You sure about that? Now that Hamas has taken "credit" (what a disgusting word to use for killing people) for the shootings, do you not suppose some far-left wing radical newspaper will blame Israel's existence for Hamas' actions? It's almost predictable down to the timing.
For clarification, I don't believe anyone on this thread, or in the US or UK media is that cold-hearted, and if anyone did take offense, I apologize.
I don't disagree that some nutjob leftist paper will be jumping straight into the Israel's-oppression-makes-Hamas-this-way and skipping the terrorists-directly-and-willfully-killed-civilians-to-terrorize-a-populace. But you said
the media and
the left. That describes a huge number of people including photojournalists who may have run to the scene to document the carnage, reporters who announced Hamas' claims of responsibility, and some of people who would describe themselves as leftist who are right now taking part in a candle-light vigil over the killings.
I don't really get offended but phrasing like that only is going to beget misunderstanding on an issue which, right now, I don't see anyone on the other side of who isn't chanting in the streets of Gaza.
You only have to think back as far as last summers war with Hezbollah. Israel was constantly criticized for their attacks on the terror group because, as they hid among civilians, civilians were killed in the fighting.
The issue there was much more complex than this. While the IDF got a lot of criticism for their tactics, no one was blaming Gilad Shalit for getting abducted by Hamas or his fellow soldiers for getting hit by a rocket.
The debate over the Lebanon war is the same one that is going to come in the next few weeks when Israel retaliates (hopefully with the aim of dismantling Hamas). The issues then will be whether or not Israel could have used tactics that would have reduced civilian casualties given the militants strategy of drawing the fights into civilian areas. Why does the Israeli criticism get press? Because Israel has before shown the sense and heart to temper their tactics in response to civilian deaths, Hezbollah and Hamas have never.
Anyway, clarifications aside, that "honor" quote is the creepiest thing I've heard in a while. And BlankAndy you are right on the money about why this is a huge mistake for Hamas. Their bid for legitimacy also legitimizes open warfare to be waged against them. Unfortunately I think they are counting on it and hoping that the civilian causualties to follow will make Israel lose its nerve or the international community cut its support for Israel. They are going to bleed their own constituents dry in what is effectively a political manuever. Sick hardly even describes it.
