International Political Will

A homemade Qassam rocket killed an Israeli woman in the town of Sderot on Wednesday. Both the military wing of Hamas and Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility, saying it was in response to Israel’s attack in Beit Hanun last week that killed 18 Palestinian civilians, mostly women and children.

Newspaper headlines around the world note that Israel is considering its response to the rocket attack.

And the blood just keeps flowing.

Neither side is doing much to help the situation. The cycle of violence is perpetrated by both sides – and that is where the problem lies. The “liberal media” repeatedly portrays the violence as emanating from the Palestinians, and paints a picture of the Israelis merely “defending” themselves.

But what defines “self-defense?”

This was the first Israeli fatality from the Qassam rockets since July 2005. The rockets are typically the main justification for Israeli military incursions and attacks in the Gaza Strip, but one fatality in 16 months hardly justifies such a heavy-handed response.

Since the last rocket fatality in July 2005, a total of 49 Israelis have been killed by Palestinians. Of the 49, ten were Israeli military personnel.

In the same 16-month time period, 700 Palestinians have been killed by Israel “defending itself.”

Killing is killing – whether it’s Palestinians killing Israelis with homemade bombs or Israel strafing refugee camps with F-16 jets purchased from the United States with foreign aid also provided by the U.S.

The problem appears to be deciding when self-defense truly is self-defense – and when it is simply murder.

The mayor of Sderot, Eli Moyal, was quoted in the New York Times wondering how average Israeli citizens should react to the rocket attacks.

“What can we do,” Moyal said. “Nothing. Pray to God you are not hit.”

You could. Or you could thank God you’re not Palestinian.

Palestine Israel terrorism Qassam rockets war on terror Hamas

Trackback URI | Comments RSS