What about the missiles?

Just thought that you needed to see that there are Americans--more than you would think--that DO know what the U.S. media machine refuses to say. There are people here who weep for the victims in Lebanon. Do not be misled by what our own media tells the rest of the world about us Americans. Many of us do not support Israel's senseless campaign. Peace can only come when the entire world's population realizes this: We are not our religion...we are not are culture...we are not our government. And, for the record--No, Im not an Arab, no, Im not a muslim and no Im not a "self-hating Jew"!

Before you start pouring scorn on your own country (America) and my country (England), just remember who it is that is supplying Israel with weapons to defend herself - the US and the UK. And oh yes, German parts to help build Israeli warships.

I must say it is somewhat foolhardy to compare the present situation to that of Kennedy and the Cuban Missile situation. Why? Because (1) the only Super Power left is on the side of Israelis and (2) No matter the rantings of the Iranian leader and the supply of weapons to Hezb by Syria they simply do not have the wherewithal or indeed the military might to spark off World War 3 and fight the world.

Well done Judith in Haifa for pointing out the one thing that most here in the West cannot see - that they should never have ousted Saddam Hussein. What Westerners fail to understand time and time again is that the tribal mentality is different to us here in Europe and the U.S. (England perhaps know more than most as we are an island of 4 different nations). Where there is a country made up of tribes you will always find the leader hard and ruling with what he thinks best - an iron fist, lest the country fall victim to civil war. Think post-Iron Curtain and the subsequent Balkan conflict. Africa is the same. I am not saying it is ideal to sit back and watch and do nothing but Western leaders (especially the U.S.) must portray less arrogance where these countries are concerned and allow for the change to come from within and not use outside force thus putting the lives of innocent civilians in all our cities at risk.

Mr. George W. Bush said: "Hizbollah Captured Two Israelli soldiers, that is why we have violence".... He failed to understand, or was misinformed (as in the case of WMD in Iraq...:)that Israel holds 10,000 palestenians and lebanese POWs and has been holding them for years... Who is he trying to fool, other than himself, and helpless Americans who have no idea about what is going around in the world, since all their media is Jewish controlled & biased. God Bless America... Re elect George W Bush.

it's a shame to display opinions of people who want israel image destruction, as they can't achieve to destroy it physically. Where is the list of the civilians killed through bombing in Lebanon with name, age, place of birth, place of death. What would be the number of victims in Lebanon if Israel launched katioushas ?

You promised us peace when we pulled out of Gaza and Lebanon. You made fun of us who warned you that the peaceniks would bring war to Israel itself. Please wake up! This war has been fought with "precision incursions" for weeks...only now have we even started to fight..and you say--STOP NOW!? No, I and the silent majority want this to end with a clear victory..if that takes one month or 5...I want and need that for more my kids

You remember how your comarades were cryiing like babies in Bint Jbail? Come on.I just want to tell you that I am sorry for those young boys. My brother is 19 years old... And please don't tell me I am hiding between civilians. There were no civilian in the area when I destroyed your beautifull merkava...

It was estimated that there were about 2000 hezbollah fighters in lebanon.How many bombs does it take to kill two thousand fighters? What does crippling the entire nation do to eliminate two thousand fighters? I am obviously unaware of the intricacies of this engagement, I simply wonder why so many must suffer.

"Do you seriousely think that Israel is targeting civilians on purpose?" Not really. They just don't care and are grossly incompetent.

Do you seriousely think that Israel is targeting civilians on purpose? On the other hand the missiles hitting Israel are actually aimed at the civilians.

It is about time for Israel to realise that the policies of power,distructioon and killing mainly civilians in both Lebanon and palestine will never lead to any peace for Israelies but more hate and suffering on both sides. Start to treat the Palestinians and Lebanese as equal and have respect to their rights.

If Lebanon had not let Hezbolla take root, there would be no need for a counter attack by IDF. Ask yourself if it is not the Hezbollah policy to build their infrastructure in the center of civilian population, and launch their rockets and missiles from these areas. IN short Lebanon children are the victims of the "Hezbollah's policy" to destroy Israel, and the Western Democracies,You never seem to mention how many innocent Lebanese citizens were killed by Hizbollah, or how many innocent children have been killed in Arab countries where extreme Moslem fundamentalists have have taken root. ALL OF THEM USING AND ABUSING THE NAME OF ALLAH...You just forgot to mention how many innocent Israeli babies,and children of all religious faiths have been targeted and killed by "Islamic terrorists' " . Have you forgotten the victims of attacks on schools, villages, homes and buses...? I remember Beirut, as the cultural center of the Middle East. Blame yourselves not Israel ....

Yes what about the missiles. Anyone with his right mind should know that the missiles will keep falling and falling. One thing that is changing is that they are increasing with time, getting bigger and longer in range. Hizbollah has not yet used its best yet while Israel has dumped evrything at once. While Israel is sufferring now little by little, moral is getting lower, soldiers are tired, leaders cannot sleep, army chief had a couple of nervous breakdowns, Syria might be drulling to take advantage of this with the support of Iran and start a full offensive against Israel at the right time. While the USA is supporting Israel in this offensive its Iraq occupation and lack of support in USA for any new offensive specially with an upcomming elections in november Israel might find itself all alone. Olmart and his government do not want to stop because of what are they going to face people, too many promises and no accomplishments at all.

The IDF did not fail, but the goverment, and Specially Ehud Olmert. In the past i have a lot of experience with street fighting, the people with the big mouth like Ehud Olmert never won a fight. The people that won the fight, they say nothing, they just did the job. I think his decision's are made by the 12families that run the Israeli economie,his bosses.

I THINK THE IDF IS NOT FAILING IN ITS GOAL. What people especially Israelis have to ask themseves is what is REALLY the IDF'S Goal. What ur goverment tell u is there in Lebanon to stop rocket fire. But that is not why there in Lebanon today. They are there to destroy the entire infrastructure of Lebanon to create a new puppet regime. It all started with Afghanistan then Iraq and now Lebanon ...it will spread. What goverments tell there citizens and what there real plan is are 2 different realities. This is a plan by the Neo Cons in Washington to have complete control in the MidEast , this is just one step in a carefully planed operation that has nothing to do about kidnapped soldiers. Infact you IDF are nothing but pawns in the greater scheme of things , all the while Lebananon burns and children die. What u sow is what u reap.

Prof. Chen, may I jog your memory? China rolled their tanks over defenseless students in 1989. It was not war but tanks wereused.Young students were mangled.The whole world cried for China.Itwas a very dark day for all,even to people who don't have a drop of Chinese blood that runs through their veins.

Oliver, in a democracy, we end up with leaders we choose...and therefore deserve. I sympathise with your predicament and pray that you and your family will be spared the horrors of this conflict....but as long as the IAF and IDF continue with the destruction and carnage in Lebanon, no one in Israel is safe from the retaliation of imcoming rockets and missiles, yet to be unleashed. The incidence of such incoming rockets dropped to almost nil during the 48 hours lull in airstrikes by the IAF but has since gone up to unprecedented nos. with horrific consequences to innocent lives.... Call for an immediate ceasefire!!

Glad to read the pragmatic and much needed analysis of Ben Gourion. Many israelis keep on asking: what other alternative is there to their attacks on Lebanon which they consider "self-defence"? The other alternative is a disarmement of Hizballah through a politically negotiated solution. Politically, your bombings constitute a tragic mistake. Hatred towards Israel in the region is only increased by the feeling of powerlessness and the fact that Israel is never held accountable for its actions. How can you ignore that this only benefits extremism and is the best fuel for terrorism? How can you ignore that moderates in Lebanon (and Palestine) are the first casualties of this situation? You, the Israeli People, can choose to hit harder and harder. This will mean endless hell for everyone. Or you can choose to overcome your fears and trust the fact that with peace, people learn to forgive, to live side by side. And there is enough diversity in Lebanon to ensure a counterpower to Hizballah.

Why are the Chinese people able to prosper today? It is because Chinese are very pragmatic people. Look around the world and u will find rich and successful Chinese. They work hard and send their children to the best universities. So much atrocities were committed towards the Chinese in the last few hundred years by Manchus, Europeans and Japan. Do u find the Chinese wanting to take revenge against these countries? No.They want to build a good future for themselves and their children instead of strapping them with bombs and sending them to foreign lands to avenge past atrocities. That's what the Muslims should learn. They should spend their oil money on building schools and universities which will benefit them, not nuclear bombs and countless wars which only leads to more destruction.

Dear Israelis, If you have the courage to face your concious, take a look at this site. http://victorsawma.com/julywar/

Yes people ...be patient. Wait for 20 more years to realize your fatal mistakes. The longer you are involved, the greater losses you will take. Congratulations on your smartness

The Lebanese are stuck between foolish fanatics on one side and hypocrite criminals on the other. (Well ... it's interesting to see how the qualifications are interchangeable on both sides.)

"Olmert must tell the truth" Haaretz Editorial. We don't need Olmert to tell us the truth. The truth in my book,Israel has won this War and capable of wining all other Wars. Stupid? A lonely voice ? No.. This War prove at lest two things: Military: The only weapon left for the Arabs are Rocarets. Rockets are weapon of destruction no more no less.Weapons that can't deliver Victory. The Battle of Britain is another good example. If you don't believe me, ask the terrorist? It is their only cowardly weapon of killing from behind. Aimless destruction . Politicaly. The Arab governments learned their lesson, either surrender power to the Terrorists or join Israel to fight the Terrorist.After all Terrorism is a doomed and an unwining caus. Hezbollah can speak loud,can send Rockets, can be supported by cheap media,can lie to their people can do everything the Terrorist they usualy do but at the end they can deliver only destruction and defeat. Akram Zekaria.

The Israelis are in a self-destruct mode and nothing can help them except a change in attitude and the realization that they can't destroy any Arab or Muslim organization that owns its existence to Israeli occupation. Returning Gaza to the Palestinians while stealing more Palestinian lands on the Westbank is a path toward insanity and not peace.

We Australians have a saying-don't come the raw prawn. Translation who are you fooling? Shadenfreude comes through loud and clear.

You say that Israel is a fake country? So what constitutes a genuine country? What country was in place before the creation of Israel? NOTHING. It was a dump, as arabs like. Jews have been living there for thousands of years. Time to claim a country came, jews took Un offer for tiny pieces of land, arabs did not accept, civil war exploded, jews kicked arab butts, and independence war was fought, Sireal was created, and developed a wonderful, modern country that contributes to world. To me, it sounds like any country's history, a land, civil war, declaration of independence, building proper cities...Fake? No sir. Give respect to a country that has the courage to live surrounded by animals lusting violence.

