Olmert: Israel to respond 'severely' to ongoing Qassam rocket fire

Dear people, If you are not happy with your government officials, then please please impeach them! I thought Israel is a democracy, and so the people have the power. Is this correct? If this is true then please stop these ineffectual politicians, accordingly to you, and vote for new people to be in power. The war in Lebanon last year shocked me, and everyone I know. However, if the same people in Israel are allowed to remain in office then any new action that they chose to do will not shock me since I have seen what they are capable of. Please, remember that it is us little people who pay the price in the end. Not the big officials with houses outside the country. regards, Patrick A. (Lebanese National)

Israel...go kick their buns. Get it done and over with.

You think?? I say, turn them loose and let them do the job without the interference of gutless leaders aand see what they can and will do!!

You are right but my point was about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict not about history. Violence just breeds more violence in this conflict, in the here and now so there has to be a different way forwards.

I speak out against all violence from both sides. It's there for all to see in my posts. I spoke out twice in the last day or so about Palestinian violence so by all means have your say but please try to get it right. I want Jewish and Palestinian children to grow up in peace without hatred in their hearts and violence all around them. I must have said this dozens of times and as a mother I will continue to say it and to hope for a better world for all children. The only side I take is the side of all people who want peace.

Quote: 'Which disgraceful behaviour would that be, Cipora?' Errmm, let me think... Possibly HM Royal Marines/Naval Officers being abducted by Iranian forces? I read that one of the sailors was reduced to tears when an Iranian guard flicked him on the neck with his finger; I wonder what would happen if was hit or shot at (LOL)?!? Oh, then they went & sold their stories to the tabloid gutter press; if that's not disgraceful, then what is? Anyway, I thought clicky was a huge fan of the Iranian regime...

"Let me not remind you of the disgraceful, undegnified behaviour of your service people just a few weeks ago." Which disgraceful behaviour would that be, Cipora?

recently it downed on me that unfortunately it doesn't look like israel has the will (they call it 'trust') to enter any kind of final status negotiations. Not going to happen any time soon. So an alternative is needed where piecemeal can be pursued but with the 'pieces' redefined. To do that the onus IS on the pals to 1. figure out what a realistic final goal is for them (i.e., something short of bi-national state which is a non-starter) and 2. proceed to define THEIR PIECES accordingly - as a series of signposts towards that goal. Why is the onus not on israelis? because their goal is already perfectly well defined (i.e., hold on to maximum land + settlements + eliminate RoR as bargaining chip). Therefore, it is them who set the pieces (and America just follows the lead). Biggest problem the Pals have IMO is insufficient modern negotiation skills, The proof is - they are not here on these boards. If they were they would be arguing their own case, not leaving it to us.

Let me not remind you of the disgraceful, undegnified behaviour of your service people just a few weeks ago.

Are you referring, Peter, to the British naval personnel (armed only with handguns) who were surrounded by three Iranian boats pointing cocked machine guns at them? Those people are now back home with their families, safe and sound, and the incident has been largely forgotten, except by desperate Zionists such as yourself.

sight of the enemy,without a fight. An IDF captain(Klein Z"L) threw himself on a grenade to save his troops in Lebanon.

"Why not move to Gaza to show how brave YOU are after all the Israeli would not dare to do a ground offensive ." I'm sure the IDF would be brave enough to have a go at the lightly armed Palestinians in Gaza. But only if the place was carpet-bombed first, as the man without the vowels, Dr L.Brnd, has suggested.

"Didn`t Operation Summer Rain begin prior to the Second Lebannon War? Weren`t the mistakes made in Gaza before they were made in Lebannon?" It did indeed. The Gaza operation was launched to secure the release of Gilad Shalit. That worked wonderfully well so the genius Olmert tried it again in Southern Lebanon when 2 more IDF men were captured.

"You sit back in your racist country and condemn a people trying to live in their homeland in peace, and exhort others to wipe them out." Which homeland are you talking about Reb - the homeland given by the UN to the Jews in 1948 or the entity with all the extra bits of real estate obtained by land theft? I've never exhorted anyone to "wipe them out".

It is the gutless Arabs who have child shock troops while the adults fire from behind. Who allowed the Munich massacre then let the arab terrorists go under a false hijacking deal.? You dare to talk about brave enough? Why not move to Gaza to show how brave YOU are after all the Israeli would not dare to do a ground offensive . I will remind you of this if G-d forbid there is another flare up. Will you avoid replying?

