Would it have been better if Israel had retaliated in kind?

Question

If a country, like Israel, is attacked, as they were by Hezbollah, they have the right to retaliate. There has been wide condemnation, mostly by Moslem countries, of Israel’s method of retaliation. One of the main criticisms has been that Israel “escalated” the conflict by using tanks, aircraft and artillery that Hezbollah does not have.

My question is:
Would the people, that complained that Israel “escalated” the conflict, have had any complaints about Israel’s retaliation if Israel’s retaliation had consisted of fired barrages of katousha rockets back at Hezbollah? (Bear in mind that katousha rockets are unguided and are designed to kill civilians.)

If Israel used the same weapons, they couldn’t justifiably be accused of “escalating” the conflict, but you can be assured that there would have been a dramatic increase in Lebonese civilian casualties. Would this have been more acceptable to the Moslem countries?

Answer 1

If Israel retaliated to the barrage of ketyusha rockets by having one man break wind in the general direction of Lebanon, the Moslem countries would be up in arms about it.

Israel has been quietly absorbing rocket attacks for a couple of years now, and well, Hizbollah took a chance, and now opened up a Pandora's box of retaliation.

Answer 2

My friend, don't get me wrong, I personally think that Lebanon is much better off without Hezbollah, just like Jordan; Egypt and Syria have been living for the last 33 years at least. But analytically speaking, let's look at the losses and casualties on both sides. Hezbollah's (unguided) Katousha rockets have till now resulted in some 30 civilian Israeli casualties, and about 50 Israeli soldiers, speaking only in human toll.
Israeli guided missiles and smart warfare technology on the other hand, has resulted in what mounts up to a genocide, my friend. Have you any idea about the number of civilians killed in Lebanon? Do you know how many of them are women and children? Let's stop here; there are now over 1000 fatalities; 30% of them children; just as much women and old people; this makes 60%, not yet counting unarmed family men; let's say 15%, plus a good count of foreign workers and emergency personnel; what Hezbollah death toll are we looking at here, after all this sorted out?
Bottom line is, Israel's vision-enabling technology has killed far more civilians than Hezbollah's blind rockets have, and the scale of destruction on Lebanese territory is way beyond comparison next to that in Israel. Israel's alibi that Hezbollah is launching its rockets from residential areas is probably true, but with their kind of bird's-eye target locking they should be able to better spot their targets, either it be man, or machine. Israel therefore probably wasn't expected to "retaliate in kind", but yes, with better accuracy. I rest my case.

Answer 3

First of all the arabs have been trying to destroy Israel ever since it became a nation.
The prisoners in Israeli prison are the ones caught in the planning or actually caught in the process of trying to kill Israelis.
So if Israel releases those prisoners, what would stop them from trying again.

Its suspect, when Hezbollahs was launching missile in to Israel and killing civilian Israelis, the world did not cry out in condemnation against Hezbollah, but when Israel defends its borders and people from an assault and kidnapping, and civilians are killed, the world condemnation is deafening.
Mind you, civilians killed in this war are due to the fact, Hezbollah knowingly hides in populated areas, attacks from these areas, and know when Israel attacks, civilians will be killed.
So you have to ask yourself, who is Hezbollah fighting for. Obviously, it is not for Labonese people, because they are using them as shields.
So, maybe they have another agenda. Syria is backing them, but wait, Syria was not to long ago, kicked out of Labonan.
Maybe they can get back in through Hezbollah.

There seems to be a double standard, when looking at the conflict in the mideast.
Everyone agrees that Hezbollah was wrong to cross the border and take hostages, but they think Israel is wrong for killing Labonese civilians. But, Hezbollah has been killing Israeli civilians for over six years.
I think if someone did a little math, and counted how many Israeli civilians were killed before this war, they would see the civilian death toll is pretty close.

So I have to ask, why hasn't Hezbollah apologized about killing civilians in Israel, but Israel has been apologizing for its mistakes in killing civilians in Labonan.

Duh, Hezbollah planned to kill civilians in Israel, but everyone turns and looks the other way. But now the shoe is on the other foot, the world screams. Hezbollah has planned there attacks so that they surround themselves by men, women and children.
Anyone who tries to retaliate will kill civilians and Hezbollah knows this, it is very obvious, this was taken into consideration in there planning of attacks.