You r right that Egypt hasn't called for the destruction of Israel since Sadat. Egypt hasn't armed ASSballslah with katyushas. Iran did and it is the one that's calling for the destruction of Israel. ASSmedinejad has just repeated his call at the OIC meeting in Malaysia yesterday. China wouldn't be so docile and keep quiet if US calls for destruction of China. Let's use an analogy here. Supposing Japan has a very weak army that is not able to defend herself and there exists a Japanese terrorist group that's very well-armed by US. That group enters Chinese waters and attacks a Chinese gunboat and takes a few Chinese sailors as prisoners. All these while, US is calling for the destruction of China. I am sure China will respond with a very great force, which she is capable of doing now, to get rid of that group, just as she has said that it will respond with great might if Taiwan announces independence and Taiwan is not even going to war with China. So, Israel is wrong to defend herself

Professor of what? Missrepresentation 101? You think you are such intellectual. At least, Israel does not kill its own people. Israel embraces people from different countries. Sorry to inform you that China has commited brutal crimes against tens of thousands of its own people. Clean your own backyard and stop killing your own before worrying about the middle east and Israel, and keep dreaming on having a western woman as a wife.

You say in posting #5 "the IDF is applying the Holocaust in Lebanon on innocent people kids cats dogs killing every human no religoing differnce just being innocent". Please, get a dictionary and read the definition of Holocaust of genocide before exposing you levels of ignorance in this forum. It is NOT Israel goal to kill th emillions of Lebanese people. It's goal is erradicate a little bunch of terrorists who happen to be based in Lebanon. These terrorists hide behind the children, women and everything else you mention. Kick them out of Lebanon (as your president to do so), and you won't see Israel bombings.

Iam concerned this will be closed off now. Meanwhile I would be grateful if you would not make accusations you cannot substantiate.Do you have the slightest evidence Israel was involved in attempts on Ahmadinejad?.Millions of Iranians hate him. The Israeli soldiers were not in Lebanon and there was a rocket barrage into northen Israel to cover the kidnappings. To the best of my knowledge the 7th fleet has neither rocketed China nor kidnapped any PLA members. Finally with Taiwan we both know how many times artillery has been used against Taiwan esp Quemoy and it has been threatened with invasion if it excersizes its democratic right to independence. No sir unlike Israel,which openly supports an independent Palestinian state (not commited to Israels destruction like Hamas and its charter, China threatens death and destruction to an independent Taiwan.

"As far as the whole world knows, Hezbuallah did not launch a single Katyusha until the IAF hit first". The whole world knows that you are lying. The sent Rockets just BEFORE they kidnapped and killed Israeli soldiers INSIDE Israel. And they have been sending hundreds of rockets over the last 6 years. Ever heard of Kiryat Shmoneh? But then may be you are just ignorant. Either way you loose face. Tiny Israel CAN be annihilated. Gigantic China can only loose face. And has lost a lot of face in Tibet, which it is annihilating.

"As far as the whole world knows, Hezbuallah did not launch a single Katyusha until the IAF hit first". The whole world knows that you are lying. The sent Rockets just BEFORE they kidnapped and killed Israeli soldiers INSIDE Israel. And they have been sending hundreds of rockets over the last 6 years. Ever heard of Kiryat Shmoneh? But then may be you are just ignorant. Either way you loose face. Tiny Israel CAN be annihilated. Gigantic China can only loose face. And has lost a lot of face in Tibet, which it is annihilating.

Are you mad, Will? You do know that Syria has serious chemical and biological WMDs, and the ability to deliver them to Israeli cities? You do know, too, that they have a defensive treaty with Iran, and that sucking Iran into this conflict is the last thing the West needs. If Iran is attacked you'll be paying $10 a gallon for your gas within weeks (if you can find it) and if you're of military age you'll be part of a massive draft to shore up the collapse of the US garrison in Iraq. Dimona and other Israeli targets will be smoking ruins, thanks to Iran's new long-range missiles.

your commentary is most unwellcomed! The military and government are working around clock to eliminate the theart of these rockets! For six the International community and the Lebanese government allowed Iran and Syria to arm these vile organisations with arms, and now they are crying innocent exspecially that clown Siniora!

If you understand much of anything, you'd know that what is known as the State of Israel is the birthplace of the Jewish people. Of course that may have slipped your attention! Why would you argue what the UN did in 1948? As part of the UN establishing Israel and a Palestinian state at that time, did you know that Jews were required to leave Arab lands where they were living, too? Yet, do you hear the Jewish people continuing to cry about that OR have they tried moving their society forward? I can tell you that regardless what happens in my life, I try to look FORWARD and NOT at getting revenge OR dwelling on the past! You are right about one thing though...WWIII is here and because of Islamo-Fascists ALL over the globe! You need to wake up or you too will be under Sharia law. I'd tell you to 'use your head' as well but am not sure it is in good working order! You, sir, had better wake up and argue your case on facts, not emotion!

Who ever said it was your country Margie??

That's a pity Haaretz editorial doesn't call on the Israeli government for immediate ending of this stupid war inspired by Bush Administartion's stupidity, and which strengthened and will strengthen Hezbollah instead of weaken it. Is it necessary to cry a million time that the ONLY/ONLY/ONLY/ONLY way to stop and neutralize Hezbollah is NOT TO GIVE IT ANY REASON TO ACT? So Israel should immediately find a diplomatic way to announce that she will leave that ... and unnecessary land of Shebaa. Start by that, clever Israelis. It's hugely better than a war for nothing by which you only destroyed Lebanon, a war which is not only unnecessary and pointless, but which will bring something worse than Hezbollah at Israel's border, even with international or UN forces. God! Will you be happy if Lebanon becomes another Iraq at your door? So stop immediately Olmert's boarding in Bush's stupid actions.

I think Nasrallah hit it on the head. Olmert has some personal issues, he over-reacted with this war trying to prove he is not the girly-man politician and not among the great generals of the past like Sharon, Rabin, Barak, etc... Sooo sad!! He's embaressing himself everyday..Why? No military accomplishments..zero ...zip ...nada!!

Right now the invincible IDF is destroying all the bridges in the Christian areas of Lebanon. You are destroying what is left of our country because of hatred, we hate you as much as you hate us and more !! Your miraculous IDF is loosing, and you will lose this stupid war. IDF and IAF and their alike flex muscles on our bridges and civilians only. Bunch of loosers.

Guilty as Hell, I am. However, I wonder why Israel never manufactured several thousand cheap rockets of its own? A very cost effective weapon. Never used or developed the Daisy Cutter, never unloaded its arab prisoners into Lebanon or never touched Syria. Just to have Israeli youth fight house to house is hezbollah's war. Massive firepower is Israel's war. Now, even if hezbollah is weaker, Syria is stronger and nobody except Iran would care what the IDF does to Syria.......

Even as we write, the US is continuing to re-arm Israel (some via the UK). There is no end to the amount of bombs that can be dropped other than total annihilation. Is this what anyone really wants? Is the Israeli government and its supporters so short-sighted? What is in their hearts? The peaceful route doesn't always work; the violent one never does. "War is a cowardly escape from the problems of peace." (Thomas Mann). Are there no leaders with the courage to admit that? If the attacks stop short of total destruction, who will pick up the pieces? Does anyone imagine that they will sleep better at night, fearing that the families of the Lebanese and Palestinian dead might seek revenge "proportionate" to that being handed out by Israel?

Ronnie Wolman y arabs fear there leaders is because Isreal and USA put these puppets in charge like mubarak like the king of jordan we need more strong leaders like hassan nasrallah that wont be intimidated by you(isreal) and USA , Look i as an arab have no problem with jewish people the problem here is zionism there needs to be peace and a long lasting peace. The only way that will happen is if the brutal aparthied is stopped and the occupied lands are returned SALAMS to ALLLLLL lebanese and isreali we as people/humans can sort this out enough WAR

Yes, rockets are raining over Israel but that's expected. It would be naive to expect eliminate Hezbollah in 3 weeks. Where Israel has failed is in letting Hezbollah build upo its arsenal in the last years. Let's hope that Israel will destroy Hezbollah, or bomb Beirut so hard that the Lebanse governmwnt will wish they took on Hezbollah as they should have done. It would have been less costly than rebuilding an entire country.

Unk, how can the UN , a world body owned and administers by the Jewish lobby and the US , give land and make countrys from other peoples land? This is justice, fair and simple Unk. Israel is a fake country period. This is a total logical response to a aggressive , fake country. Would you be ok if someone came into your house and said "unk, you have to leave because God, not your god, said this house does not belong to you? Come on man, use your head. Would you go peacefully, if god said leave?

The IAF should be leveling Damascus, not Beirut. To stop the rockets, you need to cut the Hezbos' supply line.

Who would have predicted Peretz would prosecute a war more? Olmert's continual vacillation, his grandiose statements, his linking this action to convergence is the work of a mere politician. He is not a leader, but rather an inadequate opportunist while soldiers and civilians are dying.Let the IDF do its job.

Mr. Chen: What about Tibet supressed by China? This topic is much vloser to you personally.

Last Part#5: PETER SM, Last but not least, I'd like to point out that every time I engage in a debate with an Israeli, I find the carbon copy cliches to be amazing from we have developed the desert to be a garden to we brought hospitals to the Palestinians. Every one tries to liken Israel's situation to another event in another part of the world, including but not limited to Rwanda. I would like to remind everyone that over usage of anything degrades its meaning including the Anti-Semitism classification. In a Haaretz article by Tom Segev: "Many Israelis tended to look at the Qana incident primarily as a media disaster and not as something that imposed on them any ethical responsibility." The Jews should understand that PR is not everything. No amount of media spins can whitewash atrocities; and if some are led to believe otherwise, other than the facts, the victims will never be fooled and their suffering will come back to haunt you.

Par#1: Peter. My Dear. First of all, the Jewish people are at a unique position. With their rich heritage, human suffering experience and their current global power are suppose to be a shiny example, a beacon of justice and humanity for the rest of mankind. Yet, in my observation, the Zionist doctrine has caused them not to miss an opportunity to messup their moral authority. I am 78 years old; call me father Chen, who has lived through it all. If you are willing to understand then we have something to talk about. I am neither an enemy nor a friend of Israel; however, I was a dogged sympathizer of the plight of Jews until the atrocities of the Jews started to surface from late 40s onward till this very moment. With each passing day, just like the rest of the world's populace awakening, I have to admit that evil thoughts, which I truly condemn, had crossed my mind in the form of a question: Was Hitler right? This should not be confused with condoning his actions but what he feared of.

Part#4: PETER SM, Prof Chen on Hzblh/Iran calls for Israel destruction Your point killed 8 soldier, well, I am sorry about having to say that invading military personnel are legitimate target under all rules of engagement. They simply cannot be apprehended unless overpowered, with causalities being an inevitable byproduct of the mission. Your point, subjecting China to a missile barrage. As far as the whole world knows, Hezbuallah did not launch a single Katyusha until the IAF hit first, they simply asked for prisoners swap and that's it. Finally, you reminded me of Tibet and Taiwan, well, my dear since the creation of the State of Israel, can you please remind me how many incursions the Chinese military had invaded Taiwan, you know something that resembles the IDF's incursions into the PA territories and the targeted assassinations on weekly bases, etc.

