“THISTIMEWEWENTTOOFAR”

TruthandConsequencesoftheGaza

Invasion

NormanG.Finkelstein

ORBOOKS

NEWYORK

FirstpublishedbyORBooks,NewYork,2010

CopyrightNormanG.Finkelsteinwww.orbooks.com

HardcoverISBN:978-0-9842950-3-6

EbookISBN:978-0-9842950-4-3

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PrintedbyBookMobileintheUnitedStatesofAmerica

ToCarolandNoam,

forbeingthere

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

FOREWORD

1/SELF-DEFENSE

2/THEIRFEAR,ANDOURS

3/WHITEWASH

4/OFHUMANSHIELDSANDHASBARA

5/INSIDEGAZA

6/EVERFEWERHOSANNAS

EPILOGUE

APPENDIX

NOTES

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ColinRobinsonwasinstrumentalinthebook’sconceptionandMarenHackmanninitsexecution.CyrusVeeserlenthisgoldentouchduringthefinalstageofediting.IamgratefulfortheBiosocialResearchFoundation’ssupport,andfortheassistanceofRudolphBaldeo,AnnaBaltzer,Regan

Boychuk,NoamChomsky,JohnDugard,MireneGhossein,AsmaIshak,MikeLevy,DarrylLi,SanjeevMahajan,FrankMenetrez,AllanNairn,MouinRabbani,SaraRoy,FerozeSidhwa,andEugeniaTsao.Ialsogreatlybenefitedfromreferencesforwardedtomebycorrespondents.

It’snotthatyou’reouttocarryoutamassacre,but...

IsraelicommanderbriefingsoldiersoneveofGazainvasion1

FOREWORD

AlongsidemanyothersIhavedevotedmuchofmyadultlifetotheachievementofajustpeacebetweenIsraelandPalestine.ItcannotbesaidthatPalestinianslivingunderoccupationhavederivedmuchbenefitfromtheseefforts.TheIsraelijuggernautprovedunstoppable.Thechangesthathaveoccurred

haveonlybeenfortheworse.Undertheguiseofwhatiscalledthe“peaceprocess”IsraelhaseffectivelyannexedwideswathsoftheWestBankandshreddedthesocialfabricofPalestinianlifethereandintheGazaStrip.Itwouldnonethelessbeundulypessimistictosaythatnoprogresshasbeenmade.Israelcannolongercountonreflexivesupportforitspolicies.Publicopinionpolls

notonlyoutsidebutalsoinsideJewishcommunitiesaroundtheworldoverthepastdecaderevealagrowinguneasewithIsraeliconduct.Thisshiftlargelystemsfromthefactthatthepublicisnowmuchbetterinformed.HistorianshavedispelledmanyofthemythsIsraelpropagatedtojustifyitsdispossessionanddisplacementofPalestine’sindigenouspopulation;

humanrightsorganizationshaveexposedIsrael’smistreatmentofPalestinianslivingunderoccupation;andaconsensushascrystallizedinthelegal-diplomaticarenaaroundasettlementoftheconflictthatupholdsthebasicrightsofPalestinians.ThesimmeringdiscontentwithIsraeliconductreachedboilingpointinDecember2008whenIsraelinvadedGaza.ThemercilessIsraeli

assaultonadefenselesscivilianpopulationevokedwidespreadshockanddisgust.DeepfissuresopenedupintheJewishcommunities,especiallyamongtheyoungergenerations.ManyofIsrael’serstwhilesupporterswhodidnotvocallydissentchosetoremainsilentratherthandefendtheindefensible.Thefirstpartofthisbookanalyzesthemotivesbehind

Israel’sassaultonGazaandchronicleswhatAmnestyInternationalcalled“22daysofdeathanddestruction.”TheleastthatweowethepeopleofGazaisanaccuraterecordofthesufferingtheyendured.Noonecanbringbackthedeadorrestoretheshatteredlivesofthosewhosurvived,butwecanstillrespectthememoryoftheirsacrificebypreservingitintact.

Thisbookisnotjustalament,however;italsosetsforthgroundsforhope.ThebloodlettinginGazahasrousedtheworld’sconscience.Theprospectshaveneverbeenmorepropitiousforgalvanizingthepublicnotjusttomournbutalsotoact.Wehavetruthonourside,andwehavejusticeonourside.Thesebecomemightyweaponsoncewehavelearnedhowtowield

themeffectively.Thechallengenowistwofold:tomaster,andinformthepublicof,theunvarnishedrecordofwhathappenedinGaza;andthentomobilizethepublicaroundasettlementoftheconflictthatallofenlightenedopinionhasembraced—butthatIsraelandtheUnitedStates,standinginvirtualisolation,haverejected.Itismyhopethatthisbookwillhelpmeetthischallengeand,

ultimately,enableeveryone,PalestinianandIsraeli,toliveadignifiedlife.

1/SELF-DEFENSE

Question:Whatdoyoufeelisthemost

acceptablesolutiontothePalestine

problem?

MahatmaGandhi:Theabandonmentwhollyby

theJews

ofterrorismandotherformsofviolence.

(1June1947)1

On29November1947theUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblyapprovedaresolutiondividingBritish-mandatedPalestineintoaJewishstateincorporating56percentofPalestineandanArabstateincorporating44percentofit.2Intheensuing

warthenewlybornStateofIsraelexpandeditsborderstoincorporatenearly80percentofPalestine.TheonlyareasofPalestinenotconqueredcomprisedtheWestBank,whichtheKingdomofJordansubsequentlyannexed,andtheGazaStrip,whichcameunderEgypt’sadministrativecontrol.Approximately250,000Palestiniansdrivenoutoftheirhomesduringthe1948waranditsaftermath

fledtoGazaandoverwhelmedtheindigenouspopulationofsome80,000.Today80percentofGaza’sinhabitantsconsistofrefugeesfromthe1948warandtheirdescendants,andmorethanhalfofthepopulationisunder18yearsofage.Itscurrent1.5millioninhabitantsaresqueezedintoasliverofland25mileslongandfivemileswide,makingGazaoneofthemostdensely

populatedplacesintheworld.ThepanhandleoftheSinaiPeninsula,GazaisborderedbyIsraelonthenorthandeast,Egyptonthesouth,andtheMediterraneanSeaonthewest.Inthecourseofitsfour-decade-longoccupationbeginninginJune1967,andpriortoPrimeMinisterArielSharon’sredeploymentofIsraelitroopsfrominsideGazatoitsperimeterin2005,IsraelhadimposedonGazaa

uniquelyexploitiveregimeof“de-development”that,inthewordsofHarvardpoliticaleconomistSaraRoy,deprived“thenativepopulationofitsmostimportanteconomicresources—land,water,andlabor—aswellastheinternalcapacityandpotentialfordevelopingthoseresources.”3TheroadtomodernGaza’sdesperateplightispavedwithmanypreviousatrocities,

mostlongforgottenorneverknownoutsidePalestine.Afterthecessationofbattlefieldhostilitiesin1949,EgyptkeptatightreinontheactivityofFedayeen(Palestinianguerrillas)inGazauntilFebruary1955,whenIsraellaunchedabloodycross-borderraidintoGazakilling40Egyptians.IsraelileadershadplottedtolureEgyptintowarinordertotopplePresidentGamal

AbdelNasser,andtheGazaraidprovedtheperfectprovocationasarmedborderclashesescalated.InOctober1956Israel(incollusionwithGreatBritainandFrance)invadedtheEgyptianSinaiandoccupiedGaza,whichithadlongcoveted.TheprominentIsraelihistorianBennyMorrisdescribedwhathappenednext:

ManyFedayeenandan

estimated4,000EgyptianandPalestinianregularsweretrappedintheStrip,identified,androundedupbytheIDF[IsraelDefenseForces],GSS[GeneralSecurityService],andpolice.DozensoftheseFedayeenappeartohavebeensummarilyexecuted,withouttrial.SomewereprobablykilledduringtwomassacresbytheIDFtroopssoonaftertheoccupationoftheStrip.

On3November,thedayKhanYuniswasconquered,IDFtroopsshotdeadhundredsofPalestinianrefugeesandlocalinhabitantsinthetown.OneU.N.reportspeaksof“some135localresidents”and“140refugees”killedasIDFtroopsmovedthroughthetownanditsrefugeecamp“searchingforpeopleinpossessionofarms.”

InRafah,whichfelltotheIDFon1–2November,Israelitroopskilledbetweenforty-eightandonehundredrefugeesandseverallocalresidents,andwoundedanothersixty-oneduringamassivescreeningoperationon12November,inwhichtheysoughttoidentifyformerEgyptianandPalestiniansoldiersandFedayeenhidingamongthelocalpopulation....

Anothersixty-sixPalestinians,probablyFedayeen,wereexecutedinanumberofotherincidentsduringscreeningoperationsintheGazaStripbetween2and20November....

TheUnitedNationsestimatedthat,alltold,Israelitroopskilledbetween447and550ArabciviliansinthefirstthreeweeksoftheoccupationoftheStrip.4

InMarch1957IsraelwasforcedtowithdrawfromGazaafterU.S.PresidentDwightD.Eisenhowerappliedheavydiplomaticpressureandthreatenedeconomicsanctions.CurrentconditionsinGazaresultdirectlyfromtheeventsof1967.InthecourseoftheJune1967warIsraelreoccupiedtheGazaStrip(alongwiththeWestBank)andhasremainedthe

occupyingpowereversince.Morrisreportedthat“theoverwhelmingmajorityofWestBankandGazaArabsfromthefirsthatedtheoccupation”;that“Israelintendedtostay...anditsrulewouldnotbeoverthrownorendedthroughcivildisobedienceandcivilresistance,whichwereeasilycrushed.Theonlyrealoptionwasarmedstruggle”;that“likealloccupations,Israel’s

wasfoundedonbruteforce,repressionandfear,collaborationandtreachery,beatingsandtorturechambers,anddailyintimidation,humiliation,andmanipulation”;andthattheoccupation“wasalwaysabrutalandmortifyingexperiencefortheoccupied.”5Fromthestart,Palestinianshavefoughtbackagainstthe

Israelioccupation.Gazanshaveputupparticularlystiffunarmedandarmedresistance,whileIsraelirepressionhasprovenequallyunremitting.In1969ArielSharonbecamechiefoftheIDFsoutherncommandandnotlongafterembarkedonacampaigntocrushtheresistanceinGaza.AleadingAmericanacademicspecialistonGazarecalledhowSharonplacedrefugeecampsunder

twenty-four-hourcurfews,duringwhichtroopsconductedhouse-to-housesearchesandmusteredallthemeninthecentralsquareforquestioning.Manymenwereforcedtostandwaist-deepintheMediterraneanSeaforhoursduringthesearches.Inaddition,sometwelvethousandmembersoffamiliesofsuspectedguerrillasweredeportedtodetentioncamps...inSinai.Withinafewweeks,

theIsraelipressbegantocriticizethesoldiersandborderpoliceforbeatingpeople,shootingintocrowds,smashingbelongingsinhouses,andimposingextremerestrictionsduringcurfews....InJuly1971,Sharonaddedthetacticof“thinningout”therefugeecamps.ThemilitaryuprootedmorethanthirteenthousandresidentsbytheendofAugust.Thearmybulldozed

wideroadsthroughthecampsandthroughsomecitrusgroves,thusmakingiteasierformechanizedunitstooperateandfortheinfantrytocontrolthecamps....Thearmycrackdownbrokethebackoftheresistance.6

InDecember1987atrafficaccidentontheGaza-IsraelborderthatleftfourPalestiniansdeaderuptedintoamassrebellionorintifada

againstIsraelirulethroughouttheoccupiedterritories.Morrisrecalled,“Itwasnotanarmedrebellionbutamassive,persistentcampaignofcivilresistance,withstrikesandcommercialshutdowns,accompaniedbyviolent(thoughunarmed)demonstrationsagainsttheoccupyingforces.Thestoneand,occasionally,theMolotovcocktailandknifewereitssymbolsand

weapons,notgunsandbombs.”HoweveritcouldnotbesaidthatIsraelreactedinkind.Morriscontinued:“Almosteverythingwastried:shootingtokill,shootingtoinjure,beatings,massarrests,torture,trials,administrativedetention,andeconomicsanctions”;“AlargeproportionofthePalestiniandeadwerenotshotinlife-threateningsituations,andagreatmanyofthesewere

children”;“Onlyasmallminorityof[theIDF]malefactorswerebroughttobookbythearmy’slegalmachinery—andwerealmostalwaysletoffwithludicrouslylightsentences.”7Bytheearly1990sIsraelhadsuccessfullyrepressedtheintifada.ItsubsequentlyenteredintoanagreementsecretlynegotiatedinOslo,Norway,withthePalestine

