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The Ethics of Israel's Gaza Operation

(Jewish Review of Books) Asa Kasher - A state's right to defend itself when attacked is just as unquestionable as an individual's right to self-defense when attacked. This right is confirmed by Just War doctrine, international law, and the UN charter, not to speak of common-sense ethics. Israel has both the international right and the domestic duty to respond when Hamas attacks its citizens. Moreover, no state has as much responsibility for the safety of enemy civilians as it does for its own people. Does the presence of large numbers of non-combatants in the vicinity of a building that is directly involved in terrorist assaults on Israelis render that building immune to Israeli attack? The answer is, and must be, no. Israel cannot forfeit its ability to protect its citizens against attacks simply because terrorists hide behind non-combatants. If it did so, it would be giving up any right to self-defense. Most IDF combatants are conscripts. As citizens in military uniform, they are entitled to ask whether they are being placed in greater jeopardy to save the lives of enemy non-combatants who have been repeatedly warned to leave the scene of battle. In the IDF, the commander in charge of a particular military mission is assisted by a staff "population officer" in assessing the extent of probable collateral damage. Human shields may be attacked together with the terrorists, but attempts should be made to minimize collateral damage among them, even though those who act willingly are, in fact, accomplices of Hamas. In all such cases, as much compassion as possible under the circumstances must be shown without aborting the mission or raising the risk to Israeli soldiers.
2014-10-07 00:00:00
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