'Iron Dome rocket defense system will take years to deploy'

Er Israel has responded already..... "the Hamas command and control centre located in a civilian hospital " Twaddle. "Sri Lanka has shown Israel how to end a terrorist insurgency, by defeating it" The Sri Lankans illegally acquiring their own territory were they? Building illegal settlements? Anything outside their own borders?. "If Hamas is stupid enough to provoke another war it will be a real war like other countries wage" ?? Salivating are you?? When did the war Israel inherited from Plan Dalet end?

8 January 2009 UNSC Res 1860 //Recalling all of its relevant resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003) and 1850 (2008), Stressing that the Gaza Strip constitutes an integral part of the territory occupied in 1967 and will be a part of the Palestinian state//

All this talk about "defeating" Hamas totally ignores the question of what will follow Hamas? Most scholars of imperialism will agree that Hamas will **NOT** be replaced by a moderate government. The group that will get the support of the Palestinians is the one that has the best chance of getting revenge on Israel for 60+ years of oppression and land theft. Sure, Israel has the firepower and the protection from the US to use it today, BUT history shows that this situation will NOT last. and then what? Iron Dome will not solve Israel's problems nor make it safe. Only treating the Palestinians like equal humans and atoning for Israel's many sins will make Israel somewhat safe.

Why does Barak open his mouth and tell Israles enemies everything ...are they nuts! Sometimes we Jews talk too much. "Loose lips ...sinks Jews..."

The UN, the EU, The Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Countries, the non-Alligned Movement countries, Human Rights Watch, Amnesia International, and all other "antisemitically correct" cynics? What will Hezballah, Iran, Syria, Al-Qaida and others do? What will the Muslim hot-heads in Europe do? Better to prepare well for all those questions before anything is done about the terrorism-ridden Iranian protectorate that the Gaza Strip has become.

The most impenetrable iron dome that Israel possesses, is Avi Lieberman's skull. Israel should hide all key installations inside his spacious head.

The Iron Dome missiles are designed to fly an adjusted ballistic trajectory that hits a target with the radar cross-section of a golf ball. Now visualize that target "golf ball", instead of 8,000 feet above Israel, sitting on the window sill of Hamas member, Gaza's leadership, Islamic Jihad offices, and any other symbol of the rocketocracy, such as homes of Islamofascist mullah's and their mosques. Much more accurate than artillery, and far lower cost than the helicopter guided missiles used to zap rocket crews in their Toyotas, the Iron Dome system provides an instant, precise retaliatory mechanism. Just program the coordinates of Gazastan big shots and Hamas facilities into the computer, and type in the proper targets whenever anybody shoots into Israel - INSTANT response up close and personal. There should be a higher price for Hamas to pay for shooting at Jews than just failure, and this is a cost effective way to do it. If Hamas doesn't like it, they can always stop shooting.

Good to see you back..I didn't know if you had just slowed down or were actually away.Either way,good to read you again. Cheers

It wasn't simply to stop the missiles coming from Gaza. The criminal and barbarous onslaught against Gaza was meant to punish the Gazans for supporting Hamas. Israel's real objective is the political and physical destruction of the Hamas movement, because it is a Palestinian resistance organization that it cannot control or manipulate like the corrupt PA. After Hamas won free and fair parliamentary elections in Palestine in Jan 2006 it formed a government under the moderate prime minister Ismail Haniye. There was ample scope for dialogue and pragmatism on both sides. Israel made clear its true intentions when Sharon's adviser Dov Weisglass announced in February 2006: "The idea is to put the Palestinians on a diet, but not to make them die of hunger." That is when the blockade of Gaza started. But so far starvation, efforts to overthrow the legitimate government in 2007 and withholding building materials have failed to subdue a proud people. Israel is conducting a cruel colonial war.

International law as in the Goldstone report is meaningless. The only international law universally recognized is might=right.

We Americans have stuck with Israel at great cost. I think most scholars would agree that the root of the problems in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemin, and all Muslim countries go back to the Israeli statehood. I am for that. Since I have been alive US foreign policy has been questionable at best. We point to South Korea, and... I can't think of another. Cuba, Latin America, nobody wants us. China wants Taiwan. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and UAE are only friendly as long as we protect them. They would turn on UK and US when advantageous for them. Israel is our true friend and should be as long as we can hang in against Islamic Jihad

So the Iron dome isn't gonna rolled out as quickly thought? 2years eh? and how much more time were they trying to blag from the peace talks to see how Obama does in the mid terms?....sounding way too convenient for me.... If the Iron Dome was that amazing then all the stops would be pulled out so why does it look like blocks are being put in its way?

