Koch's Comments: Using Israeli militias

Ed Koch for President .....of Sderot

Good idea, Ed. Dream on. Israel would never authorize a militia, or authorize deliberate targeting of civilians. Sometimes I wonder if Israel is too civilized when it comes to protecting her own citizens.

Excellent idea!

Why 'dumb down'? When one has a clear technical advantage, use it! Replace a well trained IDF with a lesser trained militia? Silly.

But from an 'economic' consideration, put more emphasis on using cheap dumb bombs instead of expensive hi-tech bombs. Forget the nomsense of 'collateral' damage, and declare that 10 to 1 is a 'proportionate' response. A few 'misses' might do wonders.

best idea I have heard yet. Even better would be to move the Knesset to Sderot. Guaranteed the pencil pushers and corrupt MK's will then either force Olmert "the Palestinian" to step down or destroy Hamas like should have been done a long time ago. Jews taken out of Gaza against the Torah only to see other Jews have rockets fall on them like rain. Disgrace and shame. Way to go ed for telling it like it is!

Mort, you missed Ed's point completely. I have been calling for this for years now. The IDF is responsible to the government of Israel and as such Israel is blamed for collateral damage. But if a militia starts attacking Gaza and the IDF is unable to stop them, then the government can't be blamed!! Just as Ed said, the militias should start lobbing missles and rockets indescrimately into Gaza today.

I agree with Mayor Koch's sentiment. Along those lines how bout have the Israeli army announces that future rockets will be met by a proportionate response as follows: 5 or so rockets per rocket and they will use a random number generator to aim the artilary randomly into Gazan towns, so it will have a random nature since the UN, & NGO's apparently don't condemn random fire.

Ed Koch you're the man with the plan! Excellent essay!

Excellent idea...In a way it is a perfect absurdity that will expose the current on-going absurdity where a state is not defending its civilians for fear of collateral damage to a criminal enemy.
The problem is that,soon after, the anti-israel West will claim that the Israeli militias are better fed, better educated, better looking and better armed than the rif-raf that opposes them in Gaza. Simpathies will fast rally for the obvious underdogs,...the Gaza terrorists.

While in my heart, I agree with the concept,I believe that the implementation would result in war crimes trials at the Hague. Kahane would have endorsed the militia retaliation and probably Begin too, but Olmert is far too egocentric to put himself in that kind of peril.A more sub-rosa policy not publicly articulated might accomplish the same end of protecting Sderot and the western Negev.G-d bless you,Ed

I hear wisdom from the mayor. Lets give Hamas a taste of its own medicine. Israel needs to focus on its security rather than pleasing Europe, America or the U.N.

Since the Arabs are all dying to become shahids anyway, why doesn't Israel allow them to reach this goal by expediting their killing them all. The 72 virgins are waiting for the glorious Arab martyrs.

Right On!!! Mayor Koch has the right idea. What would the U.S. do if motars & rockets were fired at San Diego or Seattle? What would any country do when confronted with this problem? Sometimes Israel is it's own worst enemy, worried more about bad press than protecting it's citizens. Israel must pressure world leaders, and (laugh) the U.N. to stop these terrorist attacks, in Sderot and the North. If the international community lacks the fortitude to act than Israel must take all appropriate action.

Ed Koch couldn't get the garbage picked up. You expect him to save Israel?

I just lost any respect I had for Ed Koch.

what a stupid idea.send in the idf

Not a bad idea. I agree with #4, also. Blast the hell out of them. Of course the UN will object. Of course the EU will object. But Christendom has been anti-Semitic for 2000 years (notable exceptions of course). Various 'christian' groups keep talking, and acting, about divestment from Israel. That is blatently evil, anti-Semitic, and essentially Nazi like. Of course they should be discussing DIVESTMENT FROM ARAB AND MUUSLIM NATIONS.

Replace your Prime Minister Immediately!!!!

The next PM (hopefully Netanyahu) should uphold his obligation to defend Israel by lauching a Counter Strike with Armor, Infantry, Artillery & Air Strikes into Gaza. Level the place, confiscate all weapons and withdraw. Repeat as needed.

The Arabs have not only convinced the world of their right to kill Israelies because of the "occupation", but also they also convinced the successive Israeli governments. The Turkish province of Palestine is really Judea (The romans changed the name). They only started calling themselves "Palestinians" for political purposes. Israel is not occupying Arab land and while the Arabs are intent on erasing Israel from the M.E., Israel's leaders dream of Arab acceptance.

Salomon Arya

Hopefully, some day Israel will have a leader who cares more about Israeli civilian lives than arab civilian lives. Until then, more of the same idiocy.