"And when militants are killed in WB, their organization fires Qassams available to them in Gaza. When too many civilians are killed in the WB, Hamas too fires Qassams." - Tosefta #29 "Tosefta is right, if restraint does not help Israel can always restart it again. The mere fact this option is never considered says something very significant about the Israeli mindset." - Mark B "Only the most naive, or the most anti-Israeli, would claim that the Palestinians are maintaining a cease fire." - Cipora As you can gather from my first quote, even the Yom Atzmaut Qassams were a response (by Hamas, to the killing of 9 Palestinians in the West Bank). What the state of the cease fire is now is not really clear. Since Hamas did not repeat its action, they may be waiting like us for Israel to make its position clear. I tried to explain to you in the past that Earthly reputable journalists do not put out false information that can be easily checked, or else they lose their reputation. (I don't know who employs journalists on Mars.) Gideon Levy compiled cases, some well-known. Take a look and learn something about this good Earth.

You point to what happens when Israel *refuses* to enter final status negotiations, instead *insists* on piecemeal and (you got this bit right) grudging withdrawal from territory under their military control. You then use that to argue what will happen if Israel follows Joe's advice and goes straight to the end-game of final negotiations. You are comparing apples and oranges, and insisting that the taste will be the same. You are wrong, and Joe is right. A final status agreement will change EVERYTHING, because the Pal leadership will go from a mere provisional authority to a true governement, and Gaza/WB will go from an occupied territory to a sovereign state. The Pals will then have a *real* stake in ensuring peace, which they simply do not have now because they can SEE with their own eyes that Israel only makes concessions when it is under military or political duress. Look at what happened to the Stern Gang in 1949, and draw the *correct* conclusion.

The only "final solution" acceptable to the palestinians who matter (i.e. the ones with the guns and bombs) is the final destruction of Israel. Olmert and Abbas can negotiate until doomsday, but it isn't going to help because there is no solution possible. The further Israel withdraws, the more that the palestian people will view this as proof that Allah has weakened the israeli enemy, which can be totally defeated by stepping up the level of violence. The increased level of attacks would continue until at some point, israeli security forces would have to reconquer the territories and you'd be back where you are now, but with hundred of thousand of dead palestinians and a few thousand dead israelis.

"Didn`t she notice Israel had already MADE the same mistakes in Gaza as it did in Lebanon, BEFORE it made them in Lebanon last year?" - Mark L Oh, last year we were the two lonely guys raving about the unnecessary wars in both Gaza and Lebanon. In fact, the Gaza folly was worse. When Israel assassinated Samhadana (then with Hamas), it violated the cease fire Hamas was obligated to. This started a furious campaign of Qassams, aerial counter-attacks, then the Shalit kidnapping. Hizballah may have timed their kidnapping to help the Palestinians. It all started by breaking a little cease fire. As was revealed recently, the Foreign Minister was not party to considerations of the Lebanon war, and I imagine certainly not about Gaza. Livni now says she wants a more orderly decision making process. It makes sense. She happens to have the best attitude in the entire present government towards the peace process (although I would push for further improvement). The question is if she is able to display real leadership necessary of a Prime Minister. She might be just the opposite of Golda, who had leadership qualities but not a good brain.

First, Hamas fired multiple missiles into Israel on Yom Haazmaut. Therefore, even if I were to concede that there was a cease fire before, it no longer holds. Second, if you are relying on Levy as reference, you are in big trouble.

Do you really think that if you repeat the same lie often enough, it will become true? The Hamas-PRC-Army of Islam group holding Shalit never ever accepted some women and children for Shalit. Their avowed purpose in the kidnapping was to blackmail Israel into releasing top terrorist leaders. Anyone who has followed this sordid saga closely knows that neither the intervention of Egypt, nor efforts by Saudi Arabia have been successful in brokering a reasonable deal.

If people like you is in charge on the TOP of Israel (and Arab), this Jewish Arab ridiculous conflict should have been resolved 40 years ago. No Yom Kippur war, no Lebanon war 1& 2 needed, and we have already move forward 10000 KM (even to Mars and Jupiter) from this tragic and stupid conflict.

No one believes killing more Palestinians in Gaza will stop the rockets, including those advocating such barbarism. In fact we know killing more women, child, and other civilians will only make matters worse in the long run and rightly earn Israel condemnation and perhaps even sanctions as the world grows tired of Israel's on-going mistreatment of her weak and defenseless neighbors. If there is no military solution and there isn't, it's a waste of time to talk about one. So what can be done? Israel can learn to control her explosive and violent temper and to respect her neighbors. That means leaving the job of stopping the rockets launchers to the Palestinians. By doing that many lives will be spared on both sides. Peace.

