The Israeli/Palestinian conflict has been spun in many directions. For the first time Israel is fighting the decades long media campaign from the Palestinians. Constant decrees of war crimes, images of injured/dead civilians, and the perception of Israel being the bully and the aggressor. This is not to say Israel is not aggressive, hasn't killed civilians, or used its formidable might. However, we often pass judgment without placing ourselves in their shoes.
Hamas is a terrorist organization that has stated its aim is the destruction of the Israeli state. This is the organization we are expecting to make peace with Israel? If we are supporting them we are supporting an organization the fires missiles on a civilian population, kidnaps, and uses its civilian population as martyrs.Israeli generals have stated there is no justification for the killing of civilians. This statement would not be echoed by Hamas. If not for the Iron Dome missile system this wedding party would have ended in death instead of just a panic. How would you deal with such a situation? For example, Osama Bin-Laden was in the country of Pakistan when he was killed by US special forces. We invaded another country's sovereign border without concern or care for how Pakistan would feel. Our defense was the number one priority. We are not happy that his kids and family had to witness the bloodshed, or be put in harms way, but we needed to eliminate the threat. Our defense came first.
Israel does not make money of the war with Hamas. Israel has no desire to kill civilians. Like us, their concern is defense of their people and the elimination of terrorism.
Israel goes a step further by warning people of their military targets. They phone a house, fire a dummy missile at it, and then minutes later destroy it. Israel has gone to great length to develop munitions that create pinpointed destruction to limit blast radius. Collateral damage happens when war is waged in civilian areas and it is horrible. The fact is that Israel is dealing with one of the most densely populated areas on earth trying to pick out a terrorist hiding among civilians
No one will be happy that their house is destroyed. The fact that people rush into a house, or stay in it as an act of defiance, is not civil disobedience when paired with housing a terrorist organization.
Now comes a different statement. Palestine needs their own state. It is a need that I believe many Israeli's see as such. However, it is impossible with Hamas. Prior attempts to make such a state happen have routinely been derailed by terrorist organizations. A cease fire can't happen with a terrorist organization (unless they run out of munitions and need to regroup). Israel tried, 6 hours and over 150 rockets later, Israel did exactly what we would do, they responded with force.
