[Piranha]

MJ,

You are posting nonsense.

Israel has stopped engaging in simple retaliation and for the past two years has begun proactively fighting terrorism. The only reason why it is not doing more is that the Sharon government promised the US government that it would not physically harm Arafat.

Are you aware that the Israeli government typically has about 20 hot leads on terrorist attacks every day? Are you aware that there have only been about 3 terrorist crossings of the security fence since it has begun?

Israel is going to be isolated by the Islamic world and its lackeys in Europe as long as it continues to resist domination. If that makes it hard for you to do your business in Indonesia and Berlin, too bad for you.

[munozjoe]

People here in Berlin are not stupid enough to trade less because of anything that happens in Israel. They do not blame the US for what Sharon does and altogether they do no criticize Israel very much because they think Israel is a touchy topic for them. But they do their best, e.g. they just helped to negotiate this exchange of prisoners. I like what the German friends do.

About retaliation you have to admit that the Sharon government used it frequently. One result was that Palestinians could present photos of killed babies to the Arab press when they tried to kill someone in a crowded street from a helicopter.

I do not say Israel has no right to fight back. But the violence with which they fought has provoked criticism in large parts of the world. Even in the Israeli army. Many soldiers refuse to do their service in the occupied zones.