the Arabs/Moslems do everywhere, both to other Arabs/Moslems and to "infidels". Tens of thousands killed in (a) Algeria, (b) Sudan, (c) Somalia, (d) Iraq, (e) Kashmir, (f) Chechnya, (g) Bali, (h) Syria, (i) Lebanon, (j) Phillipines, (k) Egypt, (l) Indonesia, (m) Afghanistan, (n) Pakistan, (o) UK, (p) Spain, (q) Morocco, and on, ad nauseum. Hamas, Fatah, Islamic Jihad, etc., are part of a world-wide Islamist terrorist movement, and every country should be fighting them as forcefully as Israel is.

Once again the Palestinians have proven with their kidnapping of the Isreali soldier, that they are not contempt with having their own state. They want more, they always will, and their terrorist-run state will do whatever they deem fit to conquer the entire non-muslim world. I'm not necessarily siding with Isreal but I do agree they have every right to defend their sovereignty and sometimes that means being offensive. To that end I say it's time Isreal stop any and all negotiations and in the words of another terrorist, "wipe them off the map".

If he did not belong to the Nazi army and did not follow Hitler he did not have any reason to be part of the German army that had invaded France. Still I am sorry that you lost your Grandfather but I lost relatives 2 of them little children in Auschwitz.

The military invasion of Gaza that began last night,and whose purpose is to surround the area where Gilad is presumably held, must only be the first step. A brief invasion ,a ?show of force?,is hardly adequate. Instead,Israel needs to resume its policy of systematically targeting Hamas leaders,just as it did several years ago,culminating in the assassination of sheik Yassin. That policy drove most of Hamas deep underground and led to the cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Resuming assassinations against Hamas?s political echelon is,of course, a declaration of war against the Hamas regime.But given its official sanctioning of kidnapping,Hamas has already declared war against Israel. Hamas issued a statement mourning the death of Zarqawi,and urging continued ?resistance? thereby making Hamas regime the world?s only openly pro-Al Qaeda government. The internationalmedia missed the significance of that moment?

Gee, Kay MD, your subject title is a hodgepodge of contraditions. Hamas is neither democratic, nor were they "elected" in a legitimate enviornment. Like the ongoing fantasy starring their Iraqi neighbors, to consider Hamas "democratic" is comparable to sewing wings on a pig and calling for it to fly high. Democracy and decency evolve over time; Hamas has enabled neither. Concessions to Palestinians and Arabs after decades of offensive wars and terrorist attacks? Why not have Austria cede back some of its liberated lands to Germnay? Democracies do not require dozens of criminal militias or terrorists abetted and supported by its "elected" legislators. Israel should arrest all Hamas parties, destroy their homes, and exile them permanently from Israel, including Judea and Samaria. When the Nazis planned and ultimately succeeded in destroying millions of Jews, Jews had no recourse or tools to defend themselves. They now have guns, and missiles, and tanks, and jets.

Hey Matthew, speak for yourself. Not all Americans are ignorant to the racist policies and lies of the Isreali government. Remember, to hold someone in a gutter, you have get into the gutter with them..

Pssst... An Israeli soldier was kidnapped. These are purported to be the people responsible. Now they're in prison. This info is available in the above article.

What if Hamas had military parity with Israel and arrested 64 Israel parlimentarians? If one does not see the obsurdity of such hypothetical senario, then one must be a hypocrite.

You are right about USA waiting too long but at least they acted and saved your French Derriere. And yes French had a small role in supporting the USA in its independence but it was the American fighters who fought the British not the French. However the France of today is far behind of the ideals raised by Jan Jacque Rousso etc. It is France who gave asylum to Ayatollah Khomeini who intern created the Iranian mass that we have to face today.

he was not a hostage. he was murdered and buried, and then the arab murderers said they have a hostage so they could make demands. they did not have a hostage. they had a corpse and information about the corpse.

At last transparency has arrived to the Pals..where their corrupted leaders and terror advocates (who they misguidedly voted for) are being captured. Wish Pals will use commonsense next voting!!

I wonder what will it take for Israel do to do the right thing. Should we just roll and die? would that make you happy? Israel can't win with the untisemites. Here is my take dude. There has been hate and hostility for 58 years and its not going away. the two must be separated and left alone for the next 100 years.

- How many different judges signed these warrants and what documentation/material was presented to them to obtain a necessary signature. The next question arises assuming that the arrest warrants were signed by Israel civilian judges, why were these arrests made by IDF personnel instead of Israel Police? - There must have been a basic legal problem which caused the Attorney General not to agree to this procedure until several hours before the arrests. May these have been on the basis of International law? With understanding of this peculiar situation one cannot but wonder whether we depart more and more away from the morally based laws with rights for the accused via these special authorization by the Attorney General.

