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Rocketing Toward War

[Washington Post] Richard Cohen - Rockets launched from nearby Gaza fall in the Israel town of Sderot almost daily. They hit with unpredictable regularity, taking a roof here, a piece of a wall there, and demolishing the peace of mind of every resident. To many Israelis, the daily rain of Kassam rockets is reason enough to go back into Gaza and eradicate the rocket-makers, the rocket launchers, and the entire Hamas leadership that now runs Gaza. In Europe and elsewhere, where activists are just plain dizzy from their own moral virtue, Israel is denounced for inflicting suffering on Gaza. But the protesters say nothing about the Kassams raining from the sky - sometimes as many as 40 a day. Three landed within two hours of my hitting town. One forced me into a shelter. I was safe, protected by a cement ceiling and the law of averages. Still, my heart got a three-latte jolt. I would not want to live here. Actually, almost no one wants to live here anymore. Many have psychological ailments or the physical ailments brought on by the psychological ones - heart trouble or hysteria. Sderot represents the metastasized insanity of the Israeli-Palestinian struggle - rockets sent to kill anyone, it doesn't matter whom. Israelis don't trust Hamas, and why should they? It wishes Israel nothing but death. Israel could do nothing, but nothing is demeaning, dangerous - and, anyway, nothing is not what Israel does. Sooner or later, if nothing is done, a rocket will hit kids on the playground or mothers strolling the street, and Israel will have to respond.
2008-02-19 01:00:00
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