In fits and starts

Its not so amazing to me to see the whole world is out to get Israel look at the AP, Reuters. The whole world has always been out to get Israel since the beginning of time. Mohammed himself sincerely really, really hated the People of The Book which are Christians and Jews. I have carefully read these parts in the Quaran and its CERTAIN that Jews and Christians who do not submit or convert are to be KILLED. The only time to be at peace with them is until there are sufficient numbers so that you can start a Jihad. Its quite perplexing that the UN thinks that these terrorists can be reasoned with. I think Salman Rushdie ,who is still running for his life to this day, had it right. What we are dealing with here is the Satanic Verses. Pray that God spares his children from this Savage Islamic hoarde and blesses Israel. Go Israel!! Fight, Fight! Fight!!!!!!!

Manifest Destiny was a belief that America would grow with the blessings of God to fulfill a "mission" God intended for it in this world. Now that?s a real scary concept, isn?t it? You use the term just like the Muslims use Zionism; as a dirty word. The only motivation for that is racism, jealousy, or resentment. Now, if you didn?t like me before here?s a reason for you. Lawrence Copeland came to America from England in 1599. One of his grandsons was Colonel Stephen Washington Copeland. He and his family were the first white settlers in Overton County, TN. When they got there they didn't know the land belonged to the Cherokee, but it really didn't make any difference because they got along great with them. So great in fact that of his three children, John married Accia Agga Aggy, and Sarah Jane married Toka-Bek. It must not have been a brutal conquest too because the next generation included 17 children between the two couples.

How many times have Israelis conceded to give the west bank to the "palestinians" in return for peace. They won't take it because then they wont have a reason to continue their aggression to take the entire land between the jordan river and the mediteranian sea. So, unlike the Wrongs that Native Americans were duped by the Europeans. Where the Europeans came and took the land away from the Natives. Israelis never did take any land away from the Arabs, If at all, the Arabs took land from the Israelis and Israel went along because, they wanted peace. Maybe Israel back in 1948 should have said to the Partition "NO THANKS" we want what is ours, which would have included the West Bank, part of Jordan, and part of Syria....because of the niceties and complaciveness of Jews back then we have this perplexed situation now.

Thanks for your comapssion for my people. I firmly beleive jews do deserve a safe and secure homeland free of threats.I wish my people could have their land returned but still today the government is still continuing to ake Indian land, today.Now the military power and financial backing of Israel and US put it in s postion of great power and with power comes great reponsibility.The US could choose to stop taking land from my people, just as the Israeli government could stop annexing land in the West Bank. Both cases need to be stopped.I agree there are hardliners in the Arab world who want to destroy Israel and there are right wing zionist who want A "Greater Israel".Both mean trouble for both sides.I can only wish, that the great power Israel has over the region they choose to do what is best for humanity not only whats best for Jews.This is why I speak out. I do not blame anyone.The indians did not lose the war.The mistake the Indians made was that they wanted to share the land.

Yes jewish brutality, all events of which I speak are documented.Do you deny jewish gangs used terrorist tactics to expell the Britsh and Palestinians? And then became its first government leaders? And the quote I mentioned was one made by the new government of Israel by the Near East Department.The second was made by Moshe Dayan at the funeral of a jew killed by arabs in Gaza,none of them had anything to do with the invasion.Also yes ISrael DID PROMISE to compenstae Arabs for the plunder of their bank deposits,homes,business and property, the value which is incalcuable.How do feel about the quote of Moshe Dayan?Was he lying? .What Dayan said to the Carter Admin in 1979 is still releveant today:"I know you Americans think you're going to force us out of the West Bank,but we're here and you're in Washington.What will you do if we maintain settlements?Squawk?What will you do if we keep the army there?Send Troops?" Haaretz sux by the way!

I truely believe Native Americans were done wrong. therefore, you should understand that the Israelis were done wrong too. Now that they finally have gone back to there homeland, they get nothing more then terrorisms from the Arab neighbors. As far as wanting to expell them from inside Israel: on the onset of the formation of the modern day Israel, they actually encouraged the Arabs to become citizens except the Arab Nations ordered them to set camps outside Israel main. Since then they have murdered thousands of Israelis, I wonder why they now don't want them if that is true at all. If you want to blame anyone blame Europe they are responsible for the inhumane acts against the Native Americans and also responsible for giving in to the Arabs on giving them the west bank.

If zionism isnt racist,then why do its leaders call for the remaining Israeli-Arabs be expelled from the country? I read your response that I am a missionary and I have deaf ears. I can only assume you make many assumptions before speaking often. I am a Native American. As you probably know my people were lied to, ethnicall cleansed and expelled from our land. The US has not honored even one treay with all of the Indian nations, so when I see it happening to another group of people I speak out. I have many close friends in from many religions, inlcuding many Jewish friends adnthey are reasonable and see the errors in Israels ways. I am not saying the arabs are perfect, for each side has blood on its hands. But to use GOD as an excuse as the US did with "maifest Destiny" to oppress my people cannot hold water in reasonable discussion or negotiation in modern times. It is another form of extremism which is the enemy to all free people

Who is a missionary? Nick? A missionary of what?

Jewish brutality? The first unholy war was declared against the Jewish people in 1929 because the Muslims didn?t want them praying at the Western Wall. What about the riots in Hebron in 1929? The Jews didn?t have a military force then and the British were still in control. How brutal is that? The quote you referenced pertains to the massive invasion of Israel by Arabs in order to prevent Israel from becoming a Jewish state. Remember Nick, Native Americans took the same stance, but lost the war. There were less Arabs thrown out of Israel than there were Jews thrown out of Arab countries and the Arabs never promised squat for what they took from them, so that over used, pathetic argument holds no water. In case you don?t know it, this wonderful Haaretz newspaper is almost as anti-Israel as al Jazeera and will misquote or lie about anything to convince the world that most Jews don?t like Israel. I certainly hope this is not the ONLY place you get your information about these matters.

T.A. Adams to answer Nick for you. because he's a missionary and missionaries have deaf ears.

and when are all the Jews going to be conpensated for all assets lost when expelled from Arab Countries????

you got it backwards, the Arab Nations started a war against the formation of Israel in 1948. you have got to be kidding yourself in the belief on zionism = apartheid. Islamism = satanism

Who controlled the massive migration of Arabs, Egyptians, and Lebanese into Israel after the White Paper report of 1939, which the Arabs demanded to limit the number (7500 a year) of Jews that could return to their homeland? If Gaza is a prison who controls the wall between Egypt and the Gaza and why is it even there? Aren't these their brothers? It?s obvious why Israel wants to keep them out of Israel, but why are the Egyptians keeping them locked out? And the same goes for the West Bank and Jordon. What is so different about how the Israeli's treat the so-called palestinians than how Jews are treated in. say, Saudi Arabia? The difference is they haven't slaughtered them all or completely driven them out of the country. Why are you so afraid of Israel Nick? Because radical Muslims told you that you should be? Why do you allow yourself to be so prejudiced Israel without finding out more about those you?re supporting?

Israel today is considerably smaller than what was promised to them because the original promise was that they would get all of Israel back. But the never before heard of Arab country of Trans-Jordan (now Jordon) was carved out of the territory and Lebanon and Syria were given additional pieces as well; leaving a much smaller Palestinian Territory. Still, after getting all of that they demanded another country called Palestine which they have done absolutely NOTHING to develop because they want Israel gone. Numerous historical maps dating long before Israel was reinstated prove this. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/1759_map_Holy_Land_and_12_Tribes.jpg How did this happen? OIL finds in the Middle East in the 1930?s gave the Arabs a bargaining tool they could use with members of the UN to buy a big chunk of Israel out from under the Jewish people. And they still use that tool to buy allies in their wars against Israel.

Israel promised to compensate the arabs for the plunder of their assets, which it has not lived up to.That Jews knew they were commiting injustices can be seen in a eulogy FM Moshe Dayan delivered for a jew killed by arabs on the gaza border in 1956."Let us not heap accusations on the murderers" "How can we complainabout their deep hatred for us? For eight years they have been sitting in the gaza refugee camps and beofre their very eyes, we ar e possessing the land and the villages where they and their ancestors have lived..We are the generation of colonizers, and without the steel helmet and the gun barrel we cannot plant a tree and build a home"Then in april of 1969 Dayan told Haaretz newspaper."There is not one single village in this coutry that did not have a former arab population."In Israel the term 'Jewish' is a political-administrative one, like the term 'white'in apartheid South Africa.Israel classifies people as'Jews'by nationality and divides humanity into 'Jews' & the rest

Dear Jeff, Zionism Apartheid has disguised itself as the national liberation movement in Israel.AS a result the events leading to Israels creation are barely mentioned if at all.Popular myth has it that almost 60 years ago Israel fought a purely defensive war against attacking arab neighbors.These countries did attack, but only in response for Jewish brutality.In 1948 the Near East Department of the Israelis gov't articulated what was, in effect, the philosophy of Israeli colonialsism:"The Palestinian refugess will find their place in the diaspora.Those who can resist will live thanks to natural selection.The others will simply crumble.Some of them will presist,but the majority will be a human heap,the scum of the earth, and will sink into the lowest levels of the Arab world." By may 15 1948 more than 300k arabs were uprooted from their villages and by years end 750k arabs were refugees in their own land and 418 villages were destroyed. Their Bank deposits,homes and businesses lost.

Before I could get back to respond, Mr. TA Adams beat me to it and has answered several of your comments with rebuttals that do reflect accurately what has taken place there. We can argue this and will never ever get anywhere. I do want to again address several things with you that are unanswered. The Israeli society is very productive; the societies extremists live in are not. As well, Islamo-Fascists train their children to hate, have them participate in military parades as if it is a badge of honor rather than what it is (promotion of hatred), allow women/children to be suicide bombers and celebrate death, and as in Iraq right now, kill each other/celebrate death of those whom they disagree with. You are trying to say this is in the name of "occupation?" Sir, you are smarter than that and it will only be when moderate Muslims join the fight against extremism that we will be able to live together in peace. For your information, the IDF is NOT my army; I am a proud American.

you keep saying Zionist as if it were a bad word. GUESS WHAT? it's not a bad word. Zionisms is a good thing. it is a people, just because Muslums want to turn it into a racist word will not make it so. Maybe we should start saying Hajis are racists.

