"surgical precision"
"Law Enforcement Paradigm (LEP)"
"Law of War Paradigm (LWP)"
"anticipatory self-defence"
er.. these are not laws. They are theories drummed up by right wing ideologues used to justify a strategy of pre-emption.
We could almost be playing a video game here.
Each civilian that Israel kills creates a martyr and a multiplier factor of supporters for revenge on Israel.
Israel's "targetted killings" may strike a chord with the Israeli electorate and washington.
But what is it achieving?
A mark of its success is that over the past 50 years (warning irony ahead) it's managed to solve the middle east problem and prevent attacks on Israel.
Jonathon how about you give some thought to the YRWYSP, the You Reap What You Sow Paradigm?
Because LEP and LWP and anticipatory self-defence can equally be used as a justification by the Palestinians.
That's the problem with "laws". they apply universally.

It appears that Ariel is vying with Singer to be the Voice of Israeli Imperialism on OLO.

The whole world knows that Israel desperately wants to get rid of all non-Jews from its territory whether that territory is legally acquired or obtained by invasion and occupation.

The whole world knows that Israel wants a religiously 'pure' State, one that befits the racist 'Children of God'.

The world also knows that Israel has plans for Greater Israel which involves taking land from its neighbours by force. It will then set about creating a Jewish Super-State, a junior version of the U.S.

So Johnathon, please save us from the mountains of duplicitous nonsense that you have included in this article, nonsense that tries to present Israel as 'just defending itself!'

Israel will get rid of the Palestinians by hook or by crook and genocide is its preferred option because it has created too much hatred.

Hopefully the civilized world will unite to stop this happening and the most important nation to target is the U.S., the enabler of every atrocity and war crime that Israel carries out!

Well Jonathan you did state "Under both domestic and international law, the civilian population has the right to be free from arbitrary deprivation of life."

Perhaps you can send an email or letter to the Israeli government, and their most accommodating psychopath of a leader Benjamin Netanyahu outlining this fact, especially the next time they decide to incite murder and genocide on a group of civilian people that have no means to defend themselves.

Please note the fact that less than 30 'Jews' have been killed as a result of Palestinian rockets since 2004, yet the Israeli military response in respect to these attacks have resulted in thousands of civilian deaths.

Talk about blatant hypocrisy.

Another rant from yet another Zionist apologist.

there are two aspects to the law of war:
(1) whether a state is right to be fighting a war in the first place
(2) the tactics a state has the right to use in fighting a war

The article is mostly about (2). But it is on point (1) where the big difference between the two sides lies. Israel is occupying (or controlling, if you prefer, including blockading) Palestinian territory, not the other way around.

At the end he says "So long as the Jewish state remains at risk of Islamic terrorists who refuse to accept an independent Jewish presence in the Middle East and fundamentally dedicate themselves to Jihad as the means of erasing the Jewish state ..."

My sense of the reporting I've read is that there is very substantial acceptance among Palestinians of a Jewish state within its own lawful borders (though obviously every individual will have his/her own perspective). But in Israel there is clearly not substantial acceptance of a Palestinian state.

So would Ariel agree with a statement like

"So long as Palestine remains at the mercy of militant Israelis who refuse to accept an independent Palestinian state in Palestine and fundamentally dedicate themselves to military means as the means of preventing an independent Palestinian state ..." [and then justify the resultant militant activity by Palestinians]

People who have a claim to be Jews have every right to have and to defend a racist state for those of their ethnic group who opt to be part of it, and to exclude all they would define as goyim or reduce them to non-citizenship. All they need is terra nullius on which to establish it. Parts of Antarctica might do, provided the relevant territory is not required by the rest of the world for scientific or other activity.

But an enclave held, whatever its borders, on land from which millions of people are living in exile brought about by murderous ethnic cleansing, including immediate neighbours held by violent force in an archipelago of Bantustans, is an affront to humanity.

While it can draw American support in return for keeping the oil-rich Middle East in perpetual turmoil it will have the military power to remain and expand at will though not without frequent challenge. After that its future is bleak, as its antics have long ago squandered most of any good will mistakenly accorded it by the world's people.