Mark B, thanks for supporting me against Cipora. Cipora is not a bad person; she just doesn't understand reality too well. You can talk about a cease fire maintained by Hamas, and she will talk about Qassams by Islamic Jihad or Palestinians shooting at each other. As you suspect, and I do too, Israel seems not to be interested in a total cease fire (which Hamas and Fatah will probably be able to impose on all groups). I think Olmert actually wants a low level ongoing fire, as I was trying to explain in #48. In any case, Gideon Levy documented the many cases of Israel torpedoing a coming cease fire by some "preemptive" strike. You can find it in www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/795406.html

The FM thinks that Israel should not make the same mistakes in Gaza as it did in Lebanon. Good idea. Didn't she notice Israel had already MADE the same mistakes in Gaza as it did in Lebanon, BEFORE it made them in Lebanon last year? She does not remember the month of folly that went on after Corporal Shalit was captured? No doubt she and the other stooges want us all to forget that the price for Shalit days after he was captured was 250 women and children released. . . . what is it now? I had it wrong folks, Israel was plagued by not three, but four stooges last year. Three of them are still a threat to the nation. Israel is a small country, and can't afford the kind of incompetence that is leading Kadima, Labor or the Likud. Is there not a single competent and intelligent politician in the land that does not have their head stuck where the sun does not shine?

His suggestions are pretty good... from the Arab point of view. Tosefta works for PLO.

And with God's help, a Sharon will rise from the Israeli people to replace Olmert. As I learned fighting Arabs for many years, in this part of the world only guns and steel will provide the peace we seek. Cheers, BG

declaring wars of annhilation of Israel then terror when they and their mercenaries were defeated by people they outnumbered 100 to one. You can't cope with your side losing can you? Losers have to stick together. No wonder you spin for them.

Have you heard of "Carpet Bombing"?, that may be what's next, using artillery instead of aircraft. Considering the continual attacks by the Arabs, Israel has been most restrained in her retaliation. I suggest you GOOGLE "WIKIPEDIA TIMELINES OF ISRAEL-ARAB CONFLICT", it will tell you who did what to whom and when it was done. Info should enhance your lack of knowledge. Arabs in the area attacked Jews long before Jews retaliated. Arabs attacked Tel Hai 1920, Hebron 1929 & 1936, State of Israel 5/15/48, 1956, 1967 & 1973. Still haven't hear from you that your finally attending to the problems your Aussie Muslim Rapists have created, or that you've seen to the welfare of your Aboriginies. Meanwhile, hop a flight, and give the Abo's back the land your ancestors stole from them. Bon Voyage. You could seek refuge in Gaza and take chance your own people won't do you in.

You hit the nail on the head. I believe the current situation illustrates the hypocrisy of the whole world with Israel: Hundreds of thousands of blacks are being killed by Arabs in Darfur, but nobody does anything; Israel defends itself from indiscriminate firing by its enemies and there is an uproar. This is evident because the UN condemns Israel constantly, yet never condemns anybody else. Easy target perhaps?

As promised.I found the letter by the Canadian-military in Canada. And here was his solution: 25. The Perfect Solution - Part 1 of 2 Jacques - a military Canadian - Canada 1. Station a Regiment of M109 artillery in Sderot complete with counter-battery radar. 2. Commonly, a regiment consists of three batteries of 8 guns each for a total of 24 guns. 3. Declare a state of war between Israel and the PA. 4. As each rocket falls, respond with a "fire mission regiment, 6 rounds HE in effect". This will result in six 155 mm rounds per gun for a total of (6 x 24) 144 High Explosive rounds on the offending neighbourhood. Part two: 5. Soon the PA would run out of neighbourhoods and shalom would arrive. Oh, and before firing,The IDF should announce "Only the Holy One of Israel is Great"

David How many times have we talked about this? We are mere talkback respondents and not have a voice in what the government should do or not.There are many varied solutions.When we know the many military analysts that Israel has at its disposal and can produce a viable solution and have not implemented their ideas and resources is beyond comprehension. I was reading a letter by a Canadian military man's suggestion which sounded very good.I cannot remember the exact strategem but I know it would have worked without inflicting collateral damage to the Pali'populace--by cutting water,electricity etc.What I remember was:To have stationed military personnel at Sderot itself and the rest I cannot go into,because it is too complicated for me to elaborate here. If I can get back by tomorrow,I'll put it forward verbatim if haaretz puts it out,and YOU WILL DECIDE ACCORDINGLY....

Didn't Operation Summer Rain begin prior to the Second Lebannon War? Weren't the mistakes made in Gaza before they were made in Lebannon? Summer Rain didn't achieve anything for Israel then, why should it now? Especially when there is no Lebannon War to distract the Western media?

Extremes cause people to side whether they will support one side instead of the other opposing side. Israel's situation is an embodiment of it meanwhile the violence hits it physically a waging war over whether to turn to diplomatic politics or turn to Yeshua.

No, you obviously don't hate war against any of the Arabs, but you sure as hell would enjoy hearing about some Jews getting killed.Israeli retaliation for the murder and kidnapping of Jews must really rattle you.Self-defense I guess is limited in your sense of justice to the non-Jews. You are a poor ignorant soul,who lacks any sense of justice.

The people of Sderot are niether less, nor more, objective than a European like you who has nothing to sacrifice in this conflict.