Maybe if Hizbollah didn't use Children and ordinary civilians a shields the casualties would have been only a few. But then again when you fight terrorists they all look like civilians. So you can see the kind of SCUM BAGS the Israelis are fighting. As far as world opininon....what you see in the media is mostly propoganda by Muslums living thru-out the world they have conquered Europe, IF Europe would stop being so politically correct they would have deported them all back. NO country wants them anymore, they are the nightmare no-one wants.

the only one twisting history is you...you keep exposing yourself for the nazi that you are. reading books of fiction. moses lead the children of Israel back to the land of Canaan (Israel) NOT PALESTINE. There is no SUCH PLACE. The ROMANS called the land Palestine to ridicule the Jews after expelling them from the Land. So in essence if there is a Palestinian people they are JEWS Not the fraudulant Arabs who stole the name in the late 60s.

1. The Hebrew people traveled to the land of Canaan long before God brought them out of bondage in Egypt. The Canaanites were children of Canaan (grandson of Noah) who God had cursed. God therefore gave Abraham the land of Canaan long before Moses led God?s chosen from Egypt and there was NO Palestine there. 2. Haganah and Stern didn?t have gangs; they had a 70,000 man militia that limited the Arab land-grabber migrants to land that was soon to be returned to Israel. They had nothing to do with the Arab cleansing of Jews from their countries. 3. So if Israel signs a peace treaty and leaves, they were forced out by your hezzies? I hope Israel knows this so they'll know not to sign any more peace agreements with them and just wipe them all out instead. In answer to your question; because generation after generation is raised from birth to hate Jews more than they love life and more than they want to build a thriving community. False victim status and jealousy is a sick legacy.

Dear TA ADAMS, I must disagree with you that you are not ruling over another country. Israel controls the airspace,imports/exports, all borders, including numerous checkpoints that humiliate and keep poeple from moving freely. The palestinians are given special lisence plates to distinguish between jews and everyone else. There are Jewish ONNLY roads in the West bank, while Gaza is basically a prison. Israel controls every aspect of life in the OCCUPIED TERRITORIES going on 40 years. I could only imagine what you would say if the roles were reversed! Genuinely try walking the shoes of those who your country is oppressing. As far as worrying about Islamist coming after me I am not worried. I have traveled the world and have many devout Jewish, Muslim, christian friends. I know that fundamentally they all believe in the teachings of Abraham. And that they all beleive in the same GOD. What worries is me is a racist zionist government.

Yes there was a state created during the Brrtish Partition plan but the size of Israel was much smaller. Through wars and human cleansing you have what you have to days. I racist zionist state that only believes in rights for jews. Now Israel is expanding in the West Bank and taking more and more land while only giving grief and death in return. Does your GOD stand for and promote such treatment? The jews of old were treated badly in points in history. But to turn around and believe that you are "THE CHOSEN PEOPLE" and act in such a brutal manner to the arab people, shows bigotry and an attitude of self righteousness. To call for the destruction of Islam which is the teachings of Abraham, the same as Judaism and Christianity shows the hate you have in your heart. I can only hope that you can learn to see the errors in your way of thinking. This attitude does not promote peace which is real teachings of Judaism, but is that of racist zionist beliefs and policies.

You said: "Now Hezbullah have unprecidented support not just in Lebanon, but right across the Middle East." Saudi Arabia and Egypt both have strongly spoken out against hezbollah and their clerics have issued numerous fatwas calling for Muslims to NOT support hezbollah in this war or to even pray for their success. One cleric even tagged hezbollah as "the army of satan". If every Arab/Muslim country over there supported hezbollah Israel would be fighting all of them right now, that?s almost guaranteed. So, how can you sit there and claim they have unprecedented support?? Stop believing everything Israel's enemies are telling you David. You can't be that niave.

Your hatred for Bush is as much an illness as radical Islam's hatred for Jews and Christians. The good news is, you can get counseling for your problem.

1. Again, twisting of history. Palestine was NOT the birth place of Jews. Jews shifted with Moses from Egypt to Palestine. 2. As for Jews of other Arab countries, go read the confessions of Haganah and Steirn gangs in late 40's and early 50's: they terrorized those jews to force them to move to Palestine. 3. Another lie. 'israel's politically correct war. You can even claim it is highly moral and humane war. in 1982 tens of thousands of Arabs were killed by 'israeli' (merciful bombs!!). 'israel' wanted to stay, but was forced to leave Lebanon as a result of the Resistence. Your army failed big time in 2000, and is now failing big time. 3. Fight to death: Suicide Bombers. Q: Why would a person blow himself in his struggle to free his people of occupation? A: because he does not have tanks/air force/any material weapons. He has only his body. He sacrifies himself to allow his children and grand children to live in peace and dignity.

Just because you say the land is yours DOESN'T make it so. Do you realize that what is Israel IS the birhplace of the Jewish people? So, how can you claim it as your own? What about the Jewish people who were removed from current Arab lands when Israel was founded by the UN in 1948? Israel has had military difficulties in Lebanon (in pre-2000 and now) because they are fighting a politically correct war. If they were NOT trying to tip-toe through Lebanon it would be a parking lot. Yes, Hezbollah and other Islamo-Fascist groups will fight to the death because they have NOTHING else to live for but their hatred. Until the moderate Muslim community and the free world stand up to these extremist groups, Islamo Fascist terror will continue. No other group of people on this planet kill their own and celebrate it as these groups do...look in Iraq right now, throughout the ME when a child or woman acts as a suicide bomber, or the children carrying weaponry in Hezbollah parades.

Nick, you make a mistake in logic. The fact that the land was called "Palestine" by some later rulers does not mean it is not "the Land of Israel." At which point in history do u begin the clock. Post Roman conquest? Why not prior to that. Further, now it is called Israel and was granted to the Jews by the UN just like they carved out Jordan and Syria and other Arab countries for the Arabs. Why should those creations exist but not Israel? Finaly, even taking your logic, who said that the name "Palestine" means Arab? There were Jews and Arabs in "Palestine" prior to the UN resolution creating Israel. The UN also created an Arab country. Prior to that, the only thing that was clear is that it had once been called the "Land of Israel." Oh, and many Arabs migrated as well (I believe that Yasser Arafat, may his soul rest in Hell, was not even a native to the land!). So learn your hsitory. G-d will destroy Islam. I hope to live to see the day, since they're all a bunch of animals

One would ask that after creating this new buffer zone like it once was 6 years ago, what is going to happen? Will Hizballah fighters go on vacation? Or will they retire and leave the IDF alone? Just think ahead a little bit you Israeli Government? Just think a little... Dumb people are found everywhere including governments?the Israeli and the Lebanese ones. And when it comes to Bush they are dumber!

Dear TA ADMAS, I have read a few of your posted comments. I have noticed you have called for Nuclear weapons to fall on two cities. I can only assume that you hold much hate in your heart. To wish such a death on many innocent people who truly want a democratic society can only show that your mentaility is not one of genuine respect for life other than your own and those close . Does your GOD represent that? I hope you can see one day that life is a gift to all of us and to wish death on another makes you as deplorable as those you disdain. I feel this attitude is one of your right wing zionist government. The way in which the Palestinian people were killed and humiliated at time of Israel's founding I feel is one that must be addressed and is a legitimate grievance. Do you agree? Why do you wish death on so many?

Israel said at the start of this conflict that it expected to be "allowed" just 48-72 hours to hit Hezbullah, before the world (USA?) demanded they stop. They really just wanted to show Hezbullah that any action against Israel would be met with a far greater force. This was one of the stated aims. A second aim was to reduce Lebanes support for Hezbullah, which did happen in the first few days. Then everything started to go wrong. The US, thinking it was supporting Israel, didn't demand a ceasefire. Israel was hitting far too many civilain targets. Hezbullah was much tougher than first thought. Now Hezbullah have unprecidented support not just in Lebanon, but right across the Middle East. Israel has lost support right atround the globe. Israel finds itself in a war that it didn't really mean to get into, and like the USA, they are finding it is much harder to stop a war than it is to start one.

?If they (Jews) all gather in Israel, it will save us the trouble of going after them worldwide? ? [Hassan Nasrallah] ?Hezbollah will never accept the existence of Israel.? [Hassan Nasrallah, al-Manar Television, May 7, 1998] The foundation of Hezbollah ideology, which originated from the vision of the first leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini, is the consistent and unyielding war against Israel, until its annihilation. Hezbollah will find any reason to further this cause. If it?s not a land dispute, it?s prisoners, if not prisoners, it?s foreign policy, if not that, something else.. and on and on. Responsibility for the deaths of any civilians in Lebanon (which are much fewer than you?re being told) lays directly on the Lebanese government which conspired with Iran and Syria to allow Hezbollah to continue its war against Israel in the front yards of Lebanese civilians.

You say "for us it remains a justified war". I am confident Hezbollah feels the same. Look to Northern Ireland and the Basque region for answers. Sit down, negotiate, compromise. If neither party likes the result it's probably about right. For the sake of the world Israel must make peace with it's neighbours.

We are not ruling over another country Nick. But if you only get your news from sources that are politically motivated to convince you of that, then I can understand why you might think so. I have to wonder though, based on what you just said what you will do when the Muslims demand that you bow to their allah? Because I guarantee you that the enemy if Israel is watching and they truly enjoy seeing so many become so easily manipulated into siding with them in this war. That strengthens them and eventually they will be strong enough to come knocking on your door, just as they were in Lebanon, just as they are Congo and Sudan, and just as they have been attempting in Israel all these years. Are you prepared for when they come for you Nick?

