Dear Critic,

«1. Should we consider that Israels use of rape is standard in war»

No. It is inconceivable of Israelis being comfortable with and overcoming their own revulsion at having sex with Arabs or perceiving them as sexual objects.

«2. Were the Israeli soldiers all poofters?»
(Not sure if that word is officially banned now)

Their investigation so far shows that they used sharp object(s), not their penises, as I first thought.

One of the soldiers was released without charges. Apparently he was not involved.
Of the other eight, it is now believed that only some participated in the act, but the others seem to have known about it and won't tell, so the military police keeps interrogating them to find who were the perpetrators.

«3. Do they get off on that kind of thing but pretend it's 'punishment' in Israel?»

Judging by the past (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Abdel_Fattah_al-Sharif), they will still receive a significant punishment, but nothing as severe as other rapists.

«4. Is that what they tell themselves?»

How would I know?

«5. Do they brag about such things amongst themselves?»

I believe so, though they wouldn't had they been using their own penises.

«6. Do their wives and daughters and mothers approve?»

According to recent news, they actually did.

«- Are they all like this over there?»

Definitely not, though that kind of violence is rampant in some sectors of the population.

«I support handing the rapists over to the Palestinians.
They can publicly chop their bits off for all I care.»

I fully agree.

Tragically, it won't be them who suffer the dire consequences, but the remaining Israeli hostages.