LiberationOrganization(PLO)andratifiedinSeptember1993ontheWhiteHouselawn.ThroughtheOsloAccordIsraelhopedtostreamlinetheoccupationbyremovingitstroopsfromdirectcontactwithPalestiniansandreplacingthemwithPalestiniansubcontractors.“OneofthemeaningsofOslo,”formerIsraeliforeignministerShlomoBen-Amiwrote,

“wasthatthePLOwas...Israel’scollaboratorinthetaskofstiflingthe[first]intifadaandcuttingshortwhatwasclearlyanauthenticallydemocraticstruggleforPalestinianindependence.”8InparticularIsraelendeavoredtoreassignPalestiniansthesordidworkofoccupation.“TheideaofOslo,”formerIsraeliministerNatanSharanskyobserved,

“wastofindastrongdictatorto...keepthePalestiniansundercontrol.”9“ThePalestinianswillbebetteratestablishinginternalsecuritythanwewere,”IsraeliPrimeMinisterYitzhakRabininformedskepticsinhisranks,“becausetheywillallownoappealstotheSupremeCourtandwillprevent[groupslike]theAssociationforCivilRights

inIsraelfromcriticizingtheconditionsthere....Theywillrulebytheirownmethods,freeing,andthisismostimportant,theIsraelisoldiersfromhavingtodowhattheywilldo.”10InJuly2000PLOheadYasserArafatandIsraeliPrimeMinisterEhudBarakjoinedU.S.PresidentBillClintonatCampDavidtonegotiateasettlementofthe

conflict.Thesummitcollapsedamidacrimoniousaccusationsandcounteraccusations.“IfIwereaPalestinian,”Ben-Ami,oneofIsrael’schiefnegotiatorsatCampDavid,latercommented,“IwouldhaverejectedCampDavidaswell,”whileaformerdirectoroftheJaffeeCenterforStrategicStudiesconcludedthatthe“substantialconcessions”Israeldemanded

ofPalestiniansatCampDavid“werenotacceptableandcouldnotbeacceptable.”11Subsequentnegotiationsalsofailedtoachieveadiplomaticbreakthrough.InDecember2000Clintonpresentedhis“parameters”forresolvingtheconflict,whichbothsidesacceptedwithreservations.12InJanuary2001talksresumedinTaba,Egypt.

Althoughbothpartiesaffirmedthat“significantprogresshadbeenmade”andtheyhad“neverbeenclosertoagreement,”PrimeMinisterBarakunilaterally“calledahalt”tothesenegotiations,andasaresult“theIsraeli-Palestinianpeaceprocesshadgroundtoanindefinitehalt.”13InSeptember2000,amidthesediplomaticparleys,

Palestiniansintheoccupiedterritoriesonceagainlaunchedanopenrebellion.Likethe1987rebellionthissecondintifadaatitsinceptionwasoverwhelminglynonviolent.However,inBenAmi’swords,“Israel’sdisproportionateresponsetowhathadstartedasapopularuprisingwithyoung,unarmedmenconfrontingIsraelisoldiersarmedwithlethal

weaponsfuelledthe[second]intifadabeyondcontrolandturneditintoanall-outwar.”14ItisnowlargelyforgottenthatthefirstHamassuicidebombingofthesecondintifadadidnotoccuruntilfivemonthsintoIsrael’srelentlessbloodletting.(Israeliforcesfiredonemillionroundsofammunitioninjustthefirstfewdays,whiletheratioofPalestinians

toIsraeliskilledduringthefirstweekswas20:1.)Inthecourseofthespiralingviolencetriggeredbyits“disproportionateresponse,”IsraelstruckGazawithparticularvengeance.InacruelreworkingofEcclesiastes,eachturnofseasonpresagedyetanotherIsraeliattackonGazathatleftscoresdeadandmuchdestroyed:“OperationRainbow”(2004),“Operation

DaysofPenitence”(2004),“OperationSummerRains”(2006),“OperationAutumnClouds”(2006),“OperationHotWinter”(2008).15DespitetheIsraeliassaults,Gazacontinuedtoroil.AlreadyatthetimeoftheOsloAccordthisintractabilitycausedIsraeltosourontheStrip.“Ifonlyitwouldjustsinkintothesea,”Rabindespaired.16InApril

2004PrimeMinisterSharonannouncedthatIsraelwould“disengage”fromGaza,andbySeptember2005bothIsraelitroopsandJewishsettlershadbeenpulledout.InaninterviewSharonadvisorDovWeisglasslaidouttherationalebehindthedisengagement:itwouldrelieveinternational,especiallyAmerican,pressureonIsrael,thereby“freezing...thepoliticalprocess.And

whenyoufreezethatprocessyoupreventtheestablishmentofaPalestinianstate.”Royobservedthat“withthedisengagementfromGaza,theSharongovernmentwasclearlyseekingtoprecludeanyreturntopoliticalnegotiations...whilepreservinganddeepeningitsholdonPalestine.”17Israelsubsequentlydeclaredthatitwasnolongertheoccupying

powerinGaza.However,humanrightsorganizationsandinternationalinstitutionsrejectedthiscontentionbecauseinmyriadwaysIsraelstillpreservednear-totaldominanceoftheStrip.“WhethertheIsraeliarmyisinsideGazaorredeployedarounditsperiphery,”HumanRightsWatch(HRW)concluded,“itremainsincontrol.”18

ThereceivedwisdomisthattheOsloAccordwasafailurebecauseitdidnotresultinalastingpeace.Butsuchaverdictmisconstruestheobjectiveoftheaccord.IfIsrael’sgoalwas,asBen-Amipointedout,togroomaclassofPalestiniancollaborators,thenOslowaslargelyasuccessforIsraelis.AlookattheOsloIIAccord,signedinSeptember1995andspellingoutindetailthemutualrights

anddutiesofthecontractingpartiestothe1993agreement,suggestswhatloomedlargestinthemindsofthePalestiniannegotiators:whereasfourfullpagesaredevotedto“Passageof[Palestinian]VIPs”(thesectionissubdividedinto“Category1VIPs,”“Category2VIPs,”“Category3VIPs,”and“SecondaryVIPs”),lessthanonepage—theverylast—is

devotedto“ReleaseofPalestinianPrisonersandDetainees,”whonumberedinthemanythousands.19TheOsloAccordallottedafive-yearinterimperiodallegedlyfor“confidencebuilding”betweentheformerfoes.Thiswascurious,giventhatwhenandwhereIsraelgenuinelysoughtpeacetheprocessmovedswiftly.Thus,fordecadesEgyptwas

Israel’sprimenemesisintheArabworld,anditwasEgyptthatlaunchedasurpriseattackin1973,killingthousandsofIsraelisoldiers.Nevertheless,onlyahalfyearelapsedbetweentheSeptember1978CampDavidsummitconvenedbyU.S.PresidentJimmyCarterthatproducedtheEgyptian-Israeli“FrameworkforPeace”andtheMarch1979“TreatyofPeace”formallyending

hostilities.OnlythreemoreyearspassedbeforeIsrael’sfinalevacuationfromtheEgyptianSinaiinApril1982.20TherewasnoneedforahalfdecadeofconfidencebuildinginEgypt’scase.InrealitythepurposeoftheprotractedinterimperiodbuiltintoOslowasnotconfidencebuildingtofacilitateanIsraeli-Palestinianpeace

agreementbutcollaborationbuildingtofacilitateaburden-freeIsraelioccupation.Itwasrightlysupposedthat,aftergrowingaccustomedtotheemolumentsofpowerandprivilege,thehandfulofPalestinianbeneficiarieswouldbeaversetopartingwiththemand,howeverreluctantly,woulddothebiddingofthepowerthatmetedoutthelargesse.The

interimperiodalsoenabledIsraeltotestthereliabilityofthesePalestiniansubcontractorsascrisesperiodicallyerupted.TheoneholdoutintheseniorranksofthePalestinianleadershipwasArafatwho,forallhisopportunism,seemstohavecarriedinhimaresidueofhisnationalistpastandwouldnotsettleforpresidingoveraBantustan.OncehepassedfromthesceneinNovember

2004,however,allthepieceswereinplaceforthe“PalestinianAuthority”toreachamodusvivendiwithIsrael.Exceptthatitwastoolate.InJanuary2006,sickenedbyyearsofofficialcorruption,thePalestinianselectedtheIslamicmovementHamasintooffice.IsraelimmediatelytighteneditsblockadeonGazaandtheU.S.joinedin.Itwasdemandedofthenewly

electedgovernmentthatitrenounceviolenceandrecognizeIsraeltogetherwithpriorIsraeli-Palestinianagreements.Thesepreconditionsforinternationalengagementwereunilateral:Israelwasn’talsorequiredtorenounceviolence;Israelwasn’trequiredtowithdrawfromtheterritoriesitoccupiedin1967andtoallowforPalestinianstoexercisetheirrighttoself-

determination;andwhereasHamaswasrequiredtorecognizeprioragreementssuchastheOsloAccord,whichperpetuatedtheoccupationandenabledIsraeltovastlyincreaseitsillegalsettlements,21Israelwasfreetoeviscerateprioragreementssuchasthe2003“RoadMap.”22InJune2007Hamasfoiledacoupattemptorchestratedby

theUnitedStatesinleaguewithIsraelandelementsofthepriorPalestinianregimeandconsolidateditscontrolofGaza.23IsraelandtheUnitedStatesreactedpromptlytoHamas’srejectionofU.S.PresidentGeorgeW.Bush’s“democracypromotion”initiativebyfurthertighteningthescrewsonGaza.InJune2008HamasandIsrael

enteredintoaceasefirebrokeredbyEgypt,butinNovemberofthatyearIsraelviolatedtheceasefirebycarryingoutabloodyborderraidonGazaakintoitsFebruary1955borderraid.Theobjectiveonceagainwastoprovokeretaliationandtherebyprovidethepretextforanattack.Thatborderraidwasonlythepreambletoamoresustainedassault.On27December

2008Israellaunched“OperationCastLead.”24Thefirstweekconsistedofairattacks,whichwerefollowedon3January2009byanairandgroundassault.Pilotingthemostadvancedcombataircraftintheworld,theIsraeliaircorpsflewnearly3,000sortiesoverGazaanddropped1,000tonsofexplosives,whiletheIsraeliarmydeploymentcomprised

severalbrigadesequippedwithsophisticatedintelligence-gatheringsystemsandweaponrysuchasroboticandTV-aidedremotecontrolledguns.DuringtheattackPalestinianarmedgroupsfiredsome570mostlyrudimentaryrocketsand200mortarsintoIsrael.On18Januaryaceasefirewentintoeffect,buttheeconomicstrangulationofGazacontinued.Inthe

meantimeinternationalpublicopinionreactedwithhorroratIsrael’sassaultonadefenselesscivilianpopulation.InSeptember2009aUnitedNationsHumanRightsCouncilFactFindingMissionchairedbytherespectedjuristRichardGoldstonereleasedavoluminousreportdocumentingIsrael’scommissionofmassivewarcrimesandpossiblecrimes

againsthumanity.ThereportalsoaccusedHamasofcommittingsimilarcrimes,butonascalethatpaledbycomparison.Itwasclearthat,inthewordsofIsraelicolumnistGideonLevy,“thistimewewenttoofar.”25IsraelofficiallyjustifiedOperationCastLeadonthegroundsofself-defenseagainstHamasrocketattacks.26Sucharationaledid

nothoweverwithstandevensuperficialscrutiny.IfIsraelhadwantedtoaverttheHamasrocketattacks,itwouldnothavetriggeredthembybreakingtheJune2008ceasefirewithHamas.Israelalsocouldhaveoptedforrenewing—andthenhonoring—theceasefire.Indeed,asaformerIsraeliintelligenceofficertoldtheInternationalCrisisGroup,“Theceasefireoptionsonthe

tableafterthewarwereinplacetherebeforeit.”27Morebroadly,IsraelcouldhavereachedadiplomaticsettlementwiththePalestinianleadershipthatresolvedtheconflictandterminatedarmedhostilities.InsofarasthedeclaredobjectiveofOperationCastLeadwastodestroythe“infrastructureofterrorism,”Israel’salibiofself-defense

appearedevenlesscredibleaftertheinvasion:overwhelminglyittargetednotHamasstrongholdsbut“decidedly‘non-terrorist,’non-Hamas”sites.28Iwillreturntomanyofthesepointspresently.ItisusefulhowevertofirstputIsrael’sclaimofself-defenseinthewidercontextofitshumanrightsrecordintheOccupiedPalestinianTerritoriesjust

priortotheinvasion.The2008annualreportofB’Tselem(IsraeliInformationCenterforHumanRightsintheOccupiedTerritories)29indicatedthatbetween1Januaryand26December2008Israelisecurityforceskilled455Palestinians,ofwhomatleast175didnottakepartinhostilities,whilePalestinianskilled31Israelisofwhom21werecivilians.