Yes Damien and Arabs also came from England, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, the list goes on and on.

I've read history, I'm in a democratic country unlike you...your history is distorted by the lies of hate brought on by your countrymen. I'm a christian and believe Mohammed is a descendant of Satan, created Islam as a means of world destruction. SO Keep lying to yourself about the ever so Peaceful people you belong to.

You said: "And before jews illegally immigrated to the area during the British mandate and then claimed independence after using terrorism to expell the British and the Palestinians ( Who by the way are actually semites), there was no map in the world with any state called Israel. But the land was called Palestine." Wanna bet? If you use the same mentality that the Arabs do then it makes no difference what your bloodline is. Your bitterness shows and like the Arabs, it will one day eat you alive.

hizbulla aim was never the distruction of israel. his demand was clear. the return of shabaa farms to lebanese authority, the return of lebanese detainees and the maps for the land mines placed by the israelis that have killed 11 persons since their withdrawal from lebanon.but tell me what was the aim of israel for this war. you said survival!!! and how do you incorporate all the civilian killing and the imfrastructure destruction in this aim? the aim was clear a barbaric attack to revenge from the lebanese people . this people that kicked them out and is ready to do it agin and again till the end of the ages amen.

what would expect/ we to let the terrorist mazbela to fight the iranian war against israel and lebanon and give in? do not be so stupid

I am obliged to thank you for allowing me the chance to have this dialogue. It is actually the first time for me to have a direct dialogue with the 'other' party of the conflict. Unfortunately there is alot of misconception and too much hatred, resulting from over 60 years of the conflict. There have been attempts to achieve peace, but these failed mainly because always the party which had the power would only dictate its terms, forcing the weak to surrender. There will never be peace in this manner. Now there is a real window for real peace. Would everybody seize this (maybe last) chance!?

Dear TA ADAMS. I am very happy to see you take interest in this discussion. It means what we are using what GOD DID GIVE US. The ability to talk and reason. The US had a policy called "Manifest Destiny" Which basically said that GOD wanted the white poeple who came to this land to conquer the Indians and make a land for themselves. Which meant at the time meant white people. ISrael claims GOD gave them this land. I find that anyone can use GOD to justify anything. Suicide bombers, racist Zionist policies, George Bush said GOD told him to invade Iraq. As long as you claim GOD said anything just for you, you open the door for everyone else to say the same thing and we get nowhere. I believe GOD would not want one country ruling over another in such a harsh manner. Would you agree?

1. The roots of extremism will wither when Arabs/Muslims get their freedom and their land (or part of their land). 2. God is not unfair to give any people 'a birth right' to a land for ever, even though this would mean expelling (or ethnic-cleansing) of millions of another people!!? There is no justice in removing a whole people from its homeland simply to satisfy the wishes of zionists, not God? STOP PLAYING THIS UGLY TUNE THAT GOD HAS PROMISED YOU THIS LAND. We, the original inhabitants, have full claim to this land because it is ours. We were born on this land, and it will remain ours. Yes, it is occupation by all definitions. 3. How peaceful 'israel' was to pull out of Lebanon so voluntarily!! 'israel's a*s was kicked hard out of lebanon because of the Hizbullah-led resistence. You remember old (false) history but fail to remember recent (true)history! 2000 was the first defeat to 'israeli' army in. Again I see Now a real chance for a JUST and COMPREHENSIVE peace.

I am not surprised you think I am an arab or a hater of Israel. Zioinism. I am a Native American. I've seen the destruction the US has done to my people through not honoring even one of its treaties it had signed with all of the indian people. Ive seen the lies, half truths and outright bigotry from the "greatest coutry on earth" towards my people. Yet I am not bitter. I am fully aware of the way this gov't works and how in it has destroyed democracies around the world in favor of puppet regimes. But I still want peace. Now it is happening in Palestine/Israel with US help. Yes they were not called Palestinians but rather the Phillistines. And before jews illegally immigrated to the area during the British mandate and then claimed independence after using terrorism to expell the British and the Palestinians ( Who by the way are actually semites), there was no map in the world with any state called Israel. But the land was called Palestine.

How do you define victory in this conflict? It is simple, and based on achieving aims. Israel's goal is survival, so victory for Israel is survival. Hezbollah's goal is the destruction of Israel, so victory for Hezbollah is the elimination of Israel. It is clear that Israel is winning hands down and that Hezbollah doesn't have a chance. The Orwellian "doublespeak" from the media which poposes that Hezbollah wins by survivng is sheer wishful thinking and nonsense. Every day that Israel survives despite the threats of anihilation it wins and its enemies are defeated.

I agree 100%, but I think Syria too needs to feel the heat. Iran has finally admitted their involvement in this war and there is no doubt that Syria is just as involved. Both wanted to use Lebanon as a proxy country for waging war on Israel because it is not fully under their control and they wanted to punish the Lebanese for their rejection. For that reason both Iran and Syria need to feel the heat of that war with no holds barred.

In Usa we are fully sponsoring israel's actions we need more aggresive attacks by IDF and IAF why not use the arsenal at Dimona to Iran and have them feel the heat

I have 3 questions for you: 1. While you respond to nearly everyone who disagrees with your opinion, you have not provided an answer for the question "who is going to sit down and reason with these extremist Muslims who want primarilty to destroy Israel?" 2. I, for one, am weary of the Arab term "occupation." Do Arabs realize that what is currently called Israel is the birthplace of the Jewish people? Do Arabs realize that what today is called Israel is actually far smaller than what the Bible called Israel? How is it that Arabs make ALL claims to this land? 3. After Israel pulled out of S. Lebanon in 2000 in an effort to bring peace to the region (you may argue that wasn't enough but it WAS a step), did Hezbollah act in good faith by arming as they have, continuing to lob rockets into israel, and crossing the blue line to start this conflict? Those acts are the hallmark of terrorism; if extremists disagree, they stop at nothing to get what they want (ie more land, blood).

A phobia is a fear without reason. What we have a factual view of the threat Islam poses to the world based on the history of Islam and what Muslims are doing throughout the world today. In the past 5 years in Congo and Sudan there have been more than 5 million Christians slaughtered for refusing to convert. That amounts to 100 times more deaths than Arab/Muslims have suffered in this imperialist land grab for Israel in 60 years. You claim Israel and the U.S. are imperialist aggressors? You claim we are the new Crusaders? We don't hold a candle to what Islam has done in this world over the past 1400 years or what it promises to deliver in the future. What you want is freedom to dominate the world with your satanic cult Islam. And your anger at Israel and the West is really anger that Abraham's God protects and strengthens us more than muhammad's allah strengthens you. http://sayanythingblog.com/2006/07/30/obsession/

My suggestion to you Ben is that you (1.) Be careful what you wish for and (2.) choose your sides wisely. When the day comes that the U.S. is no longer there for Israel God will destroy ALL of Israel's enemies.

Translated means: Many of us were beginning to think that perhaps Israel had weakened to the point where we could finally destroy the country we all were born to hate. And every time Israel defends itself in a war like this we grow more and more angry that Israel's God protects it more than allah helps us. As for the problems in Sudan ? You would like the world to think it?s a mere tribal issue but the fact is the Sudan is another example of a Muslim regime slaughtering Christians who refuse to convert to Islam. Since 1983, more than 2 million people have been slaughtered there and 4.5 million have become refugees. Khartoum is systematically committing genocide and this was confirmed by Ali Osman Taha. The horrors you people try to sell the Arab-pals as suffering is NOTHING compared to what your murdering heathen Sudan government is putting Christians through in the south.

Be serious about Peace? How can anyone take you serious when you inflate numbers through the roof, totally disregard the numbers of Jews that were "cleansed" from Arab states and slaughtered in the name of jihad, and rewrite history to suit your own jealous demand to have absolute control over the entire Middle East, including the most Holy place in the world to all Jews and Christians? Do you really believe that we would allow you people to control the Temple Mount the way you control Mecca? How can anyone take you seriously when your people continue to migrate to countries around the world and violently demand the same "self determination" that you have demanded over every chunk of Israel that you've taken? How can anyone take you seriously when you continue to train mere babies to strap bombs on their bodies to kill Jews? The generations of raging hatred for all that is not Arab/Muslim is a mental illness.

1939 - Arabs manipulate a redesigned Palestinian Territory by brokering a deal with Great Britain to take more than 2/3 of the land mass out of the picture. This includes a portion of what was originally Israel; resulting in the never before heard of Arab country of Jordon. 1948 - Arabs violently demand that Israel hand over more land promised to them since they still don?t have a country named Palestine. (Jordon doesn?t count now because they didn?t name it Palestine) This land grab has been ongoing for 60 years. If they ever actually settle Gaza and the West Bank they won?t be named Palestine either since they are split and the land grab will continue. The Arabs already own 99% of the Middle East and have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that their goal is to own 100% by eliminating Israel. Meanwhile Arabs have migrated into numerous other countries demanding ?self-determination? so they can set up radical Islamist governments and demand statehood.

All laws and legislations justify fighting against occupation. USA did that and ultimately got their independence. All other nations are no different. Why is this double-standard perspective? When Arabs/Muslims fight to get their independence and freedom, they are labelled "terrorists!" Just look around. Palestine is under occupation. Iraq is under occupation. Many other parts of the Arab/Muslim world is under occupation or at best under oppression and never-ending conspiracies, mainly due to Islamophobia planted in the mind of the west by zionists! What we, Arabs and Muslims, want is freedom. Is it too much to ask from others? As for the current war, Hizbullah has tried by negotiating with 'israel' to release the Lebanese prisoners in the 'israeli' jails. Some of them have been in prison for almost 30 years. After 5 years Hizbullah and all Lebanon realized that 'israel' won't listen to the weak's pleas, but will listen to the strong's demand. And Hizbullah is strong!

