I have two questions regarding the immense Jewish initiative to retrieve its kidnaped soldier:

1. Why NOW?
Opponents of the Jewish State have committed much worse atrocities than kidnaping one man. I'm not saying that one life has no value; of course it does. I'm saying that, at other times, more were kidnaped, and many, many more were killed. Terrorist attacks on Israel happen on a weekly basis. I personally think Israel should have taken a stronger stand years ago. Why has it chosen the kidnaping of this one man to launch its largest military initiative since 1967? (Unless the news media is blowing this out of proportion. As they report it, it seems REALLY big.)

2. Is this THE BIG ONE?
At a time when Hamas and/or radical Islam has taken over almost the entire Arab world, could it be that this kidnaping was simply the straw that broke the Israeli camel's back, and/or an excuse for Israel have one final, knock-down-drag-out fight to see who controls the Middle East? (After all, the assassination of a relatively insignificant archduke brought on World War I.) Perhaps Israel, a tiny country that cannot risk losing whatever small bit of support it currently has from other countries (mostly ours) has been waiting for this opportunity to stop making concessions and finally use its full strength to demand its right to exist. Aside from the fact that Jews do truly value each single human life (unlike the Muslims which encourage suicide), Israelis might feel that this kidnaping of a skinny boy would give them some sympathy from the rest of the world, and a pass to "get even." (Of course the true desire is not to get even, but to retrieve a human being and announce, once and for all, that no more Jewish human beings are going to be sacrificed, even if it takes bloodshed to ensure it.)
Or, it could be the Arabs who wanted to provoke a war. Muslims have made it very clear that they want Israel gone and would fire nuclear weapons, which they have been publicly developing. Might they have purposely provoked Israel in order to begin such a war? Arab nations, too, are conscious of their reputation in the world. Perhaps they did something relatively small so the world would not think twice about it. Israel's response has already hurt innocent lives on the Muslim side, which the world really frowns on. Arab leaders know that Israel has nuclear capabilities but has moral values that might make them hesitant to use them. So, get Israel to attack with conventional weapons, respond with nuclear weapons (if they now have them), and say to the world, "We had to."

Of course, all this is mere speculation. I have no idea what the Arabs had in mind with this kidnaping, nor what the Israelis have in mind with this out-of-character response. But no matter what the INTENTION on either side, and even if no nuclear weapons are used, I can see this escalating until it is clear one side MUST win a DECISIVE victory.

Western nations are of course telling both sides to make nice. Could it be that nobody in the Middle East is going to settle for compromise this time? Israel must be fed up with making compromises and getting nothing in return. The Arab nations do not even WISH to live in peace; they wish to destroy. The hate begun in 1948 has only escalated. The Jewish people's desire to be free and left alone has been escalating since before the time of Moses!

So my question is, do you think this will end up being just another skirmish between Arabs and Jews, or will neither side give up this time until the other is destroyed?

OR, as Rabbi Mitterhoff is so fond of saying, "If not now, WHEN?"

L´Chaim

I feel that the kidnaping of Israeli soldier finally arose the danger of mass destruction over peaceful jew communities as the ones on the North of Israel. I feel that the anger of Israel goverment official and any reasonable jew living in Isarel or abroad must have been unavoidable due to the fact that Israel has done strong efforts to come to a permanent peace stage with Lebanon and Palestine. An example for this trend we find it in the withdrew of jew settlement from the Gaza Strip and the willingness to negotiate border lines.
I know It is easy for me to say these things, I do not live in Israel so I am not directly endangered by Hizbulla attacks but believe me right now I wish I could be fighting along all jews soldiers G-d willing.

There is always a strong determination for all jew to defend and protect civilians as a most precious duty to preserve our right to live to be still life giving in the land of our ancestors.

To all Israel Defense Forces a call for guarding and protection to all soldier Has-m
will for those who fight to defend the lifes of a jew will never die, their souls will join ethernal life.

It is outrageous how countries as Siria and Iran always advocate for Israel destruction G-d forbids. The battle is against these islamic extremist countries. International community should do a lot more to stop the training and arming of terrorist groups by these two countries for the sake and peace of the whole region.

Our mission is not else but victory, Hashem remembers the covenant made with our forefathers Abraham, Itzak, yacob, David, Sholomo on Mt.Horeb.

Please see this website, which actually gives differring opinions of who said what in this conflict. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Israel-Lebanon_conflict
It seems that most agree it was Hezbulla who initiated by a cross-border attack on Israel. Israel chose to retaliate because of the flagrant attack accross the border, not just the katushyot or the kidnapping. And most importantly, and as of this we have not a clue, because Hashem decided now was the time.