I went with a group to Sderot a couple of days ago. We met with representatives of the area. A few times the idea of militia-type behavior, including returning the Kassams to Gaza, was raised. In all cases, the response was, "we are not them". This from the victims themselves. The people of Sderot and nearby areas are on the front line of Israel's defense against those who wish to destroy it. They are really heroes, although I am sure they would rather not have to be. They are not given the help or credit they deserve.

Was it under Ed Koch that the NYC Police Department was 'enhanced' by 'private citizens' ? Any connection of those 'private citizens' to the 'Nation of Islam'? Militias, you can call them 'vigilantes' also, arise when the proper governments do not act as they should. But then the militias become a case of the cure is worse than the disease..

cont.
Modern military PR ballyhoos the 'perfection' of weaponry, and the media loves it. But in reality there is no 'perfect' missile. In certain cases it might be better to advertise the'imperfections'. The 'OOPS', I am truly sorry that I missed my intended target. Blame the missile.

Mayor Koch...Israel has a standing army.
Why requisition an Israeli militia do the
work of the Israel Defense Forces?
A non-combat-ready civilian militia would
be chewed up and spit out by Hamas and
the Islamic Jihad militant (militia) groups.
The Olmert Annapolis Accords and two-state solution peace process has hindered the
efficiency of the IDF, and ultimately the security of the State of Israel.

Ed Koch CLEARLY shows the "dual loyalty" smear doesn't apply to him...thats fine, its a FREE COUNTRY after all... I just wonder how much longer Americans will allow subversion of Americas interests for the sake of Israels. If and when the US attacks Iran...at Israels behest...all bets are off!!!

prior comments were not posted as they disagree with the author. So I will instead praise ed koch for advocating gang rule as was the norm under his leadership in NYC. It was the golden age of anarchy and the house door with 7 locks became a nyc icon. We don't need the army, we don't need no government. Brilliant plan......NOT

Hersy. I said essentially the same thing earlier but my post was denied. I hope this gets posted and to if it does, people should know that there is the number of readers who share our view are numerous and there is still some sanity left in this world.

Ed, your idea is absolutely right. Fight fire
with fire. Even though the Arabs are baiting
us to do something, 10 mortars for every
one would be a excellent start.

Every country has a right to defend their
citizens from attack, the rockets are an
act of war. Destroy the enemy.

Mr. Olmert, listen to Ed Koch, it will solve the gaza problem in no time.

Exactly! That's what Obadiah Shoher says for the last two years, "Israel should arm settlers and stop controlling them."

Go on, Mr.Koch!

It is sad and disheartening that the Israeli government is not willing to protect her citizens. This government has to go!!

Over 60 years and Billions of Dollars, you cannot reason with these people!

Mr. Mayor - we have been there and tried that. Much of the 1948 War of Independence was fought between various Jewish militias and factions who did not recognize the central government. i.e.. Lehi, the Irgun, etc. It would be a shame to devolve into various militas that invariably would not recognize Jerusalem's leadership. The act of firing explosive rockets into the sovereign State of Israel is an act of War. The response to the death of her citizens in Sderot should be war on the Hamas in Gaza just the same as it was the Hizballah in Lebanon in 2006.

a good idea ,but not a solution,a massive bombardment of the area from which the rockets originate from,resulting in a total destruction of that section of gaza,and then reoccupying that particular area after evicting all of those who had survived,and thereby creating a buffer zone,perhaps would then make the palestinians have a greater desire to sue for peace ,rather than to continue to kill isreali civilians randomly as a means of recreation.Make the price to continue to attempt to kill innocent citizens of isreal to costly for the palestinians .

This is the just response. It is the same as what the allies did in WWII justly. But it would be a "war crime", unjustly, to the UN for Israel to do it.

That is why Israel needs to use precision weapons. Tanks. Every modern military means to defeat Hamas. Gaza City. More than a band aid.

Major Surgery. Operation "Defensive Shield" Scene II. Root canal and triple bypass at the same time.

Nothing wonderful about Koch's suggestion of Sderot bmilitias. No one will bother with it. They are too complaicent and easily cowed. I've suggested the very same thing by letters at least 5-6 times over the past few years. No one even commented.......So what can we expect when they can elect a base vreature like Oilymert, and stand for that open, outrageous scandalous bribery and bargaining by Shas??Just more of the same, until they get such a shock that they'll "straighten up" once and for all.

#19 Salamon Arya. The Name of that area was NOT Judea. "Judea" was the ROMAN name for "JUDAH" otherwise "Yahuda" or 'Yahud". It was only after the Bar-Coheba war that the romans called it "Palaestina", their way of saying country of the Philistines (supposedly Israel's most unrelenting enemy).