Thus,ontheeveofIsrael’sso-calledwarofself-defense,theratiooftotalPalestinianstoIsraeliskilledwasalmost15:1andtheratioofPalestiniantoIsraelinoncombatantskilledwasaminimumof8:1.InGazaaloneIsraelkilledatleast158noncombatantsin2008until26December,whilesevenIsraelicivilianswerekilledduetoPalestinianrocketattacksfromGaza,which

meanstheratiowasmorethan22:1.(PalestinianrocketattacksfromGazakilled21Israelisbetweenwhentheybeganin2001andJanuary2009.Inthethree-yearperiodafterits2005redeploymenttoGaza’sperimeter,theIsraeliarmykilledabout1,250Gazans,including222children,whilePalestinianrocketfirekilled11Israelis.)IsraelloudlyprotestedbecauseHamasheldone

IsraelisoldierwhohadbeencapturedinJune2006,yetIsraelheldmorethan8,000Palestinian“politicalprisoners,”including60womenand390children,ofwhom548wereheldinadministrativedetentionwithoutchargesortrial,42ofthemformorethantwoyears.Inaddition,Israelexacerbatedits“sweepingrestrictionsonthefreedomofmovementofPalestinian

residentsoftheWestBank”;expandedillegalJewishsettlementsintheWestBankandEastJerusalem,whichtogethernowcontainnearlyahalfmillionillegalJewishsettlers;confiscatedmoreWestBanklandcausing“seriousharmtoPalestinians...whoarenolongerabletoworktheirlandandgainalivelihoodfromit”;“prevent[ed]anypossibilityofdevelopment

andconstruction”inPalestiniancommunities;distributedwaterinadiscriminatorymanner(althoughthePalestinianpopulationintheWestBankisninetimestheillegalJewishsettlerpopulation,itstotalwaterallocationismuchsmaller);andcontinuedconstructionofawallthatwillannexalmost12percentoftheWestBankdespitetheJuly2004InternationalCourt

ofJusticeadvisoryopiniondeclaringthewallillegal.Asalreadynoted,inJanuary2006HamaswonPalestinianelectionsthatwerewidelyrecognizedas“completelyhonestandfair”(JimmyCarter).30IsraelandtheU.S.reactedbyimposinganeconomicblockadeonGaza.InJune2007HamasfoiledaputschorchestratedbytheU.S.,Israel,andelementsof

thePalestinianAuthority.31“WhenHamaspreemptsit,”aseniorIsraeliintelligencefigurelaterscoffed,“everyonecriesfoul,claimingit’samilitaryputschbyHamas—butwhodidtheputsch?”32AlthoughhereviledHamasas“cruel,disgustingandfilledwithhatredforIsrael,”aneditoratIsrael’slargestcirculationnewspaperYediot

Ahronotnonethelessobservedthatit“didnot‘seizecontrol’ofGaza.Ittooktheactionneededtoenforceitsauthority,disarminganddestroyingamilitiathatrefusedtobowtoitsauthority.”33AftertheabortiveputschIsraelintensifieditsblockade,which“amountstocollectivepunishment,aseriousviolationofinternational

humanitarianlaw.”34Inmid-December2008theUnitedNationsOfficefortheCoordinationofHumanitarianAffairs(OCHA)publishedastudyentitled“TheImpactoftheBlockadeontheGazaStrip:Ahumandignitycrisis.”35ItreportedthatIsrael’s“18-monthlongblockadehascreatedaprofoundhumandignitycrisis,leadingtoa

widespreaderosionoflivelihoodsandasignificantdeteriorationininfrastructureandessentialservices.”Asadirectconsequenceoftheblockade,manyGazaresidentswereleftwithoutelectricityforupto16hourseachdayandreceivedwateronlyonceaweekforafewhours(80percentofthewaterdidnotmeettheWorldHealthOrganizationstandardsfordrinking);

nearly50percentofthepopulationwasleftunemployed,andmorethan50percentofthepopulationwas“foodinsecure”;20percentof“essentialdrugs”were“atzerolevel”andmorethan20percentofpatientssufferingfromcancer,heartdisease,andothersevereconditionswereunabletogetpermitsformedicalcareabroad.ManyPalestinians,thestudyconcluded,

“reportedagrowingsenseofbeingtrapped,physically,intellectuallyandemotionally.”Tojudgebythehumanrightsrecord,andleavingasidethatitwasIsraelthatbroketheJune2008ceasefire,itwouldappearthatthePalestinianshadamuchstrongercasethanIsraelforresortingtoarmedforceinself-defenseattheendofDecember2008.

2/THEIRFEAR,ANDOURS

TheDecember2008invasionofGazawouldprovetobeanotherpublic-relationsfiascoforIsrael,ontheorderofitsdisastrousLebanoninvasionsof1982and2006.Theciviliancasualtiesand

destructionofcivilianinfrastructureweresomassiveandevidentthatcriticismoftheassaultcreptevenintothemainstreammedia.WhatexplainsIsrael’swillingnesstoprosecuteanattackagainstacivilianpopulationthatwasboundtoresultinnegativepublicityabroad?EarlyspeculationontherealimpetusbehindIsrael’sattackcenteredontheupcoming

Israelielections,scheduledtobeheldon10February2009.JockeyingforvoteswasnodoubtafactorinthisSparta-likesocietyconsumedby“revengeandthethirstforblood.”1Pollsduringtheinvasionshowedthat80–90percentofIsraeliJewssupportedit.2ButasIsraelijournalistGideonLevypointedoutonDemocracyNow!,“Israelwentthrougha

verysimilarwar...two-and-a-halfyearsago[inLebanon],whentherewerenoelections.”3InfacttheattackonGazarespondedtocrucialstateintereststhatIsraelileaderswouldnotjeopardizefornarrowlyelectoralgains.Eveninrecentdecades,whentheIsraelipoliticalscenehasbecomemoresqualid,onewouldstillbehard-pressedtonameamajormilitary

campaignlaunchedforpartisanpoliticalends.ItisarguablethatPrimeMinisterMenachemBegin’sdecisiontobombtheIraqiOSIRAKreactorin1981wasmerelyanelectoralploy,butthestrategicstakesinthestrikeonIraqwerepuny;contrarytowidespreadbeliefSaddamHusseinhadnotembarkedonanuclearweaponsprogrampriortothebombing.4The

mainmotivesfortheGazainvasionweretobefoundnotintheelectioncyclebut,first,intheneedtorestoreIsrael’s“deterrencecapacity,”and,second,intheneedtocounterthethreatposedbyanewPalestinian“peaceoffensive.”*Israel’s“largerconcern”inOperationCastLead,NewYorkTimesMiddleEastcorrespondentEthanBronnerreported,quotingIsraeli

sources,wasto“re-establishIsraelideterrence,”because“itsenemiesarelessafraidofitthantheyoncewere,orshouldbe.”5PreservingitsdeterrencecapacityhasalwaysloomedlargeinIsraelistrategicdoctrine.InfactitwasaprimaryimpetusbehindIsrael’sfirststrikeagainstEgyptinJune1967thatresultedinIsrael’soccupationofGazaandtheWestBank.

TojustifytheDecember2008onslaughtonGaza,IsraelihistorianBennyMorriswrotethat“manyIsraelisfeelthatthewalls...areclosingin...muchastheyfeltinearlyJune1967.”6(SeveralmonthslaterGideonLevymockedIsrael’sincessantfearmongeringas“thedevil’srefuge”that“explainsandjustifieseverything.”7)OrdinaryIsraeliswereno

doubtfilledwithforebodinginJune1967,butIsraeldidnotfaceanexistentialthreatatthetime—asMorrisknows8—andIsraelileaderswerenotapprehensiveaboutthewar’soutcome.AfterIsraelthreatenedandlaidplanstoattackSyriainMay1967,9EgyptianPresidentGamalAbdelNassermovedEgyptiantroopsintotheSinaiand

announcedthattheStraitsofTiranwouldbeclosedtoIsraelishipping.(EgypthadenteredintoamilitarypactwithSyriaafewmonthsearlier.)IsraeliForeignMinisterAbbaEbanemotivelydeclaredthatbecauseoftheblockadeIsraelcouldonly“breathewithasinglelung,”butIsraelactuallymadealmostnouseoftheStraits(exceptforthepassageofoil,ofwhichit

thenhadamplestocks).Besides,Nasserdidnotevenenforcetheblockade:vesselswerepassingfreelythroughtheStraitswithindaysofhisannouncement.WhatthenofthemilitarythreatposedbyEgypt?MultipleU.S.intelligenceagencieshadconcludedthattheEgyptiansdidnotintendtoattackIsraelandthat,intheimprobablecasethattheydid,aloneorinconcertwithotherArab

countries,Israelwould—inPresidentLyndonJohnson’swords—“whipthehelloutofthem.”10TheheadoftheMossadtoldseniorAmericanofficialson1June1967that“therewerenodifferencesbetweentheU.S.andtheIsraelisonthemilitaryintelligencepictureoritsinterpretation.”11ThepredicamentforIsraelwasratherthegrowing

perceptionintheArabworld,spurredbyNasser’sradicalnationalismandclimaxinginhisdefiantgesturesinMay1967,thatitwouldnothavetofollowIsraeliorders.Thus,DivisionalCommanderArielSharonadmonishedthoseintheIsraelicabinethesitanttolaunchafirststrikethatIsraelwaslosingits“deterrencecapability...ourmainweapon—thefearofus.”12In

effect,“deterrencecapacity”referrednottowardingoffanimminentlethalblowbuttokeepingArabssointimidatedthattheycouldnotevenconceiveofchallengingIsrael’sfreedomtocarryonasitpleased,howeverruthlesslyandrecklessly.Assessingtheregionalbalanceofforces,keyU.S.presidentialaideWaltW.Rostowconcurredontheimperativeof“Nasser’sbeing

cutdowntosize.”13Israelunleashedthewaron5June1967,accordingtoIsraelistrategicanalystZeevMaoz,inorder“torestorethecredibilityofIsraelideterrence.”14Hezbollah’sejectionoftheIsraelioccupyingarmyfromLebanoninMay2000posedanotherchallengetoIsrael’sdeterrencecapacity.ThefactthatIsraelsuffereda

humiliatingdefeat,onecelebratedthroughouttheArabworld,madeanotherwarwell-nighinevitable.Israelalmostimmediatelybeganplanningforthenextround,15andinsummer2006foundapretextwhenHezbollahcapturedtwoIsraelisoldiers(severalotherswerekilledduringtheoperation)anddemandedinexchangethereleaseof

LebaneseprisonersheldbyIsrael.AlthoughIsraelunleashedthefuryofitsairforceandgearedupforagroundinvasion,itsufferedyetanotherignominiousdefeat.ArespectedAmericanmilitaryanalyst,despitebeingpartialtoIsrael,nonethelessconcluded,“theIAF,thearmoftheIsraelimilitarythathadoncedestroyedwholeairforcesinafewdays,notonlyprovedunabletostop

HezbollahrocketstrikesbuteventodoenoughdamagetopreventHezbollah’srapidrecovery”;that“oncegroundforcesdidcrossintoLebanon...,theyfailedtoovertakeHezbollahstrongholds,eventhoseclosetotheborder”;that“intermsofIsrael’sobjectives,thekidnappedIsraelisoldierswereneitherrescuednorreleased;Hezbollah’srocketfirewasneversuppressed,not

evenitslong-rangefire...;andIsraeligroundforceswerebadlyshakenandboggeddownbyawell-equippedandcapablefoe”;andthat“moretroopsandamassivegroundinvasionwouldindeedhaveproducedadifferentoutcome,butthenotionthatsomehowthateffortwouldhaveresultedinamoredecisivevictoryoverHezbollah...hasnobasisinhistoricalexample

orlogic.”16Thejuxtapositionofseveralfigureshighlightsthemagnitudeofthesetback:Israeldeployed30,000troopsagainst2,000regularHezbollahfightersand4,000irregularHezbollahandnon-Hezbollahfighters;Israeldeliveredandfired162,000weaponswhereasHezbollahfired5,000weapons(4,000rocketsandprojectilesat

