Comments on: Israel Takes a Step Forward

By: mickeyk

mickeyk — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 07:29:04 +0000

My country is America, but I have a close afinity with Israel. My sister is an Israeli citizen living with her husband and children in Tzfat and I spent a lot of time studying about the region as part of my Jewish upbringing.

By: Why Palestinians Get It Wrong

Why Palestinians Get It Wrong — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 02:27:34 +0000

“Why do you write as if your flag is the Israeli one, not the stars and stripes?”

That was a dumb ass thing to ask. American values are shared values.

By: American

American — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 01:42:50 +0000

“Hamas can huff and puff, but they will never blow this wall down.”

Why do you write as if your flag is the Israeli one, not the stars and stripes?

By: mickeyk

mickeyk — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 17:06:42 +0000

Its a matter of priorities for me. A small dose of socialism, even if is detrimental to the Israeli economy is worth it if it is exchanged for permanent boundaries with the Palistineans. Social spending is simply the price that Olmert will have to pay for his disengagement coalition with Shas [*or Meretz?], the Pensioners and Labor.

The social programs are a question of national wealth, the border question is one of long term national survival and present security for Israeli lives.

Once the disengagement is complete, the right wing can return to pushing for market reforms, and if all goes according to schedule that will be in 2010.

Besides, there is no way that social program stagnation will bring Israel down to the military capabilities of the Palistineans. Their GDP has shrunk by over a third since the intifada began.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 15:59:26 +0000

I hope Ohmert’s plan works. There is no point in continuing a “peace process” with a people whose society is delusional and pyschotic. However, the the Israelis withdraw behind the Wall, but the Palis attacks escalate to rocket attacks on Israeli cities, then I would support the Transfer Option. This would mean the final expulsion of all Arabs from the West Bank, and its annexation by Israel. The Jordan is the only defensible natural frontier Israel has. It may need it.

By: patr

patr — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 09:26:04 +0000

What do you think about this analysis from David Bernstein of the Volokh Conspiracy: “Bad News from Israel’s Elections–The Revival of Israeli Socialism”?

I hope that peace will finally be achieved, but since it is far from a sure thing, Israel might end up in an even worse position, both security-wise and economically.