We dont want you here. Keep electing massmurderers and wait for the day the US can't back you anymore. You're on your own now.

Dear, Israel is a fact - people started to get used to the existance of Israel, they even started dealing with Israel commerciall either direct or through theird parties that reasoned or nearly reasoned with Israel. we started to belive that Israel does not intend to integrate with countries in the region at all. every new warmakes that further remote. Regarding Darfour, and colors, pls note that I am not color sensitives- I worked in UK, Germany, Belgium, Canada and the states - my freind used to call me darky - I used to call them Pinkies - no hard feelings MaryRose - Visit Sudan and you will notice that all our problems originate from the tribal systems in the west of the country.

This hatred sentiment did not stem from nothing nor from jealosy!!, but from the agony and pain felt by Arabs on the hands of zionist 'israelis'. Hundreds of thousands have been killed over 60 years, millions expelled from their homeland, Palestinians who still live in israel' face racial discrimination and are treated as 3rd class. Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza are suffering on a daily basis. Apart from Palestinians, thousands of Lebanese, Syrians, Egyptians and other Arabs were butchered by 'israeli' murderers, hudreds of thousands displaced from their homes (Golan Heights and South Lebanon). That is why there is this much hatred. For 15 years Arabs were fed with mere promises by 'israel' and usa. there is now hatred and disappointment all over the Arab/Muslim world. Wanna change that? Be serious about Peace!

Why to say that Israel has more enemies right now and that as an ex-peacemaker. Look to Israel and its people. How good they live and the rights they have and the freedom. Than my dear ex peacemaker look at the moslimworld were people still live in the dark ages. Bomb themselves and make innocent their victimes. It's really time this comes to an end. There is nothing waiting for these people in hell. No beautiful virgines and no rivers of wine. The Mosilm world should stop their pushing to make the world in to a Moslim world. And if not, they will receive what the deserve.

This was something new, two kidnapped soldiers and Israels overreaction. And Israel claims having been "provoced". Is there anything more ridiculous thinkable? Cool down and go home. Good luck!

To Peter #67: Arabs/Muslims cannot give in East Jerusalem. That's why all negotiations failed in the 1990's. East Jerusalem was occupied in 1967 and therefore according to International Law and UN Security Council Resolutions should go back to Arabs, and so should Golan Heights and West Bank and Gazza in full. To Adams #71: Poor guy you are so confused. Again go read true history and do not be brain-washed by zionists. Zionists tried to prove that the Temple is there under the AlAqsa Mosque for 60 years. Archeological and historical findings fail them all the time. There is nothing there, except for discoveries relating to Arabs/Muslims. Go dig for your temple somewhere else. There was more than 1 jerusalems in old Palestine, so better check in which one the temple was built! And Yes, it is Arabs only who can give peace to 'israel', we are the surrounding neighbors. Should you seek peace from Korea or Japan!? Peter you are miserable both in history and geography !!!

"Israel has deeply harmed it`s reputation in the world." - Mark Lincoln Your observation is relative. In some circles, Israel has simply reinforced its reputation as an aggressive state with imperialist designs on the Middle East, irrespective of it acting at the behest of the United States.

Brown is descriptive in my case, not perjorative, and based on what I see with my own eyes on BBC World. There seems to be a lot of color difference between Khartoum and Darfur. I'm kind of pink - genetically, not politically. My paternal Grandmother is American Indian (considered red) and my maternal G'parents are of European descent. I live in Los Angeles, where we print ballot information in 85 languages/dialects. Color quit mattering to me a very long time ago. I spent years digging into 'The Troubles' in Ireland to figure out why Christians were killing Christians. And decided that perhaps I believed most in Emily Dickinson's version of worship. But for Mahmoud to be telling us that Muslims are willing to live in peace w/ us boggles my mind in light of what is going on in the world. Peace on earth to men (and women) of good will.

Isreal acts like its big brother, the US....you kidnappe one soldier of ours we will level your city...this Rational is of course meant to scare the enemy in not acting the way it does and to change...Analagous to US previous similiar situations where they dealt with it in an extreme way i.e. US dropping Nukes on Japan for example....Hizbollah/Hamas talk of death in their cause as the ultimate act and freedom similar to extremistsin Iran....Rational: we the Hizbollah are not intimidated by your cruel response and don't fear death....So who is really bluffing here?....two players each with 2 good hands, supposedly...it seems like they each will go all in no matter what......with no one backing down....but problem is this ain't poker and there is not going to be one winner one loser....but only 2 losers....but its for each side to see this and realize that terror will not ever achieve peace...and sometimes its better to just fold that hand.

Calling us (Brown) is just smart - because we are - and that is as a result of mixed blood all over the country - do let the propoganda deceive you --- there is nothing as such - we are all balcks in the eyes of the white people, this new brown thing came from yr propoganda trying to have a foot hold in Sudan.

by making wars every 5/6 years israel has created for themslves more enemies. They are proud of their arms and ammunition forgotting that God's power is far greater and destroying in a blink of eye.

If the last statement you made about "we (Arabs) have always had Jews living among us and we always accepted them as part of our community throughout history" is true, who will go sit down and talk with bin Laden, Nasrallah, the leaders of Hamas, the President of Iran, and Islamo Fascist extremists ALL over the globe and see if they will buy what you are selling. I agree it would be great if Arabs and Isralis could peacefully co-exist and if it were up to the many moderate Muslims it wouldn't be a problem at all. However, extremist groups cite their primary reason for existing being to "destroy Israel." My friend, how can this thinking ever be changed? Israel took a big step in 2000 by leaving S. Lebanon and what did that get them...Hezbollah arming themselves significantly, continuing to fire rockets over the border, and then killing 8 soldiers and kidnapping 2 more. With this mindset, how can peace be achieved my friend?

...with THIS nonsense. "Arabs are really willing to co-exist, provided this is done on EQUAL terms, not on a goyim-inferior basis." We (the world) see what is going on in Iraq (Sunni vs. Shia) and Sudan (brown vs black) and ALL MUSLIMS. Y'all can't get along with each other, let alone with anyone who is NOT Muslim. You move into the countries of other people and demand that they follow YOUR rules, and YOUR laws or you kill them. Like Theo van Gogh. Like Madrid, like Pakistan is doing to India, like London, like the former Yugoslavia, like the Phillipines, etc., etc., etc. If you cannot be honest with us, try to learn to be honest with yourself, because I think you actually believe the drivel you are posting, and that is just sad.

I don't get on here too often because I learned long ago that "you never argue with an idiot; they'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience." That, sir, applies to YOU. The major thing that cracks me up is that you act like you care more about this conflict and US politics than anyone else! Another thing is your constant lack of disrespect for our elected officials like Mr. Bush, whom you referred to as an idiot. All I would say to that post is "it takes one to know one." You ought to go back and re-read many of your posts...you are a smartass at best who thinks he KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT EVERYTHING! Maybe in the future, our world leaders should simply contact you for advice! Now, isn't that a laugh. Sir, the leaders of each respective country has access to FAR MORE information than you have...how about allowing history to prove who is right or wrong. Your constant rants lack objectivity, any sense of balance, and thus, any accuracy!

And a pocketful of gold for every wussy yored that returns to cry misery with us. (or every Hezbollah fifth columnist who ditto) LOL

Olmert's pundits did not spin him as Churchillian. They said that this is the moment for Churchillian speeches. sigh. Mark. Retire. You have disappointed me.

And another one: Israel wants peace with Arabs; Arabs want peace without Israel. That's how it was in 1948, that's how it is today. Don't worry about your English - it's your thoughts that matter.

Saul says: "palestinian land"??? - what did you learn in your history lessons in england??? please note that it was not palestinian land, and israel did not take it, but it was given to her by the united nations, and the rest she conquered in wars which the arabs had started! The British Mandate of Palestine conferred administrative discretion over the mandate area to Britain following WWI (predaring the United Nations). The original mandate area was much larger than modern day Israel or Lebanon. Not until after WWII did the U.N. contemplate its partition plan for the madate region. Nevertheless, the 'Jewish State' would never have existed without the unconditional patronage of powerful nations of the West. Does anyone remember the Israeli pound? Venunu? How can you continue to persist in representing yourself as a state, implying some measure of self efficacy. Israel is no more a state than is Puerto Rico, or any other commonwealth.

Ariel Sharon wakes up and screams, "Anihilate Them!!!" Come on world, get on board. These terrorists from all countries need to be vanquished!

"Have you heard of morality and civilised behaviour.." - like cutting heads off, running around screaming with blood soaked hands and rejoicing suiside murders? Yes, we all heard and saw your morality and your behaviour.

"Peace in exchange for `67 border is up to Israeli" - same peace Israel had from Arabs before 1967? Or peace it's got in return for leaving Gaza with intention to leave most of West Bank?

The Bible says God will love those who love Israel. May the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob bless you, your family, and your country!!!

Would be if Iran got a couple of nukes, tried to use them on Israel and accidentally (because they're such smart cookies) took out both Tehran and Damascus. Now that's what I would call justice and it couldn?t happen to a better bunch of folks.

I hope the editor is going to accept my response here to be published, since my other responses have not been published? We have discussion in Sweden about how fair was Israel in hitting Lebanon? During the past months, the government and Hizbolla could sit around the same table. IDF was hitting Lebanon and not Hizbolla, which no one understands why? The first 2 days of the attack looked motivated as defending the land, and to get back the 2 soldiers. Now, it is unclear, and becoming a random war on civilians. IDF talked about Hizbolla sending rockets among civilian houses, but what about the rest of the country which was heavily bombed (including Christian areas)? Does cutting country into pieces make peace? Noah

Wars in the middle east will end the day the arabs start loving more their own sons than what they hate the jews.... (sorry for my poor english) If Arabs would put down their weapons tomorrow there would be no more war. If Israel would put down their weapons tomorrow there would be no more Israel. Any one has a question about it??? We have president Chavez in Venezuela taking sides with the TERRORISTS of Hizbollah and with Iran...May God help us in Venezuela and bles the IDF.