Israeland1,000antitankmissilesinsideLebanon).17Moreover,“thevastmajorityofthefighterswhodefendedvillagessuchasAytaashShab,BintJbeil,andMarounal-Raswerenot,infact,regularHezbollahfightersandinsomecaseswerenotevenmembersofHezbollah,”and“manyofHezbollah’sbestandmostskilledfightersneversawaction,lyingin

waitalongtheLitaniRiverwiththeexpectationthattheIDF[IsraelDefenseForces]assaultwouldbemuchdeeperandarrivemuchfasterthanitdid.”18YetanotherindicationofIsrael’sreversaloffortunewasthat,unlikeinanyofitspreviousarmedconflicts,inthefinalstagesofthe2006waritfoughtnotindefianceofaU.N.ceasefireresolutionbutinthehopethataU.N.

resolutionwouldrescueitfromanunwinnablesituation.Afterthe2006LebanonWarIsraelwasitchingtotakeonHezbollahagainbutwasnotyetconfidentitwouldemergevictoriousonthebattlefield.Inmid-2008IsraeldesperatelysoughttoconscripttheU.S.foranattackonIran,whichitbelievedwouldalsodecapitateHezbollah(thejuniorpartnerofIran),and

therebyhumblethemainchallengerstoitsregionalhegemony.Israelanditsquasi-officialemissariessuchasBennyMorristhreatenedthatiftheU.S.didnotgoalong“thennonconventionalweaponrywillhavetobeused,”and“manyinnocentIranianswilldie.”19ToIsrael’schagrinandhumiliation,theU.S.vetoedanattackandIranwentits

merryway,whilethecredibilityofIsrael’scapacitytoterrorizeslippedanothernotch.Itwastimetofindanothertarget,andGaza,poorlydefendedasever,fitthebill.There,thefeeblyarmedIslamicmovementHamashaddefiantlyresistedIsraelidiktat,crowingthatin2005ithadforcedIsraelto“withdraw”fromGaza,andthen,inJune2008,hadcompelledIsraeltoagreetoa

ceasefire.IfGazawaswhereIsraelwouldrestoreitsdeterrencecapacity,onetheaterofthe2006LebanonWarhadalreadyhintedathowitmightsuccessfullybedone.DuringtheLebanonWarIsraelflattenedthesouthernsuburbofBeirutknownastheDahiyathatwashometomanypoorShiitesupportersofHezbollah.Inthewar’saftermathIsraelimilitary

officersbeganreferringtothe“Dahiyastrategy.”“WewillwielddisproportionatepoweragainsteveryvillagefromwhichshotsarefiredonIsrael,andcauseimmensedamageanddestruction,”IDFNorthernCommandChiefGadiEisenkotexplained.“Thisisn’tasuggestion.Thisisaplanthathasalreadybeenauthorized.”IntheeventofhostilitiesIsraelneeded“toactimmediately,decisively,

andwithforcethatisdisproportionate,”reserveColonelGabrielSibonioftheIsraeliInstituteforNationalSecurityStudiesdeclared.“Sucharesponseaimsatinflictingdamageandmetingoutpunishmenttoanextentthatwilldemandlongandexpensivereconstructionprocesses.”“Thenextwar...willleadtotheeliminationoftheLebanesemilitary,thedestructionofthenational

infrastructure,andintensesufferingamongthepopulation,”formerchiefoftheIsraeliNationalSecurityCouncilGioraEilandthreatened.“SeriousdamagetotheRepublicofLebanon,thedestructionofhomesandinfrastructure,andthesufferingofhundredsofthousandsofpeopleareconsequencesthatcaninfluenceHezbollah’sbehaviormorethananything

else.”20Itmeritsnotingthat,underinternationallaw,useofdisproportionateforceandtargetingofcivilianinfrastructureconstitutewarcrimes.AlthoughthenewstrategywastobeusedagainstallofIsrael’sregionaladversariesthathadwaxeddefiant,Gazawasfrequentlysingledoutastheprimetargetforthisapproach.“Toobadit

didnottakeholdimmediatelyafterthe[2005]‘disengagement’fromGazaandthefirstrocketbarrages,”arespectedIsraelipunditlamented.“HadweimmediatelyadoptedtheDahiyastrategy,wewouldhavelikelysparedourselvesmuchtrouble.”IfandwhenPalestinianslaunchedanotherrocketattack,IsraeliInteriorMinisterMeirSheetriturgedinlateSeptember2008,“the

IDFshould...decideonaneighborhoodinGazaandlevelit.”21TheoperativeIsraeliplanfortheattackonGazacouldbegleanedfromauthoritativestatementsissuedafteritgotunderway:“Whatwehavetodoisactsystematicallywiththeaimofpunishingalltheorganizationsthatarefiringtherocketsandmortars,aswellasthecivilianswhoare

enablingthemtofireandhide”(reserveMajor-GeneralAmiramLevin);“AfterthisoperationtherewillnotbeoneHamasbuildingleftstandinginGaza”(DeputyIDFChiefofStaffDanHarel);“AnythingaffiliatedwithHamasisalegitimatetarget”(IDFSpokespersonMajorAvitalLeibowitz);“It[shouldbe]possibletodestroyGaza,sotheywillunderstandnottomesswith

us....Itisagreatopportunitytodemolishthousandsofhousesofalltheterrorists,sotheywillthinktwicebeforetheylaunchrockets....IhopetheoperationwillcometoanendwithgreatachievementsandwiththecompletedestructionofterrorismandHamas.Inmyopinion,theyshouldberazedtotheground,sothousandsofhouses,tunnelsandindustrieswillbedemolished”(Deputy

PrimeMinisterEliYishai).ThemilitarycorrespondentforIsraelChannel10Newscommented,“Israelisn’ttryingtohidethefactthatitreactsdisproportionately.”22InIsraelthemediaexultedatthe“shockandawe”(Maariv)23ofitsopeningaircampaign.WhereasIsraelkilledamere55Lebaneseduringthefirsttwodaysofthe2006war,itkilledas

manyas300Gazansinfourminutesonthefirstdayoftheinvasion.Mostofthetargetswerelocatedin“denselypopulatedresidentialareas”whilethebombardmentsbegan“ataround11:30a.m.,abusytime,whenthestreetswerefullofcivilians,includingschoolchildrenleavingclassesattheendofthemorningshiftandthosegoingtoschoolforthesecond

shift.”24SeveraldaysintotheslaughteraninformedIsraelistrategicanalystobserved,“TheIDF,whichplannedtoattackbuildingsandsitespopulatedbyhundredsofpeople,didnotwarntheminadvancetoleave,butintendedtokillagreatmanyofthem,andsucceeded.”25BennyMorrispraised“Israel’shighlyefficientairassaultonHamas.”26

TheIsraelicolumnistB.Michaelwaslessimpressedbythedispatchofhelicoptergunshipsandjetplanes“overagiantprisonandfiringatitspeople”27—forexample,“trafficcopsattheirgraduationceremony,youngmenindesperatesearchofalivelihoodwhothoughtthey’dfounditinthepoliceandinsteadfounddeathfromtheskies.”28Itwas

subsequentlyreportedthattheIDFhadplannedthediploma-dayslaughter“monthsbeforetheattack,”andthatitsexecutionevoked“enthusiasm.”29OnthatfirstdayIsraeliaerialstrikeskilledorfatallyinjured,alongsidethewould-betrafficcops,atleast16childrenwhileanIsraelidrone-launchedprecisionmissilekilledninecollegestudents(twoofthem

youngwomen)“whowerewaitingforaU.N.bus”totakethemhome.30AsOperationCastLeadproceededapace,prominentIsraelisdroppedallpretensesthatitspurposewastostopHamasrocketfire.“Remember,[IsraeliDefenseMinisterEhud]Barak’srealfoeisnotHamas,”aformerIsraeliministertoldtherespectedconflict-resolution

organizationInternationalCrisisGroup.“Itisthememoryof2006.”31IsraeliphilosopherAsaKasher,despitedoinghisutmosttodefendtheGazainvasion,nonethelessopinedthat“ademocraticstate...cannotusehumanbeingsasmeretoolstocreatedeterrence.Humanbeingsarenottoolstobeused.”32Othercommentatorspositivelygloated,however,

that“GazaistoLebanonasthesecondsittingforanexamistothefirst—asecondchancetogetitright,”andthatthistimearoundIsraelhad“hurled[Gaza]back,”not20yearsasitpromisedtodoinLebanon,but“intothe1940s.Electricityisavailableonlyforafewhoursaday”;that“Israelregaineditsdeterrencecapabilities”because“thewarinGazahascompensatedforthe

shortcomingsofthe[2006]SecondLebanonWar”;andthat“thereisnodoubtthatHezbollahleaderHassanNasrallahisupsetthesedays....TherewillnolongerbeanyoneintheArabworldwhocanclaimthatIsraelisweak.”33NewYorkTimesforeignaffairsexpertThomasFriedmanjoinedinthechorusofhallelujahs.Israelactually

wonthe2006LebanonWar,accordingtoFriedman,becauseithadinflicted“substantialpropertydamageandcollateralcasualtiesonLebanon,”therebyadministeringan“education”toHezbollah:fearingtheLebanesepeople’swrath,Hezbollahwould“thinkthreetimesnexttime”beforedefyingIsrael.HeexpressedhopethatIsraelwaslikewise“tryingto‘educate’Hamas

byinflictingaheavydeathtollonHamasmilitantsandheavypainontheGazapopulation.”TojustifythetargetingofLebaneseciviliansandcivilianinfrastructureduringthe2006warFriedmanassertedthatIsraelhadnootheroptionbecause“Hezbollahcreatedavery‘flat’militarynetwork...deeplyembeddedinthelocaltownsandvillages,”andthatbecause“Hezbollahnested

amongcivilians,theonlylong-termsourceofdeterrencewastoexactenoughpainonthecivilians...torestrainHezbollahinthefuture.”34Let’sleaveasideFriedman’shollowcoinages—whatdoes“flat”mean?Let’salsoleaveasidethatFriedmannotonlyallegesthatthekillingofcivilianswasunavoidablebutatthesametimeadvocates

targetingciviliansasadeterrencestrategy.Let’sjustconsiderwhetheritiseventruethatHezbollahwas“embeddedin,”“nestedamong,”and“intertwined”withtheLebanesecivilianpopulation.Here’swhattherespectedhumanrightsorganizationHumanRightsWatch(HRW)concludedafteranexhaustiveinvestigation:“Wefoundstrongevidencethat

Hezbollahstoredmostofitsrocketsinbunkersandweaponstoragefacilitieslocatedinuninhabitedfieldsandvalleys,thatinthevastmajorityofcasesHezbollahfightersleftpopulatedcivilianareasassoonasthefightingstarted,andthatHezbollahfiredthevastmajorityofitsrocketsfromprepreparedpositionsoutsidevillages.”Andagain,“inallbutafewofthecasesofciviliandeaths

weinvestigated,HezbollahfightershadnotmixedwiththecivilianpopulationortakenotheractionstocontributetothetargetingofaparticularhomeorvehiclebyIsraeliforces.”Indeed,“Israel’sownfiringpatternsinLebanonsupporttheconclusionthatHezbollahfiredlargenumbersofitsrocketsfromtobaccofields,banana,oliveandcitrusgroves,andmoreremote,

unpopulatedvalleys.”35AU.S.ArmyWarCollegestudybasedlargelyoninterviewswithIsraelisoldierswhoparticipatedintheLebanonWarsimilarlyfoundthat“thekeybattlefieldsinthelandcampaignsouthoftheLitaniRiverweremostlydevoidofcivilians,andIDFparticipantsconsistentlyreportlittleornomeaningful

interminglingofHezbollahfightersandnoncombatants.NoristhereanysystematicreportingofHezbollahusingciviliansinthecombatzoneasshields.”Onarelatednote,theauthorsreportthat“thegreatmajorityofHezbollah’sfightersworeuniforms.Infact,theirequipmentandclothingwereremarkablysimilartomanystatemilitaries’—desertorgreenfatigues,helmets,webvests,

bodyarmor,dogtags,andrankinsignia.”36Friedmanfurtherassertedthat,“ratherthanconfrontingIsrael’sArmyhead-on,”HezbollahfiredrocketsatIsrael’scivilianpopulationtoprovokeIsraeliretaliatorystrikes,inevitablykillingLebaneseciviliansand“inflamingtheArab-Muslimstreet.”Yetnumerousstudieshaveshown,37andIsraeli

officialsthemselvesconceded38that,duringitsguerrillawaragainsttheIsraelioccupyingarmy,HezbollahonlytargetedIsraeliciviliansafterIsraeltargetedLebanesecivilians.Inthe2006warHezbollahbeganfiringrocketsaimedatIsraelicivilianconcentrationsonlyafterIsraelinflictedheavycasualtiesonLebanesecivilians,whileHezbollah

leaderSayyedHassanNasrallahavowedthatitwouldtargetIsraelicivilians“aslongastheenemyundertakesitsaggressionwithoutlimitsorredlines.”39IfIsraeltargetedtheLebanesecivilianpopulationandinfrastructureduringthe2006war,itwasnotbecauseithadnochoice,andnotbecauseHezbollahhadprovokedit,butbecauseterrorizing