So I feel for the Labonese people, but I despise Hezbollah for causing this.

Answer 4

First of all, lets just say that if you live in America, or Canada, you most likely have no idea what's going on in the world. We are the Roman mob, ignorant and in a relative state of bliss.

Whoa, I had no idea you were such an expert on this. I'm definitely not, so maybe you can answer some questions for me.

Why are Hezbollah attacking?

Who has the oldest Security council resolution still yet to be obeyed? (in the region)

Your a citizen of a country. Your neighbour keeps breaking international law, occupying land, dropping bombs, and he's being helped by the worlds only superpower. You have no $, no weapons. Every time you build and send 1 missile, they send 100 (care of the US), and they're alot more powerful. What do you do?

Please read. Please read. Please read. Just not something from Fox or CNN. Ease your self off onto BBC, then maybe something written even further away, like from Lebanon or Israel.

Answer 5

There is no such thing as a fair fight. If your going to pick on someone, pick on someone your own size. Why should Isreal be any different than anyone else. The US pounds the crap out of people mercilessly an time we're attacked. Take 9-11 for example only three buildings were attacked but the US destroyed two countries in retaliation. That's how retaliation works. Isreal needs to pound the crap out of Lebanon to send them a message. If you mess with us, you will pay.

The value of what the Muslim Community has to say about anything is becoming less and less important because their opinion changes with the wind. The only thing that have enough collective thought to agree on is that if you are not Muslim, then you are wrong. Big Deal! Every religion believes that.

Answer 6

The UN have self assurance they're "here fact grew to become into issued immediately by ability of the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-generic Ban Ki-moon: The Secretary-generic grew to become into stunned and dismayed on the comments attacking Israel attributed to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, on 3 June, wherein he says persistently that the worldwide ought to witness the “destruction of the Zionist regime” quickly. The Secretary-generic factors out that the State of Israel is an entire and long-status Member of the United countries with the same rights and responsibilities as another Member. He reminds that, below the United countries shape, all contributors have undertaken to refrain from the prospect or use of rigidity against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State. The Secretary-generic has persistently made his perspectives clean in this concern."

Answer 7

So we could go the next 200 yrs with transborder rocket fire ,with the intent to commit murder ?
What some of you fail to understand is :
1Hezbullah has been firing rockets for 6 yrs , not a few weeks
2Hezbullah crossed the border , killed several soldiers and captured 2
3 Isreal gave 48 hours notice and encouraged people to leave before firing a shot
4 Isreal went to the U.N. And got nowhere

If you make a habit of kicking your Dog , can you expect to get biten ?

Answer 8

Um sorry, gotta go with Isreal on this one, as long as the Arab nations keep firing into Isreal, Isreal will fire right back. Why don't the Arabs get this ? The Isreali's gave up gaza, and Have tried on numerous occasions to make peace, the Arabs always "pull a fast one", and say "we were just about to come to the table and negotiate" If You ask me, the Jews do it right, they give them one chance to surrender, if they don't, the Isreali's kill them all, then bull doze the place. It's not Isreal's fault as I see it. You would think that the Arabs would have enough sense not to take on a highly trained, highly motivated, powerful Army such as the Israeli state, that is backed up by the highest tech military hardware in the world, by the UNITED STATES. I'm sorry but the isreali's have the right to defend themselves, she's a small country and EVERYONE pulls together and does their bit.

Answer 9

Very good question, good point too, i just think myself that Hezbollah are terrorists and that Israel, (who have lived with this threat for many year's) have had enough and really are trying to stand up for themselves, they just won't take any more crap. I think people have short memories too when you consider Hezbollah are a terrorist organisation, who think nothing of blowing up innocent civilian's all over the world, which we have seen of course.
Be interesting to see what answer's you get from this.

Answer 10

Excellent question. I guess the supporters of terrorists want Israel to just keep taking the suicide bombers and missiles without retaliating in self defense. In simple terms: If Hezbollah laid down its arms today, there would be peace tomorrow. If Israel laid down its arms today, there would be no Israel tomorrow.