Questions about Israel’s behaviour in the war

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Here are a few well-worn platitudes which appear in the media. If you have answers to some of these accusations, feel free to leave a comment.

Israel’s response in Gaza is disproportionate.

The doctrine of proportionality in war is ill-defined. The term is used by international leaders who want to condemn one side when its sin is merely that it is apparently much stronger than its enemy. Interviewers should immediately ask their subjects: "Do you think the war would end quicker - if both parties were equally matched?"
Qassams don’t kill

Only true if their victim takes shelter. Interviewer might ask their subjects: "Should Qassams therefore be excluded from the terms of any ceasefire?"
It’s all because of Israel’s siege. Israel should allow aid into Gaza.

----------------- still to be answered. If you have a response to this, leave a comment ---------
Why didn’t Israel just agree to renew the Gaza truce?

Israel offered to renew the Gaza truce. Unfortunately Hamas did not.
Hamas was elected democratically – why can’t Israel accept it?

Interviewer should ask subject: "So is Hamas' democracy in some way more important than Israel's democracy?"

Democracy at its core is not just about putting a tick on a ballot paper. It's a mechanism for creating and developing a harmonious society. A society which "democratically" votes for violently rising up, eliminating another country has completely misunderstood the concept of democracy. It's a bit rough then, to tell the target/victim of the uprising that it's OK, it's been done democratically.
Israel is targeting civilians

Not according to the most objective reports. Targeting civilians, readers will recall, is unequivocally a war-crime. A few world leaders have accused Israel of using disproportionate force -- not war-crimes.

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#3. Israel supplies the major portion of electricity and fuel to Gaza. The foods and medicines that Israel sends into Gaza (from Israel itself, and donations from others) occured on a regular basis with some few interruptions (as when Hamas stole the fuel trucks Israel sent in). Israel has sent into Gaza caravans of trucks (30 and 40 at a time) filled with tons of food and supplies; accepted many medically needy Palestinians into Israeli hospitals (even some patients who injured themselves building bombs to use against Israel). The truth is that there are no starving people in Gaza due to Israel"s actions. Look at the people, they are not emaciated, filthy, walking in rags. The Arabs are good at claiming discrimination, blaming Israel for their deprivations. The truth is that their fellow Arab countries refuse them citizenship and keep them in "refugee camps." After 60 years and billions of dollars, sent to "assist" the population, most has been siphoned off to buy weapons to use against Israel. It is amazing that during the last 8 years, 7,000 rocket/mortar attacks were launched against Israel, yet it was Israel that kept these humane acts on-going. Egypt, on Gaza"s other border, has never been half as generous.

Posted by Roberta on 2009-01-05 02:58:08 GMT

On 5. It is hard to see how an armed terrorist group can win a democratic election without a high level of intimidation within the general population. Given Hamas"s subsequent attacks on Fatah, leaving over 600 dead, there can be no question of a real democracy in Gaza. If Barack Obama had won the last election by arming his followers and getting ready to attack and kill many thousands of Republicans, would he be a legitimate president? On 3, Israel has allowed substantial into Gaza, much of it from Israel. There are restrictions, but nobody is dying. Does this constitute "collective punishment"? In Northern Ireland, during the long IRA campaign, the Catholic community suffered. But a section of that community was hiding and helping IRA murderers. In taking out a cancer, a breast or other body part may be removed: that"s terrible, but the cancer will kill the entire organism.

Posted by maceoin@btinternet.com on 2008-12-31 09:40:37 GMT

If Israel can post joint security personnel on Egyptian border to ensure that aid is humanitarian only and allowed to install seismic detection devices in the area, then there is little reason to blockade aid. Interesting to see whether Egypt and Hamas comply

Posted by Henry on 2008-12-31 06:57:58 GMT

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Questions about Israel’s behaviour in the war

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