In its remaining years it would do well to work hard on an accommodation with the Palestinians for a single democratic, secular non-racist state.

I concur with earlier posts that see the article as zionist attempts to legitimize their actions.

I want to reflect on the longterm results of Israel sowing extreme racist sentiment in their population that has become consumed by paranoia.

What will they turn that energy to when they achieve their objective?

The lust for killing children, for bullying unarmed Arabs, the disrespect for women and the aged will not go away, the innocent blood cannot be washed off. It will turn on itself. Israel will not survive unless it reflects on itself and embraces a secular state.
The alternative is a rebirth of fascism that just might reawaken Humanity

Shal, David G, Geoff of Perth, Jeremy & Maracas1. What a load of Coddswallop from a bunch of Jew hating Jihadists. Justin the Emperor. You lost me again.

If a snake is going to bite you, do you cut off its tail or its head? Now don't say that the Palestinians are a peace loving people. They are not. They never have been, even towards their own kind. Not in 1300 years. Every Muslim man, woman & child in the Gaza area is trying in every way to kill or maim anyone who is Jewish. It's part of their normal culture. This includes women & children. We have all seen the videos of the kindergarten groups learning to kill Jews.

We can all put our heads in the sand & pretend they don't exist, but they do. This is not happening in Israeli kindergartens. Israel is not sending rockets & mortars into Gaza just to indiscriminately kill anyone they can hit as does Hamas send rockets & mortars into Israel.

I think Israel is very restrained in its actions in dealing with Hamas, considering the number of rocket & mortar attacks it puts up with before it retaliates.

Myself I would start with a line of bulldozers at one end, blades down & go for it. Then I would gas the earth between Egypt & Gaza so they could never build another tunnel.

Just how do they get so many rockets into Gaza to fire at Israel anyway? Are they coming in those Aid Ships that are “only bringing in Aid”? Why would they need them If they are not going to use them against Israel? Why cry foul if they do use them & the Israelis retaliate?

Jayb's post indicates there is a full moon tonight. Gas the earth? there's an interesting insight into your resolution strategies. perhaps some anger management training might be in order. Oh and an empathy transplant. although i doubt we could get enough donors to deal with the deficiency.

What really happend in Gaza.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article33166.htm

Hey Jayb, your statement "Myself I would start with a line of bulldozers at one end, blades down & go for it. Then I would gas the earth between Egypt & Gaza so they could never build another tunnel." Well it sounds familiar, I am sure I heard something like that in a WWII film about the NAZI party.

Pretty immature if you ask me, and not only that highly offensive for the civilian men, women and children currently imprisoned in Gaza by the Zionists!

Jayb, you appear to be ignorant of the Holocaust during WWII, which you wish to impose on the Palastinian people.
Should you be of the jewish faith then you should be ashamed, and condemned by all Australian jews.

ABC news report members of The Australian Zionist Youth Group, are signing up to join the IDF.
What was that about David Hicks !

Jayb's post indicates there is a full moon tonight.
Shal,
Jayb is right , no matter how much you're trying not to believe it. After all, actions speak louder than words. You could learn a thing or two from the Yugoslaves.

HOw would Ariel like targetted killings against jews? Would he call that surgical and wonderful.

Why is this propaganda being published here.

Shal, David G, Geoff of Perth, Jeremy & Maracas1. Stiff do do fellers. I have no sympathy for Muslim Terrorists. May Allah (peace be upon him) receive many more to enjoy their 64 gay virgin’s camels.
Kipp: Jayb, you appear to be ignorant of the Holocaust during WWII, which you wish to impose on the Palestinian people.

Should you be of the Jewish faith then you should be ashamed,
I am quite aware of the 6 million Jews that were murdered in the Nazi Prison camps. I am also aware of the 13 million others, Catholics, Russians, Mentally ill & the Crippled, not the mention the POW Allied soldiers that were also murdered, but never get a mention. I am not a Zionist or Jew. In fact I’m a peaceful atheist & wouldn’t hurt a fly, just like the peaceful Muslims of this world who reign down Rocket & mortars on innocent civilians. They too are peaceful civilians, once again after they have pulled the trigger.

