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Israel did the right thing and should say so

Reader comment on item: The Aftermath of Attack in Gaza

Submitted by Paul Graf (United States), Aug 2, 2002 at 14:07

I'm surprised that Mr. Pipes believes that Israel made a mistake. Surely, as a Middle East scholar, he is aware that Salah Shehadeh, like Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War, never stayed in the same house two nights in a row. Somehow Israel obtained intelligence that would only be useful for a very short time. Under the circumstances, and not knowing the tactical situation on the ground, the IDF made the correct choice. It certainly saved Israeli lives and may very well have saved Palestinian lives as well. (Anyone who has watched "Black Hawk Down" knows what can happen to a botched extraction in an urban environment.)

One can feel pity for the human shields this animal was using while, at the same time, feeling fully justified in doing what was done to make sure that he was killed.

Israel's apology, I believe, should be understood in this context and in the context that it believes all human life to be sacred.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (50) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Israel is right! [146 words]Ahmed Salam RahmanSep 14, 2002 19:442476
1It was a mistake [121 words]PaoloAug 7, 2002 08:071673
1Osama is in a house surrounded with kids... [32 words]Arnold KlauJul 25, 2002 00:301660
I condemn Hamas, I condemn the IDF [208 words]GeorgeAug 6, 2002 21:021660
Hamas Rules [82 words]Danny BoncaAug 5, 2002 16:581636
Israel did the right thing and should say so [162 words]Paul GrafAug 2, 2002 14:071612
Russian-Style Diplomacy [67 words]Albert LazzaAug 2, 2002 13:031610
Not Far Enough [131 words]AlexAug 1, 2002 18:341598
Reaping what they have sown [225 words]Farhad YazdiAug 1, 2002 00:001582
Why is one act of violence "terror" and another not? [196 words]Nico de LangeJul 31, 2002 05:571531
Shehadeh's death along with 14 others [167 words]Roland VillarsJul 30, 2002 12:341494
He had no right being with his family! [15 words]Gabriel C.Jul 30, 2002 12:111491
Not a mistake [293 words]David KwavnickJul 29, 2002 13:171467
no palis no problem [553 words]Jeremiah StantonJul 29, 2002 05:401465
Israel has made only one mistake [50 words]Just JJul 28, 2002 20:261463
Violent Nature of Arab Society [180 words]Robert NovichJul 28, 2002 20:091462
What about Dresden, Hiroshima, Berlin, Kabul and Kosovo? [304 words]Joe LeviJul 28, 2002 17:571461
The Oslo War [51 words]Mike ZeldisJul 28, 2002 12:021460
Mistake? [234 words]Greg OfieshJul 28, 2002 02:201458
Hiding behind women's skirts and baby bottles [327 words]John Randall PeacherJul 27, 2002 17:151455
Hiroshima [62 words]Glenn KlotzJul 26, 2002 22:381447
1The World is Shameless [100 words]YelenaJul 26, 2002 13:481443
Surrounding Military Men with Families and Children [85 words]I. ChughtaiJul 26, 2002 13:221442
17The Parents Are To Blame for Child Abuse [201 words]Mark FeldsteinJul 26, 2002 12:031441
parents are not to be blame [19 words]sonuga fuadJun 10, 2013 18:121441
Israel is an expert at fighting terror [126 words]Doody KaminskieJul 26, 2002 11:181440
Innocents? [120 words]John GrayJul 26, 2002 06:531439
Typical of CNN reporting on the middle east conflict. [121 words]AviJul 25, 2002 23:431438
Neve Gordon, Nicola Perugini 2014 rationalized talk about Hamas use of human shields [116 words]LeylaAug 10, 2020 15:121438
Kudos to Israel [119 words]JohnJul 25, 2002 20:511437
Take your God given land back! [141 words]Cletus HollowayMay 26, 2008 00:241437
Israel's mistake [91 words]Theodore ShulmanJul 25, 2002 16:381435
Why should Israel be held to a higher standard? [108 words]BillJul 25, 2002 01:191431
World double standard [105 words]AlJul 25, 2002 00:451430
Re: World double standard [132 words]DaveJul 27, 2002 11:131430
Parents Can't Possibly Be Blamed... [103 words]Amjad KhanJul 24, 2002 19:211425
Re: Parents Can't Possibly Be Blamed... [156 words]MarkJul 25, 2002 09:191425
"All is fair in love and war" [250 words]Joyena AbrahamJul 24, 2002 19:191424
Confusing [172 words]Ben ShniperJul 24, 2002 18:211423
Clearly NOT a mistake! [127 words]Mark FeldsteinJul 24, 2002 16:121422
Finally Some Common Sense [179 words]Seth GinsburgJul 24, 2002 12:541421
Collateral damage [51 words]Bruce BeattyJul 24, 2002 12:481420
Brown's comments are awful [22 words]Arthur KittayJul 24, 2002 11:271418
War is not fair [109 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Allyson RowenTaylorJul 24, 2002 10:491417
Media double-standard [60 words]Dr. A. S. WalfishJul 24, 2002 09:251416
Hamas should not be safe anywhere [69 words]Carl BitzerJul 24, 2002 08:021414
Will no country condemn Hamas killers? [178 words]Bernard FriedJul 24, 2002 08:001413
We Should Celebrate [25 words]JohnFeb 21, 2010 19:191413
Israel should have people who know how to defend its actions [70 words]millman richard prof.Jul 24, 2002 07:481412
Pandering to leftists? [41 words]GitaJul 23, 2002 14:381401

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