Israel needs to rethink its Gaza strategy before it's too late

for both people but perhaps more for Israel as people will move to isolate and abandon it as a member state. And that' reality is well underway after the events in Lebanon in 2006 and Gaza last year. The next step is national suicide. So yes, a new strategy is needed such as lifting the blockade & recognizing the Palestinian peoples democratic right in 2006 and withdrawing from the territories.. Dutch

you want to rebuild the Gush? On whoes backs, and with how much money? Not to mention soldiering. Do you remember the securty costs. Who wants to live in a sea of Arabs that hate you?? Build a border. We can never trust. Let it be the Gaza entity and if we have real peace with the PA one day we can leave all the admin to them. Gaza will never be normal- even Egypt does not want it (and it ruled Gaza longer than Israel. Until the day true peace, respect, religious tolerance, freedom, come. I don't see any solution. Liberate it? it will only succumb to the same two years later and cost us too much- Gaza is not worth the cost.

The amateur unpaid talk back apologist disputes the professional full time apologist for the GOI [Mark Regev]? Your mythical ceasefire was his real ceasefire. Your inability to add up or report facts objectively is demonstrable. 'my figures'? Your arithmetic is no better than the rest of your analysis Peter. Even if one takes the wiki figures post June 18th and pre Nov 4th [you wont because presumably you cant] one can see the virtual elimination of projectile fire from Gaza quite clearly. Try the maths, even based on wiki I think you will find a 98% reduction in projectile fire from the May June 18th period, to a level considerably lower than it is now.

To Durson - you need more education-Israel is not innocent in Gaza. All wars are started on false pretences. Check the world history.

All wars are for "Elite" and bankers. Ordinary people are used.

Cummings and What would Palestinians concesions be will they drop thier charter of kill all Yahud in palestine will they give back the land they stole of Jews in Gazaa in 1929 or is it only Jews that have to sacrafice in name of "peace"

Shande And how many people were kiled so u can live on stolen land USA you are a shame to non JEWS

John 1)Palestine is not an Arabic word so how did Arabs become palestinians 2) the conflict between Jews and Muslims began long before Zionism 3)Israel and zionist never stole land in Palestine in 1917 when Arab Legue refused peace with those jews already living in Palestine instead they creared terror on The Jews 4) Jews did not steal land When Palestinians kicked Jews out of Gazaaa in 1929 5) Jews Never stole land in 1941 when Gran d Mufti of Jerusalem joined Hitler and palned to kill off all jews in EU and Palestine

If you feel that way, stay home and do not visit Israel any more. You are probably not welcome. I would not anyone to visit Canada if they hated the country and its'people and wished its'destruction.

Haaretz calls for Israel to rethink its' Gaza policy. I don't agree as long as Hamas does not change. But Durson, Linthwaite and others go into their usual tirade against the Jews.Durson in particular still rants and raves about the occupation of the West Bank, nothing to do with the editorial. The usual lies about Israel starving the Palestinians, killing them daily and other fabrications continue. While rockets fall daily now on Israel, The usual suspects continue their tirade.They will not be happy until Israel disappears from the nface of the earth. Hamas wants to eliminate Israel. So does Durson, Linthwaite and the others. Israel will survive, its; economy is growing, it continues to innovate. What have the Arabs done for their Palestinian brothers. They cannot even be citizens even if born in Egypt, Lebanon, UAE etc unlike Israeli Arabs-citizens of Israel. Israel and the Jews will outlive Durson et al. We always have. We always will.

It's the same reason that Sharon invaded Lebanon when the PLO was observing a UN brokered ceasefire in 1982. When you don't want to negotiate a just solution to the Palestinian question, you need to justify your rejectionism, and what better way to do that than have your adversaries as extremists and "terrorists" Israel used to have Arafat to demonize, then they got Abbas, who wasn't so easy to dismiss as a "partner for peace" Thus they need Hamas. The ugly truth that most Israelis don't want to admit is that the Israeli military/security establishment likes the status quo, as they can continue colonizing the West Bank and East Jerusalem while claiming Palestinian "terrorists" aren't ready for a state.

How come that you publish al the garbage, but if something doesn't fit your skewed interpretation you censor it. When I wrote that Hitler didn't care how many Germans got killed and the Hamas leadership behaves the same way, you censor it? Shame on you!

Labhras:"As you see Miggy---Peter Williams is one of those liars who will lie and cheat and steal to achieve what is in the Likud Charter as shown in the original." Where is your evidence of that slanderer? Don't you like having your mistakes pointed out?

Your figures don't tally with the list provided here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Palestinian_rocket_attacks_on_Israel,_2008 In any case a ceasefire means zero attacks. If a projectile comes out of Gaza then Hamas are responsible, they are the government.

Who would take serious any comment from someone calling themselves HUNG WELL.LOL

May be they both want peace, but clearly there are things more important than peace. The zionist want to keep what they stole, an any price. The Palestinians want their country back. History is on their side. There are no colonial entities left in this world, except Israel. With the end of colonialism comes the end of the empire. Austro-Hungarian, British, French, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, USSR, etc.etc.etc Not a good indication for the future. I think Natalie is like me, we dont hate Jews and Israel. We hate zionism/racism, crimes against humanity, arrogance and lies. Israel does not want peace, 80% approve of Netanyahu/Liberman.

You're right Roo... Hamas evolved... like a Hominid evolved to a Neanderthal. Except these new-age Neanderthals wear religious robes... and like their ancestors, still pray [five times a day] at the alter of vengeance and hatred. Yes... it's an evolution alright, marked by their wives and daughters that have no more rights then Muslim pets or dogs. A society that can't trust peace, because that may bring change. And change or progress is something to be feared. You can see this civilized horde in the photo above the headline. So let history remember this evolution as the epitome of civilization... of modern culture and the prototype of civilized society. Mark my words Roo... Hamas and the society it created will be remembered.... as the antithesis of peace and the scourge that keeps Palestinians in chains. It's the unfortunate history that is so prevalent in today's Muslim society in general. This whole situation seems like the movie... Stormy with a chance of Meatballs. Cheers... Roo

"What Cast lead did was force Eygpt to first admit there was smuggling and now they are building a wall to stop it completely..." Retrofitting objectives [imaginary objectives about getting Egypt to build a wall by embarking on Cast Lead] in order to fit the present picture is not at all convincing. This was never an aim of the Israelis in embarking on Cast Lead. Hint; Egypt has been co operating with Israel on the siege since it began. It even requested more troops to find the tunnels, but Israel was reluctant to breach the Sinai peace treaty limitations. Israel and Egypt simply did not consider this option seriously until now, probably for economic and technical reasons. In any case do you really expect the wall to stop tunneling? If it does not do so completely is one to assume another decade or so of siege and if so at what point will the diplomatic fallout of such a strategy finally render it unacceptable. Before or after al Queda affiliates and hardliners prosper at Hamas and Fatahs expense? No, it seems to me you can not have your cake and eat it. "Cast Lead worked". How? "Egypt will build a wall and so in some unspecified future Hamas will give up or beg Fatah to take over". Cast Lead is not the cause of the wall and the wall may or may not [probably not]prove to be the undoing of Hamas. In *either* case, it does not indicate that Cast Lead was a success or not a success. It is simply irrelevant. "Go and ask the residents of sderot if cast lead has reduced the Rockets comming in.." As already pointed out to you, the rockets have been reduced but not by nearly as much as during the ceasefire. So it can not logically be regarded as having even been a primary goal.[since a ceasefire is much cheaper both economically and diplomatically than a Cast Lead]. You also totally ignored the diplomatic fallout in your posts, even after prompting. In reality Israel greatly underestimated this and this MUST be considered in any rational assessment. For a more sound analysis of Cast Lead see Uri Avnery: http://www.counterpunch.org/avnery12282009.html

