"Read the headline as ''Israel plans attack on the poor''. "

I'm sure when the reader posted this they were convinced of their concern for the those civilians, except these only statements only serve to reward Hamas for what they are only too likely to be planning, maneuvering Israel into a situation where they have to respond (if Israel puts up with attack that Britian never would, Hama will only step them up to a level that can't be ignored) and then using civilians as human shields. One irony is that the use of this tactic to deliberately increase civilian casualties amongst your own people wouldn't be worthwhile if it wasn't for those who claim to be upset about those casualties.

David Summers, Menlo Park, CA, USA

I have to be blunt. Why do people care?
In case anyone hasn't noticed this fighting will continue and continue and continue well past our "sell by dates".
Can't we concentrate on helping people within our communities rather than wasting energy and on arguing alongside this ongoing soap-opera?

louise, bristol,

Don't be bloody stupid Stanzler. A nuclear weapon detonated in Gaza would destroy huge parts of Israel, as would the radioactive fallout. An insurgency could fight Israel, but if forced into the open would be wiped out. I advise everyone to study history - Palestine has very rarely been an independent state. The (Muslim) Ottoman empire ruled it for many years, as have other empires for millenia.

Ben, York,

"We have humilliated our Anglo-Saxon civilization by supporting and encouraging Israel to adopt the very tactics that the Nazis did against the Jews"

You should be ashamed of yourself... In the last 50 years less then 15,000 palestinians have been killed, most if not all of them in direct war... During the wWII that is the number of jews that were killed on a daily basis during the climax of the "Shoa"... and they were murdered like mice in gas chambars, whole families...

people like you are simply so filled with hatred you can't see the facts... you make me sick...

p.s.) If you want to talk about genocide go find out what happened to the original people of Tansmania under British rule...

erez, Jerusalem, Israel

Rod Polisher may not be aware that in 2005, Israel did withdraw from Gaza. Then, Hamas was voted into power. Now, Hamas has taken over and is trying to establish an Islamist state. Israel has given back land time and time again, but the situation has gotten worse.

As for having a plan in place to invade Gaza, it is a good idea. If your neighbour was heavily armed and intent on your destruction, then you too would have a plan up if they decided to attack. It looks like it will only escalate further though, what with Lebanon trying to beat back Hezbollah militants. Watch this space: Iran will probably move next.

BTW: Israeli companies are re-establishing gas supplies, having stopped supplying gas when they could not contact their Palestinian counter-parts, and the Israeli Justice Minister has asked for the borders to opened to allow some of the 1.5mn Palestinian civilians in the Gaza strip across to the West Bank. For Israel bashers however, these facts are over-looked.

Lisa, London,

I pray that all jews will recieve from GOD and the world world what it has done to palestine's and other arab people.

Dan, Hackensack, NJ USA

.... and encouraging Israel to adopt the very tactics that the Nazis did against the Jews.

K. Urban, London, UK

What specious rot...
So now Israel is gassing and incinerating Palestinians on an industrial scale?
Please try and keep some judgemental faculties working...

Chico Mendez, Edinburgh, UK

I implore Zulficar - comment below to go to poland and visit and concenrtation camp, they did not involve self autonomy, houses and political establishments. As we have seen the palestinians have done a much better job and bringing sorrow apon themselves then the Israelis could ever do.

Andrew Wiesenberg, Dublin, Ireland

Why wouldn't Salman Rushdie be given the Knighthood? When will radical Moslems stop hiding behind the religion to attack any one they do not like? Any one should be free to believe in anything and should not be harmed. Jihad or so called "Holy War" is a contradiction by itself.

fanta, San Salvador, El Salvador

The resent hysteria in the west and newspapers about Hamas is not only silly but one sided. After all, the west has turned a blind eye to Israel which keeps millions of Palestinians hostages in two large concentration camps for 59 years with the support of the Arab rulers is not a recipe for peace, stability or the nurturing of democracy.

All resources needed by the Palestinians to control their own history is controlled by Israel and the west, turned on to reward tutelage. This yoke has to be broken.

The fact is that the Palestinians elected Hamas, no matter how vile we believe they are, in these camps to express their views and hopes, yet we see them as extremists. For how long can you keep the lid on the human pressure cooker called Palestinians?

If the west wants to help it must open its eyes to the wider suffering that leads to extremism as the politics of despair and revenge. One would expect the Israelis to understand this after the horrors they suffered in Europe.

Zulficar Choudhary, Manchester, UK

I have trust in the Israeli army. The cause of all civilian casualties in Insrael's war is due to the cowardly terrorists hiding amongst civilians. Israel did everything it could to minimise casualties in Lebanon, but Hezbollah fired rockets from schools, hospitals, mosques, dense areas and moved them around in ambulances at Israeli civilians - Jews and Arabs. Luckily Israelis have learned to build shelters and most of the 4000 katushas were fired randomly and hit trees instead of homes.
Unless Hamas come up and fight Israel upfront (which unfortunately they probably won't), if there is a war civilian life will regretably lost. But the blood will be on the terrorists hands.

Simon, Melbourne, Australia

"Conclusion....The real goal of the Arabs is not a homeland for Palestinians, it is the distruction of every Jewish life." -- Jeff Cabaniss, Cocoa, Florida

Israel has nuclear weapons plus the latest US military hardware.
Palestinians have toy rockets and stones.

Who is more likely to destory who?
Are you not ashamed talking this nonsense?

Stanzler, New York, US

Just how many times does Irnaian spokesman Uzi Mahnaimi have to fabricate stories about what Israel may or may not do, before anyone catches on to his distortions of reality?

