What's there to say? It's one outrage on top of another.

similar thoughts here.

If the IDF won't defend Jews.....what's left??

I know, at least here in Vegas, that if I was attacked, Heaven Forbid, I would not be ignored by a police officer.

Does it get any worse?

I am supposed to travel to Israel again in May with my 12-year-old son. What am I supposed to think? How dangerous is this to do? I wonder what the "government" of Israel would say if this story was broadcast over the whole world?

Oh - gee - I forgot. Cities in Israel are being bombed daily and nothing much is being done and it's broadcast all over the world! G-d is absolutely blinding our leaders so that we only cry out to him - not Olmert and the like that refuse to do what is necessary.

What's necessary is what Mr. Avrech has so clearly outlined on Seraphic Press:

1. Denying power and fuel to Gaza.
2. Cutting off all talks with Fatah. There's nothing left to talk about.
3. Declaring the boundaries of Israel final.
4. Including Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel.
5. Further, Israel must rid herself of the appeasers Olmert and Livni. They are a mortal threat to the Jewish State, to the Jewish people.

When a nation's leader or leaders fails to protect its own citizens, not only is its own legitmacy forfeited, but all of civilization is put at risk. To summarize Thomas Hobbes from the "Leviathan":

"As the social contract was made to institute a state that would provide for the "peace and defence" of the people, the contract would become void if the government no longer protected its citizens. In such a case, man would automatically return to a state of nature until the creation of a new social contract."

Jake:

Or, more close to home, in the Wild West in towns like Dodge, Tombstone, and Abilene, when gangs terrorized citizens and the law failed to act, the citizens organized vigilante committees to deal quickly and ruthlessly with the evil-doers. It worked.

Kishke:

It is important to reflect that the current Israeli government is more concerned with protecting the jihadists than with the victims of jihad. Olmert's first reaction after the Merkaz massacre was to declare that his talks with Fatah would continue. But Fatah's official newspaper glorified the murderer, may his name be erased from memory, as a holy martyr.

Hence, Olmert and his coalition, besides being delusional, are active enablers of Jew-killers.

Soccer Dad:

Great link, thanks so much.

Lance:

The first responsibility of a national government is to protect all of its citizens, not just a chosen few. When a government consistently fails, through specific policies, to carry out this central duty, than the people have a right to discard such a government for it has devolved into nothing more than a self-serving corruption that undermines national security.

the current Israeli government is more concerned with protecting the jihadists than with the victims of jihad.

In that vein:

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1205261307604&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Yonoson:

I'd be very careful on which roads in Israel I traveled. Obviously some roads are quite dangerous and if you are attacked, G-d forbid, there is no protection and no justice.

Kishke:

Well yeah, look at Olmert's hard-hitting response to the Merkaz massacre.

Nothing. Zero. Nada.

Just sits down with Holocaust denier Abbas and offers to divide Jerusalem.

What could possibly go wrong with that plan?

Welcome to Dodge.

As Soccer Dad privately wrote to me: "The Right was correct about Arafat. You'd think a little more humility would be in order."

And the Right is, er, right about Abbas.

He's Arafat, but in a better suit.

Robert,
This is ironic...

I was criticized by fellow olim as being too American....for being very cautious about hitchhiking.

I was told that now that I am Israeli...I have to go with the flow.

As if disregarding my personal safety was a norm....

Now I see these stories of first hand accounts where one could risk life and limb just to get from point to another....and the IDF will just yawn if there is an incident.

It very well could be that Israeli's will have to take things in to their own hands...however if they do, they better not get caught, since this bunch in power will throw the book at them instead of the attackers.

Not to be an alarmist...
But, are we witnessing the unraveling of Israeli society?

I wonder.

Kishke:

In the past, the Israeli Government has planted false stories in the media with the sole purpose of vilifying the religious right. Don't believe this story until properly verified.

He's Arafat, but in a better suit

He's not even Arafat. Arafat was in charge of something, so the earlier appeasers at least had the excuse that they were dealing with the guy on top. Abbas is in charge of nothing, which makes Olmert's behavior all the more reprehensible.

Kishke:

Just wanted to let you know that since the report was leaked, the media and left have begun comparing our "crazies" to the Jihadists. In their minds, Mercaz must have been a legitimate target. This is also why Yuli Tamir, after creating the storm that she did with her visit to the Yeshiva, specifically mentioned how the atmosphere reminded her of the Rabin assassination. She has to reinforce in the mind of the average Israeli that the religious are the cause of all our problems.

BTW: if the story is true, then the only way there would be any knowledge of the plot would be for the Shin Bet to have infiltrated the Yeshiva Isn't that comforting to know that the Israeli government is busy spying on the victim rather than on the perpetrators.

I have little doubt that soon the government will embark on a campaign to disarm its citizens, especially those that live in Yehuda and Shomron. After all, we are a threat to the peace-loving Arabs.

I actually didn't see anything wrong with Tamir's visit. I did see lots wrong with the yeshiva guys using her visit on such an occasion to complain (and in such a low way) about cuts in funding. It really was shameful (if that's actually what took place).

Next, every Jew has to commit to Teshuva, repentance, becoming a better person, a better Jew. Prayer is extremely important—sincere prayer. Every reader of Seraphic Secret should commit to cease talking during davening and convince his friends and neighbors to do the same. Every Jew must commit to learning Torah every day—even for five minutes. Every Jew should pray for redemption and anticipate the imminent coming of Moshiach.

Sorry, I can't buy into this. I just can't. But if you ask me whether I believe in taking the fight to them, well I am right there.

If you ask me if I support Robert's ideas, than I am right there.

It is time to take the gloves off and show them what happens when you taunt the tiger. Sadly I have little to no faith that Olmert's clan is willing to do what is necessary to fight.

i think people who try to draw comparisons between american jewry's silence 60 years ago to today are wrong.

that having been said, this story is just so infuriating. why do israelis put up with this?

Jack:

That's okay, Jack. You're such a good person you have nothing to do teshuva for:) We know, we shared a kosher pizza with you a few months ago. When I said Birkat Hamazon you just sat there all patient and seriously respectful, and you didn't even look flat-bored as I droned away paragraph after paragraph.

Well, not too bored.

Hey, listen, glad to have you aboard, wanna go to the shooting range with me?

Robert:
Can you believe this one:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3517751,00.html

Olmert has finally made it official, Ashkelon is now considered by the govt. to be in the line of fire and its citizens will not be protected by the military!

Please I urge all American Jews to refrain from all donations to Shas or any of their affiliate charities.
This might be the only way to force them to leave the govt. and save our country.

Robert,

I know how to bench, in fact I can do it by heart. Not that any of that matters. As for teshuva, well I have plenty to atone for, but that is a different story.

I'd be happy to join you anytime at the range. Can we attach a bayonet so that I can stab the bad guys too. ;)

Seriously, I'll go any time.