Does Israel have the right to kill innocents as a "civilized" country?

Question

I want you all to know that i completely hate and disagree with hizbullah, al qaeda etc..
the thing is that when i hear of hizbullah killing civilians, i hate them, and i wish they could be taken out. But when it comes to a civilized country as Israel to:
1- Kill innocent civilains
2- bomb houses and buildings
3- bomb cars with families in them
4- give excuses that hezbolla is there
5- bomb a WHOLE country's infrastructure because of some vermins in it.
6- blockade the country, so no food, medicine etc.. can come
7- Warns civilians of its bombings before it does so. which, in some ways, sounds too good to be true, but it turnes out then that Israel has bombed all roads and bridges for the civilians to hide. which ends up in them being stuck in the middle and being killed feroucissly while the world ignores this side of the story and applauds israel for its "heroism and humanity"

It just appals me that they sound as bad and evil and terrorist as qaeda and hizbulla, right?

Some comments made me REALLY upset. I did emphasize on the fact that i am AGAINST hizbullah, so stop calling me one sided. I hate qaeda, hizbullah and all this crap. But my point here is to say tha twhen they do crimes, we expect it from them since they are terrorists and we need to fight them ( but not physically, this war is on another level, by spreading education etc.., but this is not the point of my question) the point of my quesiton is , how can one accept Israel, an allegedly "civilizeD" country, to annihilate a WHOLE nation? Is that ok because the media says so? My point is that Israel is AS BAD as Hizbullah.
And for those who think that israel is a peacful nation, don't forget all the murders they commited, al lthe houses they stole from the natives in the land, the inhumane condition palestinians are treated, the kidnapping, killing. and of course, the killing of UN peackeepers by LASER GUIDED MISSILES. Israel has prooved to be a criminal, nothing more.

Answer 1

Israel is not above the law. Is one Israeli life worth more than an Arabs?

Israel are the terrorist here!

To say that Hezbollah uses its citizens has human shields to insane!!!
Does that justify the total annihilation of Lebanon?

Never forgot that Israel systematically kidnaps and murders Palestine citizens whenever it please. So when it happens to them, they cry foul!

Israel has no regard for anyone else. It recently bombed a clearly marked UN building, killing 4 innocent UN peacekeeping workers - were Hezbollah using them as human Shields too?

Please, please bring forward the: fact: that Hezbollah uses civilians as human shields. There are no more people left in South Lebanon!
Israel has the most sophisticated satellite system in the world. They have recently bombed trucks carrying Medical supplies and food.
What do you call the bombing of airports, ports and hospitals - a CRIME as per international war regulations!

Have you forgotten that this is the second time Israel has invaded Lebanon?
Has the 1700 Palestinians raped and butchered at Sabra and Shatila in 1982 conveniently been erased from your conscious. Calling Hamas & Hezbollah terrorists is a bit rich coming from Israel. Wasn't Ariel Sharon wanted for war crimes?

Has Israel honored any of the UN council resolutions? Do they treat Palestine's people with the respect they so rightfully deserve?

So Israeli soldiers were kidnapped, they are soldiers, paid to kill! That does not justify the total annihilation of the Lebanese people.

Israel has never cared for the welfare of Palestine’s. It routinely assassinates any member of the Palestine Parliament it dislikes. Is that not an act of aggression?

Why do you then turn your back when you hear of the Palestine youth routinely kidnapped and tortured in Israeli jails? Is that not kidnapping of Innocent civilians?

Where were you during the genocide in Jenin? (As reported by Amnesty International) Are Palestine lives worth less than an Israeli?

