The Israeli Initiative: This Thanksgiving, Olmert is the Turkey

A vast majority of Israelis agree with MK Eilon.Unfortunately, the only way for MK Eilon's ideas to be put into practice, is the through the unification of the far-right.

I cannot disagree more with Mr. Elon on this sad attempt to absolve George W. Bush of any blame or cupability.

American leaders have a responsibility to use their God-given brain; to seek the truth and not believe obvious lies propagated by Israel's weak and corrupt leaders.

While I do not argue Elon's point, Mr. Olmert is a disaster and will bring tragedy on the Jews in Israel and ultimately Diaspora, this in no way absolves Mr. Bush or Republican Congressional leaders or the GOP -- my party. They are all blameworthy.

America will suffer for their foolish, incompetent actions. So will the Jews. The global jihad -- which Hamas and Fatah are part and parcel -- will be the beneficiary. Israel is at the center to this worldwide struggle. If Bush does not understand this, in addition to being incompetent, he is ignorant.

Mr. Bush assures us we are in a long-term struggle for our existence. Why doesn't he act on it?

There is nothing decent nor honorable about George W. Bush's actions. By any moral standard, what he has done and is doing to America's only reliable ally in the Middle East is indefensible. This will be his legacy.

He is the man that decided to invest enormous political capital to establish a Palestinian terrorist state in the Holy Land, September 2001 atrocities, Saudi Arabian complicity notwithstanding.

The fact that Sharon's "disengagement" plan was a foolishly conceived end-run around the Bush / Saudi "road map" does not in any way ameliorate Bush's evil plans to dismember the land of Israel thereby leaving the Jews defenseless.

We who live bachutz ha-Aretz know how precarious Jewish security is. Olmert is playing self-serving politics with Jewish lives. Mr. Elon's plan is the only fresh breath of intelligence and morality in these days. I pray that my tired and despondent Israeli brethren can find the ruach to get up and out into the streets and throw out this evil, anti-Torah, anti-Israel Olmert regime. Is it possible to organize a national plebecite or even a march on Jerusalem to promote the Israel Initiative?

Thank you MK Benny Elon for your kind remarks about Americans. Our country is as divided as yours, but the common thread among both peoples who believe the Word of G-d, is that Israel must remain strong and secure.

Indonesia, Philippines, the Sudan all are beset by Islamic Terrorists, mayhem which cannot be blamed on the Israelis. Indeed the problem is world wide, so be strong!

Excuses… excuses… when will this turkey own to his own words?

I'd say get rid of this turkey - aka - Olmert - and elect an authentic

Jewish leader who can stand up for what is good for Israel and the

Jewish people!

I sdo not understand why Israel is going to Annapolis. The Palestinians have rejected two state solution. They have stated publicly that they will never accept Israel as a Jewish State and a Home Land for the Jewish People. Olmert is a weak leader who should never have been Prime Minister.

MK Elon has presented a thoughtful and positive plan which could succeed with the long overdue support of the Israeli leadership. His analysis is right on when he states that Israeli leadership has to take charge of the state's security and direction rather than dithering and pandering to what the "leaders" perceive as the need for American approval and direction. We are the ones who have to live (and hopefully not die) with the results of the misplaced confidence and political manoeuvring of the current Israeli leaders. The popular definition of insanity "doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results" is most applicable to the "negotiations" slated for Annapolis.

Dear Carol #3, kind remarks about Americans are fine. Mr. Elon extended his kind remarks to George W. Bush.

Israel has many good friends here in America. I do not count Mr. Bush amongst them. Not by a long shot.

George W. Bush can repeat all kinds of pleasantries like, "Israel is our friend" and, "I am going to stand by Israel," etc. His actions do not match his pleasant words.

Friends do not do to friends what Mr. Bush has done and is attempting to do to Israel and to her security.

Dear Carol #3, kind remarks about Americans are fine. Mr. Elon extended his kind remarks to George W. Bush.

Israel has many good friends here in America. I do not count Mr. Bush amongst them. Not by a long shot.

George W. Bush can repeat all kinds of pleasantries like, "Israel is our friend" and, "I am going to stand by Israel," etc. His actions do not match his pleasant words.

Friends do not do to friends what Mr. Bush has done and is attempting to do to Israel and to her security.

I'm sorry, I meant to address Carol, Arizona, #4 in my previous post.

Blame Bush?

That's what another poster wants us to do.

