Reply #82: "Whether Israel ...has the right to DEFEND itself is not in question."

[Sparkly]

I think it may be in question, consciously or unconsciously, underlying discussions concerning Israel. (Not just in this case, but in others as well.)

Obviously, they are viewed by many as an illegitimate nation, occupying land that doesn't belong to them, western occupiers controlled by the US and Britain.

Obviously, not everything they've done has been fair or right.

But I wondered whether we even all agreed that they have a right to defend themselves, or whether people have even really asked themselves that question. Is there a knee-jerk response when Israel retaliates with a subtext that they should not use force (whether because they shouldn't be there in the first place, deserve the attacks they receive, should be able to talk out all conflicts diplomatically, or other)?

I said nothing praising their actions in Lebanon. Whether they are acting offensively or defensively is another debate.