Jayb: gas the earth between Egypt & Gaza

I mean pollute the ground to with a gas to stop the Palestinians building tunnels to import Rockets & Arms into Gaza.

Geoff of Perth, Pretty immature if you ask me.

So you think it’s a good thing that the Palestinians sneak Rockets & Arms into Gaza to attack Israelis civilians do you? Pretty immature if you ask me.
Shal: Jayb's post indicates there is a full moon tonight.

Ahh, A hunters moon, what more could one ask for. More terrorists meeting Allah. (Peace be upon him)

Shai: Gas the earth? there's an interesting insight into your resolution strategies. perhaps some anger management training might be in order. Oh and an empathy transplant.

resolution strategies. Hamas has a strategy. The elimination of all Isrealies. There’s an interesting insight. Rule number one. Never get angry. But, sorry I have no empathy for Terrorists or their wives & their future Terrorists.

Cont.

Cont.

Marilyn Sheppard: How would Ariel like targeted killings against Jews? Would he call that surgical and wonderful?

He doesn’t like it. The indiscriminate Rockets, Mortars & Bus bombings, That’s why he does surgical strikes to cut the head off the snake. Not much good stepping on its tail, it’ll just keep bitting you.

Consider this. If someone started kicking you in the shins, You ignored them for a while. Would you get sick of it eventually. I suppose you would ask them in your most Politically Correct language to please be a nice person & stop doing that. Would you? Or would you ask someone else to ask them nicely to stop kicking you? But they don't stop. Would you eventually smack them in the mouth or just put up with it?

Jayb,

I think you'd be inclined to give more than a kick in the shins if someone took over your house, and allowed you to remain on the premises as long as you kept to the back porch.

Marilyn you ask “How would Ariel like targetted killings against jews? Would he call that surgical and wonderful’.
If Jews were sending missiles into Gaza with the express aim of causing terror by way of mass murders with no regard for military infrastructure and no regard for shortening the conflict, then YES I agree with you the perpetrators of those acts should be targeted.

But the fact is one side of this conflict is engaged in targeting civilians and civilians alone.
Not much has changed in the last 100 years.

And you said I wrote ‘propaganda’. Please advise when truth became ‘propaganda’?

Geoff you state that ‘please note the fact that less than 30 'Jews' have been killed as a result of Palestinian rockets since 2004, yet the Israeli military response in respect to these attacks have resulted in thousands of civilian deaths’

You refer implicitly to the disproportionate deaths and injuries. I am unaware of 'thousands of civilian deaths' (in Gaza I presume), but let's assume you're right.

The fact is Hamas has fired 12,800 rockets and thousands of other mortar shells at Israel over the past 11 years. Perhaps you would agree that ‘proportionality’ would require the Israelis not to use surgical strikes but instead to fire 12,800 missiles back at the people of Gaza?

Jayb,

Immature, good god what are you on?

We are talking about people's lives here.

It is so unfortunate that you have swallowed the Zionistic (that being a religious nut case cult) Cool Aid.

We should be talking about the Zionistic takeover of the Israeli government, the genocide they (the so-called chosen ones) who now reign holocaust on the Palestinians (a geographical people) who have lived in the Middle East, on land now forbidden to their residence, by a genocidal bunch of maniacs in charge of god knows what of a government system.

Most intelligent 'Israeli' people deplore the biased, criminal and unjust attacks on innocent men, women and children in Gaza, for all intent purposes a prison camp similar to Auschwitz. The remainder are the uneducated dregs of a corrupt and biased religious sect that have no meaningful understanding of what Zionism is really all about, unfortunate for them one should presuppose.

The Zionists have stopped all Palestinian economic development, commerce, trade and the usual trappings one would expect in a normal society. Get real man and take off those rose coloured glasses.

This is not a conflict between nations; this is a conflict between a bunch of sociopathic religious nuts and a bunch of people pushed into a corner (loss of their traditional and historic homeland) with no option but to fight back.

God help the Israeli people (except those poor old fascist Zionists) when the US no longer has access to cheap oil from the Middle East. Let’s then watch as the money and support from the US (except from the fundamental Zionistic fascist’s) dries up.