But still, tell a lie for long enough and people will believe it's true.

N. Simon, London, UK

Reading through this board, it's funny to see the same old, centuries old, prejudices surfacing again and again.
Well - it would be funny - if it wasn't so terrifying !!

Ian Edwards, Manchester,

Eventually Israel will lose and the land will return to the original inhabitants.

Otherwise we descedants of convicts may as well declare war on England and send our own lobby groups to the US to finance our 'right of return'.

I am amazed that such a notoriously hard workng and well educated bunch of people as the Jews could entertain such an absurd notion as Zionism. The earlier comments about Israelis ape-ing the nazi's is spot on.

It's impossible to sympathise with people who have such promise and opportunity and choose to be so absolutely stupid.

Ash, Australia,

The Arabs seem to have become the new Untermenschen.

Phil, Hong Kong,

Read the headline as ''Israel plans attack on the poor''.

So much for the ''Holy Land''

K. Urban, London, UK

Mr Polisher of Scunthorpe in the UK rightly quotes that genius of humanity Albert Einstein.

It is a sad that Israel not only shamed itself but also shamed humanity in the way that it has tortured the Palestinians and humiliate this minority.

We have humilliated our Anglo-Saxon civilization by supporting and encouraging Israel to adopt the very tactics that the Nazis did against the Jews.

K. Urban, London, UK

What is really amusing (apart from the sickos who 'have their say' ) is that the Jersusalem Post reports this item 'the Sunday Times in England says that Israel is about to invade Gaza'
As an earlier poster said...it's all part of the British anti-Semitic lobby who are thick (any way you like) on the ground.

victor cowen, Malaga, Spain

Could anyone get it straight? Being a sovereign country DOES NOT give a country freedom or the right to attack another country. If Greece attacked Turkey, Turkey would (sooner or later) occupy and control Greece and make them stop. If Mexico attacked the USA, the USA would occupy Mexico and control it. When Japan attacked the USA, the USA occupied Japan and imposed a new government upon Japan.

So Gaza and the West Bank being an independent state is completely irrelevant. They still cannot launch attacks against Israel and expect to remain independent.

Jonathon Moseley, Washington,D.C., USA

Do you not understand that Hamas, who now run Palestine, is dedicated to the death of Israel? This is beyond reconciliation. If Hamas is willing to go to bloody war with it's own elected government, who can speak with them? How can they seek peace with that? Every radical Imam who preaches a violent jihadi Islam should be given the long drop with a short stop. Unlike most of you, I have read the Quran. The reason for all this unrest (well, one reason) is the few who can read the Arabic Quran tell their followers that the surest way into heaven is to die killing innocent people calling it "Holy War", which is actually against Islam. See in the Quran Noble Verse 2:224 "And make not God's (name) an excuse in your oaths against doing good, or acting rightly, or making peace between persons; for God is One Who heareth and knoweth all things." I wish for peace in that region, both for Jew and Muslim alike, but it will never be found until the twisters of the Quran's words are wiped away.

W, Willis,Tx, USA

Israel has little choice but to contemplate taking this sort of action against Hamas. If you had a terrorist group hell bent on your destruction at your doorstep would you wait and do nothing? Military action in this instance is about self protection.

Eric Khong, Perth, Australia

Just because Uzi writes that there's a plan to attack doesn't mean he or Israel necessarily views the result of the plan to be a war - it's just a plan, a contingency.

Joey, Beverly Hills, MI / USA

If the Gaza residents voted to be governed by the genocidal terrorist group Hamas, then who are the Israelis to deny them their right to kill them? What nerve!

Israel already provides electricity and water to the Gaza strip - cost free no doubt. Of course the Hamas folks would do the same - well at least they would execute the Israelis with electricity and send them poisoned water.

I am shocked that the Israelis don't just let the Islamic terrorists live and let kill. Where's their sense of fairness?

Jack Frost, Somewhere, USA

A citizenry is responsible for the leadership it elects.

Andrew, Beaufort, USA

Does that then justify Bin-Laden's bombing of the twin towers?

If (the democratically elected) Hamas does nothing to Israel, then Israel should not attack Gaza for no reason. If, as the writer Uzi says, resistance will be tougher than Lebanon, why would Israel even want to go there? They got a bloody nose from Hizbollah, the IDF's much vaunted prowess and military strength was shown up to be exaggerated, Merkava tanks destroyed a few yards into Lebanon, and the whole Lebanon episode was a PR disaster. Israel killed mostly civilians, Hizbollah killed mostly Israeli soldiers etc. The answer to this is really, really simple. Withdraw back to the 1967 borders (Golan to Syria etc), give the Palestinians Gaza and the whole of the West Bank (remove the "security wall") with East Jerusalem as its capital and the whole world will stand with Israel. If you don't, you will continue to be internationally reviled.

Rod Polisher, Scunthorpe, UK

- The most important aspect of our policy must be our ever- present, manifest desire to institute complete equality for the Arab citizens living in our midst, and to appreciate the inherent difficulties of their present situation. If we pursue such a policy, we shall gain loyal citizens and, even more, we shall, slowly but surely, improve our relations with the Arab world...The attitude we adopt toward the Arab minority will provide the real test of our moral standards as a people.

- I am deeply moved by the offer from our State of Israel, and am at once saddened and ashamed that I cannot accept it...If I were president, sometimes I would have to say to the people of Israel things they would not like to hear.

Not my words but the words of Albert Einstein. I think Israel has failed spectacularly in the treatment of its minorities. Less rights than Jews and treated as 2nd class citizens. No wonder Einstein turned down the Israeli presidency. He would be turning in his grave!

