There has been alot of coverage and expected outrage over Israel’s bombing of a UN school today. I for one, cannot subscribe to the idea that this democratic nation would purposefully target a building, ANY BUILDING, without just cause.
What would be the incentive to conduct such an operation? Israel is obviously not out to inflict civilian casualties. We know this because if Israel was interested in a body-count, they could decimate the entire population of Gaza (using conventional weapons) without one Jewish casualty. Other evidence of this is in Israel’s use of ground troops in an area that makes Iraq look like Disney Land. There is but one reason for using ground troops in this case, and that is to reduce civilian casualties (Israel can just as easily attack from the air, or it can save itself millions of dollars and just use old-school artillery).
In democratic nations, where the leadership is chosen and ruled by the populace, these types of attacks can incite the population to demand their leader’s surrender and/or reach a hasty ceasefire. Gaza is not a democratic nation and Hamas is not governed by the people, thus, a Dresden-like war of attrition will not result in Gazans calling upon their leaders to surrender (nor would there leaders care). So the question remains: why would Israel target a “school”?
How a School becomes a Legimate Target. A Palestinian School used for lobbing Mortars at the Sderot civilian community.
There is no coincedence that this is the spot they use for firing. Both Hezbollah and Hamas embed within civilian centers, ensuring maximum collatoral damage on their side. To the Jihadist, such a strategy creates a win-win, if Israel does not attack, they can continue shooting rockets with impunity; if Israel does attack, then they claim a PR victory. What Westerners fail to recognize is that to Hamas & Hezbollah don’t mourn these civilian deaths, they celebrate them as Martyr’s for the cause.
A missile launcher and a number of Anti Tank missiles were discovered hidden in a Palestinian school yard in Sajaiya northern Gaza Strip
Throughout history, schools, hospitals and holy places were considered off limits to military, they were a sanctuary for non-combatants. But not for Hamas. The Jihadists have used their population as human shields throughout this conflict. Nothing is off limits, no place too sacred in their struggle against the “Great Satan”. Ambulances have been used to deliver both terrorists and weapons; kindergardens have been used as weapon stores (even if Israel doesn’t fire at it, do you know what a danger that is?!); on Arab TV, 6 year olds declare they want to commit serial murder and suicide on their 18th birthdays; the terror groups have even used 12 year olds and mentally retarded individuals as suicide bombers!
The “Moderate” Palestinian Authority in Khan Yunis
How does one negotiate with an entity that put it’s own prebuscent children in harms way?
Alas…As they are used as human shields, as their children are brainwashed and entire generations grow up feeling Shehade is the greatest aspiration the Arabs look to Israel for all that ails them. As if the several hundred year stagnation of an entire people, from Iraq, to Syria, to Lebanon has anything to do with the 60 year old Jewish state!
Someday, hopefully soon, the Arabs will awake from their long, long slumber and recognize that their greatest enemy is within. For their sake and for the sake of the civilized world, I hope that day comes soon.
To Israel’s critics I ask: What would you do in such a case? Would you allow your sons and daughters to be killed or would you neutralize the threat? How would you counter the PR disaster that comes from engaging a population that embraces death as victory (ever notice how the Arabs don’t have alarms, bomb shelters, or anything of the sort?! If Israelis were able to build these themselves 60 years ago (this was before aid, the USA or any such thing) then Gazans can build them today)? I welcome your comments.
Arafat realized the death of his own could be used as a weapon… Hamas, Hezbollah have simply improved on his formula
Trackposted to Nuke’s, Rosemary’s Thoughts, third world county, Allie is Wired, Political Byline, Woman Honor Thyself, Adam’s Blog, The World According to Carl, DragonLady’s World, The Pink Flamingo, Leaning Straight Up, and Democrat=Socialist, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
2 responses so far ↓
JT // Jan 9, 2009 at 2:23 am
Check out the full effects of the Gaza bombing at Demotix.com a website for citizen journalism. It gives you the information without being filtered by the mainstream press.
http://www.demotix.com/news/mideast-gaza-offensive
1 Joan Polzin // Sep 16, 2009 at 2:05 am
I would like to know if it anyone can send me good files of some of the photos of Islamic children being trained for jihad…I am an artist and would like to use some of these images to make large paintings, hopefully for a show about terrorism in Israel. I would like permission from the photographer to use the image for this purpose. You can see some of my paintings on my blog or on FLickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/66583101@N00/sets/72157622330061104/
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