A historical parallel

PW would be so proud.

“These places are not villages. They are military bases”... “Everyone in southern Lebanon is a terrorist and is connected to Hizbollah.”

Israel’s Justice Minister Haim Ramon.

Ramon is considered a moderate in Israel. This is what happens when a country is shielded from the consequences of its policies. If Israel had to pay to maintain a massive army at a high level of alert while trying to run a crippled, socialist economy at the same time, instead of being propped up by the US, it would have made a lasting peace long ago. 20 years ago the South African government was in a similar position and made a lasting peace because it had to. It simply couldn't afford any more extremism in blood or money, Israel can. Until that changes extremists will be free to poison the political climate of the only party with power to make peace.

Fools go on about how Hamas or whoever need to make peace with Israel. That's crap Hamas has no more power to make peace with Israel than the ANC had with the SA govt. The only card they hold is that they can make the alternative so costly that there's no choice but to negotiate. A force without a single tank or airplane can't 'push Israel into the sea' or whatever nonsense is in vogue right now. Israel on other hand has the chance to miss making an acceptable peace while it has the chance. Nothing lasts for ever, maybe one day they'll wish they'd made better use of their opportunity.