Even the IDF's 'body count' acknowledges that far more Palestinian civilians have been killed by IDF forces, than Israeli citizens killed by the Palestinians. When Bahir says, "there are enough mindless shooters and killers of innocent Israeli citizens", he should have said, "there are enough mindless shooters and killers of innocent Israeli and Palestinian citizens."

Only the most naive, or the most anti-Israeli, would claim that the Palestinians are maintaining a cease fire. They cannot even maintain a cease fire among themselves. This is the latest report by the Secretary General of the UN. Israel has, in fact, shown incredible restraint in the face of non stop Qassams being fired at her towns. No other country would put up with such continuous provocation which endangers the lives of her civilians on a daily basis.

I don't understand why the Israeli public instead of demanding for more invastions and bombing of Gaza, not press their leaders to enter INTO NEGOTIATIONS over final status issues once and for all. It's hard to sympathize with residents of Sderiot when it's their own government that refuses to negotiate on ending this nightmare of warfare affecting both Jews and Arabs. Without a political horizon it's inevitable resistance to the occupation will continue. Israeli's need to get it through their head, either they start talking with their enemies about final status issues or face the obvious consquence that comes from rejecting peace. It's not rocket science, Olmert appears to be way over his head. He can't wage war effectively and is clueless about waging peace.

Lebanon. Contradicting the Pals own on the ground reports on casualties etc.etc.

The world is watching Israel, and the world knows it is the unrestrained, violent actions of the little brat of a state that is causing the Palestinian people to retaliate! You have caused the retaliation rockets Israel! You have no-one to blame but yourselves!

DEBORAH OF THE UK. ONLY THE PALESTINIANS CAN TURN THINGS AROUND, BY STOPPING THE HOLY JIHAD AGAINST ISRAEL, AND STOP FIREING ROCKETS INTO SEDEROT. CAPISHE, YOU UNDERSTAND, AT MEVINA, COMPRENDDE.

You could even say,but you probably will not,that the Pals have a few domestic issues themselves. No good progressive can get themselves to admitt that,without at least instantly looking to blame anybody and everybody else.

There should have been no withdrawing - no cease fires - NO DEALS in either arena UNTILL all arab terror ceased and all Israelie POW'S wwere released

I must say your post to Tosefta shows to me you are not truly interested in peace. Everytime there is a ceasefire Israel starts assassinating or targeting (whatever you like)Islamic Jihad, Hamas and Al Aqsa operatives or terrorists ( whatever you like) with rockets fired from helicopters or with undercover hit-teams. Israel never gives Abbas the chance to build up credibility because of this assassinations, because the response by the Pals is predictable. Tosefta is right, if restraint does not help Israel can always restart it again. The mere fact this option is never considered says something very significant about the Israeli mindset. It seems that Pals and Israeli's share a common thing: war is much better known and safer then peace.

This should have been dealt with ages ago - AND - there should have been NO WITHDRAWEL - all we did is let there terrorism continue and expand-

I am afraid they will be not very objective.

for every Qassam that lands in Israel Gaza needs to go for one hour without power or water. That way the people of Gaza will demand for an end to the rocket attacks.

tzipi i like you but mind your own affairs

Howdy Tosefta; The fact is that it would cost Israel more in the long run to come to a "peaceful arrangement" with the Palestinians (which the Palestinian militant/terrorist groups are sworn not to accept), then it would to be to spend a few measley tens of billions of dollars now to emasculate the Palestinians' military options first. You know as well as I do that successful negotiations take place only after all military options have been exhausted. The key to peace is to convince the Palestinians that their military/terrorist options are dead which may take another 50 years of futile attempts, but after awhile, they might get the picture. Then negotiate.

All of your suggestions are trivial.

peace........I don't think so.the world is blind to see it.it's still siding with them.

Not that it matters but for your information: I appreciate and support Israels existence, I believe in the vital neccessity of a Jewish state and I am convinced that with a policy as in the last 40 years you will ruin it all.

And you, Mr. Fool. You sit back in your racist country and condemn a people trying to live in their homeland in peace, and exhort others to wipe them out. You are a 'shouter not a shooter'... and I am grateful. There are enough mindless shooters and killers of innocent Israeli citizens. B'Ohr Reb Bahir

The Foreign Minister seems to take great comfort from the Winograd Commission's report where she was left relatively unscathed. She therefore wants to be involved in the decision making regarding the response to Gaza. She is following the script, but in fact her ambitions are transparent to all to see. Her singular aim is to become prime minister, and all the rest be damned.

