Tragedy in the Middle East

Firing weapons which cannot be precisely aimed at legitimate military targets are war crimes. That is what the Nazis did with similar weapons during World War Two. Carl Sagan lamented that Wernher von Braun, the Nazi rocket scientist, was allowed to have a new career in the U.S. space program instead of being tried for his involvement in that and other war crimes.

The Palestinians have often been described as their own worst enemies. Islamic extremist Palestinians firing terror weapons does not win sympathy of many who would otherwise support a just settlement.

The New York Times reports that the Israelis have recorded over 10,000 firings from Gaza since 2001. Most miss. When they occasionally hit, they usually cause little damage or minor injuries. Fatalities have been rare.

In firings after the end of the cease fire, one weapon hit an apartment building in Gaza killing several members of a Palestinian family.

The rockets fired after Israel's offensive have resulted in only four Israeli fatalities, compared with 400 Palestinians fatalities.

Israel's response is out of proportion to the violence coming from the Palestinians, exceeds legitimate self defense, and appears to have other goals, such as the defeat and overthrow of Hamas.

The tragedy is that in the absence of a comprehensive settlement Israel probably achieved as much security as was possible under the just expired cease fire with Hamas in Gaza. About the only way Israel could achieve a further reduction of violence is with an overall settlement.