Rod Polisher, Scunthorpe, UK

Just to point out the obvious. Hamas was elected and no state interfered with that choice. If they had Hamas would not have won. Once they were voted in, they were given a choice to join the world community, by renouncing violence, recognizing Israels right to exist, and entering negotiations for a peacefull settlement. As a government they knew that they have a responsiblilty to the people they govern. They knew that to reject those terms would lead to sanctions. Hamas, as an informed government responsible for their own decisions, chose not to embrace the world. They made a knowing choice to accept the devastation the sanctions would bring. They as a government are responsible for their own choices. In additon, despite Hamas' open declaration to wipe Isreal off of the map and replace them with an Islamic ruled state, the Isrealis still supply power and food to the area, more than their fellow arabs are doing, which could be brought through Egypt.

Al, Atlanta, USA

It is a pity that people can not escape from these everlasting wars..

Martin, High Tatras, Slovakia

Why not book the attack on CNN?......now that any surprise has been undermined!.....What is it with today's wars?.....must an appointment be made to see if the attack fits into the defender's schedule........my oh my, what a world we live in.

Robert, Ottawa, Canada

Israel has no stomach for a real fight. They will be defeated by hamas ,just as they were defeated by hezbollah. Their performance in lebanon was pathetic.

JY, L.A, Cal

This idea that because Hamas were democratically elected they should be allowed to govern without interference is absolute lunacy.

Aside from the genocidal aims of their charter and the mass killings of fellow Palestinians. the Sharia law that they intend to put in place could lead to the absolute cleansing of any irreligious Palestinians.

If the BNP party came into power in Britain, or the FN in France, would we not expect intervention?

It is a moral obligation to strive for peace and this cannot be achieved with Hamas in power. It can also not be achieved with idiots claiming that Israel will live on from the Nile to the Euphrates. These are two sides of the same, fundamentalist coin.

Paul Livingston, Glasgow,

Hamas won a Democratic election - the 'West; then dailed to recognise the result and set about arming Fatah miltants and starving the Palestinians through cruel sanctions.

Israel must cease the occupation and the blockade of Gaza....and the Palestinians electoral wishes must be recognised.

Of course, as in Lebanon instead we are going to see a 'West' sanctioned and backed Israeli attack on the palestinian people.

Ken, WA, Australia

If Wikipedia is to be trusted, Mr. Barak has an extensive military background and I think the Israelis more than anyone know the devestation that war brings.

Ehud Brog joined the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in 1959. It was then that he decided to change his name to "Barak", which means "lightning" in Hebrew.[1] He served in the IDF for 35 years, rising to the position of Chief of the General Staff and the rank of Rav Aluf, the highest in the Israeli military. During his service as a commando in the elite Sayeret Matkal, Barak took part in the 1973 covert mission Operation Spring of Youth in Beirut, in which he was disguised as a woman in order to assassinate members of the Palestine Liberation Organization. Barak was awarded the Medal of Distinguished Service and four other citations for courage and operational excellence; these five decorations make him, with Major Nechemya Cohen, the most decorated soldier in Israeli history.

Eric Nordberg, LA, CA

You have now been made aware of the blueprint in detail of what Israel's army will not do.What it will do we will find out when it happens

james hazan, huddersfield, uk

Every week Mahnaimi predicts Israel will attack (Iran, Syria, Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon. Golan). Doesn't he ever tire of being wrong?
Or, is this what the Islamists pay him to do?

Revealed: Israel plans nuclear strike on Iran - UZI MAHNAIMI ...
Israel Readies Force to Strike on Nuclear Iran
Israel plans for war with Iran and Syria-News-World-TimesOnline
Uzi Mahnaimi
ISRAEL IS DEVELOPING 'ETHNIC BOMB' - BIOLOGICAL WEAPON
Israeli plan for Golan nuclear shield
Israel plans attack on Gaza

C Harris, NEW YORK , US

IDF,Littleton, CO

If the
"IDF and IAF are the best in the world! America needs to learn from Israel and do the same in Iraq"

then how come they ( Israel) are still fighting, dying and getting kidnapped nearly 60 years after the state of Israel was created. Maybe they are learning something from Israel, which I am pretty sure are all wrong lessons

ali, melbourne , australia

If this story is true it goes to show that the west morally ,totally bankrupt:
(i) Since we lost democratically we might as well kill the opposition. That is what the argument for war is all about.
(ii) Given the population density of Gaza the victims will number in the thousands. It always amazes me to observe the hate and the moral obtuseness of those who advocate this kind of action.
(iii) Example;The president of the Jewiish Community in Russia an individual by the name of Satanovky (no pun intended) advocates on the Russia Today program (accessible on the net) that a hard occupation be imposed on the Gaza strip implying pitileless repression of these "asiatics". This fellow is director of the Near East Institute in Moscow. (does is remind you of similar situations in states?) I would like to psychoanalyse this fellow and find out the history of his psychpathology.
The intriguing question is of course how did this fellow get
to influenece russian policy.

Max Pappas, Monreal, CANADA

Hey Rezwan...many of us.....like 4,000,000 ready and waiting....and they haven't let us 50 year olds in yet....I know a great number of ww2, Korean, and Vietnam vets that would strap on the old gear and kick some a_ _...if need be........you all should leave a sleeping lion lay.....when we wake we are grouchy and venomous when you kill our own. My family is represented and more of us will go if necessary or fight here on our soil if it comes to that. You forget pal that we are the mix of the blood of all nations. You folk are not the melting pot of the world. Our forefathers faced imperialists to save your rears and our volunteer army is just that ....ready, willing and able.....remember because we fight for deliverance of others in every realm we are the torch for the poor, the downtrodden, and the weary in a dark world of cowards like the lefties you love. You have a right to disagree with me because we bled so you could have that right. You would be fluent in german w/out the USA.