It is somewhat, well, idiotic to suggest that Israel's policies to the Occupied Gaza Strip is not working. For instance, what does "working" mean? Idyllic peace? That won't happen as long as racist-Palestinists get to foist the conceit that Arab Palestinians are the only Palestinians and that Jews, ie (along with Samaritans) the other Palestinians don't exist. "Working" in a practical sense must mean "the best that can be done". In that sense Isreali (Jewish Palestinian) policy is probably working. My guess is that "being nice" will end in more rockets, not fewer.

the hamas leaders are selling out the gazans to tehran tehran needs chaos, to ensure the exploitation of most iranians stalin sent the russians, latvians, usbeks to gulag - just like tehran let the people work for starvation wages the intelligent gazans have to put together a leadership of non-violence it easy to seek advise from the books of GENE SHARP!

last timeI checked there were two crossings into Gaza.....one from Israel and the other from Egypt.If the world blames Israel for not allowing aid into Gaza how come Egypt doesn't open up it's crossing for all the aid in the world to flow through to their beloved bretheren?.Could it be that they too despise the Hamas and have the same desire to see them disapear?.Why does the world focus on us?.

Israel stands on the edge of being put under sanctions itself , on more attack like "cast Lead " could see israel facing the same sanctions now in place on Iran. You have alreadt told the USA to go to hell when they asked you to stop settlement building . The only way for a peace process to work is when PALESTINIANS HAVE A REASON TO HAVE HOPE TOO. The curret stance on dealing with Hamas is itself "self castrating " in the long run for Israel

"What Cast lead did was force Eygpt to first admit there was smuggling and now they are building a wall to stop it completely..." Retrofitting objectives [imaginary objectives about getting Egypt to build a wall by embarking on Cast Lead] in order to fit the present picture is not at all convincing. This was never an aim of the Israelis in embarking on Cast Lead. Hint; Egypt has been co operating with Israel on the siege since it began. It even requested more troops to find the tunnels, but Israel was reluctant to breach the Sinai peace treaty limitations. Israel and Egypt simply did not consider this option seriously until now, probably for economic and technical reasons. In any case do you really expect the wall to stop tunneling? If it does not do so completely is one to assume another decade or so of siege and if so at what point will the diplomatic fallout of such a strategy finally render it unacceptable. Before or after al Queda affiliates and hardliners prosper at Hamas and Fatahs expense? No, it seems to me you can not have your cake and eat it. "Cast Lead worked". How? "Egypt will build a wall and so in some unspecified future Hamas will give up or beg Fatah to take over". Cast Lead is not the cause of the wall and the wall may or may not [probably not]prove to be the undoing of Hamas. In *either* case, it does not indicate that Cast Lead was a success or not a success. It is simply irrelevant. "Go and ask the residents of sderot if cast lead has reduced the Rockets comming in.." As already pointed out to you, the rockets have been reduced but not by nearly as much as during the ceasefire. So it can not logically be regarded as having even been a primary goal.[since a ceasefire is much cheaper both economically and diplomatically than a Cast Lead]. You also totally ignored the diplomatic fallout in your posts, even after prompting. In reality Israel greatly underestimated this and this MUST be considered in any rational assessment. For a more sound analysis of Cast Lead see Uri Avnery: http://www.counterpunch.org/avnery12282009.html

a. There are not daily bombings. The recent bombings are in response only to mortar and missile attacks from Gaza into israel. b. If there is hatred...it is on both sides. But not all Palestinians hate Israel or vice versa. c. There is no starvation of Palestinians. Just look at 100% of the pictures from Gaza. d. Please refer to my posting # 77

"What Cast lead did was force Eygpt to first admit there was smuggling and now they are building a wall to stop it completely..." Retrofitting objectives in order to fit the present picture is not at all convincing. This was never an aim of the Israelis in embarking on Cast Lead. Hint; Egypt has been co operating with Israel on the siege since it began. It even requested more troops to find the tunnels, but Israel was reluctant to breach the Sinai peace treaty limitations. Israel and Egypt simply did not consider this option seriously until now. In any case do you really expect the wall to stop tunneling? If it does not do so completely is one to assume another decade or so of siege and if so at what point will the diplomatic fallout of such a strategy finally render it unacceptable. Before or after al Queda affiliates and hardliners prosper at Hamas and Fatahs expense? "Go and ask the residents of sderot if cast lead has reduced the Rockets comming in.." Again, as pointed out to you, the rockets have been reduced but not by nearly as much as during the ceasefire. So it can not legitimately be regarded as a primary goal.[since a ceasefire is much cheaper both economically and diplomatically than a Cast Lead]. You totally ignored the diplomatic fallout in your posts, even after prompting. In reality Israel greatly underestimated this and this MUST be considered in any rational assessment.

http://www.knesset.gov.il/elections/knesset15/elikud_m.htm I notice that you neglected to provide any link or source for your denial. If you have an official version of the Likud Charter that supersedes the one I have provided above, please let the Israeli government know it so they can change the one they have on the official government Web site... Still up to your old tricks I see.

Are you people crazy?, gone mad? The Palistinians will never give peace. They shoot Rockets everyday. Then all the people of Gaza celebrate. You are going to have nothing but endless fear in Jeruselem when you open the gates to Israel from Gaza. They like Iran wants to destroy you.

Of course the obvious solution for the Palestinians in Gaza is to reject Hamas and bow to Israel as masters. It sure would be easier. They won't do that because of the nature of men who have pride. I think the vast majority of Palestinians would be good Israeli's if given the chance. I wish a middle east historian would back me up on that. Was there ever a time in history when Jew and Arab united to fight a common threat such as Germany, Rome or Mesopotamia? I just wonder.

looks to me like you reiterated olmert's offer to abbas at the end of last year... I forget, who was it that rejected peace that time? Plus stop this nonsence about Israel being a colonial power... cuss its not... When America took over Native land/mexican land they incorporated it into thier Union... Much like when Israel conquested the west bank... (there wasnt any UN to reject thier claims) America only became a colonial power when it took Spains colonies away (cuba ect)... Untill Israel takes over a territory that is not adjacent to Israel, it can not be called a colonial power... in the end there is proof that on both sides there are those who do not want peace (hamas) (beit yisrael) and there are those who do (rest of Israel) (fatah)... In the end it will take a Israeli leader to offer and acceptable deal and a Pal leader brave enough to accept it...

Sorry, '7 settlements ceded to Israel' should read '41,635' settlers, not '411,635'.