Gina - the punishment of an entire people for the actions of a few is a clear war crime. This encompasses taking people at random and shooting them, selecting houses at random and knocking them down, making the whole population suffer in any way that you could care to name (and this includes the two Israeli war crimes we've seen so far- blowing up a power plant and cutting off water supplies). As I suggested to Harry, put the words GENEVA CONVENTIONS into the Google search panel, and you'll see at once what constitutes a war crime, and why Israel has them. But don't worry, Gina - Israel has never concerned itself too much about war crimes. Its history is littered with them. One of the worst was flattening an apartment complex in Gaza with a 1 tonne to kill one old Hamas man. This also killed 9 sleeping Palestinian children. I believe the Israeli general who ordered this atrocity received promotion and is now one of Israel's head honchos.

you cannot quote the past in the present situation as war as iraq is being fought by arabs being arabs this applies too in gaza. no matter what the legal position might be arab brigands are operating terror war against israel. there is no visible governement and those that appear from abbas are terrorists . consequently the whole population is culpable and targets ! in seizing government ministers this precedent was established in nuremberg for israel to follow .

The dozens of arrest made by soldiers equipped with an arrest warrants signed by a judge makes one asking several questions on the political juridical and law side. The report speaks about the arrest warrants having been ready for weeks and with the Attorney General?s consent last night for these arrests were carried out. Media resources predict further arrests of the same sort. First question that comes up is under what charges and for what law infringement were these warrants issued and what date was given for the judges signature.

How are cuba, Lebanon and vietnam these days

the history of the mid east is 3000 years old !! if you dont understand the basics michael you do not have a clue as to why !!! after 86 years of the jewish home land there is no accomodating arabs now or ever!! successive idiots in power refuse reality and go on to make a bigger mess than before!

Actually, I was in Quebec just a couple of weeks ago. Had a lovely time, thanks. I go at least once a year. "Awake" is actually not all that far from the Quebec border. Regarding generalizations, it is foolishness to say we can't talk about "the French" when discussing history. Official French policy was capitulation. And much has been written about de Gaulle's expat "government" and "la resistance" that doesn't quite prop up the official idealized version. I'm not saying there wasn't a French resistance -- there was, just like there was a Polish Jewish resistance movement and others. I just don't think it was quite so heroic as it's made out to be (by some).

I'm not the slightest bit interested in football, Harry, and I do not brawl. How about you?

LOL! Nice try, Harry, suggesting that the power plant was destroyed to stop Qassams being manufactured. You should have written the script for the IDF spokesman yesterday. He couldn't think of a single valid reason why they'd shut off the power to the whole people. No, sorry, Harry, the Gaza power plant was destroyed simply to punish the entire Palestinian people for the actions of a few. It was a very clear breach of the Geneva Conventions. You have only to type the words GENEVA CONVENTIONS into the Google search panel to see that this is so.

Your people choose to put in power a terrorist organization, that wage war on Israel. Do not expect any discounts for the name "Government". Terrorist is a terorist no matter what title he has. Israelis well aware with whom they have to deal and what to expect. You waged a war - you get a war, as long as you know the consequences of what you do. So don't cry under mothers dress.

Israel continues its irresponsible and self-destruction policies. They give themselves the right to go into homes and arrest any one becs. of "suspects, speculations and possibilities" without focusing on facts and without adhering to international laws...Now someone might say thet Israel will defend itself and will not get orders from any one. Thats fine but do not expect others to do it neither..When someone takes the law into his hand and tries "revenge", he will be held accountable in court of law..isn't that true? Personally, I support Israel 100% and I plead to them to continue what they are doing...because they are the ones awakening the sleeping GIANT..That is Arab/Muslim WORLD. Trust me on that one. PEACE.

The so called Palestinian government is actually just a bunch of corrupt terrorist thugs. Land for peace has been used by the Palestinians to further terrorist attacks. Israel should start a land for terrorism plan. Every time an Israeli citizen is wounded or killed in a terrorist attack the state of Israel should take land away from Gaza or the West Bank and never allow it back in Palastinian hands.

"Do the Israelis not see the hypocracy of their ways? They kidnap Mr Bargoughti and expect not to have the same thing happen to their own? Self Righteousness is a disease, and the Israelis are very sick." How do you compare a cold blooded killer to a innocent Isreali solder?