And your pals the Arabs who are live, eat, sleep, and die for one reason and one reason only... to destroy Israel are the epitome of all that is good? Ever wonder why none of them referred to themselves as Palestinians until after 1967? It?s because if they had each held to their actual nationality there would be no claim to any more land than what they got when they stole Jordon. They would all be in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria or the actual Arab-Palestinian country now known as Jordon.

we are not contesting that you worked hard enough to achieve advances in medical research, agriculture etc. but that does not justify your acts mate; democracy and civilisation does not stop at ballot box and scientific advances. Have you heard of morality and civilised behaviour.. I think you have but your zionist arrogance makes you forget that you are humans just as other similar creatures on this planet are.. and I am not giving us excuses.. we haven't produced as much as yourselves mainly because our leaderships and management sectors are lacking.. A note on your boasting military successes.!!! which ones?? Qana, the fruit pickers in northern Bikaa district.. hmmm or the military drops in Bikaa which picked up elederly civilians and 14 year old sheep herder?? lool or even more recently last night the dropping of commandos in Sour city, south lebanon which culminated in another failure on the part of your almighty IDF. Huh. come down to earth and start admitting your struggling now

"...a fair and just settlement for the Palestinians is the only way to ensure their continued existance" - exactly right - not COexistance, since for Palestinian Arabs a fair and just settlement is the disappearance of Israel and, yes, Israel sees that very well.

Israel can't crush an ant.. never in our dreams we will be able to crush an organization so dedicated... Only choice is to give them no excuse for them to fight us! Bring the Troops home give back the sheba farms and exchange prisoners. Its as simple as that!

What Arab propaganda site did you get all that camel crap from?

And then what? Keep living under continued barrage of their iranian/syrian katyushas? And how do you "Whack the shit out of them" if not the way Israel is doing it now, considering they are part and parcel of a good half of Lebanon population?

Why is it that whenever there is protest in the democratic world there is always someone against what the majority of the people want. There were protests by Israelis against the war. Why has that same situation never played out in any of the muslim countries? Have anyone ever seen arabs coming out against any type of terroristic act or murder, protesting against mass killings by terrorist thugs? Me either. Word to the wise or not so wise. All those fools protesting for the arabs, no matter how much u hope to be liked by those thugs, they will always regard u as just another INFIDEL. U peace loving jews and confused americans, u should remembr that the next time u go out against your country in favor of arabs. Ask yourself, if the situation was reversed, would they have pity on u? Would they protest 4 u?

Of course Israel is here to stay. The question is how will they treat their neighbors? With the self righteous attitude that GOD told them to make a greater Israel and that its ok to take land from Palestinians and give it to "settlers"? And the turn around and demand that it must be recognized in order for peace to be possibe? Or one that believes in respecting Int'l law and returning to its recognized borders of 1967, returning the Golan heights, shabah farms and allow Palestinians basic human rights? Under int' law there cannot be any taking of land by an occupying country from the occupied. Yet Israel continues with $15 million dollars a day in US taxpayer money. Please Israel if you want to stop muslim extremism, stop giving them legal reasons to fight you.

watching thousands of Iraqis marching in support of Hezbollah, i kept thinking:did the pro-Israel(AIPAC) lobby see this coming when they pushed for Iraq's invasion?

There is much to criticize the Israeli government about but it chiefly centers upon not being fully committed to what needed to be done in the begining of this matter. I attribute this failure to the lack of a good military chief as the head of government. However, this Yoel Marcus cannot decide whether he wants to criticise the governments for failures to act over years of time or for acting now. He is inconsistent and apparently a dove who ought to let men do what must be done without brothering them while they are doing it. He can complain later once the matter is over and he is safe due to the blood and guts of others. Ken Haber

Israel has not lived up to UN resolutions 242 338 that call for it to return to the 67 borders. Its int'l recognized border. There are over 60 UN resolutions Israel has ignored. To only call on Lebanon for its failure to achieve in 1559 what Israel could not do in 18 years of occupation, Disarm/Defeat Hezbollah and not its own failires is called "SELECTIVE MORALITY".

Israel "disarmed" the Palestinians by giving up the Gaza strip and West bank. This war proves that land was never the issue. Palestine wants Israel to stop existing, just like Hezbollah and Amadinejad. I pray that the BIG war will come soon, so that Israel and the USA can unleash a few nukes upon "lands Arabian" to end this once and for all. We need to re-assemble a few neutron bombs...to destroy Jew-hating peoples but sparing all-important infrastructure.

Yes indeed there was land given to Israel in the partition plan, but the terrorist founders of the state of Israel used human cleansing to eradicate Palestinians from areas of land that Israel wanted. This is the reason for all the trouble now.Also the apartheid policies of Israel towards the people in the OCCUPIED TERRITORIES continues to feed the hate towards your right wing gov't and then its people who either dont know, dont care, or dont want to know, what is happening to the Palestinian people. The colonialism policies in the West Bank are inexcusable. In reference to your statment that the arabs started all the wars is false. The 67 war was a preemptive strike on a poorly equipped and poorly trained arab armies. Even your own generals have been quoted in saying that the idea of a large arab army about to attack Israel was a completely made up.Of course with help from the CIA.Israel's occupation is the longest in modern history.Peace in exchange for '67 border is up to Israeli

"There is no such place as Palestine. Palestinians were always Jews until Arafat stole the name for a propaganda sympathy plea in the late 1960s." You're saying Palestinians are Jews? Are you stupid? (That's not an insult, it's a question) Also, there was no such thing as Israel before the 50's. And Canada at one point was New France. Let me know when the UN passes a resolution that says "No more new countries". "All arabs living in the West Bank and Gaza Strips are there because the Arab Nations told them to set up camp and wait for the war that would capture Israel and hand the land over to them." Did you fail history? The Arabs have always been in the middle east. Where do you think the Arabs were before Israel?? The moon? Yes, Jews historically were also in the middle east. But your statement about Arabs suddenly going to the middle east because of Israel was completely wrong. You shouldn't talk about something you know nothing about.

You said; "It has worked in the past." It worked for hezbollo, and that is exactly why they kept doing it. But, there's a saying that goes, "If you keep on doing what you're doing, you're going to keep on getting what you get." So, maybe Israel got fed up with what they were getting in this tit-for-tat war that the Arabs thought they could play until they were worn down to a nonentity. If nothing else comes of this war, perhaps Lebanon will think twice before inviting hezbollo to stage another war for Iran and Syria in their front yard, and just maybe hezbollo will wonder if it's worth it to lose several hundred lives to capture a couple of Israeli troops. I?m not going to hold my breath waiting for hezbollo to come to that logical conclusion though. Their leader just doesn?t seem all that bright.

It has to be said that the previous writer has said what needs to be said. There is a larger point, and that is lasting peace. Hardliners never find solutions that stick. Israel needs to see that a fair and just settlement for the Palestinians is the only way to ensure their continued existance.

Don't you worry yourself with what is will be a good neighborhood for Israel, they will make sure that the bad neiborhood doesn't spill or spoils Israel! You should be ashamed of yourself for allowing your country to become a slam.

"Did Israel have any choice?" - Leroy Jones Yes. It could have treated the incident as a border infraction by Hizbollah. Whacked the shit out of them, and then made a deal to calm things down. It has worked in the past.

Hopefully Israel will be good enough to oblige to the desire of Hizbollah and Hamas and get them to be with Allah as soon as possible! How can hate Israel for helping them out?

"How do you define victory. - Lebanese Roger I define victory as when I come out better and my opponent comes out worse. But then what do I know? I am not a neoconservative devoted to the belief that I can pummel the world into submission.

Neil, I remember the Suez Crisis. I remember the Six Day War. I remember the Yom Kippur War. I also remember Sharon's Lebanon War. Now we have Olmert's Lebanon War. Neil, the IDF is a great army. But idiots make mistakes.

"If it were a heavy weight boxing match..." - Sonny James I remember sitting one evening in the early 60s in a 'sports' restaurant in California as Cassius Clay beat Sonny Liston. Hezbollah is defeating a power 1,000 times it's size. But not really, the power is defeating it's self. "Let them's come to you, they beat's themselves." - Jack Johnson, Heavy Weight Champion of the World, and Texan.

How can you expect someone to take your questions seriously when you include nonsense comments like "...a war which has run far longer, and cost far more, while achieving far less than ever intended ..." Longer than what, the 6 Day War or WWII? As though this war can be compared to either at this point. And how do you know what the Israeli military hoped to achieve by now? You have a bad habit of making comparisons of nothing to nothing and expecting the readers here to accept your nothing as intelligent analysis. Israel?s reputation isn?t nearly as damaged as you would like to think and it?s a LOT less damaged with someone like you trying to argue for the other side. So, like it or not, your nonsense commentaries are some of the best weapons Israel has that don't go boom.

One man used an analogy of this war as a fly (Hezbollah and Hamas) landing on Israel's face and Israel using a hammer to swat it. This is not even close to being a fair analogy. First of all, Hezbollah and Hamas are more like rabid Pit Bulldogs put on a weak leash. With these kind of dogs you better have lethal weapons to kill them when they attack or they will mangle you. So the question arises: Did Israel have any choice in this war? Eight Israeli boys got eaten, two were held hostage, all by an Iran and Syria backed, pack of renegade rabid pit bull dogs. If it were your little 200 mile long by 50 mile wide country would you get out your fly swatter or your rifle to defend yourself? Get the picture? It is real easy to talk peace when it aint your ass on the line. Thats what I hear a lot of in this forum...a bunch of yuppies nestled back in the safety of their multi-story homes in gated communities telling Israel they are being too tough. A reality check is coming soon!

