Tal, of course can be as Leftist as he wishes, but environmental issues are far deeper and important to be relegated only to the Left. Settlers too desire a "greener" Israel and our concerns, mudane as they may seem, need to concern Tal and the Green Party. We have near us illegal trash dumps where trash is burned (why also on Shabbat?), sewage flowing through river basins and trucks spewing toxic fumes (didn't even mention the illegal charocal pits ). The environmnetal movement has been largely silent about Arab violations of the environment and the feeling on the Right is that for the Left, politics trumps everyting.

AS for intellectual honesty, I feel that Tal is putting us on a bit. Rabin? Environment? WHo is he kidding? Rabin inheritated the best military situation of the last 20 years. Lebanon was basically quiet (remember Efi Eitam?) , the first Gulf War was over and Iraq was scratched off the list of effective enemies and the Soviet Union had just collapsed to its various parts and no longer a threat. Also the First Intifada was all but over after not a few arms and legs had been broken amongst the Arabs. SO of course Rabin was able to reduce the Defence budget, at least temporarily until Arafat and his gangs were able to establish themselves 10 minutes from Kfar Saba and to cause Israel to increase military spending again.

In short, Tal is indeed allowed to think what he wants about the connection between "peace" and the environment. Just don't lay the BS to deep; too much nitrates is bad for the environment.

Tal, of course can be as Leftist as he wishes, but environmental issues are far deeper and important to be relegated only to the Left. Settlers too desire a "greener" Israel and our concerns, mudane as they may seem, need to concern Tal and the Green Party. We have near us illegal trash dumps where trash is burned (why also on Shabbat?), sewage flowing through river basins and trucks spewing toxic fumes (didn't even mention the illegal charocal pits ). The environmnetal movement has been largely silent about Arab violations of the environment and the feeling on the Right is that for the Left, politics trumps everyting.

AS for intellectual honesty, I feel that Tal is putting us on a bit. Rabin? Environment? WHo is he kidding? Rabin inheritated the best military situation of the last 20 years. Lebanon was basically quiet (remember Efi Eitam?) , the first Gulf War was over and Iraq was scratched off the list of effective enemies and the Soviet Union had just collapsed to its various parts and no longer a threat. Also the First Intifada was all but over after not a few arms and legs had been broken amongst the Arabs. SO of course Rabin was able to reduce the Defence budget, at least temporarily until Arafat and his gangs were able to establish themselves 10 minutes from Kfar Saba and to cause Israel to increase military spending again.

In short, Tal is indeed allowed to think what he wants about the connection between "peace" and the environment. Just don't lay the BS to deep; too much nitrates is bad for the environment.