Sorry Roo but you are wrong... First off during the so called cease fire... Hamas spent the entire time brining in Rockets... There was a CNN article where a correspondent wittnesed Hamas building the Rockets.. If you have ever studied warfare then you would know about how a siege works...(it takes years) and is ineffective if the persons under the seige have the ability to bring in supplies... What Cast lead did was force Eygpt to first admit there was smuggling and now they are building a wall to stop it completely... In actuality the siege will only take effect when the eyptian wall in complete. Go and ask the residents of sderot if cast lead has reduced the Rockets comming in... Though you are correct in one point... it has been a PR nightmare. In the end reducing Hamases capability of launching Rockets(you can never completly stop them) and establishing an atmosphere where Fatah can take over the strip via elections... I would say that the glass is half full.

only hamas needs to rethink gaza... israel already knows what it thinks. It gave it back in 2005. since then, the whole world has witnessed the fools that hamas are...psychotic murdering fools. If only they REALLY cared about their people. hudnas are useless...they are ways of ducking peace...only israel wants peace..the arabs, wrongly think they and the world have israel on the run..lol...but anti semites cling to this hope..forget it..israel is strong and can do this dance forever...its a shame you leftists - jew haters give hamas the false sense that they can prevail..they can't. stop the madness..if you want to be so called "activists", try telling hamas to recognize israel and create a life for their people..maybe then people will take you "activists" seriously.

Gazans needs to rethink their strategy before it's too late.

Your contention that Cast Lead worked is marred by false assumptions. Firstly the assumption that Cast Lead was principally about reducing rocket fire. If this was the case then it failed. 236 rockets were fired in May and June[7 weeks] 2008 up to the ceasefire on June18th after which there were a total of 18 projectiles fired from Gaza over a period of the next four and a half months. So during the time when the ceasefire successfully held, the rocket fire was reduced to less than one per week. During 2009 post cast Lead some 242 projectiles were launched from Gaza. This is nearly 5 per week. So there has been a five fold increase in rocket fire as compared to the ceasefire period between June 18th and Nov 4th. Cast Lead was about reestablishing lost deterrence after the Lebanon 2006 debacle but foremost it was designed to punish Gazans who it was hoped would then turn away from Hamas in large numbers so forcing Hamas to relinquish power. It did achieve the lesser of those aims to some extent, though not enough to end the rocket fire. However this could not be the principal aim as explained, since Israel was quite ambivalent about seeing the end of the ceasefire on and after Nov 4th. However the principal aim [dislodging Hamas] remains unfulfilled and of course Israel had not anticipated the level of diplomatic support from European allies for the Goldstone report. So in sum Cast Lead can at best be termed only as a mixed outcome strategically and a diplomatic disaster. To simply state "it worked" is utter nonsense.

I watched a video on freespeech tv showing the wall and the hardships of the Palestinians. No group will allow that kind of suppression to continue. The Israeli's want them to just go away. I guess the only solution is for the Palestians to flee. They were there before 1948. It is immoral what you are doing. The Palestians would do the same to the Israeli's if they could. The Berlin wall came down. Peace is all the average worker wants. If left alone Arab and Israli would be friends

The problem of the anti-Semitic crowd is that the Jews refuse to be kicked around anymore. What a chutzpah! The Jews shoot back!

I think freeing Shalit is important. Soldiers througout history have put survival of their platoon or friend ahead if ideology. It is important. US shamefully abandoned vietnam veterans at the end of the vietnam war. Soldiers never leave one behind no matter what the cost. Yes Shalit is just some dumb guy. I doubt if any Israeli soldier wouldn't risk his life to free him. Politicians are different.

It is very sad what is going on in Gaza. I have always favored Israel in a struggle against overwhelming odds surrounded by enemies. The UAL wanted to eliminate them in 1967 but were soundly beaten. Shame and humiliation led to madrassas and Islamic fervor. You Kippur war resulted. US and Russia ended it unfinished. OPEC squeezed western countries. The unrelenting terrorism of PLO, Hezbollah came then Fatah and Hamas. It is justified resistance. Expansion of territory is cruel and bloody. USA and genocide with Native Americans, UK colonization, and the Holy Roman Empire. You must fight for every acre or hectare and defend as long as you can. Romans, Moors, Crusaders, Persians Greeks it is always the same. Sunni against Shiite, Protestant agsainst Catholic, slave vs. free, tribe against tribe. It will never end. The sad truth is that there is never an end to any battle until there is a final conflict. Pain is no longer worth the sacrifice. Hamas must decide.

Sir, You can not buy everybody. Hamas is honest steadfast organisation that can nor be corrupted by non believers. They should be suppressed while Abbas was indeed given variable stimuli to help him to ameliorate the life of former citizens of Jordan residing in Judea and Samaria.

The simple fact of the matter is that Israel's current policies towards Gaza, the illegal siege and daily bombings alongside Operation Cast Lead has served to delegitimise Israel throughout the world. When Israel's Political and Military Leaders are scurrying around desperately trying to avoid being arrested on war crimes charges alarm bells should be ringing in Israeli minds about what is being done in their names. Unfortunately Israeli hatred of the Palestinian people overides all common sense. Israel has lost the war in the living rooms of the world, and is facing a quagmire of it's own making. Afterall Pasta in the bellies of children is an existential threat to the State of Israel.

In that example, which accounts for a third of the West bank, 7 settlements ceded to Israel - 411,635 settlers - 60.2% of total 2 settlements remain in Palestine - 15,200 settlers - 22.0% of total 28 small settlements vacated - 12,306 settlers - 17.8% of total There, would that suit Israel - 82.2% of settlers don't move? Of course it wouldn't. It would want all of Gush Etzion, including the arab towns like Nahallin. It wouldn't have the political spine to vacate 28 settlements, particularly the lawless ones in the Sth Hebron hills. It wouldn't be able to deliver the Beir Awwa salient, because it would have to give away a Jewish village. It wouldn't want to give up the land in the southern Jordan Valley, because it's... well, free. In fact, what WOULD Israel be prepared to give up? Something? Anything? Just about nothing? Basically, you'll never satisfy a greedy occupier with colonial pretensions above their station and Abbas would be mad to try.

Haaretz editorial is the most ridiculous thing I read in a long time. Does the self righteous writer realize that by opening the border to Gaza Israel will grant the Hamas its wish, will show the whole world that terrorism succeeds and will totally undermine the PA, Egypt and the US? If Israel follows the 'wise' suggestion of Haaretz this will prove to the Moslem world that the way of extremests led by Iran is the way and not the way of moderates. It will be a extreme blow to Obama's policy and to all the Arab states that may consider a reconciliation with Israel.

sides can live with'. Sure. Israel has no sovereign or legal rights to Pal land AT ALL according to the international courts. The PA does not have to negotiate ANY land away. Pull back to the Green Line, vacate the small settlements and there's peace on the table. But of course Israel wants FREE LAND and something for nothing. Here is how the deal will go. Example: West Bank south of the Gilo-J'sem security barrier. * Israel gets Betar Illit and 6 settlements in Gush Etzion, up to but not over the watershed/Highway 60. * Large settlements with more than 5,000 population remain as part of Palestine. There are two, Efrat and Kiryat Arba. * All other settlements, being too small to be self-contained and too many for the PA to provide security for, are vacated and handed over to the PA for returning refugees. * The PA is compensated for the loss of Gush Etzion and land enclosed by the security barrier by land adjacent to Gaza and the Beit Awwa salient (west of Hebron). /tbc...