I agree 100% and have had essentially the same idea for some time. However, in anticipation of the biased UN response, I suggest the residents of Sderot manufacture their own Kassams and fire those at Gaza. That way there can be no accusation of a disproportionate response. Also, it should be 1 for 1 except that Israel's should have the quality to hit Gaza every time and not fall within Israel.

This is not a "gang fight". Lets assume Gaza militants fire rockets and kill several Israelis, the IDF should enter Gaza, unwillingly kill several civilians in its way to destroy significant infrastructure. If unauthorized Israeli settlers fire rockets kill Gazans, in return, Gaza militants ( that is what they are waiting for) may accelerate the firing with more sophisticated rockets in which the (cont. 2 of 2)

(cont. from 1 of 2) IDF must interfere to halt before settlers suffer losses. If is the case, why need Israeli civilians to defend themselves and face the unexpected in the first place?. Also, IDF ethics credibility could suffer internationally. Terrorists in Gaza are aware: There isn't military operation without risking lives. IDF suppose to risk "if necessary". Global community is watching.

This is the just response. It is the same as what the allies did in WWII justly. But it would be a "war crime", unjustly, to the UN for Israel to do it.

That is why Israel needs to use precision weapons. Tanks. Every modern military means to defeat Hamas. Gaza City. More than a band aid.

Major Surgery. Operation "Defensive Shield" Scene II. Root canal and triple bypass at the same time.

Excellent idea Ed. Israel will twiddle its thumbs
until Hamas gets long range rockets to target
Tel Aviv. Then what will Israel do? Whatever
their response will be they should do it now!
Are the citizens of Sederott any less important
then those of Tel Aviv?

No. 21 . . . You should have told the good citizens of Sderot: If the Allies had said "we are not them," they would have lost the war. We have to fight back in the same way the enemy fights us, not with one or two hands tied behind our back. Koch was in WWII and knows this very well.

And, what if Koch said "Israel should adopt Hitler's tactics? His idea STINKS. And, it would turn an Israeli town LAWLESS! That, in itself, would be a black eye.

Also, since there are no deaths due to the rocket attacks, what should be noticed is GEORGE W. BUSH, and Condi Rice. Who have grabbed onto the idea of "halping" the Saud's gain control of the Mideast.

The war in Iraq is also a bust. Since our soldiers KNOW they don't like the locals. And, they're target practice for Maliki! "Get Americans," is his response to George Bush.

I agree, I have been saying that the answer to arab terrorism is either massive Israeli carpet bombing of arab areas ,after warning that they will come if attacks persist,ala WWII bombings by the allies or let the Israeli underground start anew. If arabs can claim they cannot control their borders so can Israel.
It's an idea whose time has come.

This is the just response. It is the same as what the allies did in WWII justly. But it would be a "war crime", unjustly, to the UN for Israel to do it.

That is why Israel needs to use precision weapons. Tanks. Every modern military means to defeat Hamas. Gaza City. More than a band aid.

Major Surgery. Operation "Defensive Shield" Scene II. Root canal and triple bypass at the same time.

Even though I am a political conservative in my country, I have always admired Mayor Koch. I admire him more now after reading his article- he should run for President. Once President Bush leaves office, I worry about whether we will fight terrorism as aggressively. Mayor Koch would fill the void that I fear might happen otherwise. Also our government (no matter who is President) has seemed to pressure Israel to concede too much over the years, maybe that would stop with President Koch.

I only want to add the following. Military response must be not 10:1 but totally overwhelming and quick! Do not prolong this standoff. It's unnecessary and even harmful to Israelii interests. Quickly give Arabs in Gaza the taste of their own "cooking", so they'd remember it for years and recover from it for long, long time. Israel must be like a hornet, so nobody would dare touch it!

I can’t believe you are actually serious. You keep playing the victim role when you are the cruelest occupying force under the sun. I sure hope somebody would give you a taste of your own "cooking" and see how that feels like.

To #49: Where do you come from, antisemite Dima ? What part of black hundred do you belong ? Ancestors of yours are responsible for most heinous pogroms in bloody Russian history, and you are still not satisfied. Listen Dmitry - you've chosen a wrong web site for jew-hater venom. Get lost !

Sderot is such a great place with so many wonderful people. It is interesting to see that after all these years of absorbing thousands of rockets there is still a strong and vibrant civil community. That is one thing the Palestinians just cannot break.

I did want to amend my post #47 above, where I mentioned US President's pressure of Israel, to say unfortunately in one case it was worse - way worse - as I now know that Mr. Peanut Jimmy Carter is a virulent anti-semite, and I really get angry when I see him portrayed as a great humanitarian. People who laud him for hammering nails on roofs while building homes for poor people overlook how he was blind to humanitarian and human rights concerns in Communist countries and how he apparently hates Israel while sanctimoniously lecturing everybody how to conduct their lives.