I've been taken to task by a couple of readers for my comments about the Haifa bus bombing earlier this week. Apparently, I was guilty of being insufficiently supportive of Palestinian aspirations. I'm sorry, y'all, but aspirations that have to be realized by the wanton and cold-blooded murder of civilians are not worthy of my support.
Let me say that I understand that the Israelis are not exactly blameless in this conflict. The IDF has at least made the effort to go after Palestinian combatants. The problem, though, is that the combatants hide among, and are hidden by, the Palestinian populace. This makes Palestinians complicit by their silence and inaction. It's a pretty simple rule: If you don't want to be considered a combatant, don't harbor those who are.
I applaud the IDF's actions in supporting and defending their country. No, their responses haven't always been proportional, but neither can setting off a suicide bomb on a bus be described as proportional.
GAZA CITY (CNN) -- Four Hamas members -- including a top commander of the Islamic militant group -- were killed when Israeli rockets hit their car Saturday morning, according to Palestinian security and Hamas sources.
Three Israeli Apache helicopters fired at least three rockets on the vehicle, killing Ibrahim Al-Makadmah -- considered a founder of Hamas' military wing, Izzedine al Qassam -- and three of his bodyguards, the sources said.
Six others who near the vehicle at the time of the strike were wounded, including one seriously, according to an official at Shifa Hospital.
Israel Defense Forces had no comment on the attack, but an Israeli security source said Al-Makadmah, 55, was directly responsible for terror attacks in Gaza over the past 2 1/2 years that have killed 28 Israeli soldiers.
The Israeli security source said the Hamas commander was directly involved in planting an explosive that killed four soldiers near the Gaza settlement of Dugit on February 15.
The source said Al-Makadmah played "a key role in establishing the terror policies of Hamas and establishing the military wing of Hamas."
I continue to dream of a world where Israelis and Palestinians will be able to co-exist. As long as young Palestinians are willing to turn themselves into walking bombs, however, that dream will continue to be far out of reach. Under those circumstances, I belief the IDF needs to do what is necessary to protect Israelis. This is war, and in any war, the enemy leadership are legitimate targets. So it is here, and so it will continue to be until Palestinians realize the futility of continuing the "struggle".
