Opinion
Proportionality and hypocrisy
Martin Sherman
Published: 14.01.09, 23:46
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47 Talkbacks for this article
1. This article
zak ,   London   (01.15.09)
...is absolutely spot on. Every time I see a politican who is critical of what Israel is doing, the first thing that springs to mind is 'You absolute Hypocrite'. So thank you for saying what everyone else has failed to say over the last 2 weeks.
2. Good article
Matityahu ,   Slovenia   (01.15.09)
Or should we kill our soldiers by ourselves for the sake of "proportionality"? The message should be clear, simple and direct. Jewish blood is not cheap and anyone who f**** with us, f**** with the best.
3. Proportionality and hypocrisy
Eric Gangbar ,   Toronto, Canada   (01.15.09)
Excellent article. I agree that 'infomercials" throughout the world would be a good idea for Israel. One thing even more disturbing is the question of latent anti-Semitism as the root cause of the excessive/obsessive criticism of Israel.
4. Anti-semitism behind much criticism
SL ,   NY   (01.15.09)
While Olmert and Company have time and again proven themselves inept and corrupt, the Israel bashing that goes on daily in the international media can only be ascribed to good old fashioned hatred of Jews. What secular nationalist Jews fail to state openly should be stated openly: Esau hates Jacob, and Ishmael hates Isaac, and as descendents of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Jews are hated for the crime of being Jewish. As Efraim Karsh recently pointed out, secular Zionists thought anti-semitism would go away with the establishment of a state, but it has increased, as Israel became the "Jew" of the world.
5. problem on the horizon
Sami ,   Atlanta, USA   (01.15.09)
You cannot compare Gaza to Lebanon, but you can compare Gaza with South Lebanon. What would Israel do the next time the rockets are fired?
6. What do you expect if you punch Mike Tyson in the face?
Maronite ,   Canada   (01.15.09)
If you punch Joe Doe in the face then you might get a punch or two back and you my get bruised and complain about it. If you punch Mike Tyson in the face then you might not be able to talk about proportionality because your jaw will be broken by his first blow. I can not understand how can a modern army be fair and not disproportionate. Should the IDF purchase WW1 weapons from Somalia in order to use it against Hamas in order to achieve the level of proportionality that is internationally acceptable?
7. This article...
Kenenisa Bekele   (01.15.09)
is CRAP!
8. The voice of the prideful timid loser
Foi ,   UK   (01.15.09)
How many arab forces attacked Israel just after the state was re-born? How many Arab nations attacked Israel in the yom kippor war? How may arab nations today would not want to see israel destroyed? Considering the number if arab nations that usually attack israel, that is the real disproportionate use of force. The only way to win a decisive victory over your emeny is to use disproportionate force. it is only the person who is not serious about winning a fight that negotiates with his enemy on how much force to us. Please stop listening to this hypocritical noise. To Israel I say "If they bring the fight to you as they usually do, please fight them back with all you have. When you have defeated them, that can be debated. If however they were to defeat you, then they would not have you to tell how disproportionate your force was".
9. survived Hamas leadership must be put on Haague tribunal
Jaroslav Hercik ,   Prague, Czech Rep.   (01.15.09)
Your analysis seems to me fully correct, but Im afraid, that those who criticize actions of IDF today - at least for the most part - had been also against NATO bombardment in Serbia and Kosovo (not for terrible photos, but for pacifist argument), which today (but not yesterday) dictates standpoint of (oil-and-natural-gas-) corrupted EU establishment... Anyway, thank you.
10. Why?
Cora B. Hermann ,   Cologne, Germany   (01.15.09)
Easy. There were no Jews or Israelis in Kosovo. Whole Europe is on the side of the victims of the Shoah, just to beat their descendants. Cora
11. SHERMAN, YOU GOT OFF THE WRONF BUS STOP YNET DOESNT PUBLISH
..............DACON9   (01.15.09)
SHERMAN, YOU GOT OFF THE WRONF BUS STOP YNET DOESNT USUALLY PUBLISH ARICLE OF ISRAEL BEING POWERFUL WITH A WINNING STREAK IN THEIR BRAINS.. SHERMAN..YOU ARE SURE THIS IS WHERE YOU WORK DID YNET MAKE A MISTAKE.. WAIT MAYBE I MADE A MISTAKE IS THIS YNET,,YES... IS THIS A RIGHT WING STRONG ARTICLE..HAVE TO READ IT AGAIN...YES IT IS..MAYBE I AM DREAMING... OK YNET BRAVO FOR YOU . YNET HAS BEEN CENSORING ABOUT 30% OF MY OPINIONS.. WE WANT ISRAEL TO WIN AT ANY COST..BECAUSE THE ENEMY WANTS ISRAEL TO LOSE AT ANY COST, EVEN THEIR OWN CHILDREN THE ARABS DONT CARE WHO DIES...
