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A Moral Evaluation of the Gaza War

Published
by
Ben Cohen
on February 4, 2010
in Gaza and law of armed conflict
.

Soccer Dad points us to this fine essay by the Israeli philosopher Asa Kasher which demonstrates why Operation Cast Lead was a just war justly fought. Among the pertinent points Kasher makes:

  • Compare the Gaza operation to the U.S. Marine operation in Fallujah, Iraq, in late 2004. During the operation, about 6,000 Iraqis including 1,200-2,000 insurgents were killed. Of the city’s 50,000 buildings, some 10,000 were destroyed, including 60 mosques. Thus, the U.S. left a trail of destruction in Fallujah far greater than anything Israel inflicted on Gaza. Comparing IDF activities to those of military forces of Western democracies is an essential part of any present attempt to use international law.
  • We in Israel are in a key position in the development of customary international law in this field because we are on the front lines in the fight against terrorism. The more often Western states apply principles that originated in Israel to their own non-traditional conflicts in places like Afghanistan and Iraq, then the greater the chance these principles have of becoming a valuable part of international law.

    • 3 Responses to “A Moral Evaluation of the Gaza War”

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    1. 1 MArtin
      Feb 17th, 2010 at 6:11 am

      There is one major difference: IN Fallujah, civilians were allowed to escape the battlefield. Israel refused to do so.

    2. 2 marcus
      Mar 6th, 2010 at 2:21 am

      Actually Martin you are wrong - Israel did warn civilians, even telephoned them to get out of the areas that the Hamas ‘fighters’ were using as human shields to provide propaganda for guys like you. Furthermore, combatants that use civilian areas/bodies/infrastructure as shields, militarizing them, are guilty of breaking formal laws of war as laid out in Hague/Geneva treaties.

    3. 3 marcus
      Mar 6th, 2010 at 2:24 am

      And furthermore, this has been confirmed by British army officer who investigated and praised the Israeli military who took this step. Let me know if you want documentation and names for this too…

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