War? no, can't be! We were getting along so well, putting aside a couple of thousand of rockets, the odd stabbing, the attempted suicide bombing, and the snatch-grab-and-butcher operations. Who wudda thunk it? Sounds like Daffy Duck in howsomany Warner Brother cartoons: "You know what thitht means, don't you? Thitht means war!!!" Sure doeth.

"it was my American Uncle who was in the same battalion with the actor Mickey Rooney who risked his life in D Day and liberated Paris" My grand father lay 5 weeks in Normandy taking part in the killing of thousands of American and British paratroopers until someone put a bullet into his right leg which was then put aside. His balls were ok, so I'm able to thank God your uncle liberated Paris. Regards

BS, I hate selective memory. You are generalizing regarding the French which is close to racism. During WWII, you forgot about General De gaulle and also La Resistance (terrorists according the the 3rd Reich...). Regarding Quebec, you have not been here for a while...obviously. I am not in,ove with the French either but at least I'm trying to put the facts straights here. Where's Awake by the way.

Hamas said that Giald was a prisoner of war, captured in a battle. A battle. So Hamas said that it is at war with Israel. Kid gloves are off. Accept the declaration of war.

Israel seems to be back on the path to reoccupying Gaza and dismantling the Palestinian government (if you can call an assembly with only symbolic power a government). My question is how should Israel play its cards now? Given past precedent, ignoring or waging war on Palestinians will no sway their allegiance to a particular party. When Israel tried to break up the PLO in the 60s-80s they failed. They did not fail because their efforts were insufficient; they failed because it is impossible to break allegiance through violent means. I am not saying that Israel should back down to the gunmen who kidnapped that poor corporal; I simply do not believe that the escalation will help their situation in anyway. Punishing all of Gaza for the actions and sympathies of a few will not break Hamas' hold on the people. It will more likely press more people into the extremist views of militants and renew violence.

Peter, for somebody without any creative imagination, this post is not surprising. Have you heard the term "creative ambiguity"? Yes, but you never understood it. The end result is that Abbas is going to negotiate based on this document, not Hamas, so you have to look at things with the Abbas interpretation, allowing Hamas to maintain whatever pretensions they might have about not changing their religion. Your own test: View all the possibilities, and try to imagine the end of the conflict without Transfer of the Palestinian population. If/when you have done that, you have seized upon some ray of reality and there is some use for this discussion. Otherwise, talk to Gabe1. You are ultimately on the same level, a drag on progress. P.S. "The Golan was captured in `67 and is not excluded, how does one interpret that?" The Golan is not part of Palestine. The Palestinians are not claiming it. Try every street cleaner; he will understand this. Maybe you can figure out why you can't.

Of course Kay, Israel has no interest in peace, it loves the victim mentality but you have to be jewish to be a victim, it also helps keep a very divided people together and keeps the cash flowing in from the US.

You can't compare this situation to Hitler. Germany was a legitimate nation that organized and uniformed its army. Horrible though the Nazis were, they weren't terrorists. Apples and oranges...

"The people who fire these Qassams at Sderot are so easy to spot, so well known that the Israeli army, in full military control of Gaza, was unable to stop them." So once Israel gives the names of these individuals over to the Palestinians, the Palestinians will arrest them, correct? Your word games don't make the Palestinians look intelligent, civilized, or human. There was a time the Palestinians arrested their terrorists. They choose not to do so now. "No - to hold the whole Palestinian people responsible for the actions of a few whom Israel found impossible to stop, and to punish them until they do, is a clear breach of the Geneva conventions and a war crime" War is not a war crime. Neither is a response to terrorism a war crime. Again with the "helpless"?? Not to helpless to abduct and randomly murder.... I feel sorrow for no one who approved or approves of this soldier's abduction and use as a pawn.

Dear Mark, The `Olmertshizm`, just like `Bushizm` may work in any sphere except the war on terror or the fight with the islamofascist venomous rats. Never had a prayer and never will. Actually, all `high moral standards`, scientific data, polls, arguments and the rest of the liberal garbage under `democracy` cover is what had largely help the rats to survive until now. Olmert, as any politician, will `play both isles` and `have bad days`, sometimes even against his own agenda. I am also not opposing any smart plans and contingencies, on the contrary I have always stated as such. I am just opposing liberal minds always stuck on cycled `black and white`.

Thank goodness for the French in WWII, who didn't wait long at all to just roll over and kiss Nazi ass but good. As for your French ancestors in teh 18th century, the English kicked your asses back but good on the Plains of Abraham. (Though, yeah, you've been playing victim ever since. Sounds like someone else we know, come to think of it.) Don't get me wrong, I have no great love of the English. But the French rank pretty high up there on the deplorable list. You have no right to hide behind the skirts of the Russians, who fought bravely (if with a bit of an ulterior motive) against the Nazis, while you guys couldn't scramble fast enough to make nice.

