'Insecure' Israel Blows It Again

Israel's raid on the aid flotilla is drawing plenty of criticism from the Jewish community:

• Amos Oz, New York Times: This mess is the result of the misguided "mantra that what can’t be done by force can be done with even greater force." The problem is that Hamas isn't just a terrorist group, it's an idea—"a desperate and fanatical idea that grew out of the desolation and frustration of many Palestinians. No idea has ever been defeated by force," writes the novelist. "To defeat an idea, you have to offer a better idea."
• Barney Frank: In calling for an inquiry, Frank tells the Boston Herald that "as a Jew," Israel's treatment of Arabs around West Bank settlements “makes me ashamed that there would be Jews that would engage in that kind of victimization of a minority.”

• David Grossman, Los Angeles Times: "How insecure, confused and panicky a country must be to act as Israel acted," writes the Israeli-born author. The activists played Israel like a "puppet on a string," demonstrating how far the nation "has declined."
• Yehezkel Dror, Haaretz: "It seems that more radical steps are necessary to overcome the failures of Israel's policy-making culture, including changes in structure, personnel, training and processes of decision and supervision, especially the example the leadership needs to set," writes the author and professor. If not, expect more fiascoes like this.

(More Gaza aid flotilla attack stories.)