Mr. C. Fool once again shows his peculiar lack of awareness. Ms. Livni did not resign, because she did no wrong. She stays to work for her country trying to build a safe and peaceful land. I can understand Mr. Fool's confusion. He comes from a country that should, in all good conscience (a term hardly fitting) take responsibility for most of the woes in the Middle East and, indeed, the world because of its views towards others and its policies of conquest and bitter withdrawal. As just one example; if England had listened to its own Major Lawrence between the World Wars, the Middle East would have been a different place. Lawrence had reached a consensus with the Arab and Jewish leaders as to the idea of a Jewish state and many Arab states living in peace. But the perfidious actions of Mr. Fool's own country led to the antagonism with which the Middle East is rife today. So, thanks for your critique Mr. Fool we will all take into consideration its source. B'Ohr Reb Bahir

Thank you both ChanahS and Jeff Northridge. I had said what I thought of her a day ago, and while I was away I found a reply to me saying I must have had a very bad upbringing or some such thing.An on,and on as today.If my regards to you does not surface at least I can take comfort from the TWO WELL SAID POST BY THE YOU CHANAH,AND JEFF'S SO APPROPRIATE...........

undirected mass bombardment of civilian centers cannot be a first resort. the question "and then what" should also be asked. what definitely won't happen will be capitulation.

then again, Olmert has acted impulsively--but since the present government has no intention of establishing permanent forward IDF lines inside Gaza, I hope that Lebanon has given them food for thought before they launch large scale military action that is not thought through.

Livin is posturing for power...and she may get it. However we must have a PLAN before we invade Gaza. We do not want another Lebanon. Also my friends...violence does work when used appropriatly. If Israel keeps fighting this "nice & clean" war this will never be resoved. If the Pals want to hide among civilians then the rules must change and you all know what that means...Israel wins! If not..no one wins!

"[Abbas] says he will stop the rockets,has said many times in the past,same (Ratirafat)used and never materialises." - Kath This time it is Hamas and Abbas. These are the big kids. Anyhow, to try a cease fire is just common sense. If it doesn't work, back to the old way. But many people here have an uncommon sense.

The simple answer is that Palestinians obviously must play the role victim !! Since the beginning of Arab and Israel conflict, Pals had recognized that despite the use of Terror tactics, much could be obtained, if on the eyes of the entire world Pals would be identified as the ?New Jews?. In the pursuit of maximizing the gain using this approach , lost of lives were acceptable and welcomed. At this precise moment. ?New Jews? are facing a new problem. Under a new reality, in Gaza, they had become the Vilans of their own people. Furthermore, since the boycott toward Palestinian Government persist, new facts ought to happen in order to bring EU sympathy again to the ?poor victims?. Palestinian need Israel to react to Kassams ! Palestinians needs innocent victims ! Palestinians need Israel to invade Gaza ! Hope we would be smart no to fall in the trap !

olmert you are an embarrasment,nobody takes you seriously anymore,please keep your mouth shut,and go away,and let someone else clean up the stinking mess you left behind

Great ideas. Compared to a peaceful arrangement which will cost nothing. Jeff, please talk to the good doctor. With you I am only interested in facts, not projections or estimates.

I have no idea what you are talking about, David. Why do you think I rail against the thuggery and violence of Israel? It is not because I love war.

Tzipiti... Sorry folks, just couldn't resist.... (;-) CF

Clickfool have you the courage to put your words where your mouth is,or are you one of the shouters. Like they say,it takes one to know one. You claim to be in sussex,along way from Gaza.

"pictures of Olmert pleasuring himself." You mean Olmert is a ******, Heinz? That'll come as a surprise to everyone....

How about writing to your Palestinian friends explaining to them that kassam rockets just don't work. All they'll achieve eventually is more misery for themselves. How is launching kassam rockets at Israeli civilians NOT violence? You seem to be anti-violence only when the Palestinians are on the receiving end, while cheering them on as long as they attack Israel and Israelis in the name of "resistence". You're a first class accomplished hypocrate.

My first response to your disgraceful post was censored. Lucky you. So here's a second go.... ""Use overwhelming force (30,000 troops with tanks), preceded by massive (200 plane) suppressive air strike: not doing this from the start constituted the "mistakes of Lebanon"." You say "This is not Lebanon". Do you mean that this is a safer option for the brave boys of the IDF? That going against the lightly armed Palestinians is likely to cause them fewer problems than war with the heavily armed guerilla fighters of Hezbollah? I notice that you've suggested that Gaza should be carpet-bombed first. Is this to make sure that the brave boys of the IDF are doubly safe? Are you worried that the IDF seems incapable of taking on any modern army that is properly equipped with sophisticated weapons? Must they always concentrate on beating up the Palestinians? Is this better for Israeli morale?

Tosefta Yes,explain the firing at the U.N school because it is a "co-educational"and unacceptable to the Hamas dictum according to their "fundi" charter.I know I went off the subject,but they are also killing each other where Israel is not involved at all,nor in the vicinity.Thought I'd remind you. As for the Al Aksa Brigade:It is part of Fatah and their boss is Abbas.He says he will stop the rockets,has said many times in the past,same (Ratirafat)used and never materialises. That you sound plausible and smart is a good description of you,but nothing tangible will result or achieve what you suggest.Mere rhetoric sorry.Wish it was as easy as you say,but on the ground NOT SO...............

