End the war while you're ahead

Apparently the Israeli public's repudiation of Labor and Meretz anti-national pro-Palestinian posturing is not getting through to the folks at Ha'aretz. Every rocket from Gaza that falls on Israel makes anti-national positions like Ha'aretz' more irrelevant. Do the people at Ha'aretz think the public will forget what you wrote and said when this is over? There was a time when Labor was a colossus standing astride Israeli politics and was led by giants. The reason Labor is no longer the largest party, no longer the second largest party, no longer the third largest party, no longer even the fourth largest party is because of unthinking and irrational nonsense like this article. Just how much humiliation do you at Haaretz plan on heaping on yourselves. The problem with Labor is that the giants of its past have been replaced by the pygmies of its present.

As a strong supporter of Israel, I'm finding it increasingly difficult to do so especially with events like the massacre of the Dallu family

Israel should not only end the war in Gaza while it is ahead, but should also end the occupation, integrate those Palestinian in Israel, and slowly work towards progressive and peaceful integration into the region. Failing that it may be soon faced with an overwhelming Palestinian majority within its borders, and a far more sophisticated fighting machine along its borders. The Arabs were not responsible for the Holocaust and should not be held accountable for it. In their history they have absorbed and assimilated many ethnic and religious entities (Poles, Armenians) that came in peace, and have driven out many invaders (Crusades, Ottomans, etc..). Israel can make a choice....either be assimilated and become part of the region, or be rejected and driven back to the US, Russia or wherever they came from. It is their call

The big question is whether to end the conflict now and hope another few years of quiet before the next one; or, steam roll into Gaza and lose at lest 608 tanks and APC's as well as up to 20 or more soldiers, not ot mention the ones who may be permanently disabled from wounds. A ground invasion will also undoubtedly result in a "Goldstone II" report that will hurt Israel's international standing even more. One the other side of the spectrum are the million or so Israelis who live in range of Gaza fired missiles . This number will climb much higher now that Tel Aviv and even Jerusalem are now in range of the Fajir 5 missiles.

Hamas is constantly defying Israel existence.. therefore constantly defying peace.. efforts for a long term peace will always be futile in thesestandoffs..

have to finish the job, if not may have same problems continuesly,

I completely agree with Shavit. Going into Gaza will be a disaster now. Many of our soldiers will die, many more Pal. civilians will be hit (unintentionally), it might even lead to a huge upflare in the whole Middle East. It will cost us the support of countries that are important to us. I heard people saying: take the whole of Gaza back. Stop dreaming, that will be impossible and immoral too. If we stop now, we've shown our force and we will need international support in order to curb the stream of missiles coming into Gaza.

Why not make it even better? Let's send our soldiers home immediately so nobody gets injured or killed. Then, we can use these soldiers for the next war, and so on and so on.

Shavit presents an attractive cease-fire proposal for Hamas, but the proposed terms would carry serious long-term dangers for Israel. And the deal won't work anyway due to Hamas's, Islamic Jihad's, and others' intransigence and refusal to ever come to terms with Israel's existence. Even a short-term deal won't work unless they are brought to their knees.

Shavit presents an attractive cease-fire proposal for Hamas, but the proposed terms would carry serious long-term dangers for Israel. And the deal won't work anyway due to Hamas's, Islamic Jihad's, and others' intransigence and refusal to ever come to terms with Israel's existence. Even a short-term deal won't work unless they are brought to their knees.

Shavit is pushing Israel into an abysss of begging and pleading mercy from people ho want to destroy the State he lives in.

Dear Ari, 11/19/12 This time you're right on the spot. But will this happen? And, even so, will this operation and pending cease fire be "allowed" to blend into the larger and more challenging realities of the occupation itself, the settlements, etc., etc., etc.? The right-wing (as it's called) is already trying to silence any broader public connection to the dynamics this operation has (as you point out) already brought to the table. An acceptence of anything that we previously thought as unacceptable (i.e. opening the Rafah Terminal etc.) has to be seen and understood as a strength not a weakness. I don't think the present leadership has such a capacity. Indeed, because the right-wing mind-sets have already called for an all out "kick-ass" policy attitude, they will do everyhting to keep that as the "correct" view for the "real Israelis." It's time for you and the other people who have real influnece in what people feel, to show Israelis it is time to "Wake up and smell the coffee" on all matters, including talking with Hamas (don't we alredy?) the settlements, etc., etc., etc.. "Carry the lantern high." All the best, Bill Treistman, Emek Hefer

of course israel will invade. this is the final phase of what america started in the 2003 iraqi invasion. this history is bucking again. israel cannot bluff anymore. palestinians cannot endure anymore. the final intifada.

it is funny, when I was a child and heard from our parents what the Israelis did I always dreamt that one day Palestenians will learn against the odds and come up to fighting and destroy Israel. I also beleived that time will eventually wear dow the agressors as they try for more high tech to stop the resistance, the Pals with their simple means will improve, this actually has happened the proof was in Lebanon and now despite the loss of life of my people the gap of supremecy is narrowing, also I know that all around the worlld the majority of people now know the truth and support the PALS. Guys time is not on the side of Israel and you should get rid of those war criminals Bibi and Barrak the PALS will live with you and your importees from god knows were in peace if given basic human rights and allowed to roam their land in peace.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS CRAP, AHEAD OF WHAT,YOU ONLY SERVE TO STRENGTHEN THE PILISTAIN CAUSE(WHINE) well doing what is perseved as being a bully. this tiptoeing has to stop or i fear for your survival.the longer you wait the stronger the enemy gets. but who really gets it?

I agree Israel needs to stop now. There is nothing Israel can do to Hamas unless it wipes off Hamas which is not an option. Israel needs to remove the naval blockade of Gaza in stages to correlate with Hamas' behavior. Hamas won the elections so they have every right to govern. Palestinians would rather wish someone else run Israel if they have a choice. Israel needs to ask itself what is its plan for Hamas for the next 5, 10, years. This cycle of killings and violence does not do Israel any good in the long run. Hamas will always be there and will always get stronger every year. No nation cal allow missiles to reign on its civilians like southern Israel BUT at the same time no noation should be blockaded like Israel is doing to Gaza. The Israellis would allow anyone to blockade them either. Enough bloodshed on the children and women for the sake of humanity!!!

I tend to think Syria funded and engineered this. That's a Lot of missiles. Syria wants attention off its own vileness, and hopes to unite the arabs against Israel. It's an old political ploy that has worked for ME dictators time and again. Israel, of course, fell right into it. For a smart people they aren't too smart. The way to stop this, which should have been done years ago, was to make massive investments in poor Arab lands. Middle class nations don't promote terrorists and their young have better things to do than get themselves killed.

why are jews still calling for reparations from the german government .... but refusing to discuss reparations for the land taken from the palestinians? are concentration camps anything like refugee camps? hitler killed 10 jews for each nazi soldier who was killed in the camps ...... it would seem the ratio still holds true. i am an american , but my patience wears thin.

The past few years have been the time of radicals. Finally, it seems that moderates are starting to gather and assert themselves. Remember what everyone wants, PEACE. Even those arguing for violence claim peace as the end. Real peace will NOT come with violence, you need to create a peace process. Even the moderates understand that the demographics and time are dangerous things to ignore.