Figure 1.-- |
|
There are various issues associated with the identity of the force responsible for civilian casualties. We note great moral outage when some civilians are killed, but often only when the enemy is responsible. One has to question the sincerity of this moral outrage applied in such a selective manner. It is not just civilian casualties that often is at issue, but who is responsibe and what are their motives. One would think that the great moral issue here the harm caused to civilians. This is not the case. For many people it is not just the civilans that are at issue, but who is responsible for harming civilans. And also important for some is the motivation of those harming civilans.
One observer asks the question, "Which Of These Things Is Not Like The Other?"
2002: "A Palestinian refugee camp is targeted by the army because of terrorists within the camp, hiding among the civilian population. Instead of resorting to shelling or air bombing, which would cause indiscriminate casualties, the army goes house to house and through booby-trapped alleyways at great risk and suffering many losses. The world community is outraged, and claims are made of a"massacre",with thousands dead (and accepted at face value by the world media). Later investigation proves that the majority of the 57 Palestinians killed were combatants. The event that made the raid necessary, the mass murder of elderly citizens sitting down to a holiday meal in a hotel, goes essentially unnoticed in the rush to condemnation."
2006: "Lebanese villages are targeted by the army because of a fanatical Islamic terrorist group that has taken over these villages and used them as human shields for launching of hundreds of missiles against civilians. This heavily armed group has refused to accept the authority of the government and operates outside of the law. The army responds with attacks attempting to deter the firing of the missiles. The world community is once again outraged, claims of "massacre" are again accepted at face value by the world media, despite photos showing purported victims standing up under their shrouds and other doctored photos published worldwide presenting the images of widespread bombing. The kidnapping of soldiers and the firing of rockets at towns that led to the counterattack once again go essentially unnoticed in the rush to condemnation." The reference here is the 2006 engagement netween Hebolah and the Isreali Army.
2007: "A Palestinian refugee camp is the target of indiscriminate shelling by the army, in its attempt to root out a band of fanatical Islamic terrorists. Civilians flee for their lives and condemn the terrorists. The Arab League itself blames the terrorists for threatening the country's security, safety and stability. However, the United Nations remains strangely silent ! and the world media have not run the blazing headlines about atrocities and massacres." [Dr. Mike] The reference here is the fifgting between the Lebanese Army and Fatah al-Islam at the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp.
Palestinians and many Muslims seem outrged when Palestinian Muslims are killed. There seems to be very little concern about civilian casulaties unless they are Palestinian or other Arab Muslims. In fact, Jewish civilans are seen as not uninteded casualties, but actual legitimate targets.
Both Palestinians and Isrealis are respnsible for civilian casualties. The Palestinians and more recently Lebanese Hesbolah militia launch attacks from civilian populated areas inviteIsreali attacks. This is especially true when firing rockets at Isreali towns and cities. A new issue has evolved here, that of proprtionality. Some authors believe that the Isreali response if any should be proportional.
Many Muslims appear to believe that the motivation of those attacking civilians is important gto consider. Apparently Mislims believe that attacks on Jewish civilians are acceptable for Muslims fighting for the Palestinian or Arab cause. The Lebanese Army engaged Fatah al-Islam which had struck at the Lebanese Army from the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp in north Lebanon. Interestingly Arab Muslims have criticized Fatah al-Islam because the group the group "has no relation to the Palestinian question or Islam". [Arab League] It is notable that the Arab League does not object to Fatah al-Islam's tactics, but objects because they are not considered good Muslims. And the Lebanese Army is not being criticised even though their offensive
against Fatah al-Islam is causing civilian casualties.
While watching television news about the fighting at the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon (May 2007). A greving father was in anguish because his child has been wounded. He cried out about outrages constantly being carried out against the Palestinian people. There is no doubt that the Palestuinian people have suffered. And one can not but sympathize with a greving parent. But one has to ask, have not the Palesinians at each critical phase in their relationship with the Jews since 1920 chosen violence and war. Has not a determinsation to destroy first Jewish settlers and then afer 1948, Israel, been a major factor in the suffering they have had to endure. We wonder if that father has worked for peace or supported leaders promoting peace.
Dr. Mike, "Which Of These Things Is Not Like The Other?" Blue Truth (May 23, 2007).
Arab League
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to Main Israel-Palestine civilian--moral questions page]
[Return to Main Israel-Palestine civilian page]
[Return to Main Israel-Palestine page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]