Steve Sipp, Olathe,

I think we should all thank StopItNow for giving us a brief re-education in all the classic European anti-semitic libels.

Chaos, Pittsburgh, USA

Does Israel really need another miltary campain to "solve" the Palestinian problem? How many campains and wars have you had already? Did any bring a solution? Now Hamas has the say in Gaza - like it or not, but now it is easy for Israel to deal with its adversary because Hamas has an obligation to "run" a state that is 100% dependend on Israels good will. The best thing ever that could happen to the Jews. To "seal" a bigmouth a kiss is best thing to do. To prevent a hand from pulling a trigger is to shake hands. To stop violence cut off the electricity, close the border every time a rocket shells across your border, etc. But as long as Gaza needs help be helpful. Its so easy to fall in love. Love your enemy as long as he is cornered. Don't humiliate your enemy when he is weak. Hamas has cornered itself. Wonderful, reach out to build a brigde

Dirk R Bode, Hamburg, Germany,

Your headline, "Israel plans attack on Gaza" is emblematic of the anti-Israel bias that pervades British press. By the third paragraph your story gets around to the real point; it is entirely within Hamas' power to decide whether Israel takes any military action. The proper headline should be "Israel Plans Counter-Attack if Shelling Continues."

Leo Marvin, Santa Monica, CA, USA

There is no such thing as making peace with extremists, which means total war is the only answer. As a famous man once said, there is no substitue for victory.

Steve Farris, Greenwopod, IN

Israel will never die? Quite the contrary: Israel will not exist 100 years from now. At most, there will be a large Jewish minority living on the east coast of the Mediterranean within an Islamic Arab country. That's the lesson of 3000 years of history. Israel may well use its doomsday nuclear capability to turn the Middle East into a radioactive wasteland, but in any case, Israel won't exist.

Arik Silverman, Milwaukee, USA/ WI

If this story be true, the impending action will constitute a salutary signal to Iran, Syria, Hussy and other theocratic orgainsations that things are now going to be different. Hitherto the Israelis -- and indeed even the Americans -- have been forbearing with theocrats, in the sense that they have responded to theocratic provocations in a 'limited' and 'measured' manner. That seems likely to change. Iran appears poised to see its entire military apparatus annihilated, and not a single member of Hamas is likely to survive an Israeli attack.

Maynard, Oxford, UK

ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS
In the last fifty years Israel helped the Palestinians more then any Arab country. It is sad to see the Palestinians the
suffering because of their brother Arab countries using them for their own purpose.
A day will come the Palestinians will woke up and to realize that they have been use by their brothers in the Arab world.

Henry A. Cittone, El jacinto, TX, USA

For the record, I am not a wild-eyed Bible thumper....just a believing Christian. My question: Does anyone besides me get the distinct feeling that the event foretold in the Book of Revelations is in the process of being unfolded before our very eyes?

Clifford Spears, Ft. Myers, Florida, USA

Jack wrote

"After reading this article, I wish I were in my early twenties again. This Christian Vietnam vet (First Cav. l967) would be over in Israel helping the Jews. I'm sorry to admit this, but I am beginning to have little respect for our American policy of apeasement at almost every turn of events."

Jack, Las Vegas, Nevada


Well Jack, I guess after your performance against that mighty military power called N.Vietnam the israelis are probably praying you stay the heck away!

Oliver, Brighton, England

I cannot imagine this coming conflict to be anything else than a horrendous massacre in Gaza. Israel won’t have any other alternative but to eradicate its enemies bent on wiping it of the world map. Too bad for those who elected the fanatical Hamas! There is neither use in wringing our hands about lost opportunities for peace in that region nor being sanctimonious like so many Brits in the above comments who put all the blame on Israel and the US. During the Clinton Administration, both tried their best to create an independent Palestinian state but the concept was rejected by Arafat. So, who is to be blamed? Israel must survive because it is the only bastion of democracy and a friend in that crazy Arab world where alliances have been made and broken continuously since the end of the second WW. From a strategic point of view Israel cannot allow another deadly ennemy on its southern border. The surrounding Arab countries should equally be concerned about the victory of another Islamo-Fascist faction. Hezbollah and the Muslim Brotherhood are seeking to capture power in their own country. Anyone wishing well to Hamas in this coming conflict must be mad.

Charles DM, Bethlehem, USA

Interesting. So Israel has the plan, says it will absolutely happen (and surely include many civilian casualties), "triggered by" Hamas rockets or a suicide bombing. So... lest all that planning go to waste, I guess that means Israel needs that rocket or suicide attack real soon. Hmmm. Well, Hamas clearly won't give it to them. They may be militant, but they have the internet and they can read. So... what then?

Guess it's showtime people--more false flag terrorism. Grab a chair and some popcorn. The script is already out there, so we know it's going to be a good one... with lots of U.S. media promotion!

John Chuckman got it exactly right.

But don't take his word for it:

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - A former U.N. Middle East envoy quit his job last month making bitter allegations that U.N. policy in the region had failed because it was subservient to U.S. and Israeli interests, according to a leaked document.

Dustin Clark, NYC, USA

two wrongs rarely make a right.......

Graham, Washington DC, usa

Amazing that the Zionists are now turning around and doing close to the same thing to the Palestinians, who had nothing to do with the Jewish Holocaust.

This while most Jewish Holocaust survivors living in Israel live below the poverty line because their retribution money has been stolen by the corrupt Israeli government.