Your contention that Cast Lead worked is marred by false assumptions. Firstly the assumption that Cast Lead was principally about reducing rocket fire. If this was the case then it failed. 236 rockets were fired in May and June[7 weeks] 2008 up to the ceasefire on June18th after which there were a total of 18 projectiles fired from Gaza over a period of the next four and a half months. So during the time when the ceasefire successfully held the rocket fire was reduced to less than one per week. During 2009 242 projectiles were launched from Gaza. This is nearly 5 per week. So there has been a 500% increase in rocket fire as compared to the ceasfire period between june 18th and Nov 4th. Cast Lead was about reestablishing lost deterrence after the Lebanon 2006 debacle but foremost it was designed to punish Gazans who it was hoped would then turn away from Hamas in large numbers so forcing Hamas to relinquish power.

I do no not need a D Y C to tell me to re think my strategy about Gaza and or any thing else keep your own D Y coments to your self but again that is how America does things RIGHT ??? Thank You... M. S.

There are two options for Israel - a complete surrender or a quick war till decisive victory. It is up to Israeli people to choose either one, but the current indecision just prolongs the agony.

Had you been living in sderot and not Lincoln for six months prior to Israel's action in Gaza, Your comments may have had some relevence. As you did NOT have rockets and mortar rounds landing on your head everynight, you have no right to complain. Hamas has declared open war on Israel, in wars, people get killed. Get real!

OK, that will solve the situation if the people in the annexed territory are given full and equal rights. Like the right to vote and access to the courts.

With all our media skills, it would seem that we could deluge the Gazans with broadcasts, handbills, cartoons, Koran explications, thought provoking questions and discussions, humor, etc We should be publicizing the West Bank successes in compelling and seductive ways. We should send them projectiles of soap, cookies, baby food and candies. I've heard somewhere that Iranians generally trust Israeli Farsi news broadcasts more than any others.

I totally agree with you and I even think that this should have been done just after Schalit's kidnaping.But, if we are already trying to be realistic, as long as Barak has his say, he will not allow the pals to suffer, even if this stands in direct contradiction to Israel's national interest.Operation Cast Iron was stopped, because Barak deemed his relations with Mubarak as more important that Israeli civilians.As long as the Israeli left behaves like this, there cannot even be a start of any peace process in the ME.

Roo as you state, Israel took 18 Projectiles over a 4.5 month period during which there was in theory, a cease fire. How it works out htat 1 rocket doesn't break the cease fire? Well acutally that is Israel's choice, in theory 1 rocket breaks cease fire if Israel chooses to retailiate. israel doesn't deserve to be condemnded for retailiate to a rocket during a cease fire, or for waiting until it decides to attack back. Your post shows the situation well. the idea that Israel is not deservant of fighting back because only 18 rockets fell in a 4.5 period, So ROO how many rockets must fall in how many months for Israel to state that it is under attack and retaliate? Does Israel need to wait until the rockets hit a preschool and have 30 dead children? That doesn't make any sense. Each rocket is sent with intent to cause maximum damage, whether they do or don't is irrelevant, they shuld be judge as if they hit a preschool why does Israel have to wait to incurr damage to prevent more?

Peter Williams [part time unpaid talk back apologist for Israel] writes of a 'mythical' ceasefire. Mark Regev disagrees. Mark Regev [Israel's own full time apologist-come government spokesman] can be seen and heard agreeing that *prior* to Nov 4th the ceasefire that Peter Williams says lasted four days was indeed holding. Regev knew the facts were undeniable. Peter Williams sees facts as inconvenient obstacles to be avoided or distorted for useful ends. ie. to sew confusion. The official Israeli admission here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixrYv5pUzps&feature=related 236 rockets were fired in May and June[7 weeks] 2008 up to the ceasefire on June18th after which there were a total of 18 projectiles fired from Gaza over a period of the next four and a half months until the decisive smashing of the ceasefire on Nov 4th by the IDF raid on Gaza which killed six Hamas militants. This equates to an approximate 98% reduction in rocket fire during the June 18th to Nov 4th period. Worth noting is that this small amount of rocket firing during the time when the ceasefire held is also substantially below the rate of fire *since* Cast Lead was ended, putting paid to the theory that Cast Lead was ever about stopping rocket fire. Peter Williams distortion of events is made on the assumption that people will not be aware of the chronology or the facts due to the dimming of time and can not be bothered to check either. A dumb assumption. So yes, as even Mark Regev admits, there was a ceasefire, the argument that there was none is "is a myth propagated by the benighted and the confused".

1. Land under the control of Arabic municipalities has been cut by half since the beginning of the state of Israel, despite the fact that their population has grown by a factor of 7. 2. Israeli Arabs constitute 20% of the population yet they only live on 3.5% percent of the land. 3. Urban plans for Arabic towns take on average twice as long to be authorized compared to Urban plans for Jewish towns. 4. Land around Arabic villages in the Galilee have been confiscated by the government to build Jewish only settlements, along with industrial and other complexes to support them, leaving Arabic towns with no room to expand to, turning them to extremely crowded places. Yet no body talks about "Natural Growth" for Arabic Towns. Please stop the Hypocrisy

No israel, No Palestine. One State Solution is the best for all. One Man, One Vote, Equality for all inhabitants. Equal Pay for Equal Work, Equal Water Rights. No Apartheid, No Segregation...A Very True Secular Democrac Let us call it :?State of Holy Land?.

Those are the only options Israel is left with in a face of Arab intransigence . Not a single Israeli peace gesture , starting with refusal of partition plan of 1947 , was even remotely reciprocated by Arabs . Generations must change , new thinking must emerge . Till then the above options are the only options left for Israel to live with . It will take many years .

Israel is to blame for the ME conflict, absurd as it may seem to you. Until you and your leaders admit this and try to right up at least some of the wrongs that have been committed against the Palestinian people there never will be peace in the ME

ISrael cant let in aid becuase Hamas is trying to build a tunnel network in Gaza simular to that of the viet cong... The year of 2009 has been one of the quietest in years... and as it stands Hamas is at is weakest point also (falling in the polls and such) The only reason why there have been several motar attacts in the past few days have been in responce to Israel saying its Iron Shield Missle system is up and working... Once the wall on Egypt's side is complete then Hamas will feel the real sting of the blockade and will crumble under the pressure... Hamas will then sign any reconciliation deal with Fatah, and will most likely capitulate thier position on the Shalit deal... All Israel requires is the resolve to continue its seige of Gaza and it will see Hamas fail and see Fatah(someone who Israel sees as a peace partner)take over Gaza... THen and only then can we let the aid trucks go and let the Gazan rebuild thier territory in Peace...

... explained how the child got there, rather than use the image to propogate an article that predicates its points on the rationality and reasonability of a group that has shown itself to be irrational and unreasonable, Hamas. This article makes no sense, if we say that Hamas is not Reasonable or Rational, and if we examine their actions, especially from a western standpoint, from Western interests we will surely note that Hamas is not Rational or Reasonable and as such those faculties will not work with them. But, How about the article explain how and why 14 year old boy was inside either a: Weapons factory, weapons smuggling tunnel, a tunnel to Israel or a Tunnel to Egypt. How about the article discuss how we create other things for 14 yearolds to do in Gaza, so we dont create another generation of Hamas. How about an article that examines the international Laws broken by having a 14 year old work in the weapons smuggling or building industry?

