[mrustow]

These budding signs of a public political struggle in the midst of a difficult period when there is so much terrorism - are truly welcome. It may be hoped that they presage the beginning of a large and insistent wave of protest. The demonstrators will remind the government that despite the despair that has seeped into the thoughts and feelings of the left and the moderate center, and despite the helplessness that has overcome many who believed in the Oslo process and were disappointed, and the anger that has silenced the others who hoped for peace with the Palestinian people and were disappointed - despite all this there is still a large proportion of the public that is convinced that Israel cannot rule another people and must stabilize itself within its own borders as a Jewish and Democratic state. The territories that were occupied in 1967 and were supposed to have served as a bargaining chip on the way to peace have turned into the main obstacle sabotaging the chances for peace.

The settlements established in these territories through miserable decisions by all the governments of Israel, are draining the economy, undermining social solidarity and creating huge and harmful gaps between the settlers - who are granted encouragement and benefits by the government - and the citizens who live within the Green Line and carry a heavy burden. The injuries to innocent civilians, the unbearable delays at the roadblocks, the humiliation of hundreds of thousands of human beings, the insolent construction of new settlements - these are the bitter fruit of the occupation of the territories. The occupation is not only eroding the ability of the sovereign state to defend itself, and is not only undermining its moral standing in the eyes of the world, but is also splitting Israeli society. It is retarding its development and sowing violence and hatred within it. The murderous Palestinian terror has indeed weakened the stand of the doves. Nevertheless, as it becomes clearer that the government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon does not have a policy, and as Israel's responses to terror become more extreme and presage war - the protest is beginning to swell.

Yet more appeasement talk. Some fools never learn. "Just throw us a bone, Yasser. Whisper sweet nothings in our ear! Please!"

Shma, Yisroel!

[boris]

"Only those who dream immoral and impracticable dreams of transfer"

If "transfer" means mass deportations of "Palestians" to Jordan, then this is the only correct and feasible solution which permits Israel to endure.

--Boris

[ikanakattara]

Maybe the state of Israel should rethink legalized abortion...