"Operation Cast Lead didn`t stop the Gazans from firing bottle rockets into Israel." There is a movie called, "Jackass," which was released several years ago. In that movie, one of the actors uses his hind end to hold a bottle rocket, while his friend lit the fuse. Linthaite, the guy wasn't badly hurt. But, perhaps you'd relish providing your own services as a launching pad to one of the Palestinian "bottle rockets." If you don't like the response which those "bottle rockets" invite, don't shoot them. There's not much difference between being a glutton for punishment to being stupid and evil.

Labhras, If I were you, I would worry more about the impending civil war in Northern Ireland is rapidly approaching. the peace deal brokered by US is coming apart at the seams and it looks like the UK is about to step in again to rule by fiat. Now is the time for you to come up with a solution before Protestant militants and Cathoic militants resort to bombng again.

"It got them Protestant Northern Ireland free from the Papists." Your knowledge of the world is on a par with your expertise in international law. Northern Ireland, part of the UK, has its own devolved Assembly and Executive. This executive is formally based on power sharing, so that Sinn Fein (whom I suppose you meant by your distasteful reference to 'Papists') is in a coalition goverment with the other main parties. Incidentaly, your 'Protestant Northern Ireland' has Catholics as about one third of the population.

Might I remind you that it was the Arab states along with the "Palestinians" who embarked on a "war of annihilation" against the Jews, with the express intention of stealing ALL Jewish assets? Since the Arabs, had they won in 1948 would not have considered returning a single square inch of Jewish-owned land or a single red cent of Jewish money, I think the intended perpetrator has little reason for complaint when his intended victim turns the tables on him. The "Palestinians" wagered their own homes against the loot they expected to gain--and lost. Now they complain, "Israel stole my land". Where I come, we call that "being a sore loser", not a victim. The Arab states expelled 900,000 Jews after 1948, people who became useful citizens of Israel and other countries. Why haven't the "Palestinians" done the same?

No it doesn't Israel as a member of the United Nations is subject to International Law.

Operation Cast Lead didn't stop the Gazans from firing bottle rockets into Israel. What do you expect to change after Cast Lead II? The fact is Isreal doesn't want Hamas and Abbas talking to each other again. Hence the ratcheting up of the bombing of Gaza. On the plus side Israel is (again) hoping HAMAS will release Shalit if the military pressure is strong enough. The question is will the Americans allow it.

Palestinians know what they are doing is morally right in the fight for survival. The US is complicit in this. Obama seems to take no side but rather to futilly point to a two state solution. His Cairo speech is held up as proof that America will forge a new peace. Bibi showed him that his only ally in the Middle east has it's own demands. Oslo and two-state solution are history. Israel, Jordan and Egypt should be agree and unite to face the threat of Iran

So now we are dicussing a second Cast Lead, are we? I have a fine idea. How about, instead of taking to the streets to scream at Israel (I understand how much fun this can be) why not, protest the rocket fire, thus there will be no need to protest a war, because there would be no war to protest!! Oh, sounds too rational? OK then, how about not protesting the war, then when the inevitable war takes place, you can all pretend to care, and head out into the streets to burn some stuff and yell alot. Now that will change the world. But it will not bring back all those dead Gazans. Gazans? Oh...forgot about them, we were having too much fun protesting.

They remember when their homes were confiscated by Israeli freedom fighters in 1948. They were there there. I don't blame Israel but Jews did steal Arab land

Iron Dome has passed some tests and now all that need be done is produce the systems, train the crews, and deploy them. Which will take time. The problem of convincing even the most deluded that there is no chance for peace requires an immediate war.

Iron dome might actually work, as long as the tunnels are the only access for Hamas. However instead of relatively harmless quassam rockets Iraq and Iran could up the ante. Then you need Patriot missle defense. Escalation is not good in the long run.

