Monday, October 11, 2004
The "disproportionate" use of force.
Jerusalem Post: EU calls for end to IDF operations in Gaza:
The ministers also said a unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, as suggested by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, could not be substitute for a two-state solution. The road map peace plan, which suggests such a solution, has gained the support of the EU, US, UN and Russia.
"[The EU] condemns the disproportionate nature of Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip," they said in a statement.
The ministers recognized Israel's right to defend its citizens against Kassam rocket attacks but said, "These actions have claimed the lives of many innocent civilians, including children, and left many injured," Reuters quoted the ministers as saying...
What, pray, would be a "proportionate" use of force? Should Israel simply fire its own version of the Kassam back? Should they simply blow up busses full of civilians to retaliate? Have a sniper take out a couple of children when the missiles kill theirs?
Military operations are always "disproportionate." You don't attack without a superiority in firepower.
Should they just maintain some sort of murderous tit-for-tat that goes on ad infinitum? Or should they use their ability to defend their citizens and go after the perpetrators?
The EU should be spending more time putting pressure on the PA to take action against the terrorists in their midst (of course they can't, because they ARE the terrorists), rather than abetting them by playing petty opportunistic politics and criticizing Israel's legitimate right of self-defense.