Well John as this has to be my last post on this website relating to this disgusting article for the next 24 hours or so, I would like to respond to your "The fact is Hamas has fired 12,800 rockets and thousands of other mortar shells at Israel over the past 11 years. Perhaps you would agree that ‘proportionality’ would require the Israelis not to use surgical strikes but instead to fire 12,800 missiles back at the people of Gaza?"

Well err no! I would think that giving back the tradition lands to the Palestinian people would be a much greater example of humanity.

I guess we should forget this ever happening, given the continued genocide of the Palestinian people, and yes there a people on both sides to lay blame at.

I just hate the complete hypocrisy of the Zionistic government of Israel using the country’s military to do their filthy religious work.

You can post all you like about what is just and fair; I know history will show what reality was in the future.

You are morally and spiritually bankrupt and everything you say in support of the Zionists will go little toward redemption or truth once the general population, free of "Jewish" propaganda is exposed to those of us whom truth sets free.

Good luck living in your 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Fantasy'.

Poirot: If I remember my history correctly, it was the Jewish Homeland long before the Palestinians took it by force. But I suppose that's before your time. About 2400 BC give or take a couple of years. That's before they migrated to Egypt because of the drought in Gaza, and then migrated from Egypt back to Jerusalem in Israel.

Actually, come to think of it. Israel up to as far as Tripoli & East to Petra did still belong to Egypt. Israel/Judea was a vassal state under Egypt up until about 270 BC when the Ptolemaic took control.

The Israelis had it stolen off them in about 735 AD, just out of hand, I think. They reclaimed it in 1945. Hamas & their people are still terrorists, no matter how you look at it. & dreary, "by their friends ye shall know them." You support Hamas, therefore...

Ya gonna lose this one too dreary.

Whose front porch did you say it was?

Jayb,

You wrote: “If someone started kicking you in the shins, You ignored them for a while. Would you get sick of it eventually. I suppose you would ask them in your most Politically Correct language to please be a nice person & stop doing that. Would you? Or would you ask someone else to ask them nicely to stop kicking you? But they don't stop. Would you eventually smack them in the mouth or just put up with it?”

Actually, I would walk away.

Jonathan,

To be honest, this is a case of potayto, potahto. Whether you call the killing of Al-Jabari an “assassination”, “targeted killing” or an “extrajudicial killing”, in the eyes of the world and, most particularly, the UN, it is not an acceptable practice. Further, Al-Jabari’s death was clearly the underlying cause of the recent conflict, and Hamas’ reaction was expected (even yearned for) by Israel. Why?

Using LEP vs LWP to back up your argument holds no sway, not least because:

“The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, however, states that all individuals have the right to life, liberty and security. Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights also says the right to life must be protected by law, and "no one shall be arbitrarily deprived" of that right.

According to the United Nations' "Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions," governments must prohibit such executions and ensure they are considered offenses under their state's criminal laws.
"Exceptional circumstances, including a state of war or threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency may not be invoked as a justification of such executions.

The Fourth Geneva Convention, which sets out the laws of war as applied to civilians and applies to the occupied Palestinian territories, also affirms that individuals are protected against willful killing and shall be granted the right to a fair trial.”

This quote is taken from this excellent article (in which both sides of the argument are expressed). I suggest everyone reads it:

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/11/20121118122713481889.html

Jayb,

So that makes it fine for them to be plopped back into that territory by the powers that be in the mid 20th century, to be installed and maintained, to allow themselves some wriggle room to expand their territory and to herd the Palestinian population into huge ghettos of despair and rancour.

Using the house analogy, you're basically saying that if someone came to your door and informed you that the modern day relatives of the people who had once lived in your house had decided that they had every right to take over the premises once again by dint of former occupation - and that you would be required to shift to the back porch to allow them unfettered control....I think you'd question their rightful occupancy under the circumstances.

You know, Jayb, I have a problem and a great sadness when I look at what happened to the Jewish population during WWII. Witnessing the invasion of Gaza, brought to mind the exact same feeling. An almost totally defenceless people being massacred by a powerful and merciless aggressor.....how could that invasion have been carried out by a people who suffered a similar fate not so long ago?