Howdy JT; "Does Israel have the right to act any way it wants, even if it is contrary to international humanitarian law (Geneva Conventions), for which Israel is a signatory?" Exactly which provisions of the Geneva Conventions do you consider Israel to be in violation of? Since a state of war exists between Israel and the Gaza Strip, Israel is only obligated to not block or unduly delay humanitarian aid sufficient to keep the Gazan civilian population above a bare subsistence level. She is not obligated to supply the Hamas war machine with copious amounts of war material like steel pipe, explosives, electrical power, or weapons.

Delusional leftists like you are of no consequence. Your ignorant and biased opinions are of no conseauence. Those who count in the world stand with Israel.

Sure, Hamas is a democratic movement of freedom fighters. It boggles the mind that leftist Westerners support militant Islam. After the Jews, it is you who will be stood up against the wall.

Israel have full right to defend her citizens. Israel shoud retiliate harshly

Wanna bet.? The script is already written. Good night to all from snowy Alps.

the current Israeli cabinet hasn't got any travel plans, certainly not to the UK, and lets hope elsewhere either.

I don't believe in a bi national state we are too different. The Palestinians need the own state and we need to live alone after more than 60 yers of deep hate. 2 people -2 states - 2 capitals This is a MUST each one will stop to be the victim of the other one.

OK: "`Tell me something about Israel occupying Gaza because I missed the news.` Cummings: "When an army besieges a town, it is termed an occupation under the 4th Geneva Convention" A blockade isn't an occupation, mindless one. The U.S. wasn 't "occupying" Cuba during the Cuban missile crisis. Just like there is no grey matter between your ears...There is not an Israeli foot or an Israeli politician in Gaza.

"Palestinians have a right to resist foreign occupiers of their land. This is a fundamental right. Israel continues to expand settlements (steal land), and strangle Gazans through a brutal siege that has been ongoing since 2006." Israel isn't occupying Gaza. The siege started after 4 years of intensified rocket fire. As for settlements, except for 1948-67, can you tell us when there was no Jewish presence on the territories? Why are Arab communities allowed to expand, but Jewish communities aren't? You think once a territory is Jew-free for a couple of decades, Jews are obligated to keep it that way?

CIpora: "hamas is a totalitarian de facto terror government." cummings: "Yeah, yeah, of course it is. Except weren`t they actually ELECTED in a free and fair Palestinian contest?" Hitler was elected too, as was Arafat. Guess what? Hamas did the same thing as Hitler and Arafat ... prevented subsequent elections. "CJK really must learn to think for yourself" You must learn to take your own advice. Another thing, my mindless clod, being elected doesn't mean a regime isn't totalitarian (i.e. breaking up wedding parties for playing music).

"Hamas isn`t doing the shooting" It isn't doing the arresting either.

Rockets from Gaza started as soon as Israel withdrew from Gaza. The blockcade of Gaza was in response to those rockets. Get your facts right.

Since there has never been a single death in Gaza due to starvation your statement is laughable. Look Tony we've all seen the pictures of people starving, with swollen bellies and skin and bone appearance, like in Darfur where it is really happening. In Gaza it's called Pallywood. Look it up on youtube. Gosh Tony, stop the silly statements made to elicit undeserved world sympathy. In fact pictures from Gaza like when they blew up the wall at the Egyptian border about year ago show a well dressed and fed population. The kids wore the same clothes the kids wear here in the U.S.. Is life tougher in Gaza than other parts of Israel or the world. Yes, I'm sure it is. Yet all Hamas has to do is stop the attacks, release Shalit and accept Israel's "right to exist". So lets put the blame where it belongs, with Hamas.

It was actually the Arabs who rejected a bi-national state before 1948. They were opposed to large scale Jewish immigration, even without a Jewish state. That's why Jews wanted their own country.

I could care less about world opinion, and Israel clearly puts its citizens welfare above world opinion. Israel is always being vilified anyway regardless of what it does, but the fact remains Cast Lead significantly reduced attacks from Gaza. That's called success. That's how you measure it. Hezbollah did illegally get more weapons and grow stronger although why your happy about that seems weird. The bottom line is both Hezbollah and Hamas have been neutered, and are in no hurry to fight Israel again. The proof of it is in the decreased attacks. Those who criticize Israel the "world opinion" you cherish so much would only be happy with Israel's elimination, so I pay it no mind.

how many Israeli soldiers are in Gaza?

