Certainly, revenge cannot be obtained merely by demolishing houses. The Torah sets clear guidelines for the execution of murderers. But at least such demolitions would be a statement that we are willing to go beyond the law to punish the perpetrators. Unfortunately, the government is overly concerned with the law, and wants Knesset approval for the demolitions. Only the legalistic Jewish mind would be so concerned with the law, instead of just bombing those houses immediately after the murders, no questions asked.

If Ben Eliezer’s conduct seem outrageous, recall that scores of Israeli politicians and security chiefs pocket huge sums of money by dealing with our enemies—mostly Palestinians, but also Jordanians and other Arabs.

Now, we understand that in the modern world we cannot act straightforwardly on the halacha which bans Christians, as well as members of other religions, from the Land of Israel. But that is a great sin of ours—albeit one which we realistically cannot avoid—not something we should trumpet and advertise.

It never occurred to TA municipality to distribute blankets and warm clothes to needy Jewish families.

Opposition leader Tzipi Livni also criticized the government, not for approving the construction per se, but for alienating Israel’s friends abroad. And she is right; Netanyahu makes life a bit more difficult for them.

The only question is, do we want to fulfill the commandment to settle the land, or do we want to violate the commandment to rely on God only (rather than our European friends)?

The uproar in Jewish media over the incident is misplaced: Netanyahu is indeed a habitual liar. He has reneged on every single electoral promise, and is only good at talking and wiggling in his promises.

The government periodically changes its position on whether it is Hamas or smaller factions only which attack Israel.

But the fire continues.