Reply #37: This is an insane statement.

[Shaktimaan]

I don't like innocent Israeli civilians being killed, but faced with a choice between a policy that will kill a number of innocent Israelis being killed and one that will lead to twice as many innocent Palestinians being killed, I find it depressing that some people even think there's a dilemma.

Are you serious? What world do you live in where nations rank policy in such a way that no distinction is drawn between their own citizens and everyone else's? A government's duty is to protect THEIR citizens. Preserving human life in general is secondary to protecting their own citizens. This is a twisted way to try an shift responsibility for the Palestinians away from the PA and onto Israel. Israel's responsibility for the Palestinians is secondary to its responsibility to its own citizens. If the PA insists on taking actions that endanger their citizens then THEY are the ones that should be held responsible. Unless Israel was neglecting an option that exposed palestinians to less danger without exposing Israelis to additional danger. Then they would be obligated to take that course of action.

In what conflict has any nation used the standard you suggest? It is not only ridiculous, it is immoral.

I think it's clear that agents of the Palestinian state have a complete legal (although not moral) right to kill any Israeli soldier or leader they can, and to destroy property and infrastructure

How so? Don't they have an obligation to meet their end of the treaty they agreed to? If not, then why would Israel be obligated to provide aid of any sort to Palestine? Wouldn't Israel be similarly allowed to cut off fuel, water, etc.? You can't expect Palestine to have the right to attack Israel and still live without consequences.

If Palestine wants to attack Israel, they can. But they would be crushed. Israel is not expected to limit their response only because the PA is limited in their means of attack. Israel's only responsibility is to protect their citizens. That's #1. No one fights a war by trying to balance out the casualties or by treating the enemy the same as yourself.