"I didn`t say the HAMAS maximalist position, but the Palestinian maximalist position." - J Blues There was no Palestinian position. There was Fatah position and Hamas position. Now Hamas moved to the Fatah position (almost exactly). You don't want to call it progress? How about "major moderation"? One should keep worrying, but please don't deny reality. The "arena" now is outside Israel's 67 borders. It is explicit. This also excludes Qassams on Sderot. There is no use discussing it if you keep denying the reality of what the Documant says. The Blues Channel goes off the air now. Good night.

If, as the Israeli government claims, the State of Israel is fighting a "war on terror", then the enemy is permitted to take prisoners of war and hold them (in reasonable conditions) until such time a settlement between the parties is reached, or peace achieved (I did say 'or' before any of you react). I understand that such activities are not a breach of the Geneva Conventions. Therefore the soldier is a legally-held prisoner, as long as he is not mistreated. The abduction and murder of civilians is an entirely different and most grave matter of course (no pun intended). If you argue that a terrorist/freedom group cannot be entitled to claim protection under the Conventions, then you concede Israel is not in a state of war as described under international law. War can only exist between two or more states. Things that are in breach of international obligations are civil collective punishment, and siezing non-combatants as bargaining chips, of course.

all the american neo-nazis suddenly come from..Notice none of them are in Iraq..as we say in Ireland all mouth and no trousers

fool, isn't there a football game nearby for you to start a brawl at? Come on, make yourself useful... Harry

Hamas is philosophically unable to recognize Israel, yet is also unable to govern effectively without that recognition. They made the only move possible from their point of view, which was to abandon their political ambitions and intensify the conflict. If Israeli reprisals decimate their ranks we can expect another ceasefire proposal from Hamas. This is the pattern. Hamas heats up the conflict, and as Israel gains the upper hand, they put forward "peace" proposals when faced with imminent defeat. This is a formula for unending war. -B-

'Then some staff type runs up breathless with a memo reading "Israel now responsible for replacing 42 percent of electric power in Gaza."' - Mark L That will be the least of it, Mark. Destroyed transformers valued at $6 million. Let's start with feeding the Gazans, or providing jobs if you don't want to feed forever. I think once Israel has the responsibility, the Europeans will stop their shipments. Hundred of millions per year right there. And more and more.

Quote: Nothing unites Israelis in outrage more than the seizure of hostages. Next week, on July 4th Israel will mark the thirtieth anniversary of the Entebbe operation that freed over a hundred Israeli hostages,and little has changed since then in national ethos of rescue. The last Zionist ideal still shared by most Israelis is the determination to fight back.An Istraeli soldier held hostage is a taunt against the Zionist promise of self-defence,an unbearable reminder of Jewish helplessness. Our obsession with hostages is a tactical weakness but a strategic strength,It allows terrorists a stunning psychological advantage:With a single random kidnapping,they hold an entire society emotionally hostage.Strategically,though,hostage-taking only strengthens Israeli resolve. And resolve is precisely what the public now expects of its government. So far,Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has responded well.He began issuing two policy guidelines in dealing with the hostage crisis. The first is that Israel won?t negotiate over Gilad?s release and won?t exchange prisoners. The second is that Hamas leaders??political?as well as ?military?---will be held accountable for the fate of Gilad?

"Right of return" would hand ALL of Israel over to the Palestinians and you know it. You want Israel to cease existing. You don't even try to hide it. The Pal terrorist organizations have no right to exist - this has to come first. Israel must demolish them all (every single Pal terror organization.) There's no legal right for them to exist and they must be eliminated completely right now. Only then (when the dust from these mass murderers is cleared) can the involved parties figure out how to proceed. It's WAR as long as these terror organizations exist.

I am sorry but you seem to seriously lack any knowledge of history regarding WWII. Especially the French (who were btw defeated in a matter of days) were liberated by the USA. US Soldiers risked their lives to free your country from the German Occupiers. The Russian played a vital role for the downfall of Hitler but without the opening of the West Front with massive American Troops rolling towards Germany the Russian would have been in serious trouble.