If you send rocket to Israel, Israel will answer with air strikes and that s it. If Hamas is not able to prevent fire against Israel is only their own business. They are provoking us we are just defending our citizens. Srael has the right to defend it self using all means are needed, Same way are doing American and English in Afghanistan of because we are Jews we have no rights?

"Israel does not appear to be on the verge of collapse and is in better financial shape than most other countries at the moment" And could that be due to the millions of dollars our country so stupidly continues to give to Israel? Israel is a political, financial and moral liability to America.

"Gazan starvation and blockade are the cause of Rocket firing" Of course they are. If I were a Gazan, forced to live under the seige conditions that Israel had imposed upon me, I'd fire a few rockets myself...

If Denmark were situated where Israel is, do you think it would act differently? The Rabbis of the Talmud once said: "Do not judge your fellow-man until you are in his place." Neither you nor Denmark are in our place.

Israel is trying to provoke a second Cast Lead. It is very plain to see. Same minister of defense, same strategy

Yes I repeat it. Israel has the right to fight back whoever fights its existance. Palestinians must accept a state that includes Gaza and West bank. Ramallah as its capital End of the conflit and of the issue. Separated forever and ever. No other solutions.

The senseless hatered for Jews in many of the responses here is sickening. No other nation has ever been asked to endure attack and condemned so hatefully when they defended themselves. This is simple racism and nothing more. The old excuse that the Palestinians are being oppressed and that they can't help but turn to terrorism is false. Israel has offered to lift the barrcade if Hamas will simply return Shalit and agree to Israel's right to exist. The Palestinians need a new leader, one who has some moral integrity and values life. They need to find their own Martin Luther King Jr. or Mahandas Gandhi who lead their people to freedom. "Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal. " Martin Luther King, Jr "I am prepared to die, but there is no cause for which I am prepared to kill.& I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent." Mohandas Gandhi

It is a result of Hamas actions alone that Gazaq is shut off and blockaded, nt only by Israel, but now by Egypt as well. Egypt is building its 30-meter deep fence along its border with Gaza not out of any deference towards Israel, but because it sees Hamas-ruled Gaza as inimical to its own interests. Thus, by its own actions, Hamas is cutting off the lifeblood of the inhabitants of Gaza. Something's gotta give, and it won't be Israel or Egypt. I pity the poor Gazan who wants nothing more than to survive and feed his family.

"PLO Executive Committee Secretary General Yasser Abed Rabbo said "Hamas, or its allies, are operating under this excuse or that one, in advancement of their own interests they are leading the Palestinian people to slaughter." Rabo is Right on target here as was the recent IAF strike that killed the three Palestinian terrorists in Gaza who were trying to shoot rockets into Israel. Allah Akhbar

'Tell me something about Israel occupying Gaza because I missed the news.' When an army besieges a town, it is termed an occupation under the 4th Geneva Convention. Israel controls the borders, which it has sealed, the coastline and the airspace. With the help of Israel's US poodle's Egyptian poodle, it is now a 100% siege. The army laying siege has a considerable number of obligations upon it in international law, as defined in GC4. It must provide for the safe passage and free movement of civilians (it's not, the reverse). It must permit food, water, medical and other supplies to be maintained (it's not, the reverse). It must not shell civilian homes, hospitals, civic buildings, means of producing food, etc (it did them all in Cast Lead). And so on. Tell me, Tell me, can you point to even ONE thing in GC4 where Israel is not breaking the law and not committing humanitarian crimes and war crimes? The entire Israeli cabinet could yet end up sitting in The Hague.

Does Israel have the right to act any way it wants, even if it is contrary to international humanitarian law (Geneva Conventions), for which Israel is a signatory? Do you honestly believe that Israel has that right?