Lebaneseciviliansappearedtobealowcostmethodof“education.”Thiswasmuchpreferredovertanglingwitharealfoeandsufferingheavycasualties,althoughHezbollah’sunexpectedlyfierceresistancepreventedIsraelfromclaimingavictoryonthebattlefield.Still,itmustbesaidthatIsraeldidsuccessfullyeducatethecivilianLebanesepopulation,whichiswhyHezbollahwas

carefulnottoantagonizeIsraelduringtheGazainvasiontwoyearslater.40Israel’spedagogyalsoprovedasuccessamongtheGazapopulation.“ItwashardtoconvinceGazanswhosehomesweredemolishedandfamilyandfriendskilledandinjured,”theInternationalCrisisGroupreported,“thatthisamountedto‘victory,’”asHamasboastedinthewake

oftheinvasion.41InthecaseofGaza,Israelcouldalsolayclaimtoamilitaryvictory,butonlybecause—inthewordsofGideonLevy—“alarge,broadarmyisfightingagainstahelplesspopulationandaweak,raggedorganizationthathasfledtheconflictzonesandisbarelyputtingupafight.”42ThejustificationputforthbyFriedmaninthepagesofthe

NewYorkTimesamountedtoapologeticsforstateterrorism.43Indeed,Israel’sevolvingmodusoperandiforrestoringitsdeterrencecapacitydescribesacurvesteadilyregressingintobarbarism.IsraelwonitsvictoryinJune1967primarilyonthebattlefield—albeitina“turkeyshoot”(Rostow)44—whileinsubsequenthostilities,mostly

inLebanon,itsoughtbothtoachieveabattlefieldvictoryandtobombardthecivilianpopulationintosubmission.ButIsraeltargetedGazatorestoreitsdeterrencecapacitybecauseiteschewedanyoftherisksofaconventionalwar;ittargetedGazabecauseitwaslargelydefenseless.Israel’sresorttounalloyedterrorinturnrevealeditsrelativedeclineasamilitarypowerwhilethecelebration

ofitsmilitaryprowessduringandaftertheGazainvasionbythelikesofBennyMorrisregisteredthegrowingdetachmentofmainstreamIsraeliintellectuals,andagoodshareofthepublicaswell,fromreality.AsupplementarybenefitofthisdeterrencestrategywasthatitrestoredIsrael’sdomesticmorale.AFebruary2009internalU.N.documentconcludedthattheinvasion’s

“onesignificantachievement”wasthatitdispelleddoubtsamongIsraelisabout“theirabilityandthepoweroftheIDFtoissueablowtoitsenemies....Theuseof‘excessiveforce’...provesIsraelisthelandlord....ThepicturesofdestructionwereintendedmoreforIsraelieyesthanthoseofIsrael’senemies,eyesstarvedofrevengeand

nationalpride.”45Beyondrestoringitsdeterrencecapacity,Israel’smaingoalintheGazainvasionwastofendoffthelatestthreatposedbyPalestinianpragmatism.Theinternationalcommunity,apartfromIsraelandtheUnitedStates,hasconsistentlysupportedasettlementoftheIsrael-Palestineconflictthatcalls

fortwostatesbasedonafullIsraeliwithdrawaltoitsJune1967borders,anda“justresolution”oftherefugeequestionbasedontherightofreturnandcompensation.46TheUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblyannuallyvotesonaresolutiontitled“PeacefulSettlementoftheQuestionofPalestine.”Thisresolutionrepeatedlyincludesthesetenetsforachievinga“two-

StatesolutionofIsraelandPalestine”:(1)“Affirmingtheprincipleoftheinadmissibilityoftheacquisitionofterritorybywar”;(2)“ReaffirmingtheillegalityoftheIsraelisettlementsinthePalestinianterritoryoccupiedsince1967,includingEastJerusalem”;(3)“Stressestheneedfor:(a)ThewithdrawalofIsraelfromthePalestinianterritoryoccupiedsince1967,

includingEastJerusalem;(b)TherealizationoftheinalienablerightsofthePalestinianpeople,primarilytherighttoself-determinationandtherighttotheirindependentState”;(4)“AlsostressestheneedforresolvingtheproblemofthePalestinerefugeesinconformitywithitsresolution194(III)of11December1948.”47Hereistherecordedvoteon

thisresolutioninrecentyears:

Year

Vote

[Yes-No-Abstained]

Negativevotescastby...

1997155-2-3 Israel,UnitedStates

Israel,

1998154-2-3 UnitedStates

1999149-3-2

Israel,UnitedStates,MarshallIslands

2000149-2-3 Israel,UnitedStates

2001131-6-20

Israel,UnitedStates,MarshallIslands,Micronesia,Nauru,Tuvalu

2002160-4-3

Israel,UnitedStates,

MarshallIslands,Micronesia

2003160-6-5

Israel,UnitedStates,MarshallIslands,Micronesia,Palau,Uganda

2004161-7-10

Israel,UnitedStates,Australia,Grenada,MarshallIslands,Micronesia,Palau

Israel,United

2005156-6-9States,Australia,MarshallIslands,Micronesia,Palau

2006157-7-10

Israel,UnitedStates,Australia,

Marshall

Islands,Micronesia,Nauru,Palau

2007161-7-5

Israel,UnitedStates,Australia,

MarshallIslands,Micronesia,Nauru,Palau

2008164-7-3

Israel,UnitedStates,Australia,

MarshallIslands,Micronesia,Nauru,Palau

2009164-7-4

Israel,UnitedStates,Australia,

MarshallIslands,Micronesia,Nauru,Palau

AttheregionalleveltheMarch2002ArabLeaguesummitinBeirut

unanimouslyputforthapeaceinitiativeechoingtheU.N.consensus,whichithassubsequentlyreaffirmed(mostrecentlyattheMarch2009ArabLeaguesummitinDoha),whileall57membersoftheOrganizationoftheIslamicConference(OIC),includingIran,“adoptedtheArabpeaceinitiativetoresolvetheissueofPalestineandtheMiddleEast...anddecidedtouseallpossible

meansinordertoexplainandclarifythefullimplicationsofthisinitiativeandwininternationalsupportforitsimplementation.”48InthehandsofpropagandistsforIsraelthisfactgetstransmutedinto“all57membersoftheOICarevirulentlyhostiletoIsrael.”49TheArabLeagueinitiativecommitsitnotjusttorecognizeIsraelbutalsoto

“establishnormalrelations”onceIsraelimplementstheconsensustermsforacomprehensivepeace.In2002IsraelstartedbuildingaphysicalbarrierthatencroacheddeeplyintotheWestBankandtookasinuouspathincorporatingthelargesettlementblocks.TheU.N.GeneralAssemblyrequestedthattheInternationalCourtofJustice(ICJ)clarifythe“legal

consequencesarisingfromtheconstructionofthewallbeingbuiltbyIsrael.”In2004theICJrendereditslandmarkadvisoryopinion,which,inthecourseofrulingthewallillegal,alsoreiteratedthejuridicalframeworkforresolvingtheconflict.50Itinventoriedthe“rulesandprinciplesofinternationallawwhicharerelevantinassessingthelegalityofthe

measurestakenbyIsrael”:(1)“Noterritorialacquisitionresultingfromthethreatoruseofforceshallberecognizedaslegal”;(2)“thepolicyandpracticesofIsraelinestablishingsettlementsinthePalestinianandotherArabterritoriesoccupiedsince1967”have“nolegalvalidity.”Initssubsequentdeliberationson“whethertheconstructionofthewallhasviolatedthoserulesand

principles,”theICJfoundthat:

BoththeGeneralAssemblyandtheSecurityCouncilhavereferred,withregardtoPalestine,tothecustomaryruleof“theinadmissibilityoftheacquisitionofterritorybywar”....Itisonthissamebasisthatthe[Security]CouncilhasseveraltimescondemnedthemeasurestakenbyIsraeltochangethe

statusofJerusalem.

...

Asregardstheprincipleoftherightofpeoplestoself-determination,...theexistenceofa“Palestinianpeople”isnolongerinissue....[Its]rightsincludetherighttoself-determination.

...

TheCourtconcludesthattheIsraelisettlementsintheOccupiedPalestinianTerritory(includingEastJerusalem)havebeenestablishedinbreachofinternationallaw.

Notoneofthe15judgessittingontheICJregistereddissentfromthesebasicprinciplesandfindings.Itcanscarcelybesaidhoweverthattheyevincedprejudice

againstIsrael,orthatitwasa“kangaroocourt,”asHarvardlawprofessorAlanM.Dershowitzalleged.51Severalofthejudges,althoughvotingwiththemajority,expressedprofoundsympathyforIsraelintheirrespectiveseparateopinions.Ifthejudgeswerenearlyofonemindintheirfinaldetermination,thisconsensussprangnotfromcollectiveprejudicebutfrom

thefactualsituation:theuncontroversialnatureofthelegalprinciplesatstakeandIsrael’sunambiguousbreachofthem.Eventhejudgewhovotedagainstthe14-personmajoritycondemningIsrael’sconstructionofthewall,ThomasBuergenthalfromtheU.S.,wasatpainstostressthattherewas“much”intheadvisoryopinion“withwhichIagree.”OnthecrucialquestionofIsraelisettlements

hestated:“Paragraph6ofArticle49oftheFourthGenevaConvention...doesnotadmitforexceptionongroundsofmilitaryorsecurityexigencies.Itprovidesthat‘theOccupyingPowershallnotdeportortransferpartsofitsowncivilianpopulationintheterritoryitoccupies.’IagreethatthisprovisionappliestotheIsraelisettlementsintheWestBankandthattheir

existenceviolatesArticle49,paragraph6.”AbroadinternationalconsensusalsoexistsupholdingthePalestinian“rightofreturn.”IthasalreadybeenshownthattheannualUnitedNationsresolution,supportedoverwhelminglybymemberStates,callsforasettlementoftherefugeequestiononthebasisofresolution194,which“resolvesthattherefugees

wishingtoreturntotheirhomesandliveatpeacewiththeirneighborsshouldbepermittedtodosoattheearliestpracticabledate,andthatcompensationshouldbepaidforpropertyofthosechoosingnottoreturn.”52Inaddition,respectedhumanrightsorganizations“urgeIsraeltorecognizetherighttoreturnforthosePalestinians,andtheirdescendants,who

fledfromterritorythatisnowwithintheStateofIsrael,andwhohavemaintainedappropriatelinkswiththatterritory”(HumanRightsWatch),and“callforPalestinianswhofledorwereexpelledfromIsrael,theWestBankorGazaStrip,alongwiththoseoftheirdescendantswhohavemaintainedgenuinelinkswiththearea,tobeabletoexercisetheirrighttoreturn”

(AmnestyInternational).53Itwillbenoticedatthispointthatonalloftheallegedlycontroversialfinalstatusissuesofthe“peaceprocess”—borders,settlements,EastJerusalem,refugees—inactualityabroadconsensusalreadyexistsandoneachoftheseissuesIsrael’spositionisoverwhelminglyrejectedbythemostrepresentative

politicalbodyintheinternationalcommunityaswellasthemostauthoritativejudicialbodyandhumanrightsorganizationsintheworld.ItisacknowledgedonallsidesthatthePalestinianAuthorityhasnotonlyacceptedthetermsoftheglobalconsensusbutalsoexpressedwillingnesstomakesignificantconcessions

goingbeyondit.54ButwhataboutHamas,whichcurrentlygovernsGaza?ArecentstudybyaU.S.governmentagencyconcludedthatHamas“hasbeencarefullyandconsciouslyadjustingitspoliticalprogramforyearsandhassentrepeatedsignalsthatitisreadytobeginaprocessofcoexistingwithIsrael.”55KhalidMishal,theheadofHamas’spolitburo,

statedinaMarch2008interview,forexample,that“mostPalestinianforces,includingHamas,acceptastateonthe1967borders.”56EvenrightaftertheGazainvasionMishalreiteratedthat“theobjectiveremainstheconstitutionofaPalestinianstatewithEastJerusalemasitscapital,thereturnoftheIsraelistothepre-67bordersandtheright

ofreturnofourrefugees.”57InacomplementaryformulationMishaltoldJimmyCarterin2006(andlaterreaffirmedinaDamascuspressconference)that“HamasagreedtoacceptanypeaceagreementnegotiatedbetweentheleadersofthePLO[PalestineLiberationOrganization]andIsraelprovideditissubsequentlyapprovedby

