I totally understand your claim, and can actually agree with it. But, as I said before - reality is much more complex than that. I'm not asking you to imagine anything, just bringing facts to the table. A rational response to the case you presented should not include targeting civilians in purpose of targeting civilians.
One might ask what is the goal you are trying to achieve when you blow up dozens of buses and restaurants in heartland Israel? are you trying to signal you do not approve of settlements? I can somehow understand terror attacks against settlements. I can't and wouldn't understand killing 29 kids waiting in line to enter a dance club.
So sure, If I was a Palestinian I would have been angry as hell. Would I go slain civilians to express it? HELL NO!
Let me draw the line for you - fighting against fighters is legitimate; fighting against civilians is terrorism. Zionist organizations fighting against British soldiers during the British Mandate in Israel were legitimate, Zionist organizations killing British civilians in Israel during the Mandate were terrorists. American colonists killing native American warriors were legitimate, same colonists eradicating whole villages were terrorists. Palestinian rebels attacking military troops are legitimate, Palestinian rebels digging tunnels to kidnap civilians or firing rockets into major metropolis are terrorists. Hamas terrorists forcing Palestinian civilians to act as human shields are terrorists. Storing and firing rockets from UN schools in Gaza while disregarding the results is terrorism.
Targeting civilians in the name of killing as many as you can because it is safer than fighting the opposing fighters is terrorism. There is no explanation whatsoever that can justify purposely killing civilians.
In a war, especially when it is being engaged in a densely populated areas, some civilians will get killed. Any measure should be taken to prevent that, and I can testify first hand that Israel does that with phone calls, sms, mail, pamphlets and additional announcements in advance. I do not believe that it is a common practice to declare what and when you are planning you attack in advance, risking your own troops.
I like the way you bring a new perspective to the debate and you certainly have valid points. Especially about the Hamas. However, aren't you shading the state terrorism of Israel?
Since September 29, 2000:
** 131 Israeli children have been killed by Palestinians and 1,661 Palestinian children have been killed by Israelis.
** 1,134 Israelis and at least 7,428 Palestinians have been killed.
** 8,600 Israelis and 59,737 Palestinians have been injured.
** Zero or very few Israelis are possibly being held prisoner by Palestinians, while more than 6,000 Palestinians are currently imprisoned by Israel.
Similar death numbers more or less in a chart.
These numbers also do not include the sizable number of Palestinians who died as a result of inability to reach medical care due to Israeli road closures, curfews, the Israeli closure of border crossing from Gaza, etc.
“The majority of these [Palestinian] children were killed and injured while going about normal daily activities, such as going to school, playing, shopping, or simply being in their homes. Sixty-four percent of children killed during the first six months of 2003 died as a result of Israeli air and ground attacks, or from indiscriminate fire from Israeli soldiers.”
Catherine Cook
I also have my sympathies for the Israeli people who have to live under the fear of Hamas, I was truly sad to read the story of you in the
scary moments thread. But living under the fear of the IDF in your own territory, not even counting the times that IDF goes berserk like these days, must be a true hell as well. Besides the IDF, not to mention that, many many settlers who in the West Bank are heavily armed and there have been numerous reports of their brutal attacks on their Palestinian neighbors.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1s3Qt-Tm5I
(activate the captions for English subtitles)
You can watch the rest of the video on youtube. Basically the Israeli soldier pats on the shoulder of his fellowman and threatens to arrest the home owner for provocation, which in his eyes, is nothing but only having your flag on the roof of your own home in your own lands.
Btw, I know the idiot in the video doesn't represent the Israelis but seeing how the IDF and the crowd around stand by their fellow countryman in a trespassing attempt, I can't even imagine me and my family living in such environment. It must be a non-stop fear on you for your family and home.
But nevertheless, although I truly feel sorry for all the sufferers of the conflict, my main grievance within the all Israel-Palestine case, is the unconscionable double standards, hypocrisy, and terrifyingly lopsided and unproportional view of the rest of the world about Palestine, especially the situation of the media in the states.
