Quote:
Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
In other words, Israelis should fight anti-Semitism by using overwhelming military power to kill a lot of non-combatants. That should work.
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No, not anti-semitism itself. I have scant hope that mass anti-semitism in the ME will go away anytime soon. I would doubt it's not the prevailing sentiment for the rest of our lives (assuming standard acturarials tables), but the Jordanian or Egyptian breed, is probably tolerable for Israel. However, when you sizable portions of the civilian population sheltering paramilitary terrorist groups, allowing their country (or the terrority under their control, see Gaza) to be a base for launching of military operations, then I think the Israel has to do whatever is necessary to defend itself and create appropriate zones of defence. In the present case that will include destroying civilian population centers. Perhaps the "innocent" citizens of these areas, who support coexistence and do not give aid and support to the terrorists or their use of their country as launching pads, should take it up with the leaders of their countries or politcal groups who are so perverting the will of the people of that region.
If the supermajority of the populaces of these countries/regions did not support (actively and passively) the continued state of war towards the end of destroying Israel) then the issue could have been solved at least several times over the last almost 60 years. Certainly Israel has indicated (and we have no reason to doubt) that they could live in a peaceful state of coexistence. If their neighbours could behave. Civilians and military alike.
