[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by jem

"But he also has a duty to defend Israel and his public expect that.”

Yes, absolutely yes, I agree. Except is he actually defending Israel? Look at it like this, how many Israeli casualties has Hezbollah managed to cause? Don't get me wrong, even one is unacceptable, but what is a proportionate response? Is the killing of hundreds if not thousands of Lebanese people justified? Its is inconceivable that all of them are jihadi militants bent on the destruction of Isreal; are most of them just innocent collateral damage?

Now, tell me what is likely to happen, their family, children will think either, 'oh best not mess with Israel again', or think, 'the Israelis killed my family who were simple bakers - I want to kill every Israeli/Jew’ (because they are the same, no)? They have managed to radicalise an entire new generation - well done Bibi!

Short termism - he has managed, I suspect for his own ends, to prolong the suffering on both sides.
<SNIP>

The "proportionate response" is what the long distance onlookers who don't like Netanyahu (and I don't like him) get wound up about.

For example, what would have been a "proportionate response" to Hamas roasting Israeli babies and murdering 1200 people?

"Proportionate response" is long distance politician speak; it doesn't deal with what Israel faces: killer rockets coming from Lebanon onto Israeli homes.

Hezbollah needs to be eradicated but can be tolerated if they don't attack Israel.

So - what do you think Israel's response to Hezbollah should have been?