Israel's Excessives

I support the existence of Israel, but not it excessive retaliations against enemies. Below is cited the Canadian report of 6 Palestinians killed in apparent retaliation for the killing of an Israeli settler:

http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCATRE5BP0CM20091226?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0

I first noticed this pattern when Israel more or less destroyed Lebanon in 1982. Then more recently was the massive destruction of lives and property in Gaza.

The report of the six killed in retaliation for the killing of a settler is on our TV and I assume is more or less accurate. The Canadian report does not indicate that the killer(s) punished were the ones who killed the settler.

The tribal retaliatory approach to enemies is the great flaw that Israel shares with its neighbors. It could be doing such good by a a rule of law model of punishment rather than merely imitating the worst practices of the area. I have good friends in Israel and Palestine who do the best to make non-violence the model of protest, but they are outnumbered and silenced.

I see no good, but only disaster resulting from Israel's excesses. To make one's community hated is no way to go.
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"A war is just if there is no alternative, and the resort to arms is legitimate if they represent your last hope." (Livy cited by Machiavelli)
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Ed Kent [blind copies]