"The situation in Gaza lead me to believe that Israel is guilty of war crimes... That is increasingly the opinion of most thinking people." You mean instead people blindly believing the media basing their statements on hamas propaganda.

In 2005 Israel changed their strategy. They pulled every Jewish settler out of Gaza. The settlers left all the farmland and hothouses. Gaza was free of the "dirty swine" Jews. This was the time for Palestinians to celebrate and to build Gaza for themselves. This was the time for the Palestinians to show the world they could build a society. This would have put tremendous pressure on the Israelis to push ahead with more pull outs of the West Bank. This was a time for Palestine to start to flourish. This was the time.

"Israel does not want peace" Natallie Durson. Your hate for jews and Israel cant be so blind as to claim that Israel does not want or desire peace... And i too am not going to be naive and state that the pals dont want peace either.... No infact both sides want peace really bad... The only problem is they have two completely differnt ideas of what peace will look like... and right now neither side likes what the other is offering... Natallie its time to stop "playing the fool" and lets come up with ideas that both sides of the tables can live with...

"The time has come to rethink Israeli strategy in Gaza. " The strategy does not work. When a strategy has proved beyond any shadow of doubt that it doesn't work, a strategist doesn't repeat it. Maybe Israel doesn't have any strategy at all and its reaction to everything in the least problematic is to thump as hard as it can? Again and again and again and again and again and again...... The best strategy would be to change direction but for that extensive head and soul-searching is essential. An extra-curricular Rosh Hashana + 10 days of repentance, then Yom Kippur. Now... let's take another look at that Goldstone Report.

The terrorist kidnapping regime in Gaza is totally dependent on Israel for vital supplies of water, electricity, gas, food and medicine. A real rethink of Israeli strategy would involve using this leverage to force the release of Gilad Shalit and an end to all terrorist activity including arms smuggling. It is not rocket science!

"The economic embargo, which has brought severe distress to the inhabitants of Gaza, has not brought down Hamas, nor has it freed kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit." - Haaretz This is obvious, but are those the ACTUAL motives for the blockade or just rationalizations? IF those were the goals, then their failure should have led to a reassessment of that failure and an altered policy to achieve those goals. But what if thee real - if subliminal - objective is to inflict suffering upon Palestinians in retaliation for suffering inflicted upon Israelis? "The siege has only damaged Israel's image and led to accusations that it has shirked its humanitarian responsibilities in Gaza under international law." - Haaretz Easily dealt with, just call all criticism 'Anti-Semitism." Why use reason when emotion is so much easier to manipulate?

The issue being discussed here by Israel's own apologist-come government spokesman, Mark Regev. You can hear his admission on the video and even watch his lips move in sync with the words when he agrees that *prior* to Nov 4th the ceasefire was indeed holding. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixrYv5pUzps&feature=related From 236 rockets being fired in May and June[7 weeks] 2008 up to the ceasefire on June18th after which there were a total of 18 projectiles fired from Gaza over a period of the next four and a half months until the decisive smashing of the ceasefire on Nov 4th [equating to a 98% reduction in rocket fire] by the IDF raid on Gaza which killed six Hamas militants. Peter Williams. Your distortion of events is done on the assumption that people will not be aware of the chronology due to the dimming of time and can not be bothered to check the facts. A dumb assumption.

Playing the card of the victims, while provoking Israel with terror respectively warlike activities (gun and bomb attacks against Israelis and launch of rockets and mortars) and blocking the negotiations throught their intransigent demands, appears to be convenient to the Palestinians. By doing so, the world can continue to give considerable finantial aid to both Palestinians authorities in Ramallah and Gaza and blames Israel when she responds to and defends herself against these provocations and attacks, crying (war) crime and humanitarian crisis, as many Israel-bashing postings from several countries here eloquently demonstrarte. This deliberate irrational (but rational in its cynical logic) game pusued by the Palestinians goes on and on, aiming at exacerbating the conflict rather than finding a possible negotiated solution, and will not end, even then not in the event that Israel would change her Gaza strategy, as the author of this piece may mistankenly hope in his wishful thinking

Is Israel's 'Gaza Strategy' working? First we have to ask 'Does Israel Actually Have a Gaza Strategy'? Or does it simply have a Gaza Legacy which grew like Topsy over the decades?

first of all, lets just wait a little longer and see if anti missile (iron dome etc) equipment can make a meaningful difference. second, lets remember that israel nearly became an international pariah after the last gaza war. invading gaza is a trap that hamas AND fatah both want, because it might result less international suppport to israel and more international intervention. the best thing is to let the gazans hurl their rage more and more at egypt, and become more and more connected with egypt. who knows, perhaps if they can't fire missiles at israel, they will begin firing at egypt? the more israel can ignore gaza and let it turn towards its previous owner (egypt), the more likely it is that in the long run, in a scenario of a failed peace process, gaza becomes part of egypt, which would be the most desired final outcome for israel.

"The situation in Gaza lead me to believe that Israel is guilty of war crimes, crimes against humanity and is a sponsor of state terrorism. I`ve travelled in Israel more than once and used to think favorably of the country. Not so anymore". That is increasingly the opinion of most thinking people.

it is generally best to adapt or throw out the theory.[not the other way round]. "The general goal of the Progressive Humanity is to suppress the banditry, not to change their ideology." 17 Generally it seems reality refuses to conform to your theory. The US paid a stipend to the 'sons of Iraq' and many talk of encouraging moderate elements of the Taliban. During the Tet offensive in 1968, the Viet Cong went through the city of Hue with hit lists, executing 3,000 civilians. Within months, America was negotiating "peace with honor" with the V.C. [a question:Does the US qualify under your proposed aegis of 'Progressive Humanity']. America's long tradition of supporting foreign terror groups is well attested: For instance, the Contras were ably assisted by both the US and Israel. Then of course America had little difficulty dealing with former terrorists Shamir and Begin. John Brown murdered men in Kansas[1856]in reprisal for the killing of Northerners and killed civilians in his raid on Harper's Ferry to ignite a slave revolt. Brown was hanged as a terrorist. Yet the first lines of the fighting song of the Union army were: "John Brown's body lies a mouldering in the grave, but his soul goes marching on. Glory, glory hallelujah." When one looks toward other examples emanating from that of 'Progressive Humanity' one is reminded of the UK's courting of the IRA, or Jomo Kenyatta, the "Grand Old Man" of Africa in the 1960s who was the leader of the Mau Mau in the 1950s. It seems you disposed with reality when you would have been better served by throwing out your theory!

http://www.knesset.gov.il/elections/knesset15/elikud_m.htm This from the above link!!!. "" Self-Rule The Government of Israel flatly rejects the establishment of a Palestinian Arab state west of the Jordan river. The Palestinians can run their lives freely in the framework of self-rule, but not as an independent and sovereign state. Thus, for example, in matters of foreign affairs, security, immigration and ecology, their activity shall be limited in accordance with imperatives of Israel's existence, security and national needs. As you see Miggy---Peter Williams is one of those liars who will lie and cheat and steal to achieve what is in the Likud Charter as shown in the original. Directly form the lIKUD cHARTER You were saying someting about an opinion piece???. Apology accepted.