And while my U.S. tax dollars are going towards the genocide of the Palestinians, the Lebanese and the Iraqis because of the power of the pro-Israel lobby in the U.S.

America is waking up to Israel's true nature: it is a rogue, terrorist, apartheid, parasitic "state" that uses her operatives in the U.S. and the worlds media and government, in an attempt to gain regional, if not global hegemony.

There would be no "War on Terror" i.e., War on Islam, if it weren't for Israel and her operatives. We, the people of the U.S. have had enough of seeing our children die and our treasury bled dry by Zionists, both"Christian" and Jewish.

StopItNow, Los Angeles, U.S.A.

The fact that Hamas was democratically elected has no bearing on what our policy should be towards it. Its election shows only that Hamas is now the preferred voice of the Palestinian people themselves.

What does and should guide our policy towards Hamas are its policies and actions on the ground - namely, its stated goal of destroying another UN member State. As long as Hamas advocates the destruction of Israel, launches rockets at civilians, and recruits young men and women to commit suicide bombings, it will face isolation from the international community.

Tariq asks whether or not democracy counts in Arab lands. That is precisely the piont. It does! And we see proof of that in the international community's decision to severely restrict aid to the Palestinian people following their election of Hamas.

The international community has recognized the Palestinian people's decision and reacted accordingly. A citizenry is responsible for the leadership it elects.

Andrew, Beaufort, USA

This will be the start of a wider Middle East war involving Iran versus the Arab states. Europe will stand by and do nothing.

Patrick , Irvine, CA

If Israel can pin Hamas to Gaza, which they can, unlike in Lebanon, they can annihalate them.

Ben, York,

I have no doubt the Israelis can kill at least 3-1, if not 10-1, in an Israeli-Hamas conflict. The question is, does that success constitute victory? How many more recruits for Hamas does a humiliating defeat of Hamas create? The Arab pride syndrome makes anything less than "havoc" (roman term for "take no prisoners, leave none alive") a potential disaster. Total war defeated Germany and Japan, but is total war an option any more? Faced with the the situation in the Middle East, I think this is a valid question.

Sam, Boston, MA

Its amazing listening to all these pro war zealots cheering for a war. I wonder how many of them will actually go to the front line or if anyone of them have witnessed first hand the suffering war brings. It takes no courage to call for a war when you are not the one facing the bullets and its not the blood of your loved one that is being scarificed.

rezwan mcwann, london, united kingdom

IDF and the IAF are the best in the world! America needs to learn from Israel and do the same in Iraq -- if they do it that is.

IDF, Littleton, CO

Hamas doesn't have the capacity to be a serious threat to Israel. Full stop.

The history of Hamas includes Israeli secret services subsidizing it in order to create a rival for Fatah and in order to generate chaos in Palestinian leadership.

And today that is just what we see.

Of course, Israel's refusal to even speak with an elected government has help create terrible tensions. So, too, its campaign to starve the government out and even illegally arrest dozens of members, as well as making public threats of murder against the party's leader.

Israel claims Hamas's refusal to recognize Israel justifies this. But that is a dishonest claim.

Many nations refuse to recognize other governments as a tactic. The U.S. has done this a great deal. It refused to recognize the USSR for many years. It refuses to recognize the government that has ruled Cuba for more than forty years.

It's not good policy, but it hardly justifies what Israel claims it does.

It is known that Israel maintains a group of secret service killers dressed as Palestinians in the territories. One can just imagine how busy they've been in assisting all fighting and blurring events in Israel's favor.

Israel now likely believes it has every excuse it needs to invade Gaza and kill great numbers of Hamas people. Or it may just choose to starve the entire population. Gaza is effectively a giant outdoor prison.

A quote from Uri Avnery,

“WHAT HAPPENS when one and a half million human beings are imprisoned in a tiny, arid territory, cut off from their compatriots and from any contact with the outside world, starved by an economic blockade and unable to feed their families?
Some months ago, I described this situation as a sociological experiment set up by Israel, the United States and the European Union. The population of the Gaza Strip as guinea pigs.
This week, the experiment showed results. They proved that human beings react exactly like other animals: when too many of them are crowded into a small area in miserable conditions, they become aggressive, and even murderous. The organizers of the experiment in Jerusalem, Washington, Berlin, Oslo, Ottawa and other capitals could rub their hands in satisfaction. The subjects of the experiment reacted as foreseen. Many of them even died in the interests of science.
But the experiment is not yet over. The scientists want to know what happens if the blockade is tightened still further. “

John Chuckman, Toronto, Canada

Again and again people propogate the fallacy of Isreali occupation of palestine. There is no State of Palestine there NEVER has been a country called Palestine its all a big Muslim con job.

Peter, Bangkok , Thailand

When Hamas hides behind the skirts of innocent women and fires its weapons among children, is it any wonder that innocent civilians are killed? The Hamas militants wear masks to hide their shame as they fight from the homes of their own people.

How many times have the Palestians been offered 98% of what they want only to refuse it? The objective is not two states, but one. And that requires the elimination of the Jewish state.

I am not Jewish, but the only free and democratic country in the entire region is Israel. All the Muslim countries in the region are dictatorships in one form or another.

From the inception of the Jewish state, the Palestinians have been offered peace. Peace is not what they want, so war it will always be. The only solution is to vanguish the enemy....or die. It is that simple.