Something for everyone... just pause the slider at the historical point you prefer:

http://mapsofwar.com/ind/imperial-history.html

WmTrevor,

Brilliant!

It looks like a lot of "stealing" has taken place over the milennia - natural progressions depending on power plays.

Looking to the past, it's notable that whoever had control of this area was linked to it in a geographically unbroken conglomeration of power stretching out across land dimensions. Not now. That Israel feels that it is surrounded by aggressors is because it is supported from without by imperial superpowers - it is isolated physically as opposed to being tethered to and part of a larger empire in physical dimensions. It's akin to an being an outpost of the Western empire, sustained by modern superpower structure, but separated from it in a geographical sense.

Jeremy you query my comment about Israelis “remaining at risk of Islamic terrorists who refuse to accept an independent Jewish presence in the Middle East” and you imply that I am exaggerating.

Doesn’t the Hamas Charter itself reject the presence of any infidel in any part of what Hamas considers “Muslim lands”? And thereby categorically rejecting any semblance of coexistence with infidels?

It’s pretty clear which side rejects peace at any price.

Scribbler, you state “To be honest, this is a case of potayto, potahto. Whether you call the killing of Al-Jabari an “assassination”, “targeted killing” or an “extrajudicial killing”, in the eyes of the world and, most particularly, the UN, it is not an acceptable practice”.

I don’t think “unacceptable practices” by the UN or some other Trojan horse of the third world is legally enforceable. As I understand it, targeted killings have not been found to be illegal in any court lording over the conflict in question.

Of course I may be wrong and welcome any insight from any case that can be drawn to my attention.

If anyone thought TGs were illegal the plaintiffs would surely pony up – or have their supporters on their behalf pony up - to some transnational court and test their allegations.

Furthermore you mention the Geneva Convention in relation to the Territories. Interesting points you raise. I suppose you’ll get Israel to better adhere to your prescription when Communist Vietnam terminates its occupation of South Vietnam; when the Motherland stops its occupation of Tibet and when the USA removes itself from all territories seized from the Mexicans including but not limited to Texas and California.

David G:

“The whole world knows that Israel desperately wants to get rid of all non-Jews from its territory…a religiously 'pure' State”

Please help me here. I haven't seen any evidence of this global piece of wisdom. Can you direct me to where this world knowledge is shown?

“… Israel has plans for Greater Israel which involves taking land from its neighbours by force…creating a Jewish Super-State”

Can you please explain then why are they spoiling their plans by returning the Sinai, southern Lebanon, and withdrawing from Gaza?

Unless you can back up your nonsensical claims please spare us from them.

Geoff of Perth:

“the Israeli government… incite murder and genocide on a group of civilian people that have no means to defend themselves”

Inciting murder seems to be the specialty of Hamas and their cronies. Haven’t they been firing rockets at Israeli civilians and calling for suicide bombings for years? Even their charter calls for the elimination of Israel.

“a genocidal bunch of maniacs in charge of god knows what of a government system.”

This, in-fact, is a perfect description of the regime in Gaza.

“Most intelligent 'Israeli' people deplore the biased, criminal and unjust attacks on innocent men, women and children in Gaza”

Most intelligent people around the world deplore the daily terror attacks on Israel.

“giving back the tradition lands to the Palestinian people would be a much greater example of humanity”

Israel has already tried that when they left Gaza years ago. It didn’t work too well as it encouraged the rocket terror attacks to intensify.

“I just hate the complete hypocrisy of the Zionistic government of Israel using the country’s military to do their filthy religious work”

You mean doing their filthy work of self defence and attempting to eliminate terror attacks on the country?

Emp Julian:

“…a racist state for those of their ethnic group who opt… to exclude all they would define as goyim or reduce them to non-citizenship”

Actually about 20% of Israel’s citizens are non-Jews, a far higher proportion than non-Muslims in, say Egypt or Jordan (or most other Arab countries).

Jonathon you refuse to address the fact that any policy of authorized pre-emption immediately validates pre-emption on the part of those you wish to attack. Ergo all it does is promote escalation and removes any claim to the moral high ground

Shal sorry but I do not understand your logic when you say that Hamas can argue pre-emptive actions on their part.