Hamas is a real problem for Israel. It's the principal resistance movement fighting Israeli occupation, land theft and illegal settlement building in Palestine. It's also the party that comfortably won the Palestinian elections and should be in power. Anywhere else, the occupying Israeli power would at this point treat with the elected Hamas government and come to some deal. But not Israel, because a fair settlement would involve its troops and settlers LEAVING Palestine, while the Likud charter commits Israel to SEIZING the rest of Palestine. It has tried overthrowing Hamas; the Fatah coup failed (criminal act) It has tried siege and near starvation (humanitarian and war crime). It has tried collectively punishing Gazan civilians, killing 1,00 of them (war and humanitarian crime). All failed. Israel has no other strategy than to keep starving and killing and breaking every law in the book, while continually blaming the victims, until the world says - Enough Already.

Roo:"The irony is that the `extremists` did change their positions and did demonstrate their capacity to enforce cease-fires when it was clear there were advantages in doing so for their people." Here we go: 19th June 2008: Ceasefire came into effect 23rd June 2008: 1st Mortar fire out of Gaza 24th June 2008: 3 Qassams hit Sderot For the rest of June, July and August rockets and mortars were falling every couple of days. There was no ceasefire. It's a myth propogated by the left.

It strikes me as rather absurd that the Israeli left keeps on perpetuating the myth that Israel is to blame for the ME conflict and that Israel has to grovel for peace. The pals do not attack Israel bacause their economy is in ruins. It's the other way round: the palestinians' economy is in ruins because they keep on attacking Israel. Why? Because they never have and never will accept Israel's existence.Even so-called moderate Abbas does not hesitate to laud the terrorists who killed Israeli civilians as Martyrs for the Cause. When will the Israeli left wake up and realise there's no peace partner?

What the Egyptians are most frightened of is democracy. The Israeli 'Far Leftists' as you call them display a great deal of courage swimming against a tide of ignorance. The Mohamed cartoons had little to do with freedom of speech, they were a deliberate provocation against the Muslim minority in Denmark, much the same as those awrful cartoons of Jews in 1930s Germany.

Come on Israel, please don't play for the innocent victim. Just give back the stolen land, respect the international laws and talk with the Palestians. Only than there will be peace.

In the past Jews were many times mistreated and prosecuted. One would think, that after that, it would be them who would care for justice and humanity. Opposite is truth!

"The irony is that the `extremists` did change their positions ... " Roo Sir, It is commendable that you steadfastly rooting for your team. You apparently erroneously believe that Israel's aim is to make anybody to change their position. The general goal of the Progressive Humanity is to suppress the banditry, not to change their ideology.

What you quoted was an "opinion piece" on the Likud Charter. That is, it was Wikipedia's commentary on the Likud Charter. You presented it as the Likud Charter... it wasn't.

perfectly work, let's supply them with Chanel#5 perfume and munitions. Then they become peaceful...

Therein lies the reason for the inhumane and self defeating embargo of Gaza. Hamas who up to 2006 had refused to take part in elections demonstrated compromise by engaging in the political process [insisted upon by the US to add flesh to their fairy tales about supporting democracies]. They wished to operate within a unity Government but Fatah were warned off by Israel and the US, so Hamas were forced to govern alone. Hamas chose a relative moderate as PM and later accepted the prisoners document offering de facto recognition of Israel. However they did not capitulate entirely and immediately to western/Israeli diktats. Those diktats remained unchanged for the next 4 years with a draconian embargo with which Israel and Egypt, [supported by the US] impoverished Gaza, an embargo which they now seek to tighten. The irony is that the 'extremists' did change their positions and did demonstrate their capacity to enforce cease-fires when it was clear there were advantages in doing so for their people. Israel, the modern nation supposedly representing the epitome of civilization remains steadfast in its stubborn refusal to compromise, aided and abetted by that scourge of peace, the US.

Read it and share it with your fellow Irish friends---especially those who are sitting on the fence on this conflict. Include a few of the virulent and racist posts that you find here. The ones that refer to we Irish as drunks and terrorists are particularily convincing and raise the numbers who oppose Israel. Here is the charter!!!! "Likud charter * The 1999 Likud charter emphasized the right of settlement in "Judea (and) Samaria" (more commonly known as the "West Bank" and Gaza),"[8] and as such, brings it into direct conflict with Palestinian claims on the same territory. Similarly, their claims of the Jordan river as the permanent eastern border to Israel and Jerusalem as "the eternal, united capital of the State of Israel and only of Israel," do the same. * The 'Peace & Security' chapter of the 1999 Likud Party platform ?flatly rejects the establishment of a Palestinian Arab state west of the Jordan river.? The chapter continued: ?The Palestinians can run their lives freely in the framework of self-rule, but not as an independent and sovereign state.?[8]

Hamas maintained a ceasefire from June 2008. Israel as usual did not keep it's side of the bargain by opening the crossings. It smashed the ceasefire on the night Barak Obama was elected by assassinating 6 Hamas people in Gaza. Israel did this as a prelude to launching Cast Lead to destroy the infrastructure of Gaza and anyone and everyone who got in the way. Who knows what Israel's endgame is. Probably to force all the people of Gaza into Egypt - then it will have the land without the people.

Your astonishment over Israel and Egypt wanting to hurt gazans shows very little awareness of facts and most probable simple suffering from media education. With both borders closed off, the gazans now have to realize that only peaceful leadership not obsessing with Israel's destruction will bring normalcy to them. Any country's leadership whose sole infatuation is with Israel's demise cares nothing about rank and file gazans. Suffering Gazans bring pity from dupes who blame Israel and now Egypt. It is up to the people to disarm Hamas and become a normal, non-belligerant state and overnight, the mini nation will thrive with israel's help! But you know and I know, who has the bullets- and the backing from Iran and Syria. It will take courageous simple gazans to fight this scourge of arab terrorism and to try to create a normal life. Maybe in our lifetimes. If the rockets continue, Israel will be forced to attack, annex the land,get rid of evil Hamas&let Gaza grow naturally.

Hamas threatens to destroy Israel. There is a diffrence between negotiating with Fatah and Hamas. Ddeveloping economy in Gaza is not our task. Egypt was clever enough to drop that snakepit. Why can't we learn? Feeding the enemy is not the solution. We have to know this from our own experience. We have to learn to distinguish between reality and wishful thining.

to have a free pass at "hit a Jew". Anti - Semitism is not learned, it is imbued with mother's milk.

It is refreshing to know that there is someone in Israel who understands the issues involved and speaks the truth with a strong voice. I have a lot of respect for this editorial.

Although I agree that the continued suffering of the ordinary people of Gaza should end, I think it is not reasonable to think that will stop the missiles from being launched. Israeli forces should not have left Gaza until Hamas was completely destroyed, and if there is concern that materials needed to rebuild Gaza might be diverted, then Israeli forces should also have remained in Gaza to ensure the rebuilding took place without such diversions.

Economic embargo and arieal asults against the population of Gaza will not establish deterence nour bring peace to the state of Israel. The Gaza Strip was occupied in the war of 1967, Israel needs to implimint UN SC resolution 242, and ask the UN to mark the Blue line with Gaza, and declare the end of Gaza Strip military occupation. Don't argue that Israel had disengaged and pulled the settlers, what I'm saying is different.