Bill, Sacramento, USA / CA

don't forget that more Palestinians voted for Fatah than Hamas. It was the way the districting was done and the single-seat=single-candidate by Hamas that ushered them into power against the will of the majority of Gaza Palestinians

Anders, London,

KIlling Palestinians at a ratio of "8 to 1" on their own land year after year and then claiming you are the victim of anti semitism when people speak out against this state terror is simply laughable by any rational, logic, religion, or creed. No excuses are credible for these horific levels of state terror and collective punishment against a lesser armed people. And no excuses are credible when the western nations turn a blind eye to such brutal state terrorism. Not even the jewish holy torah allows killing beyond an eye for an eye. Killing at an 8 to 1 ratio has nothing in common with legitimate minimum force required self defence. People can only wonder why the western governments take two different attitudes when it comes to terrorism on both sides of the fence. Is it suprising that fanatics are created when a population is collectivly punished and slaughtered on mass year after year on their own territory whilst the worlds nations turn a blind eye for more than 50 years now?.

James Blackwall, Hatfield, Hertfordshire

Reading the comments is very much like reading Haaretz: sympathy for the Palestinians is hard to find. Yet anyone who takes the time to be informed knows that the goal of the Israeli military government is not to defeat Hamas. Rather it is to gain a few meters of land, a meter at a time. Over fifty years the meters add up. Before you know it the Zionist dream, as yet unfulfilled, will come true. This is the idea. Of course, this assumes there will still be Jews willing to go live in the blasphemous hell-hole.

Dan Good, Mamer, Luxembourg,

Wise up KBrennan. It is people like you that are the haters. You should know all about terrorists with an Irish name like that , sure your homeland has harboured terrorist for years.

ArchieP, Lifford, ROI

If Israel attack Gaza it will be an unwinnable war that will only strengthen Hamas' position. The war in Lebanon last year did the same for Hezbollah.

Israel doesn't want to give the Arab world any reason to sympathise with Hamas.

H Longton, Boston, UK

After reading this article, I wish I were in my early twenties again. This Christian Vietnam vet (First Cav. l967) would be over in Israel helping the Jews. I'm sorry to admit this, but I am beginning to have little respect for our American policy of apeasement at almost every turn of events.

Jack, Las Vegas, Nevada

It seems the WW3 is finally upon us.

Ramem, London, UK

sensational article indeed , like all the author past articles.

Quete :
The will to harm? Uzi Mahnaimi did not [publish] just one article that demonizes Israel, he wrote tens of them. The subjects are numerous, and they always have in common Israel and nuclear weapons: Mordechai Vanunu, Syria, Iraq, Iran, the "ethnic bomb", fallout shelters in Israel...

Israeli journalist Uzi Mahnaimi reveals himself in a book with Bassam Abu-Sharif, "Enemies in the promised land". An Israeli and a Palestinian tell their respective participation in the Judeo-Arabic conflict and then their efforts for peace between Israel and the Arab countries , especially Palestine; their search for peace made them friends.

source :
http://zionism-israel.com/israel_news/2007/01/israel-attack-on-iran-sensation-who-is.html

Nir, Jerusalem, Israel

I think we're about to see the real Surge happen

Rick, Mukilteo,

Now, we're talking, but this time they will have to vanguish the enemy>

Blackspeare, New York, USA


Yes Hamas will vanquish them!

Oliver, Brighton, England

K Urban , London-

'Dispossessed' Palestinians? I presume you mean all those Arabs that scuttled out of the way in 1967 so the Arab armies could get on with the slaughter of the Israelis? The only humiliation that lot suffered were when Israel surprised them by handing those armies a good, old fashioned kicking and sending them packing.

It also came as a surprise to a lot of them when Egypt,Jordan and the rest of the Arabs refused to take any responsibility for these refugees, telling them "You're all Palestinians now!" and washing their hands of them.

It is disingenuous to dismiss someone as naive while at the same time dismissing simple historical facts, but it's so much more fashionable these days to condemn Israel for the crime of survival, isn't it?

Simon Harkner, Liverpool, UK

It is absolutely vital that islamo-fascist elements among the Palestinians will be stopped in hostaging both Israel and the Palestinians. Their aim is not peace, but the end of the state of Israel. Therefore: the international community should support Israel and Fatah full force.

Dr. de Hund, Reimerswaal, Netherlands

I see bombings from the air from the arrogant side and I see missiles being shot unabated from the poor. Israel is clearly in trouble. She has enemies all around her. The attack on Gaza is right as Israel should not wait until Hamas is fully ready to attack. The goal of Hamas is clearly to eliminate Israel so why wait until they are fully ready? But Israel will not win. I see Iran coming to join Hamas, I see missles being pumped unended into Israel and suicide bombers taking control all over Israel. Not a good scene at all.

Sam Danso, Romford, England

Israel will never die.
Her borders will eventually go from the Nile to the Euphrates.
The blue lines on her flag represent this fact.
God Bless Israel !

Michael, Seattle, USA /Wa

"Criminal terrorists cannot be tolorated. The sooner world peoples realize this , the better for peace, freedom, and security.". Yes the sooner the US and isreal "governments" are brought to court for crimes against humanity the better.

ISreal is also a "bloated social welfare state... proped up by billions of dollars from US government. Not only in billions in aid, loans but also in military equipment.

A lot of the middle east governments have been brough to power by US et al or been sold by their own leaders and proped up by US government.

When a democratically elected governmet eg Hamas, Iran etc.are brought to power they get undermind and overthrown by western goernments

And what if a country decides to become a islamic one... thats their right. People have a right to chose.... the western notion that only a secular democratic state is the ONLY valid state is lunacy and arrogant.

Jim, Bath, UK

Every goyim around the world must help Israel, for they are 'gods chosen people'.

jauc, Paris, France

Israel's existence will be severely threatened ?!?!?!?! Considering that Israel possesses hundreds of nuclear warheads, no one in the region could even come close to threatening her existence.