As for my facts, they do not come from the Israeli armies spin doctor, but an independent, world renowned journalist called Robert Fisk. Please google his name and read his first hand accounts of Israel's prolonged aggression in the Middle East

Answer 2

Wow you are ignorant of the real situation at hand. If you would read actual facts on what is going on over in Israel and Lebanon then you would see that Israel is defending itself. If someone was attacking your children - girlfriend - boyfriend - lover - family- would you not defend them? Or would you sit back and watch? Your basically saying that it's OK for people to hurt and try to harm you country and let that go on and on and on. Do you also look at how many Israeli civilians were killed by terrorists and Hezbollah? No you look at things one sided. Do some research before you judge. Assuming is the lowest form of education. You are biased and please stop reading or listening to one type of news source as that is where your biased articles are from. Try many news sources and then decide what is right and wrong.

Answer 3

Israel are as bad as Hezbollah. What they should do, and what would be the right thing to do, is to send the soldiers into Lebanon to kill the Hezbollah fighters. But they don't want to do this because they know that a lot of Israeli soldiers will die and the people of Israel would not support the war if a lot of their soldiers were getting killed. So they prefer to use missiles and bombs which kill mostly innocent people. But not Israeli people so it's alright.

Answer 4

It's tedious to read a halfbaked analysis of the situation derived mainly from media reports. You need to do much more research before posing superficial statements.

No country in the world will just sit idly by when rockets are fired into its territories week after week. In this case the world speaks through its clogged nose when calling Israel's response "disproportionate use of force" - it's not just 3 kidnapped IDF soldiers - it's the entire security and future of Israel. Enough is enough, the cancerous growth spreading throughout Lebanon must be plucked out in its entirety. Iran, Syria too will have to be held accountable for what's happening now in the Mid East - they too must be neutralised sooner or later.

I feel Israel is still restraining itself in Lebanon - it needs to do much more militarily to destroy Hezbollah and all its infrastructure throughout Lebanon - much of it amidst civilian areas. Lebanon will have to decide its pro-Syria, pro-Hezbollah alliances. Otherwise it will be laid waste with all of its women and children turning to dust. And it's still not disproportionate use of force.

Answer 5

If someone broke into your house, kidnapped two members of your family, (for no reason other than to hurt you and them) tortured and killed them, and you had the legal right to retaliate in some fashion...what would you do?

Call them on the phone and say "you're a poophead!"

The harsh reality is that you need to fight fire with fire. Otherwise the bullies will never stop picking on you.

What if someone from Lebanon was in your country and kidnapped you and your best friend or brother/sister etc... took you away back to their country where they tortured you, beat you...just because you were from your country and not theirs. Would you be upset that your country waged war on those that hurt you? Or would you be begging for them to come in a kill these b*stards that are doing this to you...especially when you did nothing to deserve it.

What kind of planet do you want to live on where evil can do whatever it wants and never be punished for it? Innocent people (aside from the 2 soldiers that were kidnapped on their own soil) are dying and being killed in Isreal too...do you care about them?

Answer 6

Here in the UK, the media are almost exclusively reporting the Lebanese side of the story, so I have to say that this is really an awful situation.

However, no government, Israel included, is going to accept one of it's largest cities being randomly rocketted.

I do wonder who gave Hezbollah this technology. We're talking about thousands of modern guided missiles here. (Apparently an Iranian version of the Chinese Silkworm missile). They were obviously going to be used offensively.

If you want to know who to blame, I'd say it was the puppet masters and not the puppets.

Answer 7

Those deaths are 100% the fault of the Hezbollah and the anti-Semitic maniacs who are trying to eliminate the Jewish people.

Answer 8

I am not in the mood to get into an involved answer on this today. So, here is what I have to say. When the enemy uses innocent civilians as shields for their own treachery what is a civilized nation to do? It is a fact of war that innocent civilians die, it has always been this way, and it will always be this way. I feel sadness for any innocent that dies anywhere in the world, but the agents of terror cannot be allowed to act undeterred, or the death tolls will be even greater in the end. As proof of this I offer 911. We ignored terrorism, and allowed it grow for many years in this country, then in one attack we lost more citizens by far than the whole of the Israel/Lebanon conflict so far.