To arrest leaders of a terrorist organization - Hamas - for their terrorist activities is not the moral equivalent of kidnapping a soldier or civilians who are then executed like animals without trial. Im amazed that history hasnt taught these barbaric idoits (hamas) not to pull stupid stunts like this. It only results in sufferring for their people, but I guess thats not really a concern to them

clickfool wrote: "Absolutely no purpose whatever was served by the destruction of the Gaza power station, other than to show the Palestinian people who was boss and to punish them collectively for the capture of the IDF soldier, now almost certainly dead. It is a clear breach of the Geneva conventions and a despicable Israeli war crime." Yo, fool: no electricity, no new qassams, unless the Pals can find some of those old foot powered treadle lathes... Geneva convention prevents bombing generating plants in time of war? Really, quote me the passage. Fool! Harry

YAWWWWWWWNNNNN !!!!!!

I love how the Group of Eight industrialized countries said that the Hamas arrests raised "particular concerns." Any of them "particularly concerned" with the Israeli soldier who was kidnapped? Hardball is the only game muslims know how to play. And yet, they keep losing. Are there no muslim leaders who can figure out how to improve the lives of their people without violence?

My dear David, Please spare us with your history lessons. If you want to be truthful, please mentionned that your beloved US waited 2 years after the WWII started to take action against the Axis. Whithout Pearl Harbour, who knows what would have had happend. Yes thank God, the US got involve but it had nothing philantropic. And the Russians had already exhausted the Germans. And during WWI the US waited until 1917 (1 year before the end) to get involved. Regards, PS: It's is my French ancestors who kicked the english ass in the 18th century so the US would be independent. Think about that next Tuesday...

Dutch, Why give back to the Palestinians 45%. Why not all 100 % How about you giving back your place in Mass to the native populations ? BTW - Jews's DNA is a very close match to that of their Syrian and Palestinian neighbors. Jews stem from the present day Judea and Samaria. If I am to use your logic, I will demand 100% of historical Israel. Henryk

I am appauld by the detention of the PAL Law Makers. Israel has completely lost control of their actions.

HOWEVER PLENTY HAVE APPEARED FROM A JACK RAUBER WHO DOESNT JJACK SHEETTT ABOUT THE MIDEAST

Ariel, Sorry, I missed you a few times but I have never really bought into to your idea of the Arab conspiracy against Israel and the Palestinians. Although, I don't totally discount it but I feel if one exist it probably works both ways at this point. Stii, Israel has more to gain by perpetuateing this myth to avoid responsibility and accountability under the law and the right to return...but I am not letting them off the hook anymore on this THanks, Dutch

Hypocracy??? Who was kidnapped first? Who blew up the first pizza restaurant. Who blew up the first bus. Until the so-called Palestinians (originally Syrian, Egyptian, or Jordanian citizens) learn to love their own children more than they hate the Jews (I can't say Israelis because there are a million Arab Israelis living peacefully there), fighting fire with fire is the only response available to them. Fortunately for non-terrorist "Palestinians," the Israeli military is humane enough to not simply blow up random restaurants and buses in response.

The fundamental right for Jews is the existence of a Jewish state, so that the likes of Dutch and her ilk would not have a veto over the right of Jews to live as was the case until 1948. Never again !!! Henryk

The people who fire these Qassams at Sderot are so easy to spot, so well known that the Israeli army, in full military control of Gaza, was unable to stop them. To ask the Palestinians, who don't even have enough gas to run their security vehicles (thanks to the Israeli/American financial blockade), to do any better is ridiculous, Gina. And what makes you think messages broadcast on local television is going to make these hard men change their agenda? No - to hold the whole Palestinian people responsible for the actions of a few whom Israel found impossible to stop, and to punish them until they do, is a clear breach of the Geneva conventions and a war crime. The knocking out of the Gaza power station and the destruction of the water pipe that supplied a refugee camp are clear war crimes, and examples of Israeli thuggery towards a largely helpless people.

" On a different topic, come to Ramallah this evening, there will be a peace demonstration at the Manara Square, I will be there...have a sign that says: I am Tulip, and I will come and say hello. " i will be there too. I will be at the booth waving the Israeli flag calling for the return of the soldier. Drop by and say 'hello'

What baffles me in this Haaretz space , is why is it that Islamo-fascists are tolerated to freely air their agendas on this site. Dutch is s soldier of Hamas and Islamo-fascism. Way beyond the current Fatah agenda. Henryk

Israel has no problem with Palestinian right to exist. In 2000 at Camp David Israel offered a Palestinian state with the help of the most Palestinian friendly USA President Bill Clinton. The Hamas government is not recognizing Israel?s right to exist. Israel is always ready to make peace as long as the Palestinians stop terror and recognize Israel?s right to exist. They have proven this time and time in the past.