12. We could still be fighting WWII if fought proportionally.
JMK ,   NYC   (01.15.09)
The point is to win how could winning be proportional, one side has to be destroyed and unconditionally surrender that is war, why lose so many of your young men if not to finish the fight.
13. so what's new?
fed up ,   monsey usa   (01.15.09)
it comes down to one simple explanation: pure anti-Semitism. there is no other way to explain it. And to our own dear leftists & anti-Israel Jews - Hamas et al have their own "useful idiots"
14. AWESOME COLUMN
Zvi   (01.15.09)
Thank you!
15. #7 - another intelligent voice for islam!
Arie ,   BaGolan   (01.15.09)
16. excellent article
wee pearl ,   lafayette,usa   (01.15.09)
I agree with you 100%. However, you're preaching to the choir when you write in YNet. Articles such as this need to be sent to the major news media and papers or blogs outside of Israel, especially Europe and USA. The people who are sympathetic to Israel or who are repulsed by Muslim terrorism need to read your article, to have more facts and arguments under their belts. It is also important that the Israeli government officials realise that they need to do more than their present media campaign. While it is a step forward, there is still much to do. They need: to sue Human Watch and rogue journalists for defamation and fabrication of facts ; send these people packing and cancel their media permits and visas; and take the UN bodies and Red Cross to task for their unsubstantiated accusations which are slanderous and damage Israel's image abroad. In other words, let these rogues know that they have to bear the consequences to their censorable acts and words. In addition, Israel needs to be more proactive and to act with more strength at the UN. It should diligently lodge complaints to the UN whenever Hamas uses civilians as human shields or phosphorous shells or when UNSC fails to decry Hamas' acts of terrorism.
17. To Kenenisa" Crap is what comes out of your Bekele.
Leon ,   Los Angeles, USA   (01.15.09)
18. Proportionality? ahswer this:
Leon ,   Los Angeles, USA   (01.15.09)
who wants to be involved in a "fair" fight?
19. Proportionality
Brian ,   Dallas, USA   (01.15.09)
There is a legal definition for proportionality, and the media and the general population and the terrorists don't know what it is. The legal definition of proportionality in war is the proportion of force and risk as compared with the desired goal. It has nothing to do with how many troops one side has, or how many combatants (or noncombatants) are killed. I'd like to see some of the Israeli newspapers start to get this right.
20. The answer is very simple, Martin.
Tahl ,   Ashdod, Israel   (01.15.09)
This double-standard exists simply because we're Jewish.
21. Great article !!!
Hertzel H'Tveriani ,   Israel   (01.15.09)
My words exactly ! Now lets hope that Livni reads it and learn something.... Main thing: NO APPLOGIES, PERIOD !
22. Israel playing as Goliath
Pedro ,   brazil   (01.15.09)
A mistake does not justify another. Poor thinking. brothers killing brothers From Brazil
23. Double standards
Merrill ,   White Plains, USA   (01.15.09)
Please send some version of this to the NY Times for their op-ed page. It's a telling, clear and valid comparison that has not been represented on the news or editorial pages.
24. Please call a public conference...
Mikesailor ,   Miami, FL   (01.15.09)
Tell them how proud you are. How proud and rightous when you have continually settled the West Bank. How proud you are about breaking the ceasefire in Gaza on November 4. How proud you are about imposing an 18 month blockade on Gaza, closing the crossings whenever you wanted. How proud you are about bombing UN facilities and even hospitals claiming there were gunmen and then retracting your story later on. How proud you are of a government which decides to ban political parties and still callls itseld a 'democracy'. How proud you are of killimg the defenceless. Hoow proud you are of committing a slow genocide against the Palestinians. And then ask for the world to condone your actions and claim victimhood because 'nobody understands you'. Please call it.
25. Proportionality
Leon Rogson ,   Los Angeles   (01.15.09)
Ron Ben-Yishai has it wrong. Silence and steadfastnest are the only effective answer to accusations when there are hundreds of accusing nations, and very few defenders. Our media (the worlds) gives equal time to all sides. Israel will get 1 minute, the rest of the world will get the entire day to argue against that minute. Words are cheap. Let Israel's steadfastness and determination answer. Leon
26. Way To Go Martin!!!!!!!!
Brana Lobel ,   Israel   (01.15.09)
I am with you 100%!!!!!!
27. a voice of sanity among apologists!
svietka from shomron   (01.15.09)
finally-somebody who doesnt lick anybody's toosh and says it like it is. about time-too bad it is only published here and not overseas
28. #15 - Arie, Maronites are Christians, not Muslims
Joe ,   Ramat Gan   (01.15.09)
And aside from the Kurds, they're really the only true friends we have in this region.
29. RUSSIA DESTROYED GROZNY AND KILLED 100,000 CIVILIANS
naro ,   nyc   (01.15.09)
IN THEIR 1994-1996 WAR AGAINST CHECHEN ISLAMIC MILITANTS.
30. great articel
mordechai ,   sydney, Australia   (01.16.09)
I think this is the first decent op-ed that i have read on YNET.
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