Part#3: PETER SM, Prof Chen on Hzblh/Iran calls for Israel destruction In this case aren't Israel amateur politicians refusing to deal with realities, recognize and deal with Hezbullah and Hamas? Isn't Israel waging real belligerent acts against Iran secretly and in the open? Wasn't President Ahmadinijad the subject of three assassination attempts for which all the facts point to the Mossad? , Isn't Israel trying to hoodwink the US to wage war against Iran same as Iraq's? Apart from the rhetorics, we haven't seen Iran do much physical harm to Israel. If you are paranoid by Ahmadinijad's statements, just turn off the TV. Your point, Kidnapped 2 soldiers, well, I think we have to stop here for a little. Were these 2 soldiers "kidnapped" from a street or they were actually "captured" on Lebanese soil? There is a huge difference here, failing to understand the difference doesn't do the case any justice.

So, let me get this right...you are THE voice who proclaims victory in world conflicts? Sir, you are spinning the truth here, as neither Mr. Olmert nor Mr. Bush have declared outright victory. Yes, both have said that their respective countries will win out in this struggle with Islamo-Fascists but you are being dishonest in saying what you have. As for your comment on 'genecidal maniacs', if you fairly look at the events in the world, it is CRYSTAL CLEAR who the 'genecidal maniacs' are...the Islamo-Fascists who are instigating trouble ALL over the planet, sir. Your perspectives are very narrow at best and will, if allowed to win out, will have us all deeply involved in WWIII..

#2 PETER SM, Your point, what would China do if a group calling for its destruction. Well, my dear, let's act as grownups, China had been provoked so many times, had it acted disproportionately as in Israel's case every time, we would have nuked the US fleet long ago; and probably we would not be here today to exchange this honest debate as a result. On the calling of Hezbullah and Iran for the destruction of Israel, every opponent would call the other side whatever suits its propaganda's agenda, especially if they are on the receiving end of what Israel is doing to them for generations. Since President Sadat of Egypt, and after the peace treaty how many time have you heard the Egyptians say they will throw the Jews into the sea? You see, until people on both sides show good faith and sit down to negotiate peaceful terms, all the babbling makes no sense, in most cases it is politically driven for local consumption.

You are exactly right in saying what you have about Arab countries not moving their people forward. Regardless where one is in the world, a 'loser' can be characterized by not being able to put past failures behind them and moving forward. This describes the conflict in the ME and more specifically, the Arab extremists who continue to stir trouble at every opportunity. Their sole purpose is to draw attention to their plight as having land they claim is 'theirs' stolen back in 1948 when the UN founded the State of Israel. Of course, that was ONLY 58 years ago! Then, when after attacking Israel and having additional land taken, the extremists again cry foul. Only when these islamo-Fascists, who do NOT represent any government, are eliminated by moderate Muslims and the free world will there be peace in the ME. A 'loser' mindset will never ever move the peace process forward.

"cannot cover up the Israel Defense Forces' failure, after three weeks of fighting, to put an end to, or at least reduce, the intense fire on Israel." How can you say IDF is failed? it was open knowledge that this task is not militarily possible in the given timeframe and the foe it is fighting. Just like bombing Iraq or Afghanistan to impose Democracy is failed. That was Bush failure and now it is Israel politician?s failure. All this talk about democracy and justice is bull in America and Israel dictionary unless these democracies toe the line.

Hizbollah was always a terrorist band of thugs, running half a country like a bunch of killers running northern Mexico and shelling Arizona or San Diego. Hizbollah don't care if katyushas hit a kindergarten or old age home, as long as the ball bearings in rockets kill more children or old people, or anybody Jewish. Hizbollah don't drop flyers to Haifa to warn the evacuation of kindergartens.Hizbollah just wants dead children, or anybody Jewish, period.

I lost my brother to a bomb attack by the Hezbollah in Sujud, Lebanon in 1993. My family have never recovered from the tragedy. Now here we are again..... Strangely enough, I don't have bad feelings towards anyone. I just feel indifferent. I wonder if this is just a way for me to mask deep pain. When this war began, for the first time in a long time, I felt a great deal of anger towards the Hezbollah. I also felt a need for retribution. But nothing can fill that hole. And agression is never the answer. It just creates more pain. I am sure there are people who feel like me everywhere....

In last 60 years Israel Gov't had lied and lied to it's people. No wonder so many people around the world despise Israeli crimes.

WAKE UP BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE

"Iran and its manipulation and its proxy provocation here." - Ronnie W Iran has LITTLE to do with this crisis. Iran didn't plan this war, as a diversion or as anything else. Nobody anticipated Israeli upgrade of a minor, if irritating, border incident to a full scale existential war. Proximity in time to the Gaza situation suggests that Hizballah simply tried to help/demonsrate friendship to a similar organization, which it had been helping for a long time. And Hizballah has authorized the Lebanese government to negotiate cease fire for it. All this shows that Hizballah is not acting as a proxy for Iran, which it rarely does, but out of its own interest. The Iranians support Hizballah, as the US supports Israel, but this does not make the suppotee a puppet of the supporter. Regarding long term resolution, You can kill Hizballah in 2 ways: Pulling Syria out of its support group, or doing the same with Iran. Obviously, the Syrian track is easier and more feasible. This is well known in Israel, and makes the most sense. I mentioned this to you before. Take it or leave it, but it is not worth further discussion. Regarding other conflicts, I rather not get into it now. Enough confusion already. And paranoia will not be helpful.

"the prime minister's speech at the National Security College in which he boasted of the war's achievements so far. "Israel is succeeding in this war and is making unparalleled, perhaps unprecedented, achievements," - Haaretz I am disturbed by the fact that Olmert could speak such nonsense in the graduation ceremony of the "National Sec. College". The College gives its courses to high ranking officers and civilians. It is doubtful Olmert itself ever took this course of study, but he can lecture without having much respect for reality. I wonder what the graduates were thinking. In reality, there are hardly any achievements. Hizballah no doubt increased its deterrence capability: Israel learnt it cannot stop Katyusha fires into cities, so it will not think anymore of hitting civilian targets once this war is over. The only real achievement will be pushing Hizballah out of a narrow security strip, if the int'l force performs. If no new force comes in, Israel will be stuck again.

Bush claims vitory in Iraq-- wrong Olmert claims winning in Lebanon - wrong This is embarrassing to both of these genicidail maniacs and they days are numbered. The countdown to israels destruction has started. Enjoy, you earned it.

Which "animals" who occupied Lebanon are you referring to? The Syrians? If the Lebanese could ever exercise sovereignty over their country (instead of massacring each other), we wouldn't have had the PLO attacking Israel from Lebanon or Hezbollah (with Syrian and Iranian backing) starting unprovoked wars. You seem to harbor some misguided notion that Israel wanted to go into Lebanon. And, if Hezbollah didn't use Lebanese civilians as human shields, there would be far fewer civilian casualties. But they launch rockets from civilian neighborhoods.

You're in illegally occupied territory, what are you doing there? Wouldn't you want to fire something at Arabs if they broke off a piece of Tel Aviv?

In reading the surnames of several of the casualties from the Katyusha rockets in Northern Israel earlier today, several of the names appear to be Arabs to me. I wonder what pride and joy Nasrallah takes in killing his own people indiscriminately.

Look, ignorant comparisons of Nazi Germany to Israel won't get far on this website. Maybe you'd be better off finding a pro-Hezbollah website. As it is, your country (if you're a Chinese national) supports an insane Iranian theocracy -- purely because it wants its oil -- and is thwarting actions to restrain Iran in the Security Council. Of course, we all know that China is a model nation, what with Tianamen, the Cultural Revolution, etc.

We are Israelis. We are untouchable. No matter what we do, the international community will not act against us. Oh, there will be talks at the United Nations but we know that the United States will intervene on our behalf. There will be Arab League discussions but we know that no state will take action against us. There will be mass protests and demonstrations; there will be activists and advocates begging for peace; there will be rallies and fund-raisers to help the targets of our bombs. And we know that nothing will make a difference because we are Jews ? we are victims of the holocaust. We have suffered such that we have the right to make the rest of the world pay (even though organized Zionism officially declared war on Germany in 1933, long before Hitler?s Final Solution). Because we are victims.

Hey Osborne check out the Australian Herald Sun They have pictures of Hezbollah setting up missiles near schools and christian areas so that Israel will fire back and hear crap from soft headed brits did you ever hear of dresden? UK did it, killed thousands, to stop genocidal monsters, Hezbollah wants to wipe out all jews in argentina etc, and as they say, first the saturday people then the sunday people your subways are next, jerk

How about Arab countries spend more time focusing on how to make their citizens lives more productive and less time pointing their finger at the US/Zionist conspiracy to take over the Middle East? And for that matter, how about communicating in a way that isn't both bellicose and histrionic. Finally, toning down the rampant official anti-semitism that permeates the Arab media and educational institutions might make people stop and listen to their point of view and any legitimate issues they might have.

Notice how much the Arab propoganda machine jumps on civilian deaths caused by Hizballoh using innocents as human shields when the Arab insurgency in Iraq kills hundreds of innocent civilians every week. Where's the moral outcry in the Arab world or in Europe?

Add Stephen Murray to the blocked list please. IT is one thing to express opinions and it is another one to wish death on Israelis. This is not a question of right or leftist journalism. This is a question of outright hatred directed at Israelis as a whole. Therefore these comments have no place on an Israeli website, even if to illustrate to the rest of the readers that there are hateful idiots out there. We all know that already, and this is not an excercise in education for the masses. The Murrays, Dutches, Ibrahims of the world will carry on with their pitches. But you don't have to give them a forum. It actually ridicules the editors and hard working people of Haaretz as it shows that you don't even prevent this nonsense. Al Jazeera on the other hand limits this vitriole in a very very big way. I have yet to have had one comment published in one year, and they are tame compared to the likes of Murray, Dutch, and Lincoln.

"Iran and its manipulation and its proxy provocation here." - Ronnie W Iran has LITTLE to do with this crisis. Iran didn't plan this war, as a diversion or as anything else. Nobody anticipated Israeli upgrade of a minor, if irritating, border incident to a full scale existential war. Proximity in time to the Gaza situation suggests that Hizballah simply tried to help/demonsrate friendship to a similar organization, which it had been helping for a long time. And Hizballah has authorized the Lebanese government to negotiate cease fire for it. All this shows that Hizballah is not acting as a proxy for Iran, which it rarely does, but out of its own interest. The Iranians support Hizballah, as the US supports Israel, but this does not make the suppotee a puppet of the supporter. Regarding long term resolution, You can kill Hizballah in 2 ways: Pulling Syria out of its support group, or doing the same with Iran. Obviously, the Syrian track is easier and more feasible. This is well known in Israel, and makes the most sense. I mentioned this to you before. Take it or leave it, but it is not worth further discussion. Regarding other conflicts, I rather not get into it now. Enough confusion already. And paranoia will not be helpful.