Last I looked the Israelis strike at military infrastructure or at folk who have engaged in terrorist activities. It is Hamas who choose not to strike military installations but instead target civilians.

I don't know of any legal precedent that Hamas can quote to explain away their heinous crimes in the context of self defence. Especially given their charter which reads very much like an incitement to war/terror/aggression and makes it very clear that living in harmony with infidels is a non starter. And if there was such a precedent then I am sure it will be applied by Al Qaeda to rationalise their behaviour, too.

I don't see what there is not to understand.

if Israel argues that it has the right to strike pre-emptively in order to protect itself, then the Palestinians have the right to use the same argument to strike at Israel. So the Palestinians can argue legitimately, if you accept the legitimacy of pre-emption, that their rockets are a pre-emptive strike to deal with Israeli aggression. You, having argued that this is a legitimate argument to justify Israeli actions, would need to concede the Palestinian right to the same legitimacy.
If you don't then you're saying that pre-emption is only legitimate for Israel - this, logically, is an untenable position.

Shal you ask if the pre-emptive rights that are available to Israel are also available to Hamas.

I think not.

As I undertstand it - and correct me if I am wrong - such rights to self defence and pre-emptive strikes are afforded either member states of the UN or parties that have signed up to the 1949 Geneva Conventions.

Israel ticks both boxes.

Hamas like every other terror group is neither a member of the UN nor
a party to the Geneva Conventions.

Well, not a member of the UN yet.

that's sophistry Jonathon. in the real world Israel has been facing off against Palestine for 60+ years. We're not talking Geneva convention or Nuclear Non Proliferation here. These are real confrontations with real lives being lost. You argue that Israel has the right to protect itself pre-emptively. That's a justification. it's not a treaty, it's a renationalisation for their actions. If Israel can rationalise its actions by the theory of pre-emption so can the Palestinians. Membership of the UN has nothing to do with it. The US used pre-emption in Iraq. That was not sanctioned by the UN. The US said we don't need the UN. we will do it anyway.
Your blinkered defence of Israel fails to acknowledge the legitimacy of the Palestinian position. This one sided view allows you to justify and rationalise state terrorism against the Palestinians. No amount of "laws" or fancy theorising can disguise this fact.
and there will be no solution as long as Israel continues its unilateral actions which ignores the need to resolve the Palestinian issue.

The author finishes his article with the following;

“So long as the Jewish state remains at risk of Islamic terrorists who refuse to accept an independent Jewish presence in the Middle East and fundamentally dedicate themselves to Jihad as the means of erasing the Jewish state then “targeted killings” will surely continue to be employed as a tool of the IDF.”

Which could just as easily read;

'So long as the future Palestinian state remains at risk of Israeli war criminals who refuse to accept an independent Palestinian presence in the Middle East and fundamentally dedicate themselves to aggression, blockades, targeted assassinations, cross border incursions, illegal settlements, phosphorous rounds, cluster bombs, human shields and the like as the means of erasing any possibility of a future Palestinian state then “rocket fire” will surely continue to be employed as a tool of the armed wing of Hamas.'

Tonight I watched what many thought was to have been one of the last videos out of Syria before their internet was shut down.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H40EsEVU1Wk&feature=plcp

It is harrowing footage especially when we see dead and injured children being dug out from rubble by men with bare hands, some of them injured themselves and all in danger of collapsing walls and floors.

These were exactly the kind of scenes that were experienced in Gaza.

The same derision and disgust we have for the Syrian government should be replicated toward the actions of the Israeli government. The terror and misery they continue to inflict must unfailingly lead any rational and caring person to label them both as terrorist states.

Cont...

Cont...

The author proclaims in this thread “The fact is Hamas has fired 12,800 rockets and thousands of other mortar shells at Israel over the past 11 years. Perhaps you would agree that ‘proportionality’ would require the Israelis not to use surgical strikes but instead to fire 12,800 missiles back at the people of Gaza?”

