… most of whom (the women) voted the terrorists into power, and are encouraging their children to be “freedom-fighters”.

Not that I endorse violence against “innocents” – oh, no, certainly not (rolls eyes piously heavenward). There are things we Jews will NEVER do to defend ourselves, because… well, because we’re suckers.

Let’s try it this way:
The “terrorists” are basically now The Palestinian Republic’s Army – if the Oslo years didn’t make that clear, the recent PA election makes it unmistakable.

Once this is recognized, there need no longer be any handwringing (or is it saber-rattling?) about how “we’d take ’em out, but they don’t have a front”.

The average civilian in WWII Dresden or Tokyo was far less odious than the typical Pali – yet the war was brought down on their heads, leveled their homes – and turned them out of their homes when necessary.

It’s the Palis who turned this into an “us or them” situation, remember?

So when does “all-out war” mean that the Jews can choose Us, and finally beat Them – decisively, stamping out every last smoldering coal of hope that Israel can be dismantled, ending the charade of Palestinian national aspirations – the primary tool used to undermine Israel’s legitimacy?

Yes, that means completion of the “transfer of populations” begun with the massive expulsion of Levantine Jews in 1948.

Because until that happens, this will never be finished.

If that’s not what you mean, Meryl – please come up with a more accurate term than “all-out war”.

The current round of Israeli “targeted hits” are nothing to be proud of. Like the civilian trial of Moussaoui, they make the mistake of confusing war with police procedure – which in itself legitimizes terror. And they are aimless, a non-strategy born of a blinkered notion that this war can never be won.

Yet it must be won – and decisively, too – if Israel is to survive.