Israel's reason for going to war, the kidnapping and shelling of her citizenry, would more than suffice for any other nation. Israel's behavior once in battle is not perfect, but not as bad as, say, that of the U.S. or Britain.
In other words, measured against a dimensionless ethical ideal, as we insist on measuring Israel, her behavior is abhorrent. Measured against the standards of the "measurers," her behavior is good. Measured against the standards of her adversaries -- those brave bombers of bus stops and bar mitzvot -- her behaviour is excellent.
I know, I know. Israel -- unlike every nation on earth -- must be measured against the ideal, not against her adversaries. The ideal is peace, and therefore, Israel is monstrous.
When the U.S. or Britain leaflets an area of Iraq announcing the next air strike, drop me a line here.
I think a great deal of the hand-wringing has nothing to do with the conduct of the war. It has to do with proportionality. That is to say, Israel should play a coy game of trading petty strikes across borders (or better yet, just absorb such strikes), and pony up a few hundred convicted felons in exchange for soldiers or the bodies of soldiers abducted by irregulars on the other side.
My relatives in Haifa have front row tickets to Hezbollahpalooza. Were it your relatives in Cornwall or Albany taking the rocket barrages, I think you'd think twice about considering katyusha strikes "business as usual."
A government's first responsibility is protection of its citizens. Not protection of your ideals, not protection of your misconceptions, protection of its citizens. When they are under indiscriminate attack for years at a time, it is within that government's rights to protect its citizenry.
Now regarding the timing -- yep, it looks like Israel might have chosen to respond to the latest provocations, right when Iran is up for security council action.
Uh huh. But why was there such a handy provocation?
Because when you're dealing with Hamas and Hezbollah, there is always a provocation.
They seem intent on making a strike on their positions politically palateable, and seem to have no regard for the populations they hide among.
Why so much energy to exonnerate the terrorist?
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