"the prime minister's speech at the National Security College in which he boasted of the war's achievements so far. "Israel is succeeding in this war and is making unparalleled, perhaps unprecedented, achievements," - Haaretz I am disturbed by the fact that Olmert could speak such nonsense in the graduation ceremony of the "National Sec. College". The College gives its courses to high ranking officers and civilians. It is doubtful Olmert itself ever took this course of study, but he can lecture without having much respect for reality. I wonder what the graduates were thinking. In reality, there are hardly any achievements. Hizballah no doubt increased its deterrence capability: Israel learnt it cannot stop Katyusha fires into cities, so it will not think anymore of hitting civilian targets once this war is over. The only real achievement will be pushing Hizballah out of a narrow security strip, if the int'l force performs. If no new force comes in, Israel will be stuck again.

The rules in the middle east are clear... You better don't mess with a stronger country. If you do, don't be surprised if your children and women are paying the price. Now, you have only one solution, send the kidnaped soldiers back. If you decide that you are too proud to do that, you can only blame yourself for your children death!

David, I had no idea Israel was firing rockets at its citrizens. I thought that Hezbollah was firing the rockets and Israel was trying to *stop* them. Or is this the same argument that Rothschild and the greedy German Jews had no respect for Jewish life since they forced the Naziis to attack them?

Arik--this is no truth. If you want to argue that Israel is indiscriminately targetting Hezbollah positions and killing too many civilians make it. You want to argue that Israel is deliberately targetting civilians, OK, make your case. But to deny that Hezbollah is precisely lobbing shells TO KILL CIVILIANS is futile. And since Hezbollah is *deliberately trying to kill civilians* (with limited success so far) the IDF isn't using civilians as shields since they are now targets-of-choice for Hezbollah's rockets. Try something productive like arguing that Hezbollah's response is retaliatory and thereby justified. I don't buy it--and in an actual war, which is where we are these finer points does it matter how you justify each side's purity?--but the argument you are pushing is not very convincing.

A 23-day war, lead by one of the world's strongest armies (supposedly!) owning the most sophisticated and technologically advanced artillery, weapons, and equipment against a sovereign state and its children, women, villages, bridges, and infrastructure, is about to reach its dead end! Other than the bloodshed and the innocent civilians that have died on both sides, what did it achieve? Probably for more hatred, a universally agreed upon praise for Hizbullah's tactics and abilities, and for an agreed upon universal disappointment towards Israel's political and military decisions and their appropiatness. Democracy will win at the end!

Today for the first time TV stations around the world have shown images of Israeli citizens in the North fleeing Southwards... so far, we had only seen such misery on the other side of the border One can only wonder what will happen if long-range missiles were to hit Tel-Aviv.. The fact that Israel's political and military leaders seem more concerned about PR and photo-ops than about their fellow citizens safety shows why this is really an existential moment in the history for Israel

Although civilian casualties are regretable, strategic considerations must be judged as more important. Any life sacrfifiaced now, on both sides, is a just a warning what whould happen if the matter is not settled in a sustainable peace. Casulties would be multiplied by a factor of thousands in a future wars. In a final calculations, sad as it sounds, it is all for a good cause.

I guess nobody would figure out rockets are falling on their heads if the Prime Minister did not verbally acknowledge it. What a maroon...

Pity we don't have few B1, B52 and C130. Maybe converting few old 707 will be helpful. Being proud of avoiding civilians will cost us too many causalties and the barbarians don't deserve that. Our generals should read the history of Sep 1970 and the following 36 years of tranquility in Jordan. DR D

It's clear from your post that you have no real understanding of your enemy. Israel is not seeking revenge. That seems to be one of her enemies traits. As for your comment on the Holocaust, it demonstrates the course of your education. If Israels enemies don't stop preaching hate and revenge, there will never be a non violent relationship. Peace, to us, doesn't mean the absence of people, but the absence of violence among people who live together.

Just stop it all!!! all we want is to live in peace. i'm lebanese and i'm with the complete disarmement of hizbulla, he draged us into a war that was not necessary, Lebanon was having its best year everything was great for us. Pus i'd like to say that Israel are really a criminal and a racist country. before this war many Lebanese thought of peace between Lebanon and Israel and for us to be Friends co i think Israeli and Lebanese can be friends, but now after what i saw after what the israli govt did, i think all Lebanese really hate Israel and all we want is just a durable cease fire.

Olmert is convinced that Israel does not have to return the occupied territories to the Palestinians as long as he curses them and calls them terrorists. In return, Hezbelah will, eventually, feel ashamed and would then surrender. One high ranking Israel government official even designated Hezbelah to be a cancer and, therefore, a health risk.

You can only attempt to subvert ,none has any resapect for your views.Not even Hezbollah.

Here is the truth, freshly from Nazareth: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article14349.htm

I dunno where the great Olmert gets his info, but Huzb Allah's influence is better than before the war in Lebanon. As evidence, the Lebanese government has adopted a 7 point plan, but then was forced to just ask for an immediate ceasefire. Have no doubt, in the presidential election coming up, Micheal Aoun, the ally of Huzb Allah will be taking the presidency and if the alliance stands till the next parliamentary elections, the Huzb Allah alliance is gonna break the current majority easily.

very difficult to fight them.suggestions: 1 soldiers should not crowd together. 2 mortar fire should be used as often as possible. 3 sharpshooters would be very useful.but there must be masses of them. 4 ambushes should be set up to kill them. 5 good intelligence needed quickly fom captured hizballah personnel. 6 tough reprisals should be used against the surrounding community.

If, in the future, you post again I would recommend that before you do: 1. Before questioning the 'intelligence' of others, you might want to write a post that is gramatically correct, as your post reflects your knowledge/intelligence as well. 2. your post doesn't ramble on and on and on and on.... 3. if you are going to try and make a point, taking 'cheap shots' at people doesn't help your argument but does show you lack objectivity and fairness, sir. Whether you agree with the decisions being made by M.r Olmert and Mr. Bush, your attacks were directed at individuals and not based on facts.

I want to say that all what sam says is very true, and that we should stand united to stop the massacre that is taking place between israel and lebanon, alon with the lebanese we should stand

The second lesson for Israel is that leaving Gaza; didn't put them in a better position then before. The firing of fockets didn't stop; it just got more difficult & costlier to keep Gaza at bay. Can anyone please answer this question? What has Israel gotten for leaving Gaza?

No one is ever faultless,you know that. Can Israel pin point every terrorist? Should Israel have accepted a party with a charter calling for its destruction? Who CAN we negotiate with,really?(we know the spin but this is not spin) Who? Who can make a peace stick? who? Abbas?It takes a man with courage and a visionary and it may cost him his life and then what happens. No for me the arabs and muslims have to sort out their mess first. They have to decide who they are and what they believe.Ibrahim,democracy and an anti stand of any form of totalitarianism would be good within Islam but how many muslims that are in the west would fight for such a thing? How about you? This would surely give us more confidence.I believe that Israel and Jews could bring about help in bringing Islam forward to this century and badly needed help for most of its people who are stuck between being stooges for the Arab leaders.Jews look up to their leaders and question them,muslims are afraid of theirs.

Dear Roger, You are right your IAF are wiping Lebanese families, women and children but not the brave Hezbollah fighters you know why? because you are only good in that in wars crimes, in killing civillians and innocent people, no one knows you more than us, Muslims, we know your history and we know your dream, the dream that you are very proud of to print on your flag, but this is not gonna happen as long as there is Hamas and Hizbollah and who knows, may be in the future new such great groups will be born, and you know why all of that, for a simple reason you know and all the world know, because it is all our LAND - THE OCCUPIED LAND

olmert and bush are two politicians with limited intelligence(olmert) and practicall none(bush) who also suffer from delusions. neither is told the truth by the people around them and both believe in impossible outcomes. when olmert talks about keeping 80 percent of the colonies and colonists and allowing the pals only a few disjointed bantustans one just rolls his eyes and wonders in which land of make belief he resides. the same applies to 'defeating hezbollah'.

I would like to see how the world would react if a massacre similar to the one in Qana happened in Haifa, where more than 40 babies who had been hungry and living without food for 3 days, were buried alive. I am a christian from lebanon who despised hizbollah and what they stand for before all this slaughtering of innocent children,but now i hope they could hit Olmerts whole family. We were looking forward to peace with Israel after the withdrawal of the animals that occupied us for 30 yrs,but now i really can't see that happening, cause Israel has made people that hated Hizbolla in the past symapathize and support their actions.

Israel is just refusing to think about the possible negative effects of what it is doing to Lebanon. What a wonderful victory for the god of war and the many rejectionists on both sides

well, first i would like to confirm that we christians in Lebanon do not support Hizballah and we do not want rockets to hit Israel, (not because we like you or anything) but simply becoz we want to give peace a chance. We are really sorry for civilian losses on both sides of the borders neither Lebanese nor Israeli kids have to live (or die) this way. We just wish that war is over soon, and to IDF and IAF I say: targetting civilians is just giving a new reason to Hizballah to exist. Hope hate doesn't blind you all from seeing the "peace" message in the above text

"The Lebanese,the Iranian people,Abbas,they all are not willing to fight for their peoples freedom but they are willing to stand by and allow the fundamentalists to take control,claim victimhood and blame Israel. These are people you want to make peace with?" Are you suggesting Abbas fight Palestinians to "gain freedom"...you mean, honestly, Israel is faultless in this mess and is only sitting there peacefully waiting to offer freedom? How surreal of you.

Olmert on Lebanon is beginning to sounds more and more like George Bush on Iraq - winning victories that only he can see and creating more radicals than ever before.

GOT A SHOCK WHEN A KATUSHAR ROCKET FELL NEAR ME TODAY,,,,,,,,,,,,SOMEBODY TELL ME WOT EXACTLY IS THE IDF ACTUALLY DOING????????

Even if you set your own populace up to believing it. The real concern should be about what will Israel do, and at what economic price, if there isn't going to be a robust peacekeeping force within a short time? Say three months?

Nothing, absolutely nothing, excpet the devastation of Lebanon and more rage and anger among those where it did not exist before. This will go on until Israel is ready to recognise a Palestinian state and end its occupation. Until then,if the IDF does succeed in stopping the rockets being fired from the south and the Beka, then the katyushas will be fired from Tripoli.

