By Josh Basson , , Seattle
There is little doubt that Israel is morally justified in its offensive war against Hamas. No nation can sit by and allow its territory to be rocketed with impunity. Not if it wants to remain a nation for long.
Israel’s response to seven years of life under rocket fire and suicide bombings by Palestinian terrorists was long overdue. During that time Israel exercised extraordinary restraint in the face of the thousands of indiscriminate rocket attacks on its citizens. The overwhelming majority of Palestinians killed from Israeli surgical strikes were Hamas terrorists, according to U.N. data.
The U.S. administration is right to stand with Israel’s right to defend itself at the U.N. in accordance with its founding charter. Equating Israeli defensive measures with Iranian-backed Hamas terrorism is neither justified or appropriate.
We now know the settlers’ departure from Gaza in 2005 did not mollify the extremists. It only emboldened them. So now the Israeli army was forced to re-enter the Gaza Strip.
Israel needs to win a decisive victory in its war with Hamas and confiscate its military equipment if there is going to be any chance of a lasting peace. Palestinians have received more humanitarian aid per capita than any other people in the world. Unfortunately, much of the aid has been used to pay for purchasing weapons for attacking Israeli citizens. If Palestinians wish to live in peace with Israel and prosper, they need to elect leaders that will devote their financial resources in building a civil society and give up their pipe dream of destroying Israel.