A different view (First of 2 parts)

We are once again drawn to another high profile conflict in the Middle East, involving Israel and, for lack of an official name of a country, Gaza, which is mainly governed by Hamas. Hamas is a known terrorist group and is classified as such by no less than thirty countries. But in the present conflict, Israel seems to be getting the brunt of the world’s ire and criticism, which I believe to be unfair.

Perhaps it is due to its vastly superior military might, over a people who have no semblance of a regular army, but more of guerilla fighters and militia. Then there’s the widely accepted opinion that Israel’s response to the firing of rockets by Hamas is disproportionate, and that it is intentionally targeting civilians. All these put the blame of the present conflict squarely on the Jewish state. I may have something to say about that.

Israel is a sovereign country. And it is the right of every country, no matter how big or small, to defend itself once attacked. Even Gaza, has the right to defend itself, if they were the first to be attacked by Israel. And there lies the problem. Hamas, in all its wisdom and Israel-cannot-be-allowed-to-exist rhetoric, starts firing rockets into Israeli territory. Why? Because Israel is the enemy. And these rockets are essentially unguided, powerful missiles. They have no aiming system other than pointing it to where they want it to go.

This fact is so seldom mentioned by reporters, who always mention civilian casualties on the Gaza side, much like what the media did in Lebanon in 2006! And often times, Israeli civilians are the one on the receiving ends of these blind salvos. And yes, there have been deaths caused by these rockets. And so what is to be done?