Yes, Israel needs to rethink its strategy. Something along the lines of Sri Lanka. Total, utter and complete victory over Hamas and its destruction. That will free both Israel and the Gazan Palestinians from their tyrrany.

The two-state solution is long dead because Israel will never cede East Jerusalem. Likud knows this, so what its aim? The status quo cannot hold, as Israel and its territories are looking more and more like apartheid South Africa and its "homelands." Does Likud really think it can push all the non-Jews out of the West Bank or just enough of them to assure a Jewish majority? If the latter, how does it think the Jews are going to be able to out-breed the non-Jews in the long run? I thought denial was in Egypt.

The source of most of the missiles is Iran, so when you swat at Hamas, naturally they get angry. Shoot 1/10th the same number of missiles into the Iranian desert, hitting only so many as 10 times the number of Jews hit. Make your missiles carry Iranian parts from Hamas missiles, but engrave them with Hebrew. Shoot back 9/10ths the same number of missiles back at Hamas, 10X's. They say they are at war with you. Believe them.

1) The Palestinians did not 'spontaneously generate' such poor leadership. It was fabricated with assistance (both direct and indirect) from Israelis. 2) If Israelis wanted to be good neighbors, they have the means to install 'clean governance' in Palestinian areas. Israeli pols just think its in Israel's best interest to keep the Palestinians from any comfort zone. Although the above is seldom articulated, and although most Israelis ignore it as a foreign concern, it is noticed by most semi-savvy observers on all sides.

Everyone read #5. It's the only post in here that makes any sense.

So after laying waste to the Gaza Strip Israel should provide economic incentives to change Palestinian hearts and minds. That might be something the US would do thinking it will fix everything. The whole idea is a frigging joke. Israel has created a situation in Gaza in which it can just sit back and wait for the Palestinians to die from disease and malnutrition. With its planned destruction of Gaza infrastructure (farms, food processing plants, & sewage treatment facilities) Israel has created a situation which makes the people of Gaza even more dependent on its obscene, phony "generosity." According to the Israeli Ministry of Propaganda (Foreign Affairs) everything for the people of Gaza now is hunky-dory. Read it for yourself. http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Communiques/2009/Increased_humanitarian_aid_Gaza_after_IDF_operation_Jan_2009

The rational solution completely escapes everyone. (That would be to cue the Palestinians to take ownership of their own feelings and behaviors, acting instead of reacting.) It's impossible for Israel to "make" the people of Gaza do anything. And anything Israel does, friendly or unfriendly, will have absolutely no effect on the Palestinian's hatred. The Palestinians are suffering from pathological victimhood and only the Palestinians can cure themselves. It's about Power and not Force. It's about realizing that each person is responsible for his own feelings. Any other coping mechanism makes a person a puppet. The Pals make the Israelis their unwilling puppeteers. Crazy huh?

Most people don't want to live under an Islamic fundamentalist government. Rob Hamas of the advantages it has. Replace it by honest Palestinians (not Fatah) who can deliver prosperity to the people.

Truthfully I know that Israel is the Jewish homeland but I wish we could have you all come to America. Jewish people are some of the finest in the world. I know it has to be tremendously stressful being stuck in an area, where you are surrounded basically by your enemies. If I had my way I would have you all come here.

IT'S NOT THE ECONOMY,STUPID.IT IS THE iranian DRIVE TO HARASS ISRAEL...THE gazan BOSSES DO NOT CARE FOR THEIR PEOPLE WELFARE.THEY USED THEM AS PROPAGANDA PROPS...AND THE WHOLE SHOW IS DIRECTED FROM teheran/damascus

You forget several important things for example (unfortunately there are lots more). Hamas is a terrorist organization (so is Fatah) and the Arabs in Gaza are supporters of this terrorist organization. These Arabs voted in a terrorist government. Palestine is a region of land. The Arab Palestine is TransJordan Palestine (shortened to Jordan for strategic reasons - i.e. for example missles coming in each week from within your own Jewish homeland by your enemy). The Jewish Palestine is Israel. You cannot have peace with a terrorist cancer that wants to murder you and steal your land.

...control over GAZA. ABBAS should regain that control. If ABBAS cannot do it, he should forget a statehood. What aboout Israel, the Jewish country had done what the author of the editorial wanted 5 years ago: - ISRAEL LEFT GAZA COMPLETELY. Now we see what PALS can do in GAZA. If israel leaves West Bank, this territory will become GAZA number 2.

The strategy to employ in Gaza is very simple: 1. Re-occupy Gaza. 2. Destroy Hamas infrastructure, Weapons and leaders 3. Annex Gaza. Problem solved.

All Israel ever does is kill the people they stole the land from. They have become a disgrace to the Jews.

Do not fall victim to weakness. Giving up your defenses is what Iran, Syria, and others have been counting on for years while they supplied the Palestinians. Peace will come only when the Palestinians get leadership that is not the pawn of foreign powers.

Its like saying, woman have to rethink how they appar in public not to get raped. No, I dont think so. The problem is with the rapists. Hamas has to denounce terror, recognize Israel and honour past agreements.

Israel needs to propose new major concessions. To both Hamas and Fatah. Offering a single piece of contiguous land as a carrot to get them to reunite and negotiate as one power with Israel. Israel would need to gamble, taking the moral high ground, recognizing that they were wrong to move into this Palestinian land in the first place but now that its been done so long GENUINELY work for a compromise. Be willing to give significant land concessions to create a VIABLE Palestinian state that has equal advantages with Israel such as farm land, irrigation water, sea access and some sort of division of Jeruselum. It can't be done with the notion of "bargaining to get the best deal" for one side. It has to be equal in value, otherwise people will see through this over time and problems will continue. This is what it would take....unfortunately I don't think it will ever happen.

Rockets beget retaliation. If that does not work, nothing else will. Everything else has already been tried. Anyone that refutes that has not been watching long.

Operation Cast Lead was fruitless because of who and how it was handled. Growing up in former USSR in 70s and 80s, we heard in Soviet media about Israel being "Zionist" and "Capitalist" state abusing "palestinians". But Israel always pressed on with it's almost perfect IDF and disregarded any outcries from UN and others alike. Fortunately, at that time Israel had the friend and the great supporter in USA. Since then, unfortunately, both, Israel and USA are no longer great military powers or democratic political systems. "Public servants" in both countries became career bureaucrats racing to fill their own pockets and to "help" their friends. Liberal views overpowered common sense and caused both countries (and other Western states) to become easy targets for Muslim extremists. Add to the above "help" from various oil-rich countries and we have the recipe for global disaster.

The fact that even this editorial that suggests more humanitarian treatment of Palestinians, refers to the war crimes against Palestinian men, women, and children as israel "SHIRKING THEIR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSIBILITIES". The fact that Israel doesn't see its actions with the same disdain the rest of the world sees it actions, shows the inability of Israel to face up to the repercussions of treating human beings as abstract disposeable objects. Knowing the horrors that were committed against Jews in the past, it seems almost inconceivable that israelis continue this genocide. shame on Israel.

