PrintJanuary 8, 2009
'Proportionality' in Context
Tuesday marked the deadliest day since Israel commenced its Cast Lead Operation eleven days prior. After terrorists threw mortar shells at Israeli troops from a UN-run elementary school in Gaza, Israeli soldiers fired back. Booby-trapped bombs planted by Hamas exploded, killing 30 to 40 Palestinians. The UN is calling for an independent investigation of the incident.Subsequently, Israel agreed to open a humanitarian corridor. Though she had been allowing trucks into Gaza regularly to deliver food and medicine, distribution was difficult. Accordingly, Israel and Hamas refrained from fighting for three hours. During that time, hundreds of Palestinians took to the streets to shop for food, and UN workers distributed goods from incoming trucks.Many were hopeful that this temporary truce was a sign of a more permanent ceasefire. Indeed, Israel showed signs of open-mindedness to the French-Egyptian proposal. She agreed to accept the cease-fire...(Read Full Article)
