Israel is surrounded by hostile countries, most of which have vowed to eradicate Israel from the map and kill off all Israelis.
In the last 50 years, they've had, what, 3 wars of survival?
For someone that hasn't been there, I think it is hard to understand the siege mentality there - and it's there *for a reason*. Israelis are too smart to mindlessly going out on genocidal wars. We all know that if they would elect to go really rough on the Palestinians, the palestinians would be hard pressed to defeat the Israeli.
If Syria and other neighbors thought an attack was feasible and could result in some succes, they'd launch it. History shows this.
Americans talk much about freedom and the right of self protection. In Israel, it's more of a necessity than a right. Unless they fight back, they WILL be overrun. That's a fact; don't for a moment think the dictatorships and totalitarian regimes surrounding Israel will think twice about getting rid of a despised and hated enemy.
Their reactions might not be right, but they're bloody much better than what the rest of the countries in the region would have done and have done. And, it's about the only democracy in the area.
Before I describe Israelis as barbarians, I consider their history. I disagree strongly with the religious nutter hardliners, but one has got to admit that they got their back against the wall.
It'd be barbaric of them to indiscriminantly start mass killings of Palestinians. That ain't happening. Unfortunately lives are lost (mostly Palestinians) during the violent protests, but Israel is by no means attacking the palestinians in a barbaric war of annihilation.
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Von Santa
Staffelkapitän 9./JG 54 "Grünherz"
"If you return from a mission with a victory, but without your Rottenflieger, you have lost your battle."
- D. Hrabak, JG 54 "Grünherz"
