DEMOS wrote:

"good for her, and the few other israelis who are beginning to understand their country's moral foundation: brutal force."

The UN resolution establishing Israel specified that there should be a Jewish state and an Arab state in the land between the Jordan and the Mediterranean. Israel was quite willing to accept the partition, but 5 Arab armies, some officered and trained by the British, attacked. If the Arab states had accepted the UN Resolution there would have been no need for any force. At any time between 1948 and 1967 there could have been a Palestinian state. During that time the west bank was occupied by Jordan and Gaza was occupied by Egypt. Neither country was interested in a Palestinian state. It was only after the 1967 war when they no longer occupied the territory that Egypt and Jordan supported a Palestinian state.

Although one can be critical of aspects of Israeli policy I am glad they were able to muster the force to resist the Arab attacks in 1948 and the Arab armies massing to attack in 1967.

A country under threat does not always behave with circumspection. That is Israel's situation.