Huh. Palestinian Islamic Jihad, operating from Lebanon? Why would Lebanon shelter a Palestinian group? Since these individuals are Lebanese by citizenship, do we now confer upon Lebanon the right to protect them as Lebanese nationals, although their passion in life is "regaining" their Palestinian homeland?
More to the point, given the criminal history of the group, why is the operation of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, in Lebanese territory, allowed by the government of Lebanon?
Although the incident has not been shown to involve Israel, it is telling that you consider the targeting of terrorists, to be terrorism.
Again, my understanding of the term has to do with the purposeful targeting of non-combatants. I don't think you can call Palestinian Islamic Jihad to be non-combatants, given that their raison d'etre is the destruction of the state of Israel.
I understand that we've had to go around and around about a definition of "terrorism" here, and don't much want to do that again.
Suffice it to say, armed groups other than official Lebanese government forces are not supposed to be operating in Lebanon.
This has been Lebanon's responsibility to guarantee since 2000. Since she is either unwilling or unable to fulfill her obligations, once again, she owes Israel thanks for the assistance, if indeed Israel participated in this incident at all.
It strikes me that Syria and Lebanon both have a remarkably sanguine attitude toward groups and individuals who hold murder within, and overthrow of, a neighboring sovereign state, as their inalienable right.
I know that if "terrorism," "sovereignty," and other such terms are moveable feasts, we are much more able to draw a moral equivalency between murderers and soldiers, between nations and gangs, etc.
No such equivalency, however, exists in this case. Israel is not protecting thousands of little workshops where bombs are being ready to be walked into weddings in Syria and Lebanon. Israel does not declare its intention of wiping Israel and Syria off the map. Israel does not declare that it would be better if all Muslims moved to Lebanon, so they could all be murdered more easily -- as Nasrallah has said of all Jews moving to Israel.
The word "Jihad", as used by "Islamic Jihad," refers to an armed strugggle. I don't think "Jihadis" call themselves that to refer to their "spiritual" struggle against their own demons. One of the problems with being in an armed struggle is, your opponents may be armed as well.
The only real open question here, is whether these "holy warriors" were killed by Israelis at all, or by other, "holier-than-them" "holy warriors."
Dan
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