NOT ALL ROCKETS ARE EQUAL...

Jameel writes:

At today's (Oct 17th) Knesset foreign defense committee meeting, Israel's Defense Minister, Amir Peretz said the following:"The period has ended in which we examine the shipping invoice of every rocket that hits Israel. From now on, we will attack all of them..."

What this means in plain English, is that the IDF had official orders not to shoot at Fatah terrorists who were shooting rockets at Israel... only Hamas terrorists.

You wanted "dray a kup