(Irish Times) Ambassador of Israel to Ireland Dana Erlich - Through the inhumane, brutal massacre of innocent civilians on Oct. 7 by Hamas, we truly understand the enemy we are facing. We call on the world, and Ireland, to do the same. It was troubling to see people marching in the streets calling out against Israel, but not against Hamas. Where is their outcry for the lives of Israeli babies and children being held hostage by Hamas? Where is the outcry against the atrocities and abuse this terror organization has inflicted, and continues to inflict, on its own population? Hamas is an integral part of the jihadist movement. Its aim is replacing Israel with an Islamist caliphate. These fanatics believe that goal justifies carrying out the most brutal, inhuman attacks on Israeli civilians and treating Gaza's population as pawns to be sacrificed. Hamas preys on the sympathies of people who still do not comprehend that it is not a national liberation movement, but rather a twin of Islamic State. Israel's war is against Hamas and not the Palestinian people. It is not indiscriminate revenge, but a war using targeted operations adhering to international law to make sure we eliminate the threat on our doorstep. There is no equivalence between those deliberately attacking innocent civilians and those battling against the source of such attacks. International law recognizes that there are times when the use of force is a necessity, an obligation, and the only moral course of action. Facing the evil of Hamas, it is the obligation of every state to prevent such atrocities happening again. Like every other state in the world, Israel has the right and the obligation to take all necessary measures to protect its citizens. There is a growing realization that peace will only come when the majority of Palestinians choose coexistence over conflict, and eject the extremists from their midst.
2023-11-16 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive