I realize these are old posts, but I thought the topic was just as important for today as well.
It always amazes me how quickly people will jump to condemn Israel. I would implore you to come and visit and see for yourself what is really going on. More than 5,000 rockets landed in residential areas within Israel before we responded. We begged the international community to speak up and condemn the attacks against our citizens and barely a word was spoken. When we did respond we sent surgical strikes to target the terrorists and avoid civilian casualties. Before any strike was sent, tens of thousands of phone calls and SMSes were sent out to warn all citizens in the area to vacate immediately. In addition, millions of flyers were dropped on the area that was going to be bombed, begging civilians to vacate the premises. Unfortunately, chamas has a tendency to use civilians as shields, behind which they can launch their strikes.
But what choice did Israel have in the matter? None of you can imagine what it is like to live in a populated city and to know that at any point during the day a siren will go off and you will have 15 seconds to get in a bomb shelter with your family. WE HELD BACK AS 5,000 SIRENS WENT OFF. Rockets hit kindergardens, malls, and other populated areas. Our citizens were under attack and it had to stop.
Despite the legitimate anger we had every right to feel, we did everything in our power to reduce civilian casualties. Did we always succeed? Of course not. However, as Cl. Richard Kemp said, "Never in the history of warfare has a country taken so many measures to reduce civilian casualties as Israel has." Watch the video... it is MORE than worthwhile: http://www.unwatch.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=bdKKISNqEmG&b=1313923&ct=7536409
Don't cast down Israel in the same pit as Chamas. Try to differentiate between the terrorist and his victim. We put a value on life, including those who attack us. If you don't believe that then go ahead and see for yourself. Find the most right wing, extremist Israeli and ask their opinion on civilian casualties in the Gaza War. I guarantee you, the worst you will hear is regret. Probably along the lines of the unfortunate loss of innocent life.
Now go to the other side and ask their opinion about the suicide bomber who hid amongst baby carriages outside a market. Ask them about the sniper who shot one bullet when his sites were aimed on a six month old baby. Ask them about the terrorist that enterred an Israeli household and started in the kid's room, putting his first bullet in the head of a three year old child who was asleep. They glorify the killer. They mark them as a martyr and hold them up as a shining example. They throw parades after EVERY suicide bombing and hand out candy and sing about the deaths of their enemies. I know this personally as I saw it firsthand after 9/11. When we heard, our entire school shut down so we could all gather together and cry out in prayer. In Ramallah, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, over 50,000 palistinians took to the streets to rejoice. Their parties went well into the night.
Yet throughout all of this we will always hold back and still try and reduce civilian casualties. We do this because, at the end of the day, we will always value life. And no matter how much crap you all continue to give us, we will always do so in the future as well.