Olmert needs to stop whining and bragging, and start fighting as if Israeli live really mean something. Crpet bomb every square inch of suspected targets, if civilians get killed, then it is their fault for not leaving sooner. Fighting a war like a stupid liberal will keep this battle going on for years at the rate we are going. Take a page from what the Allies did to Dressdon and Hiroshima, everyone loves a winner. It is absolutely idiotic to presume this new kind of war (conducted behind human shields) is going to be finished in a few days. Olmert needs to adopt a ruthless strategy in winning-- a Scorched earth policy that destroys everything in sight.

Now who on earth would have that Motto?

Dear Sirs; I wonder why nobody is asking the question as to the usefulness of a 6-8 kilometre buffer zone, when Hezbollah can launch rockets that travel 70 kiometres. One would think in that case, that the buffer zone should equal the missle range of Hezbollah's arsenal. Placing a UN force of some kind in that buffer zone will simply result in missiles being fired overhead of this force. What will be accomplished?

Just one of the reasons Olmert is being delusional. No one is going to do Israel's work for them. This war is a distraction from Israel's need to accept the 2 state solution. When Olmert says Israel will keep many of the West Bank settlements and land on the Jordan River, and says that it really all belongs to Israel eternally, this is not acceptance of a 2 state solution. More like a declaration of war.

as an avid reader of ur reliable and objective newspaper,i hope this bloody war will stop soon;hizbollah is winning more islamic and arab hearts;thus, radicalizing more muslims who willthreaten our young democracies in north africa and destablize the region;olmert,you are playing with fire and jeopardizing the future of israel by ur miscalculations

This is a war we shouldn't have entered because it's a war we aren't willing to fight. It's ironic in that exactly the things people are accusing Israel of is what she isn't willing to do. That is why we shouldn't have set foot in Lebanon. Let's be blunt, the response to what hizbullah is doing, and that is proving that they can reach into Israel with katyushas now, and better rockets in the future is hitting Lebanon with much more force. The IAF has to be unleashed and cause maximum destruction and in so doing become a deterrent for the next country to try the same. It's not a realistic expectation to sniff out each and every katyusha launcher in Lebanon. Carving out a "zone" is pointless, it won't stop the katyushas. Lebanon has to be taken out.

Olmert! Shame for us. Shame for Israel! shame for the jews. The people didn't vote for you. How can you take all these decisions alone? Are you the first dictator in Israel? Or just because USA told you to make a war? You are realy sick..a message to all the israeli people, you have to do something to change this gov. and force olmert to demission. You still have a chance to make a better image of Israel! All the people around the world critisize us and they are saying now : Terrorist Israel!!!Shame, shame, shame...

Israel is keeping thousands of prisoners. More than enough to swap for the two soldeirs. How else could Israel get rid of these prisoners except by prisoners swap. And how else the prisoners swap could be made without Hezbollah snatching Israelis...

for you all... the only way to get peace is : 1 - immediate ceasefire 2 - exchange of prisonners 3 - withdraw from chebaa 4 - an international guarantee to lebanese that IDF will never come to lebanon again!!! 5 - ...and an other advice : stop arrogance... there is no success and cohabitation with such kind of culture anymore!

Ben,you have been constantly on this message. Most of us shleppers have no idea of the real story of the situation.No not the survival of Israel,we are all in line with that. Your message though doesnt say too much about Iran and its manipulation and its proxy provocation here.You talk about Syria and from what Ive read that you are probably right about Syria but Irans position is much more dangerous and the nuclear possibility (more than the situation in real terms) is fuelling andrenaline to the Shiite cause. Israel has to show power in the face of the many muslim countries that hate it and yes the only other way is the peace plan. But how can you trust it? The Lebanese,the Iranian people,Abbas,they all are not willing to fight for their peoples freedom but they are willing to stand by and allow the fundamentalists to take control,claim victimhood and blame Israel. These are people you want to make peace with? There is no Sadat on the horizon.

The rockets&weapons were delivered to Hizbulla under the watchful eye of Sharon, P.M.,Olmert, Vice P.M.,Peres,head of Labor,Mofaz,Defense Minister-the list goes on and on.The present gov't&mostKnesset members must be replaced. The first law that needs to be passed, as an emergency law, is one that prohibits a person who has served in the Knesset for more than 4 years to be precluded from serving again. We desperately need new minds with new solutions who are not part of the "good ole boys network" to take over ASAP. That network,however,like communist regimes,has set up a system that is diifficult to dislodge--like Hizbulla launchers. The media,including this extreme left wing publication needs a refurbishing from its roots and up. There is difference between being a leftist and blind stupidity. A new party -OLEH-should be formed by the tens of thosands of olim and bring a gov't of honesty and responsibility to this holy home of the Jewish people.Deepest heartfelt thanks to our sodiers

My Friends in Israel, I believe the reason the rockets have not stopped is that Hebollah realizes they have to either use them or lose them. In my opinion the reason the numbers of daily launches is increasing is because you are defeating them, and they are in serious jeopardy of losing their remaining stockpiles. Keep up the good work.

It's true that Lebanon is not an organized country, but Hezbollah is a very discipline organization. The fact is that they follow one leader, don't speak much and end up sounding like Arab leaders and recentrly Israeli ones. The fact is that by not taking advantage of the relevant peace that was between Israel and Lebanon for the past few years, Hezbollah has made a big and costly mistake. Although it can be justified, but it could have also been avoided and communication could have been an effective substitute. Just like there's Hezbollah to blame for provoking the war, Israel is to be blamed harshly for escalating it and taking it too far as a start. The only remaining truth is that this war will only kill more innocent people from both sides. Only us, only the people and for the sake of those we care about, can make a difference. Take a look @ the potential relationship between Israel and the Lebanese (other than Hezbollah). It was going really well until Harirri was assasinated

This Army is mediocre. Failure to secure its own borders initally, the failure to turn on anti-missile ship defenses, the inability to push 1500 guerillas off its border, the failure to discover and destroy launchers. The list goes on. ANd why - because for the past 6 years, it has been spending its tim killing civilians, making arrests and corrupting informants. It has lost all military skills. And the worst crime - the wanton destruction of civilian infrastructre. Turn millions of pro or at least neutral Lebanese against you forever. Israeli arrogance strikes again.

...after..Is just on the way.Let IDF conclude their job,then it will be time to replace inconcludent Mr.Olmert.He is not a Chief is only a lawyer and must return to his job.Saluti.

So the solution is to wipe all the families to stop the missiles!plz Read history...all of it.

Olmert waited way too long to order the ground offensive, and has appeared weak - bluster only evidences this weakness.The no-security "security" cabinet should all resign after the war is over - Olmert's family alone should have disqualified him from being P.M.

Time to get rid of this clown.

Steps for peace are condivisible,but say it to hezbollah and Lebanese government offers it to ONU and may be something unforgettable will happen:the cease-fire and peace in border lebanon-israel.Saluti

There were too many mistakes in strategy and in tactics. We are dealing with amateurs here: 1. The kidnapping of soldiers should have been responded to as a border skirmish, not escalated to "war". Hitting Hizballah positions, getting some captives, would have been enough. 2. Hizballah rocket problem not evaluated well. At present, there is no real defense. I am sure the IDF knew this, and told this to Olmert. Don't go to "war" against cities if you are guaranteed to get hit. Stupid tactically. 3. Wrong tactics: Fight the Lebanese population so they fight Hizballah. Didn't happen; the Lebanese went thru a civil war and are reluctant to repeat the experience. Indeed, Hizballah grew in stature. 4. Unrealistic goals set for the war: "dismantle" Hizballah, and NO int'l force on border. The opposite will happen, at best. 5. The only realistic possibility, to set up a security strip, was started very late. Result: A narrow strip, narrower than the UNIFIL area which was established to remove (short range) Katyushas beyond range. Now it will be possible for Hizballah, after the int?l force comes in, to hit Kiyat Shemonah easily. 6. As the war is nearing its end, Israeli leaders still insist it will last for weeks on. Makes them look like fools. (This even includes Peres, who will not be taken seriously anymore. 7. Peace with Syria will bring an end to Hizballah. No need for all this mess if our leaders would think strategically. (Sharon was not capable of this either, but he would not have done the tactical errors.)

I can't resist anymore, i want to say everything..Olmert think that we are stupid and we don't see what's hapening! look to the lost in our army..dozens of tanks, hammers, helicopters, soldiers, and for nothing, no achievments!! I can't say anymore to people here that i am from israel, all the people abroad say stop killing children, stop destroying the country, and why your huge army is lost and is doing nothing...all the people here become proLebanon..please you are destroying the image of Israel..we became the slaves of USA..Please god, let Sharon be back, he will save us from this shame. The missiles will never stop from lebanon..The media in israel is lying, they don't show anything. The IDF speakers are lying also, they don't say the truth about the losses soldiers. My cousin was fighting, and his family has no news from him..they don't know if he is alive or no!!why?because he is already dead, but the army won't say.few days later they will say that he is dead in a car accident

...That applies to Hizballah who sent 200 rockets yesterday caring not about the age of whom killed nor where they landed... Zardos, as far as this particular war is concerned, the IDF started bombing Lebanon before the Hezbollah started bombing Israeli cities.

a. Hezbollah has had 6 yrs to build up their munitions. Estimated 12,000 rockets b. The munitions are scattered throughout residential neigbourhoods. c. The IDF is trying to minimize the bombarding of residential areas. d. Carpet bombing would rage the world so this has to be a slow process. I salute the IDF in their manouevers.

Rockets are getting closer to Tel Aviv...... One of the main goals of this war was to stop Hezballa missile lunched on Israel & free the captured soldiers. These goals have yet to be achieved. This must be said honestly it is no longer possible to talk about achievements. Lastly the frustrated mession based on a lousy intelligence to Baalback, the captured IDF soldier weren`t there, and neither any of the leader of Hezbollah. They had arrested instead a civilian called Hassan Nasrullah thinking of anything better than nothing in their way home, violence has never been the soultion for a war. As you see Lies are spread out all over by the desperate government for its own political survival. it is ligitimate for the Palestinian & Lebanese to claim their prisoners by all means specially when diplmotaic negotaitions didnt succeed to free them. I am afraid that we are heading to have more terror, More hatred, and more radicals in years and decades to come.

I would like to thank Israel and Olmert in particular for helping Hizbollah achieving its goals. At present all Lebanese are united and behind Hizbollah and most importantly Hassan Nassrallah becomes the Arabs leader for all times.

get out of your so called state its going to rain rockets get out of whats not yours .please haaretz find out what is realy happenening in so called isreal really palestine cause your govt is not telling u the truth u r losing alot of your terrorist people .GET OUT NOW

It isn't Israel that failed it's the world that failed Israel. Israel can get rid of this disease within a few hours if only the so-called stinking "civilized" West shut up and let Israel do what's necessary. It is unbelievable how Israel is the only country - America's makes half-hearted effort but is too incompetent - defending itself and the West against this onslaught of militant Islam and gets demonized for it by the very countries that should be eternally grateful to Israel. Europe: you deserve nothing but disdain!