Palestiniansinareferendumorbyademocraticallyelectedgovernment.”58Fromthemid-1990sonwardHamas“rarely,ifatall”advertedtoitsnotoriouslyanti-Semiticcharterandnow“nolongercitesorrefers”toit.59IsraeliofficialsknewfullwellbeforetheyattackedGazathatdespitethecharteradiplomaticsettlementcouldhavebeenreachedwith

Hamas.“TheHamasleadershiphasrecognizedthatitsideologicalgoalisnotattainableandwillnotbeintheforeseeablefuture,”formerMossadheadEphraimLevyobserved.“TheyarereadyandwillingtoseetheestablishmentofaPalestinianstateinthetemporarybordersof1967....TheyknowthatthemomentaPalestinianstateisestablishedwiththeircooperation,theywillbe

obligatedtochangetherulesofthegame:Theywillhavetoadoptapaththatcouldleadthemfarfromtheiroriginalideologicalgoals.”60InrecenttimesIsraelis(andinfluentialU.S.officials)havedemandedthatPalestiniansacquiescenotonlyinatwo-statesettlementbutalsointhe“legitimacyofZionismandIsrael,”“Israel’sJewishness,”andIsraelbeing

a“Jewishstate.”61InJune2009PrimeMinisterBenjaminNetanyahubeseechedPalestiniansto“recognizetherightoftheJewishpeopletoastateoftheirowninthisland,”andinhisSeptember2009appearanceattheUnitedNations,heimploredPalestinians“tofinallydowhattheyhaverefusedtodofor62years:Sayyestoa

Jewishstate.”62Israel’squarrel,however,appearstobenotwithPalestiniansbutinternationallaw.ThetermsoftheinternationalconsensusforresolvingtheIsrael-PalestineconflictdonotrequirePalestinians’recognitionofthelegitimacyofZionismandthestateofIsrael.Indeed,accordingtoaprominentscholarofthequestion,even

Israel’sadmissiontotheUnitedNationsdid“notconferpoliticallegitimacy...orremovethedefectsintheoriginaltitleofIsrael.ThemeaningoftheBalfourDeclaration,thevalidityofthePartitionPlanapprovedinresolution181(II),andthemoralbasisoftheStateofIsraelarestillarealcausefordebate,”although—thecaveatiscritical—“thisdebatedoesnotaffectIsrael’spositionas

aStateintheinternationalcommunity,entitledtothebenefitsandsubjecttotheburdensofinternationallaw.”63DennisRoss,theMiddleEastpointmanintheClintonandObamaadministrations,grousesthateventhosemoderateArabstatesthatare“preparedtoacceptIsrael’sexistence...denytheZionistenterpriseanymoral

legitimacy.ForthemIsraelexistsasafact,notaright.”64Yet,itmightberecalledthatalthoughMahatmaGandhirecognizedthedivisionofIndiaasan“accomplishedfact”thathewas“forcedtoaccept,”headamantlyrefusedto“believein”adistinctMuslimnationalismandIndia’s“artificialpartition”;indeeduntilhisdeathheheldtheBritishpartitionofIndia

tobe“poison”andthenotionofPakistantobea“sin.”65Oneishard-pressedtomakeoutadistinctiononthispointbetweenGandhi’sstanceandthatofmoderateArabstates—orevenofHamas,which“drawsaverycleardistinctionbetweenIsrael’srighttoexist,whichitconsistentlydenies,andthefactofitsexistence,andithasstatedexplicitlythatitaccepts

theexistenceofIsraelasafaitaccompli,”an“existingreality,”andan“establishedfact.”66ItisalsohardtofathomonwhatlegalormoralprincipleIsrael’s“Jewishness”mustberecognizedorwhyitmustberecognizedasa“Jewishstate”whenoneinfourIsraelicitizensisnotJewish.ItseemsthatinordertoobtaintheirownrightsPalestinians

livingoutsideIsrael’sbordersareobligedtoforfeittheclaimstoIsraelicitizenshipandidentityoftheirbrethrenlivinginsideIsrael.ItisalsopassingstrangethatPalestiniansareallegedlyobligedtogiveIsraelunqualifiedrecognitionasa“Jewishstate”whenevenformerIsraeliSupremeCourtpresidentAharonBarakacknowledgesthatitssignificationremainselusive:

“WestillhavenotworkedoutproperlytheinterrelationshipbetweentheJewishnessofthestateandthefactthatitisastateofallitscitizens.”67Let’sreturnnowtotheeventsleadinguptotheDecember2008Gazainvasion.AfterhavingrejectedHamas’sceasefireproposalsformonths,IsraelfinallyagreedtotheminJune2008.68Hamaswas“carefulto

maintaintheceasefire,”anofficialIsraelipublicationreported,despiteIsrael’srenegingonthecrucialquidproquothatitsubstantiallylifttheeconomicblockadeofGaza.“Thelullwassporadicallyviolatedbyrocketandmortarshellfire,carriedoutbyrogueterroristorganizations,”theIsraelisourcecontinued.“Atthesametime,the[Hamas]movementtriedtoenforcethe

termsofthearrangementontheotherterroristorganizationsandtopreventthemfromviolatingit.”69Moreover,evenafterIsraelbroketheceasefire,Hamaswas“interestedinrenewingtherelativecalmwithIsrael,”accordingtoIsraeliinternalsecuritychiefYuvalDiskin,andHamaswouldhaveaccepteda“bargain”inwhichit“wouldhaltthefirein

exchangeforeasingof...Israelipolicies[that]havekeptachokeholdontheeconomyoftheStrip,”accordingtoformerIDFcommanderinGazaShmuelZakai.70TheIslamicmovementhadonthisoccasionstoodbyitsword,makingitacrediblenegotiatingpartner.AndunlikethehaplessPalestinianAuthority,whichwasdoing

Israel’sbiddingbutgettingnoreturns,HamasappearedtoextractconcessionsfromIsrael.Asaresult,Hamas’sstatureamongPalestinianswasfurtherenhanced.Hamas’sacceptanceofthetwo-statesettlementandtheceasefireprovedadauntingchallengeforIsrael.ItcouldnolongerjustifyshunningHamas;itwouldbeonlyamatteroftimebeforetheEuropeansreneweddialogue

andrelationswiththeorganization.TheprospectofanincomingU.S.administrationnegotiatingwithIranandHamas,andmovingclosertotheinternationalconsensusforsettlingtheIsrael-Palestineconflict,whichsomeU.S.policymakersnowadvocated,71wouldhavefurtherhighlightedIsrael’sintransigence.Thus,inits

2008annualassessment,theJewishPeoplePolicyPlanningInstitute,headquarteredinJerusalemandchairedbyDennisRoss,cautioned:“TheadventofthenewadministrationintheU.S.couldbeaccompaniedbyanoverallpoliticalreassessment...theIranissuecouldcometobeviewedasthekeytothestabilizationoftheMiddleEast,and...astrategyseekinga

comprehensive‘regionaldeal’maybedevised,whichwouldincludearelativelyaggressiveefforttoresolvetheIsraeli-Arabconflict.”72Inanalternativescenario,speculatedonbyHezbollah’sNasrallah,theincomingAmericanadministrationplannedtoconveneaninternationalpeaceconferenceof“Americans,Israelis,Europeansandso-

calledArabmoderates”toimposeasettlement.Theoneobstaclewas“PalestinianresistanceandtheHamasgovernmentinGaza,”and“gettingridofthisstumblingblockis...thetruegoalofthewar.”73IneithercaseIsraelneededtoprovokeHamasintoresumingitsattacks,andthenradicalizeordestroyit,therebyeliminatingitasalegitimatenegotiatingpartner

orasanobstacletoasettlementonIsrael’sterms.ItwasnotthefirsttimeIsraelhadconfrontedsuchathreat—anArabLeaguepeaceinitiative,tentativePalestiniansupportforatwo-statesettlement,andaPalestinianceasefire—andnotthefirsttimeithadembarkedonprovocationandwartoovercomeit.“Bythelate1970s,”IsraelischolarsShaulMishalandAvraham

Selarecall,“thetwo-statesolutionhadwonthesupportofthePalestinianleadershipintheoccupiedterritoriesaswellasthatofmostArabstatesandothermembersoftheinternationalcommunity.”74InadditionPLOleadersheadquarteredinLebanonstrictlyadheredtoaceasefirewithIsraelnegotiatedinJuly1981.75InAugust1981SaudiArabia

unveiled,andtheArabLeaguesubsequentlyapproved,apeaceplanbasedonthetwo-statesettlement.76ReactingtothesedevelopmentsIsraelsteppeduppreparationsinSeptember1981todestroythePLO.77Inhisanalysisofthebuild-uptothe1982LebanonWar,IsraelistrategicanalystAvnerYanivreportedthatPLOleaderYasserArafatwas

contemplatingahistoriccompromisewiththe“Zioniststate,”whereas“allIsraelicabinetssince1967”aswellas“leadingmainstreamdoves”opposedaPalestinianstate.FearingdiplomaticpressuresIsraelmaneuveredtosabotagethetwo-statesettlementbyeliminatingthePLOasapotentialnegotiatingpartner.Itconductedpunitivemilitaryraids“deliberatelyoutof

proportion”against“PalestinianandLebanesecivilians”inordertoweaken“PLOmoderates,”strengthenthehandofArafat’s“radicalrivals,”andguaranteethePLO’s“inflexibility.”Israeleventuallyhadtochoosebetweenapairofstarkoptions:“apoliticalmoveleadingtoahistoriccompromisewiththePLO,orpreemptivemilitaryactionagainstit.”Tofendoff

Arafat’s“peaceoffensive”—Yaniv’stellingphrase—IsraelembarkedonmilitaryactioninJune1982.TheIsraeliinvasion“hadbeenprecededbymorethanayearofeffectiveceasefirewiththePLO,”butaftermurderousIsraeliprovocations,thelastofwhichleftasmanyas200civiliansdead(including60occupantsofaPalestinianchildren’shospital),thePLOfinallyretaliated,causinga

singleIsraelicasualty.AlthoughIsraelusedthePLO’sresumptionofattacksonnorthernIsraelasthebroadpretextforitsinvasion(“OperationPeaceintheGalilee”),Yanivconcludedthatthe“raisond’êtreoftheentireoperation”was“destroyingthePLOasapoliticalforcecapableofclaimingaPalestinianstateontheWestBank.”78

Fastforwardtothepresent.InearlyDecember2008IsraeliForeignMinisterTzipiLivnistatedthatalthoughIsraelwantedtocreateatemporaryperiodofcalmwithHamas,anextendedtruce“harmstheIsraelistrategicgoal,empowersHamas,andgivestheimpressionthatIsraelrecognizesthemovement.”79Translation:aprotractedceasefirethatspotlighted

Hamas’spragmatisminwordanddeedandthatconsequentlybroughttobearinternationalpressureonIsraeltonegotiateadiplomaticsettlementwouldundermineIsrael’sstrategicgoalofretainingthevaluablepartsoftheWestBank.IsraelhadresolvedtoattackHamasasfarbackasMarch2007andonlyacquiescedintheJune2008trucebecause“theIsraeliarmyneededtime

toprepare.”80OnceallthepieceswereinplaceIsraelneededonlyapretexttoaborttheceasefire.Acarefulstudycoveringtheperiod2000–2008demonstratedthat“overwhelmingly”itwas“Israelthatkillsfirstafterconflictpauses.”81AftertheGazaredeploymentinlate2005itwasIsraelthatbrokethedefactotrucewithHamas

thatbeganinApril2005,andafterHamaswonthe2006electionsitwasIsraelthatpersistedinitsillegalpracticeof“targetedassassinations”despiteaHamasceasefire.82Againon4November2008,whiletheAmericanpublicandmediawererivetedtotheelection-dayreturns,IsraelbroketheceasefirebykillingPalestinianmilitantsonthespuriouspretextof

preemptingaHamasraid,knowingfullwellthatitwouldprovokeHamasintohittingback.83“AceasefireagreedinJunebetweenIsraelandPalestinianarmedgroupsinGazaheldforfour-and-a-halfmonths,”Amnestyobservedinitsannualreport,“butbrokedownafterIsraeliforceskilledsixPalestinianmilitantsinairstrikesandotherattackson4