Howdy Deborah; You said, "... violence DOES NOT WORK." It doesn't? Try telling that to the victorious Allies after WW I and WW II. If our violence hadn't worked better than the Axis Powers' violence, then the U.K. would be speaking German and the swastika would be flying over Buchingham Palace. Your statement is false.

A leader cannot be cautious in defending her or his nation from external aggressions. A leader must be strong in protecting and defending the nation from threats and attacks.

Lena Of course you are correct in saying that whether it be Livni or the P.M they don not act alone and have military and srategic advisers to agree or disagree on the points and reactions they will have to take.The israeli Arab put it very well.Conversely Dror has a good [point too. Do we want to go down the "slipery""slop" under the circumstances?Isn't good offence the best defence?No point in shilly shallying,the rockets and kassams has been adaily occurence since we ceded Gaza.Now then,how much longer is Israel going to remain passive and not retaliate?Remember also,the rockets are getting more sophisticated,apart from the structural damage lives are being put at risk.

"The plan is to start negotiating a peace agreement based on 1967 borders, give or take. This is Olmert`s government agenda - is it not?" - Smadar Hello Smadar, I am afraid Olmert has a different agenda. He ran in the elections on the idea that the "wall" will become the borders, and that the world will agree to impose it on the Palestinians. He knows that no Palestinian leader will agree to this, so why peace talks? It seems to me that Olmert intentionally is preventing the end of fire so he can show the world how right he is. Too bad, but we are going to be rid of Olmert soon.

Israel is invaded by her neighbors,and invaded repeatedly, and each time she defends herself. In the process she must control enemy land in order to prevent future attacks. Sharon hands over control of Gaza to the Arab Palestinians and in return more violence is dealt to the Israelis, and the damand for the destruction of Israel is renewed. The astonishing thing about all of this is that the Arab Palestinians are not held accountable for their violence but Israel is always scrutinized for defending her civilians. This is racism against the Arabs Palestinians. They are human, hold them accountable as such rather than expecting nothing more.

so please don't tell us what the IDF is and is not. You wish it didn't existe, don't you?

just on my lunch break here to comment. But your post is very correct about securing a cease fire in the West Bank which is correlated to the Qassams from the Gaza - this is ongoing too long already. Why not a cease fire in the WB if you're going to negotiate the territory anyways? The plan is to start negotiating a peace agreement based on 1967 borders, give or take. This is Olmert's government agenda - is it not?

She must have pictures of Olmert pleasuring himself. You go, girl !!!

Howdy Tosefta; You forgot to mention the "castration", "neutralization" and "strangulation" alternatives. If Israel can get a viable anti-rocket system up and running, then the rockets and mortar rounds will simply be shot down 90% of the time with existing technology (a success rate which can be improved) thus castrating the Gazans' military options. The same radar can be used to determine the launch points within seconds which can be counterfired with GPS-guided ordnance from MRLS and 155 mm Howitzer batteries thus neutralizing rocket and mortar crews before they can leave the area. Israel can seal the 1950 armistice line to all traffic except for humanitarian aid (water, food, and medicine) but including electricity and petrol thus strangling the Gaza Strip economically but not killing it. None of these would require the IDF to go in on the ground which is another possibility but why do it when the Palestinian militant/terrorist groups can be made to be impotent without it?

Enlighten this list with your government social economic policies, the handling of corruption at a massive scale and why the inability to cope with massive deforestation despite the concerns of the wider global community?

For over a year now suicide bombings are also associated with revenge over Islamic Jihad casualties in the West Bank. Just read the papers. And better read about the Jihad interest in a cease fire in WB as well. All it will take is for Israel to stop its hunting operations for a while and see what the response is. It can always be restarted. A trivial suggestion, except for people who are not interested in the implications of quiet.

Israel does not occupy Gaza. Gaza is totally under the control of the PA.

So stop talking and act, already! "Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni however cautioned Monday against a hasty decision to invade Gaza over the continued rocket strikes, saying the government must not repeat mistakes of the Second Lebanon War." There's such a thing as being too cautous. Gaza is not Lebanon. Besides, Lebanon was not the Israeli defeat that the press has made it out to be. The war may not have gone as planned, but it was Hezbollah who retreated from the battle under fire.

There is no lack of courage in the IDF! But when civilian ministers play general, generals play politics, and none of the leaders know how to fight a war, but waste their time fighting each other instead, what do you expect? Another Israeli Jihad is what we will see this summer when Israel's politicos prove their virility once again by another ill conceived and half-hearted strike, this time at Gaza. They still confuse showoff of military hardware with the ability to fight a war. And none of them have the faintest idea how to properly use their superb infantry.