Israel pulled its soldiers out of Gaza. But what it then did to the Gazans is worse than the soldiers could do. Israel is committing a crime against humanity. If Israel wants to see the rockets stop, it might consider stopping the effort to starve the Gazans to death. Israel says an average of 80 truckloads a day of international aid enters Gaza: almost an admission of genocide. According to the UN World Food Programme, Gaza with a population of 1.4million requires daily 400 trucks of food just to meet basic nutritional needs. Israel also forbids entry of building materials, electrical appliances, spare parts for cars and machines. If you had a wife and children in Gaza you also might want to fire a few rockets

Howdy Labhras; "Britain acted with the same bravado and machoism against the Irish---where did that get them." It got them Protestant Northern Ireland free from the Papists. "Some people never learn---you are one of them." Are you including Hamas in that appraisal? "You cannot kill an idea." Like the idea of the Third Reich? "I look foward to the day that Israel is disbanded and the flag of the new Bi National State is raised." That'll be the day! No, thank you. Israel has no intention of committing demographic suicide. "That you zionists through your insatiable greed destroyed Israel makes it all the more satisfying." What are you talking about? Israel does not appear to be on the verge of collapse and is in better financial shape than most other countries at the moment. "Keep up the good fight Arik---Israel needs no enemies with friends like you and the Palestinians appreciate your generous efforts on their behalf." The Gazans are welcome to more.

you stop first: Stop killing us stop sending qassam stop islamic quranic satanic hate accept peace with Israel RECOGNIZE ISRAEL release Gilad Shalit Then we move forward

Israel has become a bully, a nation of planes, tanks, & nuclear weapons that reacts to provocations by the Palestinians with an anvil and tries to paint themselves as the victims. This is not the light unto nations it once was, and Israel is losing its soul by allowing extremist politics to rule.

Palestinians have a right to resist foreign occupiers of their land. This is a fundamental right. Israel continues to expand settlements (steal land), and strangle Gazans through a brutal siege that has been ongoing since 2006. What would you do if you were a Palestinian? Would you get down on your knees and take it like a god damn slave, or would you stand up and resist? Who didn't support the read Army when they resisted the Nazis in WW II? Even though your family supported them, how well do you think your family would have done under the Stalinist regime? Israel is occupying land that doesn't belong to her. Israel controls the borders of Gaza; everything that goes in and out (yes, including Rafah). If Israel starved me, bombed my family to the stone age and denied me my fundamental rights, I would be going down shooting, and something tells me, so would the Jews. Am I wrong?

"hamas is a totalitarian de facto terror government." Yeah, yeah, of course it is. Except weren't they actually ELECTED in a free and fair Palestinian contest? Which would make them the DEMOCRATIC government of Palestine would it not? It's such a pity that the Israeli-inspired, US-enforced, Fatah-led coup against them failed in Gaza. Well, coups against elected governments are, to use your word, a bit totalitarian, shows where Israel is coming from. Whatever label Cipora and the Israelis give them, Hamas is essentially resisting by arms the occupation and illegal settlement of Palestine by a foreign army. That's what people do when you invade and try to steal their land. They argue that their targets are not civilian. Israel killed 1,000 Gazan civilians in Cast Lead. The 'terrorist' label that Israelis chant on a daily basis cuts both ways. People should treat such Israeli propaganda with a double dose of the suspicion they would normally reserve for a crooked used-car salesman.

Israel has the right to act against whoever fights its existance. Israel has the right to act in the way it wants.

I see a lot of armchair terrorists on this site are encouraging Hamas to disregard this very serious warning from the extraordinarily patient Defence Minister of Israel. If Hamas listens to this very bad advice from people living at a safe distance from the devastation they have caused it will have noone to blame but itself. The next Israeli self-defence operation is not likely to be half-hearted and humanitarian like Cast Lead in which terrorist targets such as the Hamas command and control centre located in a civilian hospital were not bombed because of the danger of harming civilian human shields. If Hamas is stupid enough to provoke another war it will be a real war like other countries wage, not an Israeli-style humanitarian war with ceasefires every afternoon to let in food aid from the UN. Sri Lanka has shown Israel how to end a terrorist insurgency, by defeating it.

You are assuming that Israel has let in ANY materials whatsoever to allow for the rebuilding of Gaza after Cast Lead, mistake. There are NO materials for rebuilding anything in Gaza. Hamas is keeping with the ceasefire, if you could read, you would note that it was the PFLP and Islamic Jihad that was responsible for the latest rocket attacks. Anyways, what materials that could be used in home made Qassam rockets could even be allocated to rebuilding destroyed homes, Mosqs and schools? It's comments like your that make me realize that the average person is completely retarded of any real facts in what is going on in Gaza, Congratulations

In Hamas eyes, Israeli aggression is our existence. If Israel hits back or does nothing, the fact that it exists is, in their perverted eyes ... aggression. Enough said.

the united nations was quick to condemn israel of war crimes. where are they now?