Let's place the blame squarely where it belongs - on the 3 million "Jews" of the "state" of Israel, who elected, supported, tolerated this Olmert and his regime even when Jews were forced from their homes to reward Hamas, even when boys were kidnapped, and this piece of manure whose own sons live out of the country did NOTHING to get them back, outside of a half-assed operation that did nothing but encourage Syria and Iran.

The ministers of parties who claim to be looking out for Israel, namely Shas and Beteinu clearly only look out for themselves. A party that sat silently when Olmert sent the goon squads to Amona yet gets bent out of shape over Harry Potter being sold on Shabbas is a party that should be outlawed, and its leader sent back to Iraq.

This regime, and its ministers claim they want Israel to be "more Jewish and Democratic" - in fact, the total opposite has occurred. And yet, you Israelis do nothing - NOTHING.

If I were the parents of Regev, Goldwasser or Shalit, or some kid in a shelter in Sderot, I'd do something about it. If the IDF came to force me from my home, I'd do something about it.

It probably wouldn't be too pleasant for Olmert, or the Valerie Plame of Israel, that glorified secretary Lifney, or the coward Barak - or even for the Quislings like Lieberman, Yishai, and Hanegbi.

Elazar Stern, hypocrite and liar that he is, cries about an epidemic in draft dodging. Seems that the draft dodgers in Israel are the only ones exhibiting common sense. Why die or be kidnapped by terrorists when the ministers in your own government send their kids off to other countries?

No, Steve. President Bush, unlike the moveon.org Jimmy Carter Dems or even his own father, has been a true friend.The real enemy for Israel is Olmert and every single minister in his regime, plus the MKs of the parties aligned with the regime. When you get rid of them, then talk about Bush. Until then, kindly get a reality check.

Here is a good man, a thoughtful man, and a strong Jew who doesn't pass the buck for Israel's homegrown mistakes and its deficient leaders - "leaders" who use "American pressure" to excuse their own serial blunders. Elon's plan may or not be implemented (it relies on the cooperation of the Arabs), but it is at least bold thinking and based on reality.

If Shas or Yisroel Beitenu, leave the government today, there will be no Oslo,oops, excuse me, I mean Annapolis. Eight signed agreements, since Oslo, and the Arabs, have not honored a single sentence. If America, cuts off the aid, then, Israel does not purchase American planes, and thousands of American's will be unemployed.

Hey, how about a Modeh Ani day? Modeh Ani Across America? Let's all hold hands and shout it to the heavens in one giant chain across this great world.

I understand that Israel wants peace, as we all do, but the real leadership for positive change must some from the people who make up the majority in the region: the Muslims. When they decide to accept Israel in a respectful way, as a Jewish state, it will be obvious. Until then, holding peace conference extravaganzas and issuing ambiguous, euphemistic proclamations are a waste of time, and, like Oslo, can be dangerous.

Meanwhile, some cooperation between Israel and various pragmatic Muslim factions can take place on a more informal basis.

Elon is such a weak opposition leader and this op-ed shows it. He is so incapable of being an effective counterpoint to the Oslo criminals that one must wonder if the establishment did not engineer him into the position!

One must wonder if he has blackmailed because his niece is Har Shefi.

Why doesn't anyone talk about this or all of the financial situations that happended in the Tourism Ministry when he ran it.

Olmert has had one foot out the door since he got in. Slam that door. An Israeli PM needs to act entirely inside Israel's Interests, or they need to Leave.

Mr. Elon wouldn't want peace if it was handed to him on a golden platter if it meant territorial compromise. His priority is holding on to biblical territory. Palestinian conditions for peace are unacceptable to most Israelis. Given that reality, Jews should settle all of Israel before Palestinians succeed in their goal of settling all of the West Bank and Israel proper. They don't need Mr. Elon's plan to butter up the West.

Benny Elon is 100% correct. Give him a chance to lead and he will clean up this mess of the last 15 years. Stop supporting feiglin and Baruch Marzels. Stop supporting Liberman and Bibi. Unite behind MK Elon. We need real leaders.

Why doesn't Arieh Eldad realize he must unite behind Benny Elon. His new party is a mistake. Men of faith and honor must band together and unite under MK Elon's leadership. His plan is feasable but he will need all the help he can get to push it through.

As an American and strong supporter of Israel in general I am simply mystified as to why Israel has not replaced Olmert as Prime Minister. After the debacle in Lebanon, we now have Annapolis.

Frankly it is difficult to take the position that Bush and Rice are selling Israel down the river with Olmert at the helm of the Israeli ship demanding more steam for the journey over the falls.

I'm not intimately acquainted with Israeli politics but I am appalled by the end result.