The root cause of ongoing Palestinian aggression lies in the fact that the world is not calling a spade a spade !!!! The Gaza Strip and West Bank will never constitute a VIABLE SOVEREIGN COUNTRY The world has washed its hands off these territories neither Egypt or Jordan can handle these tribal thugs. If children are under rocket fire in SDAROT town then ISRAEL better start pushing the button .SOS- SAVE OUR SOULS -NOT TOO NICE TO BE UNDER ROCKET ATTACKS DAILY AS A WAY OF LIFE !!!!!!!!!!!My experience was 32 days and 4000 Katyusha rockets in the north . Jack.

no Qassams

ana b2oul enno israel nhazamit in lebanon,w hezboulah 7a2a2 entisar teri5e 3ala dawlit israel w hezboulah w lebanon lyom henne 2edrin yshenno 7areb 3ala israel baynama israel mashgoule bi 2i3adit haykalit jaysha llazi kouhir ta7t akdem l mou2awame l lebneniye :D

Typical political hack, promises, promises. Next rocket, keep your word, retaliate with vigor. Move to Sderot and see long you'll be patient.

too bad that as usual you forgot to mention that Hamas and company are the one sending suicider bombers, and have vow to destroy Israel.... But why am I surprise? By the way, if Palis were really interested in peace, they could recognize Israel and stop firing rocket and 6 months later the EU will be sending hundred of millions of Euros! But not...by the way, how much money do their Muslim brothers give to the Palis compare to the US and EU?

simply use air and sea bombardment. fire away for a couple of hours and then stop. demand that both abbas and hanyieh go to center square in gaza and tell all terror groups to stop firing at israel. this must be a public statment. failure to do this will result in additional bombarding. keep this up until gaza is gone or they comply. how difficult is this? and you dont hard a single IDF solider.

Aren't they these terrorists, always there when you need them. Meanwhile, in Gaza etc.: Aren't they great, the Israelis and their IDF, always there when you need them. Can't feel sorry for anyone anymore. You want it, so you get it.

Where are you posting from, Vittorio? My guess it isn't Israel. You're far away from all the misery, mayhem and death, aren't you? Another one of the famous band of heroes, the "Shouters Not Shooters For Israel".

"I expect to be given alternatives and discuss [them] in depth so that a decision can be made on the matter." - Livni Olmert and his yes-men (I am excluding Livni) should do best to consider why Qassams are fired from Gaza. If they deal with the root cause, there may be no need for a bitter sruggle which may lead to a reoccupation of Gaza and perhaps the final demise of the PA. The main reason for the Qassams is Israel's continued military operations against militants in the West Bank. Israel refuses to extend the cease fire to the West Bank. And when militants are killed in WB, their organization fires Qassams available to them in Gaza. When too many civilians are killed in the WB, Hamas too fires Qassams. All the militias are interested in a WB cease fire. And Hamas and Abbas said that they will IMPOSE it on the other groups if needed. They have the power to do so. But what will happen then? With peacefull conditions in the Territories, the Europeans will lift the economic siege on the Hamas government and expect Israel to start negotiating a peace agreement. Olmert seems to dread this alternative. He prefers the other alternative: Keep a small fire going so the siege continues and no peace talks. Of course, one day there might be an explosion, perhaps many casualties in Sderot or perhaps another soldier kidnapped. But this is in the future. No need to worry now.

....will Israel go into Gaza and kill innocent and guilty alike while changing nothing before they come up with a plan B? Lab rats have a greater capacity for learning than Olmert and co. Responding severely does not work, will never work. Responding severely in Lebanon did nothing but destroy infrastructure and kill mostly civilians. Israel did not achieve one objective in Lebanon and yet here we go again with talks of responding severely. Surely there must be someone in Israel with a Plan B, someone with an idea that can turn things around without resorting to violence because violence DOES NOT WORK.

NO COUNTRY WOULD EVER PUT UP WITH MISSLE NONSENSE! BUT TIRED, EHUD KEEPS LETTING THEM FALL! WE CAN BLAME OURSELVES MORE THAN THE ENEMY- WE HAVE LET THEM CONTINUE WITHOUT PUNISHMENT- OUSTER OLMERT/PERETZ/PERES/LIVNI AND BRING IN LEADERS WHO CAN DEAL WITH OUR SELF DESTRUCTING NEIGHBORS! TAKE BACK THE LAND UNTIL PEACE REIGNS!

What a government you have there Israelis. The PM says RIGHT, the FM says LEFT. One is rushed to be heard as tougher that the OTHER. My, my.

The IDF is not brave enough for a ground attack.

you confuse hatred for resignation...after all Hamas et al are firing rockets deliberately in order to kill civilians... the eu says nothing and israel's govt is not taking what we see as hard enough action. what would you want yr govt to do if missiles were being fired at your town ?