B L, Rio Rancho,

Have I been asleep? I thought Hamas was democratically elected but I suppose that stands for nothing. I find it difficult to see how a democratically elected government has to resort to a coup d'etat! Hamas was 'more' democratically elected than Bush. Musharraf became leader of Pakistan via a coup and we are very comfortable with that undemocratic land and regime.
Leave all the little people who can only see semites. Leave all those who think of Israel as Jewistan. That is far too racist for this paper.
Look at the problem in a rational way.
Does democracy not count in Arab lands? Or is it only when we agree with it and not when they vote for the wrong people?
To misquote Mr.Dewey Brooks, who probably thinks that Iraq had something to do with 9/11, WARMONGERS cannot be tolorated. The sooner world peoples realize this , the better for peace, freedom, and security.

Tariq, ashford,

Who are those innocent? They voted for hamas and so are
responsible for the results.

Ilya, jerusalem, israel

Israel can defeat Hamas in the short term but in the long run it is in the same position as Canute and the incoming tide of Arab fanatasticism could sweep it away.

paul, cape town, south africa

Israel has been quietly infiltrating Hamas and Fatah with a Mossad program of provacaturism to destablize the truce all along. Israel will never respect Gaza or the West Bank and continues to be a state bent on the repression of the Palestinian people.

Victor , Orlando, Fl USA

No-one seems to have mentioned that Hamas won the election in 2006. They are the chosen representatives of the Palestinian people. Perhaps the time has come for the West to recognise this and negotiate with them. The current situation would never have arisen if the West had not imposed sanctions on the democratically elected government, and if Israel had not arrested 30% of their MPs. The US and Israel provided Fatah with arms, which are now in the hands of Hamas. Now they talk of more killing. When will Israel learn?

Dave, York, UK

You will not find anywhere in history where peace is achieved through negociation. Peace only comes from one side winning and the other side losing. Regardless of who wins you will never be able to negociate peace so long as one side feels the need to wipe out the other.

Brandon, Oregon, US

The fictional world of British journalism is on overtime this weekend! Isn't it remarkable to read such myth about a person who had to learn a few lessons whose close bosom buddies tell no such things. I type this note from Israel, having seen this Friday one of his old time freinds and advisor and no such a thing is even discussed nor in the local press. Israel like Britian has gone yellow, soft, flabby, self satsisfied and rather overweight. It cannot initiate a major offensive to save a kidnapped corporal nor a BBC reporter. The recent skirmish on the border, when terrorists failed to smash through the Gaza border fence with a T.V marked Landrover, during a kidnapping mission, to which the ground forces were too lazy to give chase under the command of a colonel (not Jewish!), proved once again how slothful & self satisfied they are to hide behind the armour plated jeeps and make excuses. Cool your jets! It ain't happenig. Be more selective with the rumors!

Kototti, Los Angeles, USA

A Gaza territory under Iranian and Hizbollah and Syrian influence is for Israel what Cuba with Russian missiles was for the USA . Not a pretty sight .

Antoine Roblaise, Paris, France

Israel is Israel's Biggest Enemy. The US and Israel are the bullies of the world and all bullies get their comeuppance. Israel will destroy itself before it even makes a dent in the Arab World.

KBrennan, Annapolis, Maryland

It's reassuring that Israel is revealing it's battle plans to the Jew Haters in the UK press!

Bob, Oakland, CA, USA

Criminal terrorists cannot be tolorated. The sooner world peoples realize this , the better for peace, freedom, and security.

Dewey Brooks, Warrenton, Oregon

Unlike the rapid descent of the rest of the developed world into a society of bloated social welfare states run by appeasement politics, Israel is one of the few countries remaining that will fight to save themselves. Sadly, most of the rest are destined to become Islamic states. I suppose all we have to do is convert to Islam, submit to Sharia and try to keep our heads down.

Jeff, Washington D.C., USA

I think that: The people of Gaza have nothing to fear.Barak is only blowing hot air because of the elections that might soon be.He will do what he did in Lebanon run away

Sam Popack, Brookly, USA

It is obvious israel does not have a choice here, I hope this time they crush the terrorist animals and do not make the same mistake they made in Lebanon

On another note, it should be clear to all how little value Israel haters opinions are. These people were not bothered by the killings of the palestinians last week

Id rather see live Jews that people hate than dead Jews that Arabs love

David, Darien, Connecticut

If Israel attacks Gaza, the Syria and Hezbollah will attack in the North, Israel will be caught in a two-front war thus unable to hit Iran, think this is what the plan is.

archon, Berkeley, CA, US

To the naive Blackspeare of New York USA:-

Your nation and its Christian fundamentalist right has been part of the problem in creating this situation where a dispossessed people, the Palestinians, heve been humiliated over 40 years in a process which is tantamount to torture, just as the Nazis crushed the Israelis.

The methods of torture may be different, the results the same

A potentially great nation such as the US should know better.

K. Urban, London, UK

Surprise, Surprise. Israel's going to invade Gaza again. When will the israel be seen for what they are - a manipulative, war mongering nation who have orchestrated many much violence as a result of their treatment of the palestinians, economically and physically. Sadly Israel is supported by the US dollar because of the large jewish vote in the USA, especially in the financial sector of their market.

When is the world going to wake up and see what Israel is doing to a people who have had their lands and liberty taken away from them.

Neal, Reading, England

Even with the clandestine and official support of the US, Israel has managed to decisively lose against a militarily weaker Hezbollah and Hamas. Every recent military conflict – other than the ones against innocent civilians – has left Israel bruised, bleeding, and humiliated.