Liam: Apparently you missed all that news about the current ground attacks which are occurring. Also, your answer is lacking an understanding of basically military strategy. Armies always engage in bombing of targets prior to ground attacks. This dates back to invention of the catapult as a weapon.

agent 99: Collateral damage is another unfortunate fact of war. I do not believe Israel intentionally bombed UN peace keepers simply because they are not stupid enough to believe that it would not have disasterous consequences for them on the world stage. However provide some verifiable evidence to the contrary and I will be happy to stand with you and call for justice.

Now to innocents as shields. How do you classify the process of using houses and civillian common areas as rocket launching points?

Lastly, Lebanon is not innocent. While I do not equate the innocent people of Lebanon as being the same as their government, they are subject to recourse from their government's failure to act in accordance with agreements made to the UN. Namely resolution 1559 calling for the disarmament of all militias foreign and domestic.

Feel free to challenge my opinions, but at least try to be factual in your answers, as I don't think anyone cares about what fantasies you have evolved mentally regarding world affairs, and the treatment of terrorists groups.

ff9_terra: I tried to give you an honest opinion regarding your question, but based on your additional rant it is now obvious that indeed you are misinformed. You seem to have no historical understanding of the conflict or events which have led to this current phase of the hostilities. You want to make arguments about Lebanon, but when challenged on your opinion you drift off into other conflicts which although are connected where Israel is concerned, have no bearing on the Lebanese situation. You are willing to accept blanket accusation which play good in the media, but have never been proven. Frankly, you seem to have a dislike for Israel, and as such are willing to indict them as terrorists without any regard for their position, and the dangers they have faced. This reaction by Israel did not occur overnight, their continued existence is very much the issue, and guides their responses. I would beseech you to learn the actual facts in regards to Israel and the Middle East before you pass blanket judgements on them. However, looking at your other questions I realize this isn't going to happen because you aren't looking for answers, you are looking for others with same opinion, and reasons to justify your hate. Your innocent civillian rant rings very hollow now.

Agent 99: I get news from as many sources as I can find, but by your own post apparently you get yours from just one. Give you an example of Israel following UN resolutions, how about that they withdrew from southern Lebanon after the conflict you mention under agreement from the Lebonese government to disarm Hezbollah. Something which was never even attempted. How about the numerous times they have ceded disputed territory only to have demands made for more. This is not about disputed lands, it's about Israel's right to exist and defend their citizens.

If there are no civilliasns left in southern Lebanon as you contend. Then why are we having this discussion at all. No civillians left, no civillians to kill. Do you even read your own BS, or do you just spout it incoherently. Just a clarification while bombing hospitals and medical convoys are against the Geneva convention, Airports are a viable target. When this is over if the Israelis have committed war crimes I would expect them to be prosecuted, but I never trust information coming directly out of a warzone, because all to often it is proven false in the end.

War crimes charges against Ariel Sharon were dropped. I don't know how it is where you live (not a condemnation, just don't know what country you are in), but in America we consider people innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Palestinian conflict was not the question, it only becomes relative because Israel is involved. I love people who cannot stick to the facts of the question at hand, which regarded Lebanon not Palestine. Let's not even mention that many Middle East nations do not recognize Palestine as a nation. However for the sake of argument let's say they have a right to the disputed territory. Why is it that people like you are so quick to point out how bad Israel is with never a mention of daily suicide bombings carried out against innocent Israelis by these so-called peacful Palestinians.

Frankly the hypocrisy of your argument makes me sick to my stomach. You ignore the fact that Muslims in general deny Israel's right to exist, and further that radical Islamic fundamentalists called for the eradication of the Jewish people. Then you condemn Israelis for protecting themselves. You see I could debate whether or not the response is harsh, but that is not your contention. You appear with every breath and every statement to support the idea that Israel will never be justified in anyhting they do, and should just wait for the executioner to come. The only spin meister I see here is you.