This war runs the danger of turning into a Vietnam type of situation where the supply of weapons was never stopped because the source was never destroyed. In this case all these missiles are coming through Syria from Iran. As long as they remain unthreatened this could go on indefinitely.

HAVE ANYBODY THOUGHT ABOUT BRINGING PEACE TO THE REGION NOT DESTRUCTION.DO U GUYS THINK THAT THESE PEOPLE THAT HAD THEIR KIDS OR BROTHERS KILLED R GOING TO FORGIVE AND FORGET THINK TWICE BEFORE RESPONDING

As a Lebansese living outside the country,I feel sorry to see you all judging and blaming each other, and put the mistake on the other side.No matter who will win at the end,we have to understand that violence has never been the soultion for a war.In both countries,families are crying their kids,their relatives,their friends.but for what???Is it so difficult to have a peacful life?? Do we have to teach our children to hate insetad of rasing them on the respect & love education??To all, who still believe in peace,love and respect, please email me so we might be able to discuss & find a solution for this conflict.Peace on earth

Amir, I presume that you are of Lebanese roots.I am also very very sorry for the lose of lives on both sides of the border..You are sitting in the safety of Germany giving your opinion, but we here in Israel have been dragged into a conflict through no choice of our own..Your government has ignored the Hizbollah taking over in the South. A daily barrage of katshusha's onto the villages of Northern Israel had become a daily happening. Our government is acting in the way any other Western Government would in the same circumstances..The Lebanese and the UN have let both Lebanon and Israel down. Its not Israels fault that they have retaliated and want to put a stop to this aggression once and for all.People are dying and suffering on both sides and it has to stop.

As a nice "Jewish" girl from Greece used to post on Haaretz forum - have a happy Tisha B'Av !!!

"What about the missiles ?" "But what about the missiles volley's ?" "the gap between the PM's and yesterday's event raises question" from:Haaretz Editorial. A spoiled-demanding-Child's talk. Those who wrote this editorial should ask themselves if the British media and Public would have asked these silly-defeatist-questions in 1941 the Goverment of Chirchill when Britain was showered by the Luftwaffe every day and night and the people of London living in the Underground. This editorial is not in the spirit of the Battle of Britain. It is stupid and has no sense of timing and unworthy to be printed. Rememeber the roar of the British Lion' "We shall never surrender" ?That is the spirit Israel needs now. Not what about this and what about that. In fact not about anything.Even not about the people's will of which there is no doubt. The Brits have their Battle of Britain. Israel having its Battle of the Israelites. It's Finest Hour. Akram Zekaria.

look at the other way my dear jewish friend....give the shebba farm, the land mines maps, the release of prisoners, compensation of the accupations,stopping taking lebanese water and daily viloation of lebanese air/sea & land, and finally..implement SOME of the UN resolutions....

you first must agree that also Israeli people must live! If you accept all Hezbollah hate and aggressivity with no care, please don't cry when you are hit back

Sidney, do you have a son up on the Lebanese border? Well many of us mothers do...I think that Mr Olmerts precautious stategy has saved many many young Israeli soldiers lives..For this I thank him. Another point,remember that Mr Olmert took over his job, from others who have let the Hizbollah situation get to this. It should have been stopped years ago, before their strength had rooted..But I have faith in the IDF and they will uproot them all back to Iran and Syria.

Hey Click! Good to see ya back, Bud. Still shilling for the Arabs, oh Lawrence of Arabia! Not easy flying into all those Iranian missles pointing at you. But don't be too hard on us Click, when we couldn't find our soldiers, we grabbed a few Hizb guys to get them better medical care in Israel. After all, would you want to undergo a complicated operation in an Arab hospital? By the way, when I'm not tending to wounded here, we really love your posts. We especially like the one in which you claim to have Jewish friends and that you bought Challah on Sunday. You must like left over bread. We buy our hummous from our Arab friends on THURSDAY, the day before the Friday Muslim Sabbath. But whatever. Got some stats for you later on how the Arabs tried to steal our land here. Don't want to upset you with too many stats. Anyway, incoming Iranian missles now-gotta go. Talk to ya soon, Insha'alah. Shalom!

You will probably damage the rocket and emerge unscathed. You are so inhuman

Sorry your family has to go through what the majority of the Lebanese are going through. I have only one comment to you: The Golan Heights isn't "Israel", it's a disputed land only because some say it's Lebanese and others say it's Syrian. It is NOT Israel.

Why don't you ask Hezbolla to leave us alone and give us back the soldiers? Don't you know that for SIX YEARS Hezbollah has been firing rockets into our country without our doing anything? How can you talk like that?

Thanks Watcher...its the first time somebody doesnt want to kill or eat me!

Otherwise it is political point scoring and an insult to the deaths and suffering of all children in this war.

Otherwise it is political point scoring and an insult to the deaths and suffering of all children in this war.

Thank you for your email. I wish we could solve the region's problems together in harmony. You sound very intelligent and reasonable.

We would be really delighted and honoured if you would.

If you invite war you have to live with the result. Sorry, but Israel did not start it.

With people like you in Lebanon the country has a future.

I want my kids to live a normal life..is that too much to ask?we've become displaced living away from home and our family.My kids knew nothing of violance untill the bombarding of our country began.they are now aware that the monster is called isreal and it is responsible for their deprivation of their basic need;play.What isreal is doing is spreading more hatred and creating more terrorism.Any human being with a bit of humanity in his soul is totally against what's happening in lebanon.this must be stopped at once.You might win this war but there will be more wars to come.Don't we all want our kids to live in a better world??violence was never the solution to anything..

I don?t support Hezbollah in their approaches but you can never teach a lesson to land owners, especially if you are an invaders... wake up!

Enjoy it if thats what it takes.

There are no conditions attached by Hisbala and Iran just destruction of Israel. As a matter of interest what would China do if a group calling for its destruction crossed the border,killed 8 soldiers,kidnapped 2 while subjecting China to a missile barrage.? Honestly now Professor keeping in mind the way China has "negotiated" over Tibet or its threats to the people of Taiwan.?

he will never tell u the truth... it will only be revieled later on.. olmert is just lying to all israelies.. he's just doing what condi is askin for..

I suggest Olmert to stop the war,because his position is 4 years shelflife, but Israelis want to live the region next 10,000 years... Let the wise persons think about the future of the country...Today's Hezbullah is different than 1980's but 2020 Hezbullah will be more aggresive than today...Americans can provide you metal tools only,if their industries collaps where will come the metal tools ? ? ?.

Maybe you missed the quotation marks or maybe you missed my "I wouldn't go that far". Or maybe you are just confused in general. My posting was in response to posting #43. Calling people idiots isn't a good way of debating, but I'll take my chances -You are an Idiot.

This editorial is spot on: exactly correct! The discrepancy between Olmert's words and the reality of the missile barrage would be laughable if it weren't so serious. And it raises grave doubts as to Olmert's suitability to his immense job as leader of the nation - in general - not only in this crisis.

No points, no object to your posts just yelling "Baby killers" again and again as if that would convince anyone of anything. Want to make a point, fine. Have proof Israel is targeting civilians on purpose, fine. I have seen A LOT of proof Hezb is hiding behind babies. I have seen A LOT of proof Hezb is DELIBERATELY targeting civilians. I am not spewing meaningless, ill-meant sentences all the time. Remember when JFK almost started WW3 to stop missiles from getting to Cuba? THAT is what we are facing. B"H

Hi Linette,this is just a small piece of info.Arabs didn't send ships to Europe and bring jews to their land.They were thrown here by Europeans. And since then, the problem started.As an Israeli, wouldn't I ask myself a simple question " Who started this war?" when u have an answer, please speak it out. good luck doing that.

I love raids . They are exiting and bring out the best in the IDF. The raid on the Hezbollah Hozquital HQ was classic stuff. Right in the middle of where thousands of these mad terrorists operate from , the Israeli army strolling around the Hezbo HQ, going through drawers, taking out hard drives. They even found a person called Nazi-rallah. Now you can't put a lot to name but by some strange coincidence in life names have a way of painting a picture of a person, perhaps our creator intended it to be so.

The current events remind us of the killing and destruction conducted by -then-almighty Nazis. It seems Israel is leaving its neighbors with only two choices, either obedient followers or enemies. It's time for Israelis to understand that it belongs to the Mideast; and times really do change. It is foolish to pursue a strategy of imposing conditions without dialogue and consensus. Simply, you cannot have partners against their will, not even a woman for a wife or a nightstand! Israeli's approaches the Arab world with the most unfair, greediest and savage plan of total hegemony. A strategy that is doomed a failure, and the whole Israel enterprise may be doomed the same fate for that matter. The warped idea that the US should prevent a ceasefire to allow Israel to kill as many as possible is appalling and completely out of step. Today, the US has lost world's respect; its dubious policies have eroded its diplomatic and military potencies.

It has been said that well over half the rockets have been destroyed. That is true, nobody ever said all. They are fired from further back and hits are by luck now, and thats true. So this article is false. Those that critisise Israel, better look into the mirror, the poison being fed to Lebanon is from the cup filled by Hezbollah.We don't target civilains they do,and they fight and hide as civilians. After this is over,people in their hearts will know that as a social organisation Hezbollaha are useful,but armed they are terrorists,murders and a disaster.

It took the Allies six years to beat the Nazis. Israel cannot deliver a decisive victory from one day to the next - Hizballah has been planning and stockpiling for this war for six years. Have a little patience, give Zahal your unequivocal support, and stop all the carping and sneering. As children develop, they learn to control the need for instant gratification.

"Would you allow an email stating that we should kill Lebanese civilians and not only the terrorists?2 They do that every day Judah.

"maybe the israeli view of free speech is a little different from that practiced in germany" Yeah, it is. Take a look at this: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/745288.html (All the regular respondents have frustrating moments with Ha'aretz 'censorship', and the apparent criteria rarely make sense to any of us.) "Hizballah and the lebanese government is appealing on you for many many years to release lebanese prisoners" Note: this includes common murderers who would be hung for their crimes in several ME countries "hand out the plans for the thousands of mines Israel laid in south lebanon" Assuming Israel didn't lose them :-\ "and to hand over Shebaa Farms" Not a hope while Israel is living under threat. It would give a military advantage to Israel's enemies (and endanger a lot of civilian Israeli lives). We need a solid peace before it can even be discussed. (NB The UN say it's Syria's land anyway...) "You left Gaza under pressure" - NOT!

"So they children are fair game because their parents are all Hizbullahs?" Yes or No?