The situation in Israel is even more complicated! The FM should keep her nose out of the military. The Defense Minister should keep his nose out of diplomacy; the generals should keep their noses out of government; and the PM should be strong enough to force these political hacks to stay in their own bailiwicks and tend to their own assigned business. How can Israelis tolerate a DF who tries to run diplomacy, or an FM who tries to be a general, or a PM who permits all this crosstalk between the departments of his government? No wonder Israel's government is ineffective and falling apart! Everyone is a politician; but no one knows how to be a diplomat, or a miltary strategist, or a halfway decent cabinet administrator. Too many cooks, bad broth. And to top it off Tzipi is now campaigning for the PMship! What else do you think this aritcle is all about?

The oldest of political recipes: make war to distract attention from domestic problems.

Olmert and Livni and peretz and company already got Israel into 1 war they didn't need. Israeli's rise up and get rid of these idiots. Olmert the fool needs to resign aqlong with the Kadima party. Complete failures all of them.

Olmert doesn't have the guts to respond severely to somebody grabbing his parking place.

In spite of all the warmongers who spit out their hatred in this talkback, Ms. Livni (while her PM is practically "absent") should push the envelope to work for peace. Give her a chance! I will keep my fingers crossed for her.

...until they decide to do anything. The error of Lebanon was allowing the buildup and provocations for years, accepting an unresolved cease fire and trading jewish lives for international approval. The same international players that slaughtered jews for centuries. They will also wait until many more Israeli soldiers must die before liquidating the terrorists. Just like in Lebanon they are trading jewish lives for international approval. The same approval that has resulted in the kidnapped soldiers remaining kidanpped. Israel needs leadership which will hold jewish lives more dearly than those of the enemy.

The error of Lebanon war was only one: reliance on the airforce. If the government wants to avoid the errors of the Lebanon war, it must move infantry units into Gaza, and the sooner the better.

Firing rockets at civilians IS a cowboy adventure. Protecting ones' self from them is not !

You didn't handle P.R. at all in Lebanon and busied yourself on negotiating a bad deal to "end" the war. Wait till your report comes due!

a dumb EU-stooge. No EU country would allow its territory to be shelled.

i hope that woman will never be PM.

Livni - you have a secure home in Canada to retire to. Why must you insist on playing politics with innocent Israeli lives. After asking your boss to resign for the good of the country, your only reason for continued 'service' under him is for personal gain. Israel doesn't need any more ineffectual UN Resolutions negotiated purely to satisfy your American friends. Please Go Home !

By giving in to demands of the US State Department, leaving foolishly the Philadelphi Road, Livni is directly responsible for the Qassams and tons of weapons smuggled into the Gaza strip under the very eyes of the IDF. Livni and her government are so ridiculous, that US officials are conducting negotiations about security issues with Israelis above the head of the incompetent Olmert troika. The damage for Israel and her security is immense already. It will become more visible when US troops will leave Iraq very soon and strike a deal with Iran. The negotiations with Steinmeier are equally stupid, because it is well known that this man is not a friend of Israel. To let Livni continue with a job she is unsuited for, borders not only to gross negligence but constitutes a grave security risk for the country.

The ministers are the heads of their ministries...o.k.BUT- the minister has tens of advisors and experts.In the Foreign Ministry, there surely are the big department dealing with the Middle-East things...She does not make her decisions alone...It is a different thing -if those advisors/experts give her "bad advices".Maybe you should be there with your one-eyed opinions.

It is time for a Summit between Israel and the Quartet with possibly Egypt and Jordan attending. The major powers are pushing for a peace negotiations preceded by three major demands of the Palestinians. 1. Stop the violence 2. Recognize Israel's right to exist. 3. Agree to abide by all existing treaties. Since the Unity government with Hamas has no intention of doing any of the above three. Then the Summit should be advice by the Quartet as to what THEY would recommend to Israel.....suggestions that the world can see that unless the Palestinians want peace, then Israel will defend themselves with impunity and sanction.

...when she failed to resign after the Winograd report. She huffed and puffed yet finally decided she could work, after all, with the lemon Olmert, thereby revealing that she was as greedy for power and as third-rate as all the rest of the crummy politicos who run Israel.

Israel will not invade Gaza at this time. Judging from our short history, the most "politically correct" time to invade Gaza would be when the rockets stop, there is a ceasefire in effect, and things are quiet. (and of course, only after the USA gives the green light)

as usual, will always lead to half assed results without any conclusive gains or losses. Livni does not know her place. If we had a real Defense Minister than he would know to tell her off, but instead we have a monkey for a defense minister and an even bigger monkey clown for prime minister.

If Israel will not allow the USA to directly interfere into its own affairs. And if Israel is run by Israelis, I think we will all do fine. We should avoid cowboy-style adventures, becuase they lead to failures. Someone in the USA makes profit out of military spending and prolonged wars. The case is different in Israel, which cannot afford many grave mistakes.

Will the military take this woman seriously. If not, she is in a big trouble to say such things?