Is it by killing the few thousand Hezballah regulars and destroying their rocket stockpile? Smart people would quickly reply that there is plenty more where these came from (both people and rockets). The IDF mystique has long been eroded. Lebanon has nothing more to loose with the huge infrastructure and environmental damage inflicted at random. Hezballah may have started this, but the savage Israeli response has made that point moot. Only diplomacy can solve this. Unfortunatly, Israel entered this quagmire with no endgame in sight (a la Bush in Iraq).

LET ISRAEL'S GENERALS FIGHT THE DAMN WAR AND MAKE THE MILITARY DECISIONS THE POLITITIONS STAY OUT OF THE MILITARY GAME AND SIGN THE PAPERS! MOSHE DAYAN WOULD HAVE BURYED THEM ALREADY AND HAVE THE ENEMY BEGING FOR MERCY! THIS IS WAR NOT POLITICS!

...Hezbollah has both eyes closed with only a couple of minutes before the loser gets knocked out.

fadi, my dear. Since when did Israel have no enemy? the whole infidel world have attempted so may times to crush and exterminate it. Were they successful? No power in this whole wide world could defeat that tiny nation unless their own true God wills it. Have you not learned your lesson in history? A few million Jews against the whole Arab world and you have not even succeeded in trying to acquire a piece of their land for so many years now since its inception. Such a tiny country, even just a dot in the map and yet your efforts are futile! What a shame! Maybe you should change your Allah to their God because you have no way to defeat them. Not unless their God lets you too!

Lost another one to hezbollah

So I will ask it again. If, as I heard PM Olmert say on National Public Radio yesterday, Hizbollah has been totally destroyed, then how come hundreds of rockets land in Israel every day? If it has been decimated, how can it still be causing casualties to the IDF? When the idiot Bush pulled his little PR stunt of declaring combat operations at an end in Iraq under his "Mission Accomplished" banner, he started the undermining of his entire regime. The desperate thrashing of the Olmert Government to spin a great success out of a war which has run far longer, and cost far more, while achieving far less than ever intended is much the same act. His pundits spun him as Churchillian, but he wasn't. Churchill didn't tell the British everything was going fine in 1940. He told them it was going to be hell. Olmert should be honest. Things have not worked out. Israel might be stuck occupying S. Lebanon for some time. Israel has deeply harmed it's reputation in the world. More might go wrong

Over the past few weeks, it has been extremely interesting to follow the news from both sides. The spin from both sides are impressive to witness. How can so many people see the same thing so differently? The real victim in this whole sad affair is the truth. Till people are willing to accept the truth and not what their idealogies predicate will there be a solution to this problem. In a thousand year if this sorry world still exists, the affairs of today will be looked with disdain if remembered at all. While I am not taking sides in this war because I believe that both sides are equally wrong and two wrongs do not make a right regardless of how much we justify it. If a fly lands on your face, you do not use a hammer to try to kill it. All you will have for your trouble is a worse problem than what you started with. History will be written by the victors and the truth will not matter anyway. You can lie to the whole world but you cannot lie to yourself.

is that what U think...? OLMERT stupid...?and what Nasrallah...? chicken...? coward,,,GAY..? hiding under the skirt of the innocent.... If U have nothing 2 do w/ this conflict...U better give uplifting comments...not insult... MAKE LOVE NOT WAR...........

The history they speak of is the history that the entire world, with the exception of Muslims, knows is fact. It is evidenced through archeological and historical documents thousands of years old and written in every history book outside of those Muslims have falsified for themselves. Israel was a state for 2 thousand years before Islam was invented, before anyone ever called him/herself a Palestinian or Arab and despite the best efforts of many a great nation, Jews have continued to exist in the land God gave them for 3,300 years. You speak of peace for Israel as though you are the only ones who can give it to them and will do so only if they submit to your demands. If they don?t, you promise the same bloodshed Islam has spilled for 1400 years. But peace is promised to Israel despite all attempts to ?push her into the sea? or ?wipe her off the map?. And when God delivers the peace He promised it will be at most severe cost to your people. And then you shall know that He is Lord.

I'm afraid all of this arguing back and forth about Israel's response, when it should have responded, did it respond too late, etc., etc. is missing the important point: an Iranian nuclear bomb. If the West continues its feckless policy of talking, I have no doubt that Iran will develop the bomb...and use it. It would be easy for the US, for example, to stop them -- just give them a 24-hour ultimatum or else their oil fields go up in smoke. Guess what they would do?

its thier right 2 depend thier mother land...during the war between Kuwait and Iraq...Israel was being targeted...we have the pure knowledge that its between Muslim to Muslim conflict...Now who help Kuwait..? ok US and his allied force,,,,then whats Israel 2 do w/ that conflict ? If we could remember no retaliation from them.....did they get any appreciation..?No body did...maybe except from the thier allies...lets ask...why they started doing this 2 Lebanon...? we all know the cause... right now...all we do is 2 pray that both countries will be enlightened and that U.N. will have quick solution 2 this conflict.

as the americans say, france's opinion is about as need and useful as a finger on your elbow.

The idea that giving Israel peace is in itself a gift is somewhat troubling. That is a gift that goes both ways, you'd be getting peace which must have value to you as well does it not? If it doesn't have value to you then it means that peace isn't really what you desire. With that being said Israel has made land for peace offers that have been rejected. I'd propose to you that whatever Israel's offers have been in the past two decades have been far beyond an equitable split and as such the aras have been refusing the lion's share all the time. Gaza and most of Judea & Samaria have been offered, whether it 98%, 92% or 83%, it's never been a less than 50% offer. If their idea of "negotiating" means 100% of what they want who is doing the "demanding"? A Palestinian state should be celebrating it's 10th anniversary at least by now if only there would be some flexibility and a real desire for Statehood alongside Israel.

Phil wrote: "What if Iran enters this conflict and directly attacks Israel? How long will America take before they assist? Perhaps they will wait until Israel is crippled before they take a major offensive. This truly is a delicate situation for Israel, perhaps the most delicate in there 50+ years." I don't know if Iran has any missiles that can reach Israel. Maybe it does. But other than that, Iran can't attack Israel. It's too far away, and does not have the means to attack. (The best it can do is support and arm Hezbollah, and have them attack Israel. That is what this war is about. Iran attacks Israel thru it's proxy, Hezbollah.) Harry

yes my brother, olmert is stupid that is why he is elected to run government in Israel he was rejected every where else in the world even in Afghanistan that he wanted to do volunteer work (internership) hhhhhhhhhhh be good that was good the way you put it.

If you really wanted peace why did you attack in 1967, which was before Israel captured the West Bank and Gaza. These are areas that you supposedly are willing to exchange for peace. Then what was your problem before that??? Why did you attack, cut off the access to the Straits of Tiran, and mass your troops for an assault?? Did you expect Israel to roll over and say, no they don't want to fight?? Nothing changes until you can make a real peace and demonstrate this without constantly kicking off every conflict.

I couldn't help laughing at the irony: You advised that poor guy to go and learn history. But which history? The false history which is there only in the zionist' mind? Or the true history? True history says that Arabs have lived in Palestine for thousands of years, are still there, and they will remain there for ever, despite ethnic cleansing. And so did Jews (to some extent!). This is history. However, it is a waste to confine ourselves to the past (goyim and dhimmi alike) and not think of the future of our children. That is why I put this peaceful proposal. Arabs are really willing to co-exist, provided this is done on EQUAL terms, not on a goyim-inferior basis. We accept peace for our land (or ok.. part of our land), but not simply giving 'israelis' peace and getting nothing in return. So long as you cannot accept this, bloodshed will continue. No one will win. Jeff: You go back to school, and be open-minded and read real history, not the one re-written by zionists.

re: Hitler in Tehran But I know whoever wrote the above is almost spot on. WWII ended when when Hitler died. There's another Anti-Christ over there in the middle east and unitl he and his henchmen are taken out ...

While I am appalled by each and very death in this horrible confrontation, history tells me that if people like you, in concert with the Arab nations, had let the Israelis finish the fight against the PLO in 1982 and had then insisted that the PLO arms be destroyed and THEN

You also believe in fairies War crimes against All the so called "Palestinians" you know, they are actually suppose to be living in Jordan. how about compansation to all Jews who were Expelled from all Arab Countries since 1948. Full withdrawals of Arabs from East Jerusalem. Stop Occupying the Temple Mount site. and ....then maybe everyone can live in peace.

Once again, an Arab mistakes restraint for weakness. Mahmoud's comment "Zionism could not eradicate the Palestinian people for over 60 years." is telling. The fact that Israel did not eradicate the Palestinians especially in the latter decades shows that it is not a genocidal beast as portrayed daily in the Arab and Muslim world. The fact that it has withdrawn from conquered territory, and has pursued peace with each of its neighbors, shows something other than a desire to kill and destroy. Your so-called acceptance of Jews was as lower caste Dhimmi's. So much for co-existance and equal brotherhood. It's always amusing to listen to people who say how wonderful things would be if only the other person changed their ways. Let us know when you are ready to do the same.

I fail to follow your logic. First of all Iran has no nuclear weapons and none in the foreseeable future. Second, even if at some time in the future they develope a deliverable nuclear weapon it is doubtful they will give one away. Third, if the Iranian want to destroy Israel with a nuclear weapon at a distant future they will not need the Huzballah to do it. Fifth, the current events do not suggest that Hizballah is going away any time soon so waiting or not was immaterial to the outcome. In fact not waiting increased the stock of Hizballah. Turning a border skirmish into a demolition derby was a grave tactical mistake which exposes Israel's lack of any strategic thinking let alone planning. Hizballah posed an irritation and a potential threat to Israel (not its existence). Israel poses a potential and a real threat to its Arab neighbors. For Israel these truths are hard to swallow.