November.”84ThepredictablesequeltoIsrael’sattackwasthatHamasresumeditsrocketattacks—“inretaliation,”astheIsraeliIntelligenceandTerrorismInformationCenterwrote.85IsraeltightenedyetagaintheillegaleconomicblockadeofGazawhiledemandingaunilateralandunconditionalceasefirebyHamas.EvenbeforeIsrael

intensifiedtheblockadeformerU.N.HighCommissionerforHumanRightsMaryRobinsondecrieditseffects:Gaza’s“wholecivilizationhasbeendestroyed,I’mnotexaggerating.”86ByDecember2008thecrisisinGazahadreachedcatastrophicproportions.“Food,medicine,fuel,partsforwaterandsanitation

systems,fertilizer,plasticsheeting,phones,paper,glue,shoesandeventeacupsarenolongergettingthroughinsufficientquantitiesoratall,”HarvardpoliticaleconomistSaraRoyreported.“Thebreakdownofanentiresocietyishappeninginfrontofus,butthereislittleinternationalresponsebeyondU.N.warningswhichareignored.”87

IfHamashadnotreactedafterthe4Novemberkillings,Israelwouldalmostcertainlyhaveratchetedupitsprovocations,justasitdidinthelead-uptothe1982war,untilrestraintbecamepoliticallyuntenableforHamas.Inanyevent,facedwiththeprospectofanasphyxiatingIsraeliblockadeevenifitceasedfiringrockets,forcedtochoosebetween“starvationand

fighting,”88Hamasoptedforresistance,albeitlargelysymbolic.“Youcannotjustlandblows,leavethePalestiniansinGazaintheeconomicdistressthey’rein,andexpectthatHamaswilljustsitaroundanddonothing,”theformerIDFcommanderinGazaobserved.89“Ourmodest,home-maderockets,”HamasleaderKhalidMishalwrotein

anopenletterduringtheinvasion,“areourcryofprotesttotheworld.”90ButIsraelcouldnowenterapleaofself-defensetoitswillfullygullibleWesternpatronsasitembarkedonyetanothermurderousinvasiontofoilyetanotherPalestinianpeaceoffensive.Apartfromminoradaptationsinthescript—thebogeywasnot“PLOterrorism”but“Hamas

terrorism,”thepretextwasnotshellinginthenorthbutrocketfireinthesouth—the2008reprisestayedremarkablyfaithfultothe1982original,derailingafunctioningceasefireandpreemptingadiplomaticsettlementoftheconflict.91

3/WHITEWASH

RecognizingthatimagesofdeadciviliansandmassivedestructioninGazahadfloodedtheworldmediaduringtheinvasion,Israelanditsdefenderssetouttowinthespinwars.Shortlyafteraceasefirewentintoeffecton18January2009,

AnthonyH.CordesmanpublishedareporttitledThe“GazaWar”:Astrategicanalysis.1BecauseCordesmanisaninfluentialmilitaryanalystinacademia,thepoliticalestablishment,andthemedia,2andhisstudyineffectsynthesizesIsrael’smakeshiftrebuttalstocriticismoftheinvasion,itmeritsclosescrutiny.Cordesmanreachedthe

remarkableconclusionthat“Israeldidnotviolatethelawsofwar.”3Hisanalysiswasbasedon“briefingsinIsraelduringandimmediatelyafterthefightingmadepossiblebyavisitsponsoredbyProjectInterchange,andusingday-to-dayreportingissuedbytheIsraeliDefenseSpokesman.”4CordesmanomittedmentionthatProjectInterchangeisaninstituteof

thefanatically“pro”-IsraelAmericanJewishCommittee.Meanwhile,apartfromadversemediacoverageIsraelhadtocopewithamountainofhumanrightsreportscondemningitscrimesinGazathatbegantoaccumulateaftertheceasefire.Becauseofthesheernumberofthem,thewidearrayofreputableorganizationsissuingthem,andtheuniformityoftheir

majorconclusions,thesereportscouldnoteasilybedismissed.5AlthoughthereportsmadesignificantuseofPalestinianwitnesses,thesetestimoniesalsocouldnoteasilybedismissedasHamas-inspiredpropagandaortaintedbyHamasintimidationbecause“delegateswhovisitedGazaduringandafterOperation‘CastLead,’asonmanyother

occasionsinrecentyears,wereabletocarryouttheirinvestigationsunhinderedandpeopleoftenvoicedcriticismsofHamas’sconduct,includingrocketattacks.”6TheproliferatingdenunciationseventuallycompelledtheIsraeligovernmentitselftoissuea“factualandlegal”defenseof“theoperationinGaza.”Itallegedthatthesehuman

rightsreports“toooften”amountedtoa“rushtojudgment”becausetheywerepublished“withinamatterofhours,daysorweeks”aftertheinvasion.7Infactmostofthereportscameoutmonthslater.Tobesure,Israelwasnotwhollydismissiveofhumanrightsreports.ItdidciteonethatcondemnedHamassuicidebombings.8Rejectingthemainthrustof

thereports,theIsraelibriefclaimedthat“Israeltookextensivemeasurestocomplywithitsobligationsunderinternationallaw”andthattheIsraelDefenseForces’(IDF’s)“modeofoperationreflectedtheextensivetrainingofIDFsoldierstorespecttheobligationsimposedunderinternationallaw.”9Thecriticalevidenceadducedinthebriefconsisted

largelyoftestimoniesextractedfromPalestiniandetaineesduring“interrogation.”Itwouldsurelybequeruloustocastdoubtonsuchconfessionsjustbecause,accordingtotheGoldstoneReport,PalestiniandetaineesroundedupduringtheGazainvasionwere“subjected...tocruel,inhumananddegradingtreatmentthroughouttheirordealinordertoterrorize,

intimidateandhumiliatethem.Themenweremadetostrip,sometimesnaked,atdifferentstagesoftheirdetention.Allthemenwerehandcuffedinamostpainfulmannerandblindfolded,increasingtheirsenseoffearandhelplessness”;“Men,womenandchildrenwereheldclosetoartilleryandtankpositions,whereconstantshellingandfiringwastakingplace,thusnot

onlyexposingthemtodanger,butincreasingtheirfearandterror.Thiswasdeliberate.”Detaineeswere“subjectedtobeatingsandotherphysicalabusethatamountstotorture”;“usedashumanshields”;subjectedto“methodsofinterrogation[that]amountednotonlytotorture...butalsotophysicalandmoralcoercionofcivilianstoobtaininformation”;and“subjected

totorture,maltreatmentandfoulconditionsintheprisons.”10AnotherunimpeachablesourcefortheIsraelibriefwasreportagefromtheItalianjournalistLorenzoCremonesi.11Thebriefdidnothowevercitehismostspectacularscoopthatatotalof“notmorethan500–600”PalestiniansdiedinGazaduringtheinvasion—which

meantthatnotonlyhadhumanrightsorganizationsgrosslyexaggeratedthePalestiniandeathtollbutIsraelitselfhadaswell.12OtherauthoritativesourcescitedbytheIsraelibriefincludedan“Internetuser”and“aparticipantonaFatahInternetforum.”13InhisdefenseofIsrael,CordesmanputfullfaithinthepronouncementsofIsraeli

officialdom.ButinrecentyearsrespectedIsraelianalystshaveinvestedlessconfidenceingovernmentsources.“Thestateauthorities,includingthedefenseestablishmentanditsbranches,”UziBenzimanobservedinHaaretz,“haveacquiredforthemselvesashadyreputationwhenitcomestotheircredibility.”The“officialcommuniquéspublishedbytheIDFhave

progressivelyliberatedthemselvesfromtheconstraintsoftruth,”B.MichaelwroteinYediotAhronot,andthe“heartofthepowerstructure”—police,army,intelligence—hasbeeninfectedbya“cultureoflying.”14DuringtheGazainvasionIsraelwasrepeatedlycaughtlyingabout,amongmanyotherthings,itsuseofwhitephosphorus.15On7

January2009anIDFspokesmaninformedCNN,“Icantellyouwithcertaintythatwhitephosphorusisabsolutelynotbeingused,”andon13January2009IDFChiefofStaffGabiAshkenazitoldtheKnessetForeignAffairsandDefenseCommittee,“TheIDFactsonlyinaccordancewithwhatispermittedbyinternationallawanddoesnotusewhite

phosphorus.”16EvenafternumeroushumanrightsorganizationsirrefutablydocumentedIsrael’sillegaluseofwhitephosphorus,anIsraeli“militaryinquiry”persistedinitsprevarications.17RecallingIsrael’strainofliesduringboththe2006LebanonWarandtheGazainvasion,aformerseniorPentagonanalystandcurrentsenior

militaryanalystwithHumanRightsWatch(HRW)rhetoricallyasked,“HowcananyonetrusttheIsraelimilitary?”18AchunkofCordesman’s“strategicanalysis”consistedofreproducingverbatimthedailypressreleasesoftheIsraeliairforceandarmyspokespersons,whichhethendubbed“chronologies”ofthewar.Heallegedthatthese

statementsoffer“considerableinsight”intowhathappened.19Someofthesestatementsprovidedsomuchinsightthathereproducedthemmultipletimes.Forexampleherepeatedlyrecycledversionsofeachofthesestatements:“TheIDFwillcontinueoperatingagainstterroroperativesandanyoneinvolved,includingthose

sponsoringandhostingterrorists,inadditiontothosethatsendinnocentwomenandchildrentobeusedashumanshields”;“TheIDFwillnothesitatetostrikethoseinvolvedbothdirectlyandindirectlyinattacksagainstthecitizensoftheStateofIsrael”;“TheIDFwillcontinuetooperateagainstHamasterrorinfrastructureintheGazaStripaccordingtoplansin

ordertoreducetherocketfireonthesouthofIsrael”;“IDFInfantryCorps,ArmoredCorps,EngineeringCorps,ArtilleryCorpsandIntelligenceCorpsforcescontinuedtooperateduringthenightagainstHamasterroristinfrastructurethroughouttheGazaStrip.”20MuchofCordesman’sreportwas,inotherwords,simplyarepackagingoftheIsraeli

military’sPRmaterials.ThusCordesmanreproduced,withoutcomment,the30December2008IsraelipressreleaseclaimingthatIsraelhit“avehicletransportingastockpileofGradmissiles,”21althoughaB’Tseleminvestigationatthetimefoundthattheywerealmostcertainlyoxygencanisters.22Subsequentinvestigationsconfirmed,andtheIDF

eventuallyconceded,B’Tselem’sfinding.Eightcivilianswerekilledinthisprecisiondrone-missileattackonthevehicleeventhough,accordingtoHRW,“thedrone’sadvancedimagingequipmentshouldhaveenabledthedroneoperatortodeterminethenatureoftheobjectsundersurveillance.ThevideopostedonlinebytheIDFindicatesthatthis

wasthecase.”23CordesmanallegedthatofficialIsraelidataare“farmorecredible”thannon-Israelidata,suchasthatfromU.N.sources,onereasonbeingthat“manyIsraelisfeelthatsuchU.N.sourcesarestronglybiasedinfavorofthePalestinians.”24Followingthislogic,Israel’sallegationthattwo-thirdsofthosekilledinGazawereHamasfightersshouldbe

credited25—justasIsrael’sclaimthat60percentofthosekilledinthe2006LebanonWarwereHezbollahfightersshouldbecredited,26evenifallindependentsourcesputthefigureatcloserto20percent.27AlthoughCordesman’sreportexculpatedIsraelofanywrongdoing,heenteredthe“keycaveat”thathewasnotpassinga“legalormoral”

judgmentonIsrael’sconductandthat“analystswithouttraininginthecomplexlawsofwar”shouldnotrendersuchjudgments.28Cordesman’sexculpationandcaveatdidnotsitwelltogether.Heaverredthatneitherthe“lawsofwar”nor“historicalprecedents”barred“Israel’suseofmassiveamountsofforce,”whilehecautionedthathewouldnot

passlegalormoraljudgmentonthe“issueofproportionality.”29Inessence,hedeniedabsolvingIsraelevenasheclearlydidso.Cordesmanalsoallegedthatthelawsofwarwere“oftendifficultorimpossibletoapply.”30Ifso,whencehiscertaintythat“Israeldidnotviolatethelawsofwar”?Hefurtherallegedthatthelawsofwarwerebiasedbecause

they“donotbindorrestrainnon-stateactorslikeHamas.”31Itisnotimmediatelyapparent,however,thatthelawsofwarhaveboundorrestrainedIsraeleither.Andinfact“thelawsofwar...favorconventionaloverunconventionalforcesinasymmetricwarfare,”accordingtoHarvardlawprofessorDuncanKennedy.32

Forinstance,state-of-the-arttechnologyreadilyavailableonlytoconventionalarmieseffectivelysetsthestandardforwhetherornotaweaponis“discriminate”anditsusethereforelegal.CordesmantrumpetedtheexceptionalcareIsraeltookduringtheinvasiontolimitciviliancasualtiesanddamagetocivilianinfrastructure.Heallegedthat“everyaspect”oftheIsraeli

airforce’stargetingplan“wasbasedonadetailedtargetanalysisthatexplicitlyevaluatedtherisktociviliansandthelocationofsensitivesiteslikeschools,hospitals,mosques,churches,andotherholysites,”whilethe“smallestpossibleweapon”coupledwithprecisionintelligenceandguidancesystemswereusedto“deconflictmilitarytargetingfromdamagetocivilian

facilities.”33Andagain:“Israeldidplanitsairandair-landcampaignsinwaysthatclearlydiscriminatedbetweenmilitaryandciviliantargetsandthatwereintendedtolimitciviliancasualtiesandcollateraldamage.”34HeknewthesethingsbecausethatiswhathisIsraelihoststoldhimandthatiswhattheIsraelipressreleasesrepeatedlystated.

