Israel, Simple Justice, and European DepravityMike Rappaport

It is important to keep one’s eye on the essentials concerning the morality and legality of Israel’s response to Hezbollah’s attacks.  France, Germany, and Italy have called for restraint on Israel’s part, viewing it as responding excessively.  This is absurd and their criticisms are outrageous. 

Hezbollah, which is represented in the Lebanese legislature and cabinet, attacked Israel without provocation.  That violates international law.

Hezbollah has used human shields, placing its rockets in the homes of civilians.  That too violates international law.

Hezbollah aims its rockets at cities indiscriminately, another violation of international law. 

I know no one expects better from Hezbollah, but it is important to point this out.  Moreover, Lebanon has not an effort to disarm Hezbollah and therefore some of the responsibility is borne by it.  Certainly, it cannot complain when Israel attempts to defend itself against Hezbollah.

Ok, then, what is the criticism of Israel by the above three moral giants?  Israel’s actions are excessive.  Now, it is true that Israel occasionally harms civilians, but its actions are designed to attack military targets and it is careful not to harm citizens any more than necessary.  Of course, when Hezbollah uses human shields, the responsibility lies with Hezbollah, not Israel.

The main idea of the critics of Israel seems to be that Israel is fighting too hard, going after too many targets.  After all, Hezbollah only kidnapped a couple of its soldiers.  While this might seem to be a plausible argument at first, in a perverse sort of  way, upon examination it just seems absurd.  Hezbollah attacked Israel.   It has not disavowed its attack nor returned the soldiers.  Israel should be allowed to respond as necessary to get its soldiers returned.  Moreover, Hezbollah has now shot rockets throughout Israel and there is no reason to think it will not do so in the future.  It is perfectly legitimate for Israel to fight a war with Hezbollah now, defeat it, and disarm it.

As compared to Chirac and company, George Bush comes across as a true moral giant, since he is not willing to step in and constrain Israel.  While Bush deserves our approval, his action should not be noteworthy, since it is simple justice, yet in our world, simple justice when it comes to Israel requires the courage of a true moral giant.