Israel give the Palestinians no alternative but to fight where it can, even if the fight cannot immediately be won. Did not the Jews seeking to establish Israel conduct terrorist acts? One man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter. As for Netanyahu, he is simply a thug in a suit and should be tried for war crimes. How this pig managed to get elected is a blight on the Israeli people and on all those nations who provide Israel support while he is PM.

Not that it matters but an big earthquake hit Eureka California today that point made and not that it's going to change anything but have the fearless leaders on both sides of your war read the new discovery about DNA? Turns out that both the Palestinian and the Hebrews have the same DNA (Haplogroup J1), but no big deal their just brothers killing brothers so I am sure it's ok with Ibrahim don't you think he likes watching his biological grandchildren destroy each other? Hey I am just the lowly messenger don?t get mad at me people truth is truth, look it up for yourselves then.

Its time for a truce with hamas of one hundred years over eretz yisroel and a complete rescue plan to relieve human pain. The arab world must assisst by granting citizenship and residential status to truce abiding islamists.

Lets remember something, Israel was called Palistine until 1947. I don't believe Israelis need to pack up and leave, but I do think they need to treat the neighbors they took the country from MUCH better, and so does the majority of the world. Judeaism is fine, but Zionism is a crazy pervertion of the religion. To think god promised land to european jews is lunacy. Honestly, to think god promised anything to anyone is borderline insane. Eventually, Israel will lose this battle, I just hope it doesn't happen with more and more death and misery on both side.

A question for you. Does a STATE have a right to close it borders to whoever and for whatever reason it chooses at anytime? If a people are comitted to your destruction, you close the border! Its your right as a STATE. Period. End of discussion.

Capitulate to terrorism in order to end it.

The Palestinians already have three nations - Jordan, PA, and Gaza. That they have made of sewer of the latter two (PA, GAZA) is their own fault. That they have not made a sewer of the first (Jordan) is to the credit not of the Palestinians, but of the Hashemites

I wish it were that simple. Virtually all humanitarian aid and attempts to help build self-sustaining infrastructure that Gaza has been given since Israel withdrew has been immediately destroyed or stolen by Hamas to buy weapons and to further impoverish Gazans - THEIR OWN PEOPLE. Israel could have been a helpful friend and neighbor for all these many years if Palestinian politics had encouraged peaceful and friendly relations with Israel. Hamas does this to make Israel seem like "the strong, crushing a helpless underdog". Human nature "assumes" a suffering underdog MUST be the victim of an outside power. Hamas and other "Palestinian causes" both created and sustains the horrible catastrophe in Gaza for their political purposes. Dropping blockades always makes it much worse. Criticism of Israel by the UN and others does not help. What can be done?

It's been too late forever. Why now think what you write means anything?

I loved this article. It makes so much sense

The more you starve the children of Gaza the stronger you make this next generation of Gazan to fight the occupation!! Long Live .. Down to racist occupiers

How about an editorial on the Gaza strategy of Hamas? And the Destroy Israel strategy of Hamas. Why don't you guys write about that? Why do you keep insisting that Israel is the one that has to make changes.

The situation in Gaza lead me to believe that Israel is guilty of war crimes, crimes against humanity and is a sponsor of state terrorism. I've travelled in Israel more than once and used to think favorably of the country. Not so anymore.

We must admit that leaving Gaza was a mistake.

My perception that Hamas is not as pragmatic as Fatah. Fatah controls the West Bank and while no friend of Israel realizes that terror will not help them. Hamas on the other hand adhere to a strict dogma of not cooperating with the "Zionists", ie. Israel so any incentive for not participating in terror will not work.

A couple of months ago, I read an article on failed states and hear a radio program on failed states. The only long term solution to resurrect them is to carry out proper Reconstruction of the infrastructure and to help build a better life for the inhabitants. If they have better facilities and homes, they do not want them destroyed. Anything else guarantees continuing conflict and the population fighting the oppressor. For the life of me, I cannot understand why Israel and Egypt would want to keep the populations of Gaza and the West Bank impoverished. It just makes no sense. Unless the governments of each country want the continued conflict that is assured by their current actions. Then the question for the ordinary Israeli or Egyptian is "Why?" Why is the government creating the situation which is almost guaranteed to get it's civilians killed?

Until Gaza as an entity wants peace with Israel, none of these silly 'Israel needs to make changes' ideas matter. Israel can back off, not back off, attack, not attack, grant more open borders, keep the borders closed, doesn't matter, as long as Hamas and the powers that be of Gaza refuse to ever even consider a permanent peace with Israel, none of this matters. But you 'blame Israel' fools can keep talking about how Isarel needs to change if it makes you feel better. You will accomplish nothing by doing it, other than perhaps promoting more dislike of Israel for protecting itself from psychopaths.

What happened to the pen that's mightier than the sword. The Koran provides you with all the ammunition you need.

"The same logic that dictates the government's actions in the West Bank - creating an economic incentive to prevent terror - can and must work in the Gaza Strip as well." If that's what Hamas wanted they could have it today by uttering a few words as required by the Quartet. The fact is Hamas spend their money on weapons not on their people. In the absence of a fundamental change from Hamas, more open borders will lead to even greater violence? If Hamas won't change then ultimately we have to get rid of Hamas.

There will be peace in Gaza when the war is over. Maybe Hamas will quit the war someday? That would be nice for those poor Gaza residents.

Even the Egyptians realize the ONLY way to END Hamas'(Tehrans) stranglehold on Gaza is to relentlessly keep up the pressure. But naturally...masochistic Israeli Far Leftists ALWAYS believe in self-castration. Blaming their country instead of the Iranian terror machine of the ayatollahs. If our Far Left caused us to cave in to those ridiculous Mohamed cartoon fanatics, freedom of speech in Europe would have been sacrificed. Sometimes you just have to choose the lesser of two evils. In this case...Gazans, who elected Hamas, have to pay the piper... until the ayatollahs are deposed and freedom rings in Tehran.

If Israel worked aggressively to create a decent life for people in Gaza (the opposite of what it has been doing), it would be easier for "zionists" to identify their enemies, real and imagined, since there would be far fewer enemies.

The plot goes like this.... the school bully beats the stuffing out of some little guy. If the little guy lifts a hand in his defense, then the bully uses that as a justification to escalate. The surrounding crowd are the nations of the world. They know its wrong and they quietly wring their hands, but nobody does anything to draw the attention of the bully. They know that if they do, the bully will not let them alone. America is like the parent of the bully. They know their kid is a monster, but that was how they raised him. Of course in the movie plot, some hero emerges and clobbers the bully. Heros usually emerge from the unlikliest sources.

Israel must change its strategy if it wants peace, but Israel does not want peace. Surely the Haaretz editorial staff must know this. Peace would lead to a significant withdrawal from the west bank. This would cause bloody chaos in Israel. The current strategy is aimed at continuing the hostilities. These hostilities act as a distraction from Israels ongoing west bank expansion. Does Haaretz or any Israeli think that the Israeli government wants to withdraw from even part of the west bank settlements? Even if it was so, do you think that Netanyahu is the one to do this? Israel will not seek peace. In the end, it will have to be crammed down Israels throat by a strong American president. Until then, the "Gaza strategy" will not change, except to become harsher.

They do not understand what a 'democracy for all people' means.