Is Israel justified in killing civilians simply because Hezbollah has killed civilians?

Question

If so who are the terrorists?

Answer 1

No, two wrongs do not make a right.

Answer 2

It is true that in the case of the Jewish and Islamic people fighting each other, it has been a long and deep problem, thinking about who started what and where is useless.

Face it, The United States manipulated the elections which placed Hamas in Power which Israel refused to accept which the Palestinian used as an excuse to capture a Jewish Soldier.
Israel attacked the Palestinians in retaliations and Hezbollah attack Israel in another retaliation.
Where does it stop? Who is responsible? What can be done about the current situation?
It seems to me that the United States is the guilt party for initiating the elections at the wrong time, in the wrong place for the wrong reason. Mr. Bush should have thought about what he was doing before he did. And stiff upper lip is not a solution.
Now many innocent people are dead and wounded and for what?

Answer 3

Israel is fighting for their right to be left alone. They have been under attack by Hezblooah firing rockets into Israel. The Hezbollah goons don't care who is killed by the rockets just so long as they're Jews.
There is no way that Israel could harm Hezbollah without hitting civilians since they herd civilians in front of them for protection and an opportunity to scream when civilians are hit.

Answer 4

War always kills civilians these days - because, that's where you strike it to em - the home front. Occasional killings were made throughout many wars, but most of the fighting was purposely taken away from towns and cities.

World War II was the first war that truly changed that, with purposeful targets of civilian cities.

Anymore, it is unavoidable - especially in a world of growing populations.

Justified?

Well, are we even justified in killing the person who commits the murder? Why is the death penalty constantly debated?

Defense of the borders - absolutely. Going and seeking out vengeance after a deed occurs? Are you justified to go and kill a criminal in his home after he commits a breaking and entering, and that may even accidentally result in say, an injury, or manslaughter?

Good question.

When is any death justified. Why can't neighbors live side by side in peace - and let the other live their own way, as long as it does not infringe.

Answer 5

Morally, no. After all, how can they claim the moral high ground on this one if they too murder civilians?

Legally, no. The Laws of Armed Conflict are aimed at AVOIDING civilian casualties. Obviously, indiscriminate airstrikes and bombardments are causing more than just incidental collateral damage, and as such are illegal under the LOAC. Not to mention that the Geneva Convention strictly forbids the targetting of civilians and other non-combatants, such as UN observers.

Hezbollah, on the other hand, DOES NOT count as civilians. Still under the GC, they are termed as being Unlawful Combattants, by being a paramilitary force that DOES NOT follow the LOAC, and therefore is not subject to the rights of a POW, but instead they are subject to all applicable local laws as opposed to be free from any kind of prosecution as a POW would be.

Answer 6

Yes; it is a war and unfortunately people die in war. The Hezbollah deliberately hide amongst the general population in order to gain sympathy from the willing dupes in the west and at the UN when civilians are injured.

I believe you should avoid civilian casualties as much as possible but not at the risk of allowing your own people to be slaughtered.

I have had the honor to work with the Israeli military and I believe there are noble people there who do not wish to kill civilians, but it is their duty to protect their country.

Answer 7

"Hezbollah" is a Lebanese armed movement and political party, with a military arm and a civilian arm. It was founded in 1982 with the declared aim to fight the Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon that lasted until 2000.

"Hezbollah" has some members in Lebanon parliament. Also, their military branch was founded by Lebanese militias for defense their country against Israel.

This is their right to defense their country against Israel barbarism.

The most of parties in Lebanon including, Lebanon government are supporting "Hezbollah" as well.

In the other side, Israel is a hostile country in middle east. Since it was founded till now, they are killing innocents, running out Palestinian of their country, invading other countries and occupy some other countries such as "Palestine", "Lebanon", "Syria", "Egypt" and threating the whole of the region.

US is supporting Israel regime for a long time including, giving them WMDs, political supports, etc. So, US is Israel accomplice.

"US prime minister said they want to change the middle east map."

It means all of these troubles and killing innocents are made as a plan. Actually, invading Lebanon is an excuse to continue this plan after US invaded to Afghanistan and Iraq.
Since this war was begin by Israel till now, more than 2500 Lebanese civilians are killed by Zionists and almost all the country is ruined by Israel planes and shells that US offered them.
Israel army drooped several tons bombs and missiles on Lebanon's cities. They had more than 4000 air strikes.
More than 1/3 of killed people are children and the rest of them are ordinary civilians, including men and women.

US and Israel want to eliminate all the protesters in independent countries. They don't want peace.
Actually, US and Israel are real threats for Middle East and the whole of world.

Answer 8

When the Lebonese are allowing themselves to be used as human shields - then yes. Hizbollah is almost an arm of the government in South Lebanon, and arm that is accepted by the people of South Lebanon.
These are the same tactics that Islamic Fundamentalists have used all across the world - from Palestine, to Iraq, to Indonesia, to Somalia. If we back down from them, we give them free reign to use the same terror tactics again in the future. Here is an example: a terrorist sniper shoots one of our soldiers from the tower of a Muslim Temple. Instead of bombarding that temple as we should to keep his head down, we tip toe onto the premises to attack the sniper from close quarters, giving him even more opportunity to shoot at our soldiers - all because it is a religious building. My feeling is - he is Islamic. If he didn't abide by the religious sanctimony of the Temple, than all bets are off and neither should we.
On the same token, if the Lebonese government had reigned in this terrorist organization, and if the Lebonese people had policed their own communities - there would be no Hezbollah to shoot at.
P.s. The precision guided bombs they use, while not infallible, are a heck of a lot more humane than carpet bombing the area - as we and many countries did in WWII.

Answer 9

Maybe do a little more research before you flap your lips.

Israel is killing Lebanese civilians BY ACCIDENT because Hezbollah blends in with them in order to hide.

On the OTHER HAND - Hezbollah knowingly and willingly kills Israeli civilians - and would kill American civilians if they had a chance.

So, yes please tell me - who are the REAL terrorists?

I'd love to hear your argument on this one.

Answer 10

hezbollah, even thou its 4 a right cause, they still are a terrorist group, now as far as i know israel isnt so no, civilians shouldnt be hit anyways, every civilian killed is a mistake, otherwise theyr breaking international laws of war

Answer 11

extra usually, the Gaza terrorists have intentionally fired their rockets at Israeli civilians. those terrorists conceal their weapons and combatants between civilian inhabitants. the two a type of acts are violations of the Geneva Conventions of war. The Israeli reaction is to no longer fire "arbitarily", yet to purpose particular terrorists. that's consistant with the Geneva Conventions. in case you think of firing arbitrarily at a civilian house is cowardly, then you definately could agree that Hamas, Fatah and Hezbollah are all cowards, on account that's what they promptly do.