The leader of the Hezbollah said today he would like to meet with the Israelites on a battlefield away from men, women & children. Let the soldiers take one another on as in days of yore. Har Megiddo, Plains of Abraham. Hand to hand combat as in the days of King David, in a boxing ring or over a game of chess. War is a game of chance unless G-D has sanctioned the war. Then the winner takes all. And after that the people let the alien live amongst them as long as he lives life according to the laws of the land. Disparity, misunderstanding, anger, injustice, no common ground to meet on, cotton in the ears and blinders over the eyes. Where do we really go from here? Can you and I make a difference? A good difference. I once heard that 'thought' has the ability to travel around the world just like gamma rays. Well said Yoel, well said.

Israel is in a very delicate situation. Knowing that there allies want's to bait Iran into this conflict including syria and yet also knowing the fact that the world agenda would like to rid itself of all Nations based on religous ideology is a concern of Israel. Do we fully commit into a full out war with the Leb's? Look at the international community, they are against us. What if Iran enters this conflict and directly attacks Israel? How long will America take before they assist? Perhaps they will wait until Israel is crippled before they take a major offensive. This truly is a delicate situation for Israel, perhaps the most delicate in there 50+ years.

1. You find it impossible to recognize Israel's right to exist in view of "all the bloodshed and crimes against Arabs". Can I conclude that actually you find it impossible to recognize also the existence of all the other states on this earth which commit bloodshed and crimes against Arabs? In this case you would have to add also Arab states to the list, because there are many incidents in history when Arabs killed or discriminated Arabs, until today this takes place in Arab countries! If you don't include other states to your list, I have to ask you: Why not? 2. You claim that Israel wants to eradicate Arabs and doesn't accept to live peacefully with its Arab neighbours. Can you tell me then, why there are peace treaties between Israel and Egypt and between Israel and Jordan? These peace treaties are not exactly what I call "eradicating Arabs", and they also show that Israel can live peacefully very well with its neighbours. So, guess you shouldn't blame always and only Israel!

You are right Gil. The only thing left to do is whatever it takes to keep Israel alive and well. No more explanations . No more justifications . Israel is here to stay whether our enemies like it or not . FOREVER.

Clickfool, as fitting as your name is. Too bad you never went to school and studied history. There is no such place as Palestine. Palestinians were always Jews until Arafat stole the name for a propaganda sympathy plea in the late 1960s. All arabs living in the West Bank and Gaza Strips are there because the Arab Nations told them to set up camp and wait for the war that would capture Israel and hand the land over to them. The modern day Palestine is really Jordan. By the way I haven't heard any Jew call for land In the Arab Nations after 850 thousand were expelled from their Countries. Time for you to go back to school.

i feel terrible because i do not live in israel, but i think that the thing is that there is a hitler in tehran. what else can israel do but fight. there are missiles to take out and terrorists to kill. it simply has to happen. there is no other option. there is only win or keep fighting. if this does not happen, the hitler in tehran, and his little eichmann's will start to salivate.

As an Arab Muslim, I still find it impossible to recognize the right of 'israel' to exist, when I see all the bloodshed and crimes against Arabs not only now but over 60 years, and also when I see the racial discrimination against Arabs within the temporarily so-claimed democratic 'israel'. It is simple: zionism against Arabism. Zionism could not eradicate the Palestinian people for over 60 years. The Palestinian people are still there, in Palestine and outside, and they are still dreaming of having their own independent state, which WILL happen sooner or later. As we Arabs and Zionists cannot destroy one another for good, can we all accept to co-exist? Yes, if only zionist 'israelis' change their thinking of eridicating the Arabs and instead accept to live peacefully within their borders among their neighbors. As for Arabs, go read history: We always have had Jews living among us and we always accepted them as part of our community throughout history.

20:43 August 4, 2006 MK Barakeh: Everyone with a conscience must scream for insanity to stop (Haaretz)

Nabil, We believe in the same god, and we (the proisrael contigent) wants to see peace more than anyone. Just consider the situation is harder than "israel needs to stop"...recall that Israel lay peaceful while they were attacked. Should they sit quietly while you are regailed and assaulted? Israel was not the bully. It was the bullied. When it fought back, the bully ran behind women and children and called itself "the victim"...

I don't think Israel has any new enemies. Those who are now persuaded to hate Israel, were already that way inclined. Those who now claim to have been "radicalised" were already pre-disposed to it. I'm sure your all going to have a happy life, filled only with hate!?!

B R A V O !

Every Israeli casualty can be traced back to the irrational decision of Barak to leave Lebanon and the incompetence of Sharon and Omert. They all have blood on their hands. I predict that Omert and his government will resign when this is all over.

Who do you think you deceive? We all know all you arabs care is to destroy Israel. Please save us from this demagogic speech of "recognize the right of Israel". We know very well that if you could (but you won't) destroy Israel, you plan to atack all those people who won't bow to the islamic "life style". Wake up! We are not interested.

"I know our fighting here will bear fruit when the Arab media has an equivalent to Ha`aretz" I'm still waiting for ONE Palestinian Imam or ONE Lebanese Imam to call for the humane treatment and the safe return of the abducted Israeli soldiers. So much for the myth of the Muslim moderates in those countries. Please keep posting. I've enjoyed each one.

Would you have prefered to wait with reacting until Hisbollah would have had got the nuclear power by Iran?

Just and comprehensive solution? 1. Why is it just when Israel has to withdraw from territory it conquered in WARS WHICH THE ARABS HAD STARTED, BUT LOST? SINCE WHEN IS IT USUAL THAT THE LOOSER CAN DEMAND SOMETHING? 2. Return of Palestinian refugees to their original homeland means destroying the state of Israel by demographic means. Is this indeed just? 3. What about compensation for Israelis and Jews who suffered by Arab atrocities? Why don't you mention this topic? 4. What about war crime tribunals to all Arab leaders who committed war crimes over the past years? Let's start with Hisbollah who commits the war-crime of using civilians as shields. 5. You can spare us with your quotation marks when writing Israel! That's nothing but ridiculous!

Interesting ideas. How about adding... 1. Compensation for Jews who suffered from 'Arab' attrocities in Israel. 2. Compensation for Jews who were forced to leave their Arab homelands. 3. 'Syrian' leaders face war crimes for attrocities commited in Lebanon. 4. Arab governments stop supporting militias dedicated to the destruction of Israel. 5. Arabs governments start taking responsibility for the actions of their citizens.

you are 100 % Right "Israel is positioned in a "bad" neighborhood", if i was living there I would move back to home land where I cam from!!

...Ah...when I read post after post about religious zeal I find myself thanking God for the creation that may save us all...Secularism!

You said it all from the outset. Your source is "Beirut Center for Research and Information". What a surprise arabs polling arabs. This is suppose to impress what in our minds? I guess we should accept islamic rule of our society's. Perhaps we should just cancel democrascy all together and bow to people who have been the sun too long. Grow a spine before you wind up giving the world away.

This is not a rhetoric question: Why, neither israeli politicians and diplomats nor israeli intelligence and military, seem to have done their job properly? Has the IDF reacted too late, too little, underestimated Hezbollah? Is it -on a military level- effective and needed to destroy Lebanese infrastructure? Does is insure security for the israeli people now and on the long run? Not to talk about hundreds of civil causalties, does it justifie sending more and more soldiers into Lebanon and bringing them back in coffins?

Mahmoud, If you hadn't placed Israel in quotes, your offer may have possessed greater credibility.

It's easy to talk after 24 days, but knows anyone a non-militair way to achieve the goals of this war? I think deploying an international force in S Libanon is a good thing for Israel, without this war the international community wouldn't do this and Hezbollah wouldn't agree with an international force in S Libanon either.

U made a big mistake when u left all weapons to hezbollah on may 2000,when u betrade us. Now u're repeating the mistake when u started striking the christians areas. U can't get rid of hizbollah this way. OR may be u don't want to get rid of them. So happy saturday tomorrow in your shelters.

One could forever argue whether this Lebanon war, which produced catastrophic upheaval on both sides of the border, was justified for Israel to be embroiled after the provocation by Hezbollah. As a visiting teenager to Israel, I personally walked away after an Arab girl chatting with me, totally unexpectedly punched me in the arm to provoke a scuffle. I knew that the cause of the provocation was her underlying anger, not me. In any case, the status of the terrorist militia in the region, aint coming back, as in the interim the International Peacekeeping force will be in its place. Hezbollah's military sector, backed by Syria & Iran, has really brought upon the Lebanese people misery, just like Hamas's non-political body upon the ordinary Palestinians in the region. Successive Israeli governments being heavy handed hasn't helped very much either, decade upon decade. That's why the U.S. and the UN has to enforce a fair comprehensive peace agreement in the region, once and for all.

On the American news last night, the Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, was taken to task by several prominent American Senators for his failure to anticipate the terrorism between Sh'ite Moslems and Sunni Moslems in Iraq, following the defeat of Saddaam Hussein. So , and with your permission, I will amend the contents of your post to include the "right kind" or "right tribe" of Muslims. These people want to kill everybody else who does not belong to their particular sect. Wouldn't you conclude that Israel is positioned in a "bad" neighborhood?

That department is disfunctional for the questions should have been asked before the initial response to the kidnapping. I asked the questions at day one whether 2 kidnapped soldiers are worth damage to our cities not to speak of as yet to be determined political and economic damage. The fact that the mentality of "we will break their bones" has survived to this day requires serious self examination which I doubt Israel is capable of.

Yoel Marcus started the article right but ended it wrong, leading to a false conclusion. The 'justified' war is not really justified. Almost the whole world is against 'israel'. We are into the 4th week and it became clear that Hizbullah cannot be defeated. It is clear that war cannot bring an end to the conflict, but negotiations can. A just and comprehensive solution will bring peace to this troubled region. By just and comprehensive solution I mean: 1. Full withdrawal of all Arab occupied territories: The Golan Heights, West Bank and East Jerusalem. 2. A sustainable Palestinian state (West Bank and Gaza) with East Jerusalem as its capital. 3. Return of Palestinian refugees to their original homeland. 4. Compensation to all Arabs who suffered from 'israeli' atrocities. 5. War crime tribunals to all 'israeli' leaders who committed war crimes over the past years. Against this, Arabs and Muslims will recognize the right of 'israel' to exist.

