Reports say that in Israel things are back to normal — Now Do Something About It!

Jewish World Review ^ | August 18, 2006 | By Caroline B. Glick

[garbageseeker]

Since the ceasefire was implemented in Lebanon, we have heard scattered reports indicating that a prisoner swap with the Palestinians may be in the works. In exchange for hundreds if not thousands of Palestinian terrorists now held in Israeli prisons, IDF Cpl. Gilad Shalit, who has been held hostage by Palestinian terrorists for nearly two months may be released from captivity.

These reports lend weight to the view that things are back to normal. Terrorists kidnap Israelis and hold them hostage and Israel releases terrorists in order to free them. It is a comforting thought for people like Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his colleagues and the members of Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz's General Staff who continue to believe that it will be possible for Israel to sign on a dotted line and achieve "a normal existence."

Unfortunately, the chance that Shalit will be released is almost as small as the chance that Israel will be able to achieve a "normal existence." Palestinian sources explain that the decision of whether or not to release Shalit is firmly in the hands of the Iranians and Syrians, and they are not in any mood horse trade with the Jews.

Today the Palestinian Authority is just another Iranian proxy. During the past month of war in Lebanon, it was the supposedly moderate Fatah terror group and the supposedly moderate Fatah-led Palestinian security forces that organized mass rallies in the streets of Ramallah and Gaza where they cheered on Hizbullah and called for Hassan Nasrallah to bomb Tel Aviv.

Now, in the aftermath of the ceasefire, which handed Hizbullah, and its state sponsors Syria and Iran the greatest victory in their history, forces in the PA are actively preparing for a new round of war against Israel.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

"...believe that it will be possible for Israel to sign on a dotted line and achieve "a normal existence."

Snowball's chance in hell! What don't some people understand about the muslim-islamist-arab *untermensch*?! They want to 'wipe you from the map'. What's not to understand?

[goldstategop]

"Things are NOT back to normal." And they never will be with a government set in its ways, corrupt, arrogant and incapable of learning from its mistakes. They will never be back to a normal in a country in which "the branja" - the children of the Israeli elite did not participate in the war and are insulated from the sufferings of their fellow countrymen. No - it is time for a change in Israel to overturn this state of affairs which in fact is completely abnormal. Israel is a unique country and must behave not like the other nations but according to her understanding of that uniqueness. It is a heritage from God.

( No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo!)

[garbageseeker]

I agree. There should be no compromise with terrorists and the states that sponsor them

[garbageseeker]

You have the best posts!!

[Longbow1969]

Israel dramatically weakned its position by allowing Hizbullah a victory. Hamas was watching, and will take advantage of this.

This ceasefire the Bush administration engineered, and Olmert happily signed off on will cost countless Israeli lives.

Israel is under seige. The enemies of the West smell weakness. Things will only get worse.

[garbageseeker]

I agree. Israel must rapidly begin to replenish her military stockpiles as quickly as possible. The people who want to destroy Israel are watching.

[blam]

Israel Is 'Preparing For More Fighting'

[Tamar1973]

"Uh, everything's under control. Situation normal. Uh, we had a slight weapons malfunction, but uh... everything's perfectly all right now. We're fine. We're all fine here now, thank you. How are you?" --Han Solo

[garbageseeker]

That is a funny scene.

[garbageseeker]

Some ceasefire.

[garbageseeker]

Some ceasefire.

[garbageseeker]

Some ceasefire.

[duckln]

I'm perplexed by all talk of the war being a defeat. In lose of fighters, infrastructure and politics, Hezzbola lost. Mobs of screaming demonstrators in the streets does not a victory make. Hezzbola has been compromised and it remains to be seen if a Sheik or president will rule the country.

It's a good gamble with fair odds that what results will benefit both Israel and the elected government of Lebanon. Rooting out Hezbolla south of the Litani River is like the war on drugs, costly but never 100% practical. Israel wisely did not allow itself to get into a quagmire in a war of man to man combat.

[El Gato]

. In lose of fighters, infrastructure and politics, Hezzbola lost. . Politics was probalby a wash, or a loss for the Hizbos. The others don't really count. Victory is achieving your objectives for going to war. Israel went to war to destroy Hzb'allah, and to get back their kidnapped troops. Hzb'allah is not destroyed, and is only temporarily set back, if that. Hzb'allah continues to hold the Israeli troops. Israel did not achieve it's objectives, therefore they lost, no matter how many Hezbos they killed, unless they gotten the vast majorithy of them, including their reserves, and their leaders. They did neither of those either.

[duckln]

Who came out ahead determines the winner IMO. It's not all black or white.

Israel showed Iran and Syria what it can and is willing to do for a relatively 'small' investment. Also what the US is willing to support and do (suppling smart bombs).

I keep thinking that W has the military option on the table and his support for Israel proves it. This skirmish was a battle without going to war. The next weeks will decide the next move and it won't be Hezzbola calling the shots. Except for Iran, the Middle East does want militias like Hezzbola.