From: Baardwijk, J. van
>
> > How does continuing to use excessive force against an angry people
> > engender anything other than more hatred and fear, leading to further
> > acts of violence against the only targets they can attack and with the
> > only means at their disposal?
>
> It will not lead to anything else than more hatred, fear, and further acts
> of violence. Every Palestinian attack will lead to Israel taking revenge,
> and every Israeli attack will lead to Palestinians taking revenge. Unless
> one side decides NOT to strike back and thus break the spiral of violence,
> the violence will go on till there is nobody left to fight.
>
However unilateral ceasefires don't work either. Israel does have a
right to self-defence, provided they don't use force disproportionate
to the perceived threat.
There's a column in today's Times
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,248-2001313763,00.html
which defends Israel as 'exercising restraint in the face of
provocation.' It makes interesting reading.
Arafat is either unwilling or unable to deliver peace, which
means negotiation is not currently an option. That leaves
Israel with no realistic choices except the use of reasonable
force.
--
Robert