Most Americas christians realize that Israel is protecting herself from the evil terror jihadists. They know that the only way for Israel to be safe is to remove the people who maintain that peace will only come when islam is the accepted dominate authority in the region. 2/3rds of the world is not muslim. Get use to it and stop crying about it.

"According to a poll released by the Beirut Center for Research and Information, 87 percent of Lebanese support Hizbullah's fight with Israel, a rise of 29 percent on a similar poll conducted in February. More striking, however, is the level of support for Hizbullah's resistance from non-Shiite communities. Eighty percent of Christians polled supported Hizbullah along with 80 percent of Druze and 89 percent of Sunnis." Lebanese support for the US is down from 39% to 8%. Yep, looks like Israel is really winning the war against Islamic fundamentalism for us. Thanks, guys....

Congratulations to Olmert cause now after he bombed Jounieh, All the christians have a real hate against Israel

Lebanon's so-called "Party of God", is rancid to the core with hatred. Nasrallah is an anti-Semite of the lowest order, and his organization, when it isn't out trying to kill Jews, is pushing hate-mongering ideology across al-Manar. How does one negotiate with a man who wants to see nothing more but your blood spilled, and to wipe out every neighbor? How does one come to terms with an organization beholden to Revolutionary Iran, who continues to push the propaganda that Israel should be 'wiped off the earth', and is searching for the means to do it with nuclear weapons! Staying alive is not a 'wrong' cause as you so blithly put it. There may be one God, but the current belief sweeping through the Muslim world, is that of a death cult, not of precious life given by the creator.

Some times I wonder if we pray to the same G_d. Hashem would never condone the Quran and Hadith phrases that sanction violence and subjugation of non-believers. Have you seen the Noahide Laws?

Talk is cheap Fadi, and your words, claiming to be a now 'ex' peace maker doesn't hold much credibility in the peace making dept. For over Six years, Israel left Lebanon and during that time, rather than pursue peace, the Lebanese acquiesed, or supported Sheik Hassan Nassrallah in his quest to build Hizballah into a violent force to attack Israel. All that was asked by Israel was that the Lebanese army control its border. Yet during that time, we saw shootings, missile launches, cross border assaults, killings, and kidnappings. That, is not a search for peace.

Now i know why nasrallah said that Olmert is STUPID.

People of Israel, Your gouvornement promise you since 60 years living in peace? PLease stop this stupid war and negociate. It's the only way to have peace. The stupidity of your gouvernors, give borning a million of Hezbollah sympatizers. Stop before it will be too late. Your cause is wrong...you are mistaken. I wish i will be heard. Stop killing innocents...We beleive in the same god, no?????????

The terrorist org Hezbollah deserves to be annihilated. Lebanese government has been incapable and unwilling to fulfill UN resolution 1559. In 1982 south of Lebanon was Fatahland, now Hezbollahland: different names, same content, id est terrorism. Hezbollah = Hezbshaitan, Satan's party. Why? Because you recognize the tree out of its fruits.

Dear Mr. Marcus, you say, "The question is what Israel's governments have done over the past six years to deal with this threat taking shape before their eyes." And I tell you "that is not the question". It isn't because whatever the answer, it isn't worth at the present moment, in the present conditions. This government and its representatives cannot be held responsible for the errors and poor-judging of previous governments. They are doing their best to cope with the critical situation to which Hezbola has drived us and the Lebanese people... Stop the retorics and try to be practical!!!

"palestinian land"??? - what did you learn in your history lessons in england??? please note that it was not palestinian land, and israel did not take it, but it was given to her by the united nations, and the rest she conquered in wars which the arabs had started!

Yes, yes your unhuman terrorists will indeed hit some of us in the free, real world. We will cry then have to reciprocate with overwhelming force to keep you at bay yet again. Or perhaps...you could accept that your religion will never rule the world that desires democracy. You could then practice your religion and we can practice ours and live in peace.

No need to talk anymore. This war proove us that Jews can do anything, it'll be always bad. After 11 september, after 11 march in madrid, after terorism in london, you still continue to don't understand want want pepeoles like hizbollah? You still continue hate jews because it's easyer than hating msulim extremist. Thanks israeli soldiers for what they are doing for a free world. Proove the world u are so antisemit and don't find excuses to critic israel and jews. Whatever we can do it ll be bad, but we will do it, for you for us for god and freedom.

Its time to recognise that it is not our power and smarts that won the six day and Yom Kipur war in three weeks but rather the Almighty hand was in every step of the way. Today we can't defeat a outcast group of max a few thousand terrorist after three weeks, and remarkably after thousand of katusha only a few casualties. That is the almightys hand. Lets get the crazy convergence out of the minds which is a plan against Almighty and Jews things will turn around. I still remember the Rebbe screaming against the Camp David Treaty. We are exchanching valuable lands and oil fields for a piece of paper. I trhink every one can see now what The Rebbe saw in 1978. Remember he is against giving away one Iota of land based on Shulchan Aruch. It is time to listen to the prophet of our generation. Look what the Egyptiann Judge are asking from Mubarak.

This is a reasonable account and assessment of our situation. I would only hope, but do not really believe that the goal of getting out of Lebanon quickly, is attainable. It seems to me that we may be back in the Lebanese swamp again.

gone to see "Platoon" and went into the wrong theater and was treated to "Gone with the wind".

From the very beginning of the war,yor IDF underestimated your enemy. All the experience gain from years of war didn't made you smarter. Why wasn't the ground force send in immediately after the air strike? Worried about human casualty then why start the war at all. There is no turning back now Elmert and Peretz, you stop now you lose.!!!

Thanks for the chuckle. You talk about Israel taking land and making it beautiful. Shame it was Palestinian land.

I know our fighting here will bear fruit when the Arab media has an equivalent to Ha'aretz. When the Arab media can give full vent to "analysts" who lecture and criticize their own failings of policy and vision. But, meantime, we are stuck with Ha'aretz. Where is the list of Marcus's, or anyone's, consistent pre-war "analyses" urging Israel to prepare for this "new war" during the last six years? The IDF is fighting brilliantly. And I will correct you, Yoel, because on 9/11, those Arabs also did not fly "meekly" into the Worl Trade Center. The suicide bombers who kill our children do not "meekly" go on with their mission. They are Islamic facists, brainwashed with blood lust, and seeking martyrdom. They do not fight for an Arab government, but for a vision of heaven, reached via hell on earth. I am proud of our army and citizens. And I will be waiting for your columns on how we should prepare to continue to meet this new reality, in order to defeat it. Shalom!

Yoel Marcus is correct when saying we do not appreciate enough what the army has done for now. I want to thank all our soldiers for what they do and how they risk their life so that we can live. My sympathy is with those families who lost their sons, fathers and partners in this war.

Marcus is right by saying that this war is a justified one!

mr. marcus does the best what can be done: he points out the problems of this war, and by this he gives the chance to solve these problems. my compliments.

flattenned ?Or you still did not understand what exactly Hezbollah or Hamas want ---they want to kill you Marcus and with you every Jew in Israel and the planet .Not only --they want to kill every infidel non-muslim Islamist .So Kiriat Shmona will be rebuild, after it will be all over for Hezbollah.And about singers --it is not always how it sounds , it is many times what singer sings that needs to have a fuull appreciation to the act.

Israel is winning and will continue winning. You are wasting your time trying to break our morale. We have morale to spare because we know what we are fighting for. You would die to have a country as beautiful and flourishing as Israel, a country that leads the world in IT, in medical research, in scientific research, in agricultural research. A country that took marshes and deserts and turned them into fertile beauty. None of that was given to us. We didn't whine in other countries talkbacks to get them or insult others. We worked for it and it's ours.

Dear people in Israel, After your terrorist acts in all lebanon , I assure you that have by now many millions of new ennemies. Therefore , prepare yourself for a seventh war... Ex-peace maker member in Lebanon

"ut this is the first war in which we haven't seen meek Arab POWs in blindfolds and handcuffs." It is true, Israel is just used to getting their way, in refugee camps bulldozing homes, killing innocents, killing children on the way to school for fear they might grow up to be a "terrorist", arresting thousands of youths, humiliating the elderly, all that Israel has been doing since for ever and they got to used to it. When any1 resists, Israel just "target assasinates" them and their good.... Now for the first time they are fighting people who spent six years preparing tactics to revenge.. the outcome should be interesting as I am sure their will be a prisoner exchange. I just hope that THOUSANDS of Palestinians can be a part of that... Its so Ironic how the whole world TWISTS when Israeli soldiers are captures, but dont do a thing when kids and innocent humans are tortured and prisoned. Shame on those who support Israels genocide.

Yoel Marcus seems to be utterly deluded. Israel HAS already become bogged down in the quagmire of the Lebanon. After nearly a month of the conflict, the IDF is still struggling to advance a few kms beyond the border and is taking substantial casualties in the process. Hizbullah's rocket barrages are increasing in intensity, not diminishing. How can Marcus claim that Israel is on top of the situation? He, like Olmert, seem to be living in a fantasy world. Israel's leaders should grasp the nettle and come to terms with their neighbours, including the Palestinians, to sort out a just and equitable arrangement, rather than dictate its own terms and try (unsuccessfully) to impose them. The first step must be a ceasefire, followed by negotiatiations with Fuad Siniora and his government on a durable settlement with the Lebanon.

The Israeli leadership seriously underestimated Hizbollah. They continue to do so on a daily basis. A Likud government would have made the same mistake. No Israeli would ever have guessed that the IDF and IAF could not defeat Hizbollah in a short time. Olmert has every opportunity to end the war at any time. He is desperate to achieve some substantial goal before quitting. It should be noted that any Israeli casualties that occur from this point may be laid upon Olmerts doorstep. Don't let hubris be the death of any more innocents, either Israeli or Lebanese.