The missiles are part of the equation. Another part is removing a hostile civillian based militia and its sponsors. There are more things hapenning but if you get your jollies insulting Israel feel free. Just remember you are part of the Waqf Caliphate that includes Spain and says it belongs to Islam forever.

"My wife, my 6 week old baby and I have now spent 3 weeks in a hot, unpleasent bomb shelter. " At least you are breathing and still alive, different to the 900 Kids, Women and Elders murdered in lebanon. Thank God that Hizbullah is bombing you and not the Israeli Air Force. If it would be the IAF, then the phosphor woul have flooded your shelter already and the Builing above collapsed on your and your familys heads.

Olmert (yesterday) "Number one, the Hezbollah lost entirely their status in the political structure of Lebanon. Number two, they lost their position amongst the moderate Arab countries." A poll in Lebanon found that support for Hezbollah has gone UP 30% - THIRTY percent. And here's the unrefutable proof that you KNOW Olmert is lying Olmert "Mr Blair is a man of integrity."

"So they children are fair game because their parents are all Hizbullahs?" Listen and learn. 1.95% of Israeli firing is in hizballah hertlands where the folk are already pro hizballah. Sidon is quiet. 2.No rocket has a list of names on it for whom it is intended, nor an over 18 Certificate. That applies to Hizballah who sent 200 rockets yesterday caring not about the age of whom killed nor where they landed.

Olmert saying just that on one of his naval ships with a big ass "mission accomplished" banner behind him. As just like his buddy GWB he has no clue what did he just start, what on earth he's doing, who and what exactly is he fighting and most importantly where is this going to lead and HOW ON EART COULD THIS BLOODSHED BE PUT TO AN END!!!

You really should think, KyS. The Baalbek raid clearly was a bungle by Israel. They'd hoped for a spectacular coup and when the commandos got there they realised that they'd be sent on a wild goose chase. The captured IDF soldier wasn't there, and neither was the leader of Hezbollah. They arrested, instead, a Joe Scho Nasrullah. Everything else is spin on the part of Olmert, desperate to save his own skin.

My wife, my 6 week old baby and I have now spent 3 weeks in a hot, unpleasent bomb shelter. Yesterday, I ran out to buy some basic supplies and a katusha missed hitting me by meters. Unfortunately a man in Kibbutz Sa-ar was not so lucky and was killed riding his bike. YET, you post an email from this anti-semite ,Stephen Murray from Holland, who wants the Hezbollah to fire even more missiles into Israel and kill more of us. Would you allow an email stating that we should kill Lebanese civilians and not only the terrorists? OF COURSE NOT! So why do you allow this coward Murray's email? Are you Haaretz left- wingers so disconected from your fellow Israelis in the North as you relax in your posh air- conditioned offices in Tel Aviv?

The IDF and people of Israel are behaving gallantly, but Olmert is a poor leader who should be replaced. Here is David Broder's assessment in the Washington Post: For Israel, that would have meant a large-scale ground and air offensive aimed at driving the Hezbollah forces far from the border and eliminating their missile sites. But Olmert stopped short of making the full commitment to eliminating the enemy, instead waging an effort largely from the air, using U.S.-supplied munitions, that is wreaking havoc on the civilian population of Lebanon.

Olmert in Times UK interview "We didn?t attack any of the Christian quarters of Beirut." More damage to Christian suburbs from Israeli bombing of Beiruit was on TV tonight. Olmert" We didn?t attack any of the Christian residential areas in any part of Lebanon. " Google the words ...christian village bombed lebanon ... and you'll find plenty of evidence that this is more lies. Olmert "So the fact that people were killed there who were not dressed in uniforms doesn?t mean that they were innocent civilians." Including more than 200 babies and children?

(second try!! a little bit changed. maybe the israeli view of free speech is a little different from that practiced in germany.) Do your homework first, before bombing other people 20 years backwards! Hizballah and the lebanese government is appealing on you for many many years to release lebanese prisoners, hand out the plans for the thousands of mines Israel laid in south lebanon and to hand over Shebaa Farms. For me it seems that Israel makes concessions only under pressure. You left Sinai under pressure, you left South lebanon under pressure, you left Gaza under pressure und hopefully will leave the last piece of arab occupied land. God bless Nasrallah!

During the 22,23 days of ?local limited fighting? passed a ?metamorphosis? from wide military and political goals- not without internal ?discussion? - to the positioning of a large international force along Israel Lebanon border together with the weak Lebanese army, pushing back Hezbollah behind Litany with a possible disarmament etc. At the same time we lose a large amount of international good will, being accused of inhumane military actions causing enormous losses to Lebanon?s infrastructure senseless killing of women and children etc.

I must say that Haaretz is more realistic and straight-talking than most of the other Isreali homeland media. Most times reality hurts but then we can never live a lie forever. sooner or later we will have to face reality.

Now after more than 3 weeks of heaviest fighting, losses of lives, involving thousands and thousands of IDF ground troops, Air Force and Navy not to speak of the Katyusha barrages on Afula Northwards, i.e. Haifa, Kiryat Shmona, Nahariya, Akko, Maalot, Hatzur, Safed etc, the endurance of its civilian population, like the losses of life and on body, the enormous material losses by that action are the temporary results. ?The critics about the preparation / action for such a ?state of emergencies? be it on the civilian or the military side are not yet to be voiced and dealt with. - The tactical government?s decision not declare War, despite the very military forces are engaged in this ?limited local action? is a more than questionable political / financial decision. -

Erm, 'those towelheads' weren't the reason I was surprised to see support from Lebanon at this point. It was more to do with the mess we're making over there while trying to clean up :( The Lebanese have a good image in Israel, generally. It's just Hezbollah that don't.

I wouldn't go that far. They are back in their Security Zone inside of Lebanon. Now isn't that a victory?

The permanent statements by Ehud Olmert Israel?s Prime Minister do not help to clarify or state the directions of his government because they are based on contradictions. His government decided more or less on a not complete balanced fully fledge military action to Hezbollah?s attack and killing IDF?s soldiers, invading Israel?s territory by a few dozens of meter and carrying out a well planned terrorists attack. The public declared goals were complete elimination of Hezbollah?s military militia and removal from the border area. IDF military reply started on a larger scale with counter attack on local Hezbollah border positions.

The Iranian President Ahmadinejad said today that "the solution to the Middle East crisis is to destroy Israel".Hisbollah and Hamas are both trying to achieve this on the instigations of Iran & Syria.This is a fact that you cannot dismiss.Israel withdrew its troops totally from Gaza and Lebanon,as confirmed by the UN.Both Hamas and Hizbollah intensified their indiscriminate attacks on innocent Israeli civilians deliberately by rockets,kayutchas,suicide bombers etc.why ?can you not see that these animals are committed to the destruction of Israel ?what do you honestly expect Israel to do in the circumstances ?sit back and get slaughtered?You know very well that Israel does not target deliberately civilians.These animals,the cowards take refuge among their own innocent people hiding behind women and children.Israel is fighting for its own survival.Ahmadinejad keeps on repeating his determination to destroy Israel every other day.Israel would be failing in its duties not to act.

Chemical Ali is different from Comical Ali. "Chemical Ali" is Ali Al Majid (Half brother of Saddam as I remember) "Comical Ali" is Ali Saeed Al Sahhaf Iraqi Informations minister during the invasion of Iraq by the USA.

What a superb opeeration the raid on the Hezbollah Hozquital HQ was right in the very midst of where they thought thay were most safe. The Israelis must have picked up a lot of good info as well. But you do have to make allowances that these Hezbo guys can think ahead a bit and emptied out all the places that they calcualted may be a target. But you know how hurt Hezbollah really were when they reacted by firing 200 missiles into Israel and clickfool also fired 200 posts claiming that Israel are idiots and achieved nothing. How pathetic can one get.

They called him Chemical Ali not Comical Ali, didn't they?

"Something rotten about asking Israel to defend the Lebanese children of the parents who champion the murderers of Israeli children" So they children are fair game because their parents are all Hizbullahs? I think sleeping pills would work better or Prosac, because to live on that lie just isn't going to work.

OH! Steph am Lebansese..I dont blame you for being surprised after the image those towelheads are giving to my country.Everybody seems surprised that a Leb. can give arguments Wait to see once were liberated what we can do! Well when u can think and see out of the box and u have the culture to do it,and when ure a "pioneer not a follower" this irritates people of one colour and of one understanding..

There is no point in adding insult to injury at this stage. His estimates of almost everything change with each speech. Only the histrionics are the same. Aside from his operatic approach to the undoubted problem on the Lebanon border, when the tragically belated deal is eventually in place he will have to face complete loss of credibility at home. Our rough ride has only just begun.

The end result of this is actually two fairly battered countries. Yours at least is likely to be offered huge amounts of international support, in all the ways and from all directions. I know things are horrible right now. If I didn't think the _final_ end result was going to be better for both countries, I wouldn't be voicing support for any of it. (And yes, I _do_ have nightmares about dead children - yours and ours.) To a better future...

...about asking Israel to defend the Lebanese children of the parents who champion the murderers of Israeli children. People like Samir Kuntar whom we are led to believe is the main justification for Hizballah's original act of war. No outcry against the children dying daily in Iraq either. Not from any quarter, neither Western, Arab or Muslim do I hear an outcry, except possibly an outcry against the US for making the Iraqi child killers do it! When the Muslim world will stand up for Humanity then Israel shall stand up for the Muslim world. Meanwhile, stop barking.

It's a tough ride, but now is not the time for the statements by the author. It is playing into the hands of terrorists. The increased number of rockets can mean only one thing: The other side is hurting, but knows full well that they cant show that. They have to put up a show of force for the reason that the support for their actions originates not from despair, but from hope. Hope that they can eventually "destroy" Israel. Perhaps negotiations will be possible one day, but only after that hope has been defeated. That is on the table. And you can win this thing. Israel has the tools, has military might to get the job done. Now stop whining, apologizing and arguing, and get to it. I did not hear any fat ladies singing yet. You have more support in Europe than you think. Godspeed.

(Second try!!!) You remember Al Sahhaf alias Comical Ali(then Iraqi Informations Minister)? Olmert is the updated version. Al Sahhaf Quotes (just transfer them to Comical Olmert): "Who are in control, they are not in control of anything - they don't even control themselves!" "We have them surrounded in their tanks" (in Olmerts version it would be on their motorcycles!) "Now even the American command is under siege. We are hitting it from the north, east, south and west. We chase them here and they chase us there. But at the end we are the people who are laying siege to them. And it is not them who are besieging us."

Please read my post again, no where in it will you see that I am asking to stop the fight against terrorism. I am just saying that Olmert should be truthful to the citizens of Israel and stop making false speeches that are causing delusions. I fear that when people realize that this is a very long struggle they might fall into despair. Hazak ve ematz, from your Haifa neighbor. May we all have the strength and endurance we need.