The IDF is a spent force, desperate to regain its reputation – like a heavyweight fighter way past his prime.

Barak’s sabre-tooth-rattling will have the same effect as his equally impotent predecessors. Like all politicians, his myopic bravado will again cause the senseless deaths of many young Israeli’s, leaving their families to bitterly mourn whilst he continues to enjoy the trappings of a senior governmental position.

Steve Isleworth, Pleasanton, CA

Liberal Barak started this catastrophe with Peres. Olmert gleaned the Jews from Gush Katif and now a massive kill zone has been made of Gaza.
Barak can twiddle all he wants, but wasting Jewish lives pinned in Gaza is exactly what Syria, Iran and Hezbollah desire. Barak hits Gaza and Hezbollah hits the Israeli state and a cleansing war erupts as the European's hope and Olmert will carry out.
This war will escalate out of control like in 1967, but this time Dyan is not there and WMD's will be introduced.
Bushels of people are going to die as has been planned. Judeans are being led into oblivion by liberals who are not allowing the IDF to protect the Judean state.
Everyone from Philistines, neo Syrians, Judeans, Ashkenaz and Jordanians better get used to being vassal peoples as you all have lost and Europe is seizing control of your shattered bleeding lands.

Lame Cherry, Watertown, USA, NY

The fuse is lit....

Thomas, Atlanta, GA, USA

Ed, the Israeli government doesn`t care, they know Washington will foot the bill.

Kevin, Tyler, TX

So the prediction was right. Israel would be embroiled in another war this summer. Will this nation ever learn to live in peace ? Sure, those home made rockets are a menace but do they really threaten Israels existence ? These are used as the excuse for not coming to the two state settlement and ending this trajedy in the Middle East. By the way, what happened to the 2 soldiers whose capture precipitated the Israeli misadventure in Lebanon ? Or the one captured in Gaza ? So much for protection of their armed forces personnel .....

John Taylor, London,

With respect to Mr Wuhan's thoughtful comments:
You call for radical new thinking to solve the crisis and say it is time to "call a halt" But will the radical-thinking Islamists listen? The Palestinians have chosen repeatedly to pursue the path of violence and turned down settlements which offered them a country. The problem is clearly that many want something else entirely; the destruction of the "zionist enemy" - at all costs. They elected Hamas to lead them and Israel has been attacked almost daily by rockets shot over the border. Hamas has no interest in providing services to a population that can't even feed itself. Their power draws on suffering, and at this point the Palestinians bear more responsibility for it than Israel or the West, despite the clear injustices that happened at the time Israel was created. The only radical thinking that would improve the situation would be for ordinary Palestinians to demand peace and refuse to be pawns in Iran's plans for the apocalypse.

Jesse Smith, London,

Hamas will be defeated, innocent lives lost or not. Israel has to think of its citizens first and last. They cannot survive by condescending to the notion that innocents in Palestine will die. That is indeed unfortunate but the reality is that there is no other political way. Do it now because the price to pay latter will be even more innocent Israeli and Palestinian lives lost.

A. Sakal, Palm Bch Gardens, USA

And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered togather against it. Zech.12:3.

Joel Murphy, Kennedale, U.S.A. / Tx.

They should never have given the land up. Hopefully they take it back and keep it and learn a leasson. I predict they will give it up again!!!

Liquidex648, Reno, Nevada

This is not a surprise, Israel must defeat Hamas.

Frederick J. Rokasky, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

With the blessing of most Arab countries, Israel will have to act quickly before Iran establishes its presence in Gaza strip, something which is unacceptable to Israel and to most Arab countries.Hamas alone can’t pose existential threat to Israel. However, with Iran and its powerful rockets being in Gaza, (just 50 mil from Tel-Aviv) Israel existence will be severely threatened. Thus, no radical Islamic entity could ever be tolerated by Israel!!! The destruction of such an entity (even by carpet bombing on military targets) is certain to happen.

Dave, Ratland,

Apocalypse soon. And will the state of Israel have any more success this time than they did in Lebanon, last time? Maybe but only at the price of hundreds if not thousands of Palestinian lives. The genocide victims becoming perpetrators of genocide. Then what? Someone somewhere in the world needs to call a halt to this crazy situation. Anatole Kaletsky is absolutely right.. We need to split from all the crazies in the world who have allowed and continue to allow this situation to develop out of control. We need radical new thinking on a solution to this ancient problem. Mr Brown, the world needs you to be that radical thinker.

Micky, Wuhan, P R China

As a new Israeli intervention on Gaza is imminent all I hope is that no innocent blood is shed this time. Too many horrific crimes were committed in Israel's last adventure on Gaza and in Lebanon and too much damage was caused to make the same mistakes again. I agree that Hamas is a growing threat for Israel and for the entire world but the worst measure Israel and its allies could take is to go to war without thinking of the consequences this might have. They ought also to remember that the war IS NOT against innocent civilians but against terrorists. Will the world again not do anything while the Israeli army are killing anybody bumping into them? I don't know what the solution for Middle East's recurrent crises is, but certainly I don't think a military intervention like that which resulted in Lebanon's tragic last conflict would neutralize Hamas: probably it would make it stronger among the Palestinians. That's my personal opinion though.

Francisco, La Plata, Argentina

Sounds like Barak is about to send Israeli soldiers into a well-laid trap.They didn't win the last conflict with Hamas. Is armed force the only way of thinking the Israelis possess?

ed, Atlanta, USA

Now, we're talking, but this time they will have to vanguish the enemy>

Blackspeare, New York, USA