There are few lies put out by those defending the actions of Israel that could be considered more egregious than this. Not only is it demonstrably wrong;

“Between 2005 and 2007, Palestinian groups in Gaza fired about 2,700 locally made Qassam rockets into Israel, killing four Israeli civilians and injuring 75 others. During the same period, Israel fired more than 14,600 155 mm artillery shells into the Gaza Strip, killing 59 Palestinians and injuring 270.”
Wikipedia (note a 155mm artillery shell has nearly three times the lethal radius of a Qassam rocket and far greater accuracy.)

but it is used continually to justify the slaughter of civilians including scores of children.

Hey csteele,

Your selective use of facts would make any statistician proud. You say

“Between 2005 and 2007, Palestinian groups in Gaza fired about 2,700 locally made Qassam rockets into Israel, killing four Israeli civilians and injuring 75 others".

And to boot, you quote Wikipedia.org.

Perhaps if you'd scroll a little down the page

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_rocket_attacks_on_Israel

you'll see that Gazans have struck over 15,000 times by way of rockets and mortars.

A far cry from the 2005-2007 years you quote.

I regret I understated their violence.

I guess a quick read through the comments shows the futility of trying to argue with Jewish religious fanatics and extremists.

If the Israelis tomorrow carpet-bombed Gaza and killed 500,000 people you would still get a cabal of Jewish fanatics trying to prove that the Palestinians were entirely to blame because they fired a few rockets or used other legitimate means to try to fight against the decades-long, illegal Jewish occupation and blockade.

Religious belief results in a form of insanity and moral blindness and it doesn't matter which religion we are talking about.

When are we going to give up on childish superstitions?

Jonathan J. Ariel,

It's sickening to witness a powerful entity mercilessly mashing a less robust entity underfoot...no matter what mitigation is called forth in its defence.

I have no argument about how many rockets were fired into Israel from Gaza it is just the utter deceit of those who claim Israel sat meekly by until finally 'forced into action by the incessant rain of rockets'.

Throughout the two years before Operation Cast Lead Hamas and the IDF traded blows in tit for tat strikes which saw Israel use six times the number of far more powerful 155mm artillery shells on Gaza than rockets from Hamas. These shells have a far greater accuracy and range than any Qassam rocket but they are hardly a 'surgical' weapon. I have no reason to believe that proportion of munitions traded has changed through the intervening years.

The idea that Israel only responds after prolonged provocation is a card that often dealt not only to promote the idea that they are the victims instead of the Palestinians but also to justify their election driven slaughters. It is a false, misleading and reprehensible, and should be challenged whenever it is touted.

David G.

Contrary to your assumption, not all posters supporting the lone democratic
lamb in the Middle East trying to stand up to the pack of wolves that surround her are Jewish.

Secondly you seem repulsed by Israel using surgical strikes in taking out the enemy's henchmen. Given I doubt the Israelis are going to sit down and take more missiles on the chin, perhaps they should forget surgical strikes and take a leaf out of the RAF and study how it dealt with Dresden.

Ariel, to call Israel 'the lone democratic lamb' shows clearly the full extent of your religious derangement.

A lamb is a peaceful creature that does not kill. Clearly, Israel is into killing big-time!

Israel is not alone but is enabled and supported by the world's most ruthless, warmongering, brutal imperial nation.

The U.S., like Israel, also hides its atrocities and war crimes under the cloak of calling itself a democracy and claiming it is merely defending itself.

Both Israel and the U.S. are rogue nations and the world would be a better place without them!

My, my, David G, you are a hater, particularly of functioning democracies. There is no reputable Arab government anywhere, they slaughter not only Jews, but also ignored is the casual Genocide of the various Christian sects as well, Copt, Maronites, various Orthodox. And of course they slaughter their own the most.

The most stable period was under the Ottomans, not Arabs. There is no history, understanding or wish for good government among Arabs and you think Palestine can run? It's a mess either way, no different to all the other hell holes about it.

McCackie, you are right! I do hate warmongers.

I especially hate warmongers that loudly claim they are democracies (in the U.S., politicians are owned by the corporations) and pretend they are symbols of human rights and freedom while they go about their imperial invasions and land and resource stealing and attempt global domination.

You may admire such barbarism and gross hypocrisy but I don't. It's because of ignorant people like you that the world will soon go up in a puff of nuclear smoke.