Initsownbrief,TheOperationinGaza,theIsraeligovernmentallegedthatIsraeliforcesdirectedtheirattacks“solelyagainstmilitaryobjectives”andendeavoredtoensurethat“civiliansandcivilianobjectswouldnotbeharmed”;that“whereincidentaldamagetociviliansorcivilianpropertycouldnotbeavoided,theIDFmadeextraordinaryeffortstoensurethatitwouldnotbe

excessive”;thattheIDF“usedtheleastdestructivemunitionspossibletoachievelegitimatemilitaryobjectives”aswellas“sophisticatedprecisionweaponstominimizetheharmtocivilians”;andthattheIDF“carefullycheckedandcross-checkedtargets...tomakesuretheywerebeingusedforcombatorterroristactivities,andnotinstead

solelyforcivilianuse.”35Basedonwhatjournalistsandhumanrightsorganizationsfound,andwhatIsraelisoldiersinthefieldtestified,however,aradicallydifferentpicturecomesintorelief.Because“IsraeliswouldhavetroubleacceptingheavyIsraelDefenseForceslosses,”Haaretzreported,thearmyresortedto“overwhelmingfirepower....Thelivesofour

soldierstakeprecedence,thecommandersweretoldinbriefings.”TheGeneralStaffanticipatedbeforetheonslaughtthat“600–800Palestiniancivilians”wouldbekilled.36“We’regoingtowar,”acompanycommandertoldhissoldiersbeforetheattack.“Iwantaggressiveness—ifthere’ssomeonesuspiciousontheupperfloorofahouse,we’llshellit.If

wehavesuspicionsaboutahouse,we’lltakeitdown....Therewillbenohesitation.”37“WhenwesuspectthataPalestinianfighterishidinginahouse,weshootitwithamissileandthenwithtwotankshells,andthenabulldozerhitsthewall,”aseniorIDFofficertoldHaaretz.“Itcausesdamagebutitpreventsthelossoflifeamongsoldiers.”38

WhereastheofficialIsraelibriefallegedthat“theprotectionofIDFtroopsdidnotoverrideallotherfactors,”39soldiersrecalledaftertheinvasionhowtheIDF“usedahugeamountoffirepowerandkilledahugenumberofpeoplealongtheway,sothatwewouldn’tgethurtandtheywouldn’tfireonus”(squadcommander);“Weweretold:‘anysignof

danger,openupwithmassivefire’”(memberofareconnaissancecompany);“Weshotatanythingthatmoved”(GolaniBrigadefighter);“Despitethefactthatnoonefiredonus,thefiringanddemolitionscontinuedincessantly”(gunnerinatankcrew);“Notahairwillfalloffasoldierofmine,andIamnotwillingtoallowasoldierofminetoriskhimselfbyhesitating.Ifyouarenotsure

—shoot”(soldierrecallinghisbattalioncommander’sorder);“Ifyoufaceanareathatishiddenbyabuilding—youtakedownthebuilding.Questionssuchas‘wholivesinthatbuilding[?]’arenotasked”(soldierrecallinghisbrigadecommander’sorder);“Ifthedeputybattalioncommanderthoughtahouselookedsuspect,we’dblowitaway.Iftheinfantrymendidn’tlike

thelooksofthathouse—we’dshoot”(unidentifiedsoldier);“Asforrulesofengagement,thearmy’sworkingassumptionwasthatthewholeareawouldbedevoidofcivilians....Anyonethere,asfarasthearmywasconcerned,wastobekilled”(unidentifiedsoldier).40“Essentially,apersononlyneed[ed]tobeina‘problematic’location,”a

Haaretzreporterfound,“incircumstancesthatcanbroadlybeseenassuspicious,forhimtobe‘incriminated’andineffectsentencedtodeath.”41Beyondtheciviliancasualties,Israeldestroyedordamaged58,000homes(6,300werecompletelydestroyedorsustainedseveredamage),280schoolsandkindergartens(18schools

werecompletelydestroyedandsixuniversitybuildingswererazedtotheground),1,500factoriesandworkshops,severalbuildingshousingPalestinianandforeignmedia(twojournalistswerekilledwhileworking,fourotherswerealsokilled),waterandsewageinstallations,80percentofagriculturalcrops,andnearlyone-fifthofcultivatedland.42

ItisnonethelessallegedthatIsraeltookeveryprecautionnottodamagecivilianobjects.Indeed,whocandoubtthattheIDF“carefullycheckedandcross-checkedtargets...tomakesuretheywerebeingusedforcombatorterroristactivities”(Israelibrief)whenitlaunchedan“intentionalandprecise”attackdestroyingthe“onlyoneofGaza’sthreeflourmillsstilloperating”which

produced“themostbasicstapleingredientofthelocaldiet”?43WhocandoubtthattheIDF“clearlydiscriminatedbetweenmilitaryandciviliantargets”(Cordesman)whenit“systematicallyanddeliberately”“flattened”alargechickenfarmthatsupplied10percentoftheGazaeggmarket“and65,000chickenswerecrushedto

deathorburiedalive”?44AftertheinvasionwasoverIsraelallegedthatthedeathanddestructionappearedindefensibleonlybecause“thereisalimittotheamountofintelligenceitcansharewithcommissionsofinquirywithoutcompromisingoperationalcapabilitiesandintelligencesources.”45Iftheworldonlyknewwhatwasinthosechickens...

Some600,000tonsofrubblewereleftafterIsraelfinallywithdrew.46ThetotaldirectcostofthedamagetoGaza’scivilianinfrastructurewasestimatedat$660–900million,whiletotallossesfromthedestructionanddisruptionofeconomiclifeduringtheinvasionwereputat$3–3.5billion.47BycomparisonHamasrocketattacksonIsraeldamaged

“severalcivilianhomesandotherstructures...,onewasalmostcompletelydestroyed,”48whiletotaldamagescameto$15million.49InpostinvasiontestimoniesIDFsoldiersrecalledthemacabrescenesofdestructioninGaza:“Wedidn’tseeasinglehousethatremainedintact....Nothingmuchwasleftinourdesignatedarea.It

lookedawful,likeinthoseWorldWarIIfilmswherenothingremained.Atotallydestroyedcity”;“Wedemolishedalot.TherewerepeoplewhohadbeeninGazafortwodaysconstantlydemolishingonehouseaftertheother,andwe’retalkingaboutawholebattalion”;“Onenighttheysawaterroristandhedisappearedsotheydecidedhe’dgoneintoatunnel,sotheybrought

aD-9[bulldozer]andrazedthewholeorchard”;“TherewasapointwhereD-9swererazingareas.Itwasamazing.Atfirstyougoinandseelotsofhouses.Aweeklater,aftertherazing,youseethehorizonfurtheraway,almosttothesea”;“Theamountofdestructiontherewasincredible.Youdrivearoundthoseneighborhoods,andcan’tidentifyathing.Notonestoneleftstandingover

another.Youseeplentyoffields,hothouses,orchards,everythingdevastated.Totallyruined.It’sterrible.It’ssurreal.”50OneveteranoftheinvasiondesignedaT-shirtdepictingaKingKong–likesoldierclenchingamosquewhilegloweringoveracityunderattack,andbearingtheslogan“Ifyoubelieveitcanbefixed,thenbelieveitcanbedestroyed!”

“IwasinGaza,”heelaborated,“andtheykeptemphasizingthattheobjectoftheoperationwastowreakdestructionontheinfrastructure.”51TheIsraelibriefallegedthatits“overalluseofforceagainstHamasduringtheGazaOperationwas...proportionaltothethreatposedbyHamas.”52Thepostinvasiontestimoniesof

Israelisoldiersvividlydepictedwhatsuch“proportional”useofforcefeltlike:“ThiswasfirepowersuchasIhadneverknown...therewereblastsallthetime...theearthwasconstantlyshaking”;“Onthegroundyouhearthesethunderousblastsalldaylong.Imean,notjusttankshelling,whichwasatunewe’dlonggottenusedto,butblaststhatactuallyrockthe

outpost,totheextentthatsomeofuswereorderedoutofthehousewewerequarteredinforfearitwouldcollapse.”53“Muchofthedestruction”ofcivilianbuildingsandinfrastructure,accordingtoAmnesty,“waswantonandresultedfromdeliberateandunnecessarydemolitionofproperty,directattacksoncivilianobjectsand

indiscriminateattacksthatfailedtodistinguishbetweenlegitimatemilitarytargetsandcivilianobjects.”54ThetimingandpaceofthedevastationbuttressAmnesty’sfindingandfurtherundermineofficialIsraeliexplanations.Fully90percentofthedestructionofcivilianbuildingsandinfrastructure—includingthedestructionofjuice,ice

cream,biscuit,andPepsi-Colafactories—reportedlytookplaceinthelastdaysoftheinvasioninareasfullycontrolledbytheIDFwhereitmetlimitedresistance,andmuchofthedestructionwaswroughtbyIsraelitroopsastheywithdrew.55TheofficialIsraelibriefallegedthat“IDFordersanddirections...stressedthatalldemolitionoperationsshouldbecarried

outinamannerthatwouldminimizetothegreatestextentpossiblethedamagecausedtoanypropertynotusedbyHamasandotherterroristorganizationsinthefighting.”56Yet,anexpanseineasternGazaincludingfarms,factories,andhomeswas“virtuallyflattened,”andaccordingtoamilitaryexpertIsrael’s“deliberateand

systematic”destructionofthatsectorthroughacombinationofbulldozersandantitankmines“tookatleasttwodaysofhardlabor.”57ItmightbecontendedthatIsraeltargetedsomanyhomesbecause—accordingtoanIDFspokesmanwhomCordesmanuncriticallyquotes—“Hamasisbooby-trappingeveryhomethatisabandonedbyits

residents.”58ButaftertheinvasionthisalreadyimplausibleargumentwasfatallyunderminedwhentheIDFitselfconcededthatthe“scaleofdestruction”waslegallyindefensible.59Still,DeputyPrimeMinisterEliYishaideclared,“Evenifthe[Hamas]rocketsfallinanopenair[sic]ortothesea,weshouldhittheirinfrastructure,anddestroy100homesfor

everyrocketfired,”andasecurityofficialbeamedwithpridethatby“flatteningbuildingsbelievedtobebooby-trapped,”Israelhadbroken“theDNAofurbanguerrillafighting.”60IsraeltargetednotonlycivilianbuildingsandinfrastructurebutalsoGaza’sculturalinheritance.Fully30mosquesweredestroyedand15moredamagedduringthe

Israeliassault.Cordesmanknewthat“IDFforcesalmostcertainlywerecorrectinreportingthatHamasusedmosquesandothersensitivesitesincombat”61becausethatiswhathis“chronologies”basedonIDFpressreleasesstated.Itseemstelling,however,thatalthoughIsraelinitiallyallegedsecondaryexplosionsaftermosqueswerehit,it

subsequentlydroppedthisdefensealtogetherwhileitcontinuedtotargetmosques.62IntheGoldstoneMission’sinvestigationofan“intentional”Israelimissileattackonamosquethatkilledatleast15peopleattendingservices,itfound“noevidencethatthismosquewasusedforthestorageofweaponsoranymilitaryactivitybyPalestinianarmed

groups.”63Israel’svariousalibisalsocouldnotaccountforitssystematictargetingofminarets,which,beingtoonarrowforsniperstoascend,hadnomilitaryvalue.Thefinalreportofafact-findingcommitteeheadedbySouthAfricanjuristJohnDugardconcludedthat“mosques,andmoreparticularlytheminarets,hadbeendeliberatelytargetedonthe

groundsthattheysymbolizedIslam.”64PostinvasionIDFtestimonyconfirmedtheindiscriminatetargetingofmosques.65Israeljustifieditstargetingofeducationalinstitutionsonthegroundsthattheycontainedweaponsstoresandthatrocketshadbeenfiredfrom