Yes you did. They (HizbAllah) know now that they were on the right path the last couple of years.

Come on! You cannot stop Katusha's. But you sure can make Hezbollah suffer so hard they want to stop the fighting.

* The destruction of a neiboring country's infrastructure * The displacement of almost 1 million people in Lebanon and ??? in Israel * The killing of 900 civilians (third of whom being children) * The injury and mutilation of 3,000 civilains (same proportion of children) * Hatred of all Lebanese towards Israel has increased manyfold * The creation of thousands of future resistance fighters-in-the-making * Harm to Israel's international standing * The demise of the IDF invincibility myth * Objectives achieved can be summed up in the bogus expression that "Hezbollah's capabilities have been greatly diminished" and yet 22 days into the Israeli attacck on Lebanon, more Hezbollah rockets have fallen on Israel than ever before.

Due to their savagery and incompetence, Olmert and Peretz will be an embarassing part of history within 6 months. Sadly, the destruction and desire for vengeance they create will outlive their brief stint of power...

i think its ligitimate for the lebanese to claim their prisoners, we have more than 8 prisoners in israeli prisons, diplmotaic negotaitions didnt succeed in reclaiming them. after the lebanese have their prisoners back from israel we will claim our prisoners from syria too. its only natural to do that, its in the genenva paper.

I can perfectly understand your feelings against militias holding back your country's strive to brighter horizons, and I think polls stating Hizbollah's rising popularity are heaps of nonesense. Just keep in mind that the end result of all this is a battered anihilated country, and not only in regions you and I don't care about.

"I hope Hezbollah fires many more rockets on Israel." Which of course, will lead to more civilian deaths on both sides.

Watch out for propaganda and lies from a government out to save its own skin. Do not expect the unvarnished truth from Olmert and his gang. The raid on the Baalbek hospital is a classic of its kind. A clear cock-up, based on lousy intelligence, this operation was supposed to lead to a spectacular PR coup for Israel, with a rescued IDF soldier and the killing or capture of Nasrullah, the Hezbollah leader. In fact, all that happened was that some Hezbollah fighters were killed and a handful of civilians were abducted, the sort of thing that has happened every day during this war. Clearly, common sense should tell you that there is something odd about so dangerous a raid, producing such pitiful results. Yet this is now being spun into a success by the Israeli lie machine. Expect more of the same from your government, desperate for its own political survival.

Keep up the struggle against those evil Israeli terrorists and the communities in Israel which harbour the IDF terrorists. I hope Hezbollah fires many more rockets on Israel. After all it's only self defence. Israel has no right to complain about rockets while they are slaughtering so many Lebanese children

1. USA should not have ousted Saddam Hussein, he controlled his mob very well. Israel was better off before the American invasion of Iraq. 2. USA should stop meddling in Arab countries they prefer Muslim hell to democracy. If they want it they should fight for it. 3. Natalie, unless you are willing to live with rockets don't give armchair advice to suffering people. It's not a joke. 4. If you think Hizballah should have better rockets, pray that you and your family don't experience improved weaponry in the hands of terrorists. 5. As for "The lesson for Iran is, war can be fun": yes war can be fun on T.V. At this rate Iran is going to experience war first hand very soon, then we'll see who is having fun. 6. Natalie, why are you in America and not in an Arab country (where you obviously came from), is America better?

Judith none of us are enjoying this situation, specially us here in Haifa. But can you please tell me, in all your wisdom dear neighbour, what do you think that our leaders should do? How can you think to send those young lads into battle,(including my own son) if they think that they are fighting and putting their young lives on the line for a battle that is never going to be won ? Do you think we should all pack our bags and leave now?..Give a little support instead of seeing the cup half empty..

A lesson for all paricipants. The lesson for Israel is.Ridiculously weighted prisoner swaps, like the one Sharon engaged in with Hizballah in 2004 was short sighted and destined to encourage Nasrallah's act of war 3 weeks ago. The lesson for Hizballah is, don't think you are "the untouchables", and to integrate further into Lebanese political scene at the expense of an independent militia. The lesson for Iran is. You just sacrificed your pawn, way too early. They were meant to unleash rockets when the US attacks Iran. No way will they engage Israel again, especially half way through Lebanon's rebuilding programme.

10 children killed, 20 children killed 30 children killed 50 children killed 80 children killed 90 children killed 120 children killed 150 children killed 160 chiuldren killed 190 children killed 210 children killed 240 children killed 280 children killed and no, not a single voice raised inside of Israel for the murder of children to stop. Sorry, there was actually a couple of guys that cleared their throats and that maybe was something of an opposition to the slaughter of children. Hizbollah stays strong but the children are dead.

i wonder if any one of you heard of the 7 steps that the lebanese government had decided (government including members of hizbullah) the steps include cease fire , prisoners swap, return of shebaa farms, and the government and the lebanese army will take control of the south, and weapons will be only in the lebanese army hands and only the government will have the decission in temrs of war and peace. you cant destroy hizbullah by brute force this is very clear and obvious now. i think israel needs a strong "WISE" leader as sharon

and soon there will be this Internatioanl Force, that "if the Hezbollah allows for it". Yes that is the wording. "If the Hezbollah allows for it". So what does THAT say about how this war went? Olmert wanted a quick victory and the people was all behind him, now that didn't happen so "I know what I am doing" maybe was "I haven't got a clue but I'll go for it" and look what happened. Lebanon in ruins and 95% of the deads are Lebanese civilians and the Hezbollah holding a veto on whether Israel is stuck in the mud or not. Soon they will flock to Lebanon, the investiigators, and try to discover what happened there. Nothing Israel can do about that and the cries for War Crimes being punished will be raised and not to many would like to stand and shake hands with people under investigations for crimes against humanity for that photo op to haunt them forever.

Would'nt have been more productive to engage in meneangful negotiations to achive the same objectives, i.e. to stop (and prevent future)Hizboluulah rockets and, more importantly, to achieve real peace between the tow people, Lebanon and Israel, and for the matter, Palestine? Most likely with some courage and wisdom, no rockets would have been fired on Israel and no destruction of lives and infrastructure in Lebanon at grand scale. Instead what do we have now? More hatred, and more radicals on both sides bent on destroying the other side. What a foolish policy being carried out with world silence under the hype of the "war on Terror" I am afraid we are bound to have more no less terror in years and decades to come.

let the israëli goverment time, a war like this one cannot be achieved in so little time, be patient, venimous animals cannot be eliminated so quickly

Haaretz editorial has hit the nail on the head. Olmert and Peretz et al. are beginning to sound like Arab leaders with their hot air speeches. Stop making silly testosterone statements it's getting embarrassing. We will not 'win' this war as we are fighting terrorists and not an organized country. Tell us the truth: it isn't just going to go away. This isn?t the kind of war that has a beginning, middle and definite ending. We're in for a long haul..

Instead of telling the truth they are telling us one of two things: Either we are stupid and they can lie on us -or- they are stupid and obliged to lie...

This war provides a lesson for all participants. The lesson for Israel is, rockets from Lebanon to Israel cannot be stopped. The lesson for Lebanon is, do not count on America for anything. The lesson for Hizbollah is, find some better rockets. The lesson for Iran is, war can be fun.

Well said that person! (Wow - you're really Lebanese and saying that?) Besides, looking at the pattern of where missiles are falling rather than their numbers -I tend to believe what Olmert says.

i want to say to the israeli people that Lebanonhas missiles more than "israel" does. God bless Lebanon

i think 20 days were enough for olmert to show us if he is getting his work done or not. In fact the question is, what is the job that has to be done? In my view, it is to demolish the Lebanese Infrastructure, kill & terror the southen Lebanese population, and more specifically the shiites. I think this is what he wants to do. He simply doesn't care about hizballah and not even the two isralei soldiers captured. Days pass by, andnobody talks or even mentions anything about them. Get real & face it. The way olmert is going, will not only destruct Lebanon, but also Israel.

I'm a Lebanese Orthodox young man living in one of the areas so far not targeted by the IDF (hopefully never), and what I personally believe the public really wants, both in Lebanon and Israel, is an end to this mascarade that seems more futile every day and truly threatens to spring out of everybody's control. I think 900 dead and 1 million displaced (with my deep sympathy to the Israeli victims) is the only point the beligerants have managed to make. It's about time people in both countries realised there are other more civilised ways to settle Shebaa's issue and (entirely) implement UN resolution 1559.

The IDF is killing inocent people in Lebanon, not bombing the hezballah infrustructure. Evidence 1- more missiles on israel (infrustructure still working) 2- 900 civilian people were killed 3- 3000 wounded if they were attacking hezballah infrustructre for 22 days they must abolish them????

Salvo and another salvo...jets come and leave...Soldiers clash with fighters...War will end...Who won?...Is there a victory?...I hate you!!!!....And I hate you even more!!!!...You do not like me!!!...Neither do you!!!!...OK,lets do it again and this time I'll show you!!!!

...Olmert must tell the truth, that IDF has failed to stop the rockets... Even from thousands of miles away I knew the truth, that Israel has failed to stop the rockets. Could you demand your PM Olmert talk about something more decisive, like cease fire and talking about PRISONER SWAP etc. I wonder what were Israelis watching and reading everyday about this war.

IDF What's your revenge against the kids ???? Now we have a live application for the Holocaust on jewish as the history indicate (we don't believe this lie) the IDF is applying the Holocaust in Lebanon on innocent people kids cats dogs killing every human no religoing differnce just being innocent, Destroying building & every thing that moves on streets even the red corss Congraulation for the New Holocaust spring on Bush & his faithful servant Olmert & all the Isreali people we know there are innocent isreali killed but all this springing haterd anger iniside doesn't allow to see your peace probably we are blind but the corpse are the candles in this long darkness

It`s the central questions of the whole process:what`s the army doing to prevent us from the missiles? The most bad feeling of these days is the feeling of lies.All the official spokesmen especialy army`s ones are talking to us as we are not able to watch and anlize by ouselves.But facts are facts.And the next day is the same as others...

Why dont everybody take a breath and give it a little time.Cleaning a mess from 24 yrs ago cannot be done in one day.Hizbollah is weaker today and no rocket will be falling anywhere after this war is over..people want instant solutions and this is not possible..Give Olmert a break and judge him after he finishes not now!

Wasn't it Peres who said "Katyushas, Balabustas"? They will just put a patriot in front of the malls in TA and all will be OK. It is hard to understand this particular criticism coming fom people who were instrumental in creating this threat from the north and south. Who want to repeat the mistake in Judaea and Samaria as well. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Or in this case many pounds.

Just half an hour ago the IAF wiped out another Lebanese family. It's just a matter of time, let the IDF win.