What if, just if, there were no rockets from Gaza. None. Does anybody really think Israel would keep hitting them? And if there were no rockets, does anybody really think rebuilding wouldn't succeed quickly?

Don`t you people ever question the existence of groups provoking Israel to start another war and making a public show with dead children bodies!!! Why isn`t this besieged people trying to get rid of these groups that are the only reaseon of their suffering?

Did Irish want to destroy or wipe England off the map?

To Peter Williams-Brisbane. 'Haven't yet fixed destruction caused by last one'?? 'Resources being diverted away from construction'?? How the hell can they re-build or divert resources. Israel does not allow construction materials into Gaza. I don't know how they can sleep in their warm beds at night, knowing so many people have to make do with whatever shelter they can find.My heart goes out to the innocent Gazans struggling to cope in such dire conditions. shame on you Israel....

So disbanding Israel is not killing an idea? Call me a Jew, call me a supporter of the existence of Israel but don't call me a "Zionist" when refering to a Jew who believes in a Greater Israel. There are millions of us who believe in Peace and a just solution for both Palestinians and Israelis. Thta's a hard pill for an Antisemite to swallow but the fact that you believe Jews are not entitled to an "Idea" speaks volumes about your innermost feelings.

you will surely allow Israel to retaliate and send their bottles back.How do you want to stop them to do so?

Hamas is like a boy with a sharp stick poking a tiger, eventually the tiger will get angry, then it will not be the tigers fault but the boy with the stick.

Retaliate with a powerful response. Not a tit-for-tat response. If no firmness is shown, there will be increasing launches. Time to show Gaza to make a choice: die or live in peace. Their people voted for Hamas, they better think twice if they ever cast another ballot. Let all nations know the score, a hammer will be dropped again regardless of lip service paid to other countries.

Tell me something about Israel occupying Gaza because I missed the news.

Barak is up to his old games. This is the same script he used before Cast Lead. It has been very clear that he is trying to provoke a war and that some of the smaller Palestinian terrorist organizations are obliging him. But why not just be honest Mr. Barak? Just because the folks doing the shooting are not Hamas doesn't mean their rockets and mortars are not just as dangerous. Name them, threaten them, go after THEM. Why the lies when the truth would do? Last time Barak ranted and raved about putting Hamas out of business and then when the war came he hardly harmed them. Barak repeating his pre-Cast Lead playbook looks like what it is. An old dog that can't learn any new tricks. I guess he figures now that Israel has paid $10 million for the damages to the UN he caused in Cast Lead has caused the world to forget that operation and the way is clear for "Cast Lead II, The Return of the Barak." Yes, a big guy can always start a fight if he wants to. But is it wise?

It didn't cross you mind,that it is Israel who is occupant?

All that has happened is the length of time before the next war occurs. But even during Lebanon2 where Israel tried air power as a way to minimise casualties was an abject failure with Hezbollah stronger than ever. The only visible success of Operation Cast Lead is a villification of Israel and the sight of Israeli leaders and military scurrying around avoiding arrest warrants for war crimes. Not withstanding the fact Hezbollah is stronger than ever with probably 50,000 plus missiles primed and ready. Meanwhile the time limit for the Goldstone report is ticking away. Yep Lebanon2 and Operation Cst Lead were great successes

Hamas and the rest of Planet Earth knows this. Firing a couple of bottle rockets garnering an over the top response from Israel not only shores up support in Gaza for HAMAS it also ensures that Israel is kept under scrutiny as the time limit for the Goldstone Report comes closer. Israel lost all it's legitimacy because of Cast Lead and it's political leaders are scurrying around trying to avoid arrest warrants for war crimes. The EEU is imposing sanctions on Israel through the back door (labelling). Iron Dome won't be ready until June and even then there is no guarantee that it will work. Looks like it is going to be a hot Spring for all concerned. Saying that having subscribed to Al Jazeera since Cast Lead it is all very entertaining television.

After election Hamas asked for meeting about peace.

