Israel, Lebanon, and Gaza: A lesson in proportions

Posted on 07/13/2006 by Meryl Yourish

“Disproportionate” is the word of the week. It has all but eclipsed the infamous “Israel must show restraint” catchphrase (Dubya is so ten minutes ago when he uses that one).

Now, when world leaders criticize Israel’s legitimate response to terrorist activity, to the kidnapping of her soldiers, and to the bombing of her towns and cities, the world decries Israel’s “disproportionate” response.

Let us look.

Proportionate:

After a woman was killed in the northern city of Nahariya Thursday morning from a direct hit of a Katyusha rocket, the rockets arrived at Safed in the afternoon, claiming a heavy price.

One resident was critically injured, another person was moderately to seriously injured and another 17 people sustained light wounds from shrapnel.

Disproportionate:

GAZA CITY (CNN) — An Israeli airstrike hit the Palestinian Foreign Ministry headquarters in Gaza City early Thursday, wounding at least 10 people and destroying the fourth and fifth floors of the building, Palestinian security sources and witnesses said.

Proportionate:

Six civilians and two soldiers injured in Hizbullah mortar attacks were treated at the hospital.

One of the injured was said to be in a serious condition, two were moderately injured and five were lightly injured.

Disproportionate:

BEIRUT, Lebanon Jul 13, 2006 (AP)— Israel intensified its attacks against Lebanon on Thursday, blasting Beirut’s international airport and the southern part of the country in its heaviest air campaign against its neighbor in 24 years. Nearly three dozen civilians were killed, officials said.

Proportionate:

Rockets fired from Lebanon hit the center of Safed Thursday, causing casualties, medical sources said. One man was in critical condition and at least 10 others suffered shock and minor injuries. Safed is about 20 kilometers (13 miles) inside the Israeli border with Lebanon.

Disproportionate:

The strikes on the airport, which damaged three runways, came hours before Israel imposed an air and naval blockade on Lebanon to cut off supply routes to militants.

We get the message, really, we do.

Proportionate: Dead Jews.

Disproportionate: Any act of self-defense by Jews.

We get the message. We just don’t listen to it any more.

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4 Responses to Israel, Lebanon, and Gaza: A lesson in proportions

  1. Joel says:
    07/13/2006 at 9:51 am

    “War may come tonight or it may be delayed for several months or even years but sooner or later War Will Come.”

    Abraham Lincoln

  2. Cynic says:
    07/13/2006 at 12:20 pm

    You can add 2 (two) dead and 21 injured in Safed.

  3. Alan Furman says:
    07/13/2006 at 1:20 pm

    In everyone else’s case, the camel’s back is broken.

    But in Israel’s case: “You are overreacting to ONE STRAW!”

  4. Paul M says:
    07/13/2006 at 3:39 pm

    This is old news. Here’s Raphael Israeli writing about the post-1949 armistice regime:

    “… And so, the pattern repeated itself: Israel could be vindicated only if she buried her casualties quietly and complained; if she returned fire, even in clear self-defence, then it became ‘unclear’ who fired first, and the blame was shared by the parties, at best. However, if Israel reacted forcefully and out of proportion, it was likely to take the brunt of the condemnation. The public declarations of Egypt, the PLO, and other Arab bodies that they were hostile to Israel, were rarely taken as sufficient explanation for violence on Israel’s borders. Each case was denied by the perpetrators, and covered up by the host country which permitted it, and the onus fell on Israel to prove intent.”

    Raphael Israeli: Jerusalem Divided (2002) Ch. 6

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