Gaza Warning. People of good-will who are fed-up of all these Arab terror organizations,should stoke the fires of dissent in order to make short shrift of Hamas,Hezbollah & a host of other such criminal off-shoots !

Again - who is oppressing Gaza? Who is starving Gaza now for years? Who is oppressing whole Palestine? Inhumanly Cruel Israelis - Don't Get It Yet? Read This -www.Rense.com

when your startegy prevails. Britain acted with the same bravado and machoism against the Irish---where did that get them. Some people never learn---you are one of them. You cannot kill an idea. I look foward to the day that Israel is disbanded and the flag of the new Bi National State is raised. That you zionists through your insatiable greed destroyed Israel makes it all the more satisfying. Keep up the good fight Arik---Israel needs no enemies with friends like you and the Palestinians appreciate your generous efforts on their behalf. Dope.

...NO government will stay in power if it doesn't deliver services at a level acceptable to its subjects, and Hamas hasn't been. Their degree of direct responsibility for that failure has been debated ad nauseum - but the fact remains that it IS a failure. Whether propaganda by other interested parties helps point that out to the voters or not, people will eventually figure out that they're having problems getting to work, getting food and water and electricity, and Hamas is who they can hold responsible for that. Whether this turns into a win for Israel and/or the world depends largely on how beholden the post-Hamas government is seen to be to those outside interests. If this is seen as another ham-fisted intervention, then what happens in the election AFTER the next one could easily be worse than what we have now.

hamas is a totalitarian de facto terror government. their repression of the people would make any dissent practically impossible.

We Know that Israel is not innocent!

I agree with Mark of Lewiston. These are the same 'security experts' who want to start Cast lead II against the beseiged populace in Gaza. No wonder they are trying to fabricate grounds for the assault by disseminating propaganda about alleged gissent against Hamas.

..correct term. Jumping to conclusions by "security experts", normally ends belly up. This calm, could well be due to upcoming Syrian Egyptian summit. Then again, Egypt is angry with Hamas, especially after trading live fire with Hamas gunmen and the death of a police officer due to Galloway and his circus. Have a nice day.

Thanks to operation Cast Lead Hamas does not enjoy it's old image of the "saviour' of the palestinians! Is there any wonder why there is, all of a sudden, talk of conciliation between them and Fatah, after their bitter verbal and armed clashes? They have, just recently, announced their willingness to help their Lebanese brothers(read:HA)against any future Israeli aggression. I don't think anyone has told them that EVEN the Lebanese people don't want them and their Palestinian extended family in their country anymore(except,of course, Hizbollah which is in essence IRANIAN!) A dissent in Gaza is what the doctor ordered for a disease called: Hamas!

Israel's operation in Lebanon and Gaza,were labeled as strategic failures by Israel bashers. However, they have been rather succesfull is setting the price tag. It works, and it wont take time that Hammas will be expelled from Gaza. Israel failure is not related to Gaza but to the West Bank. To remove Hammas Israel should totally stop building in the west bank and provides some political gains to Abu Mazen. The economic development in the west ank should be accompanied by some minimal political incentives to the PA.

I'm not so sure... jumping to conclusions is the way to go. Yeah, Hamas has got issues and they usually supply footage of coffins or wounded martyrs. But a low-profile this time... may not be a gesture to Fatah, the Saudis or to Mickey Mouse. It's just possible, they're simply scratching their head or another part of their body... and got no clue what to do next.

Thanks G-D they are understanding. Palestinians are prisioners and slaves of their own terrorism.

Really, it would be soul destroying for the average Gazan to see provocations by Hamas being ramped up again. They haven't yet fixed the destruction caused by the last one. To see resources being diverted away from construction and put into the terror network on instruction from some guy in Damascus must be infuriating.

Israeli bombs and shelling can easily reverse any dissent against Hamas. All peoples rally 'round the flag when under assault. Israel does this too, but just can't believe others would too. The IDF has been tearing up farmland and bull dozing crops and shooting not just militants in the past few weeks. But no, that wouldn't affect the Palestinians in Gaza would it? Whenever asked, the IDF never knows about anything until about a week later. They're always "checking the report." The people in Gaza know Cast Lead II is coming. Islamic Jihad isn't smart enough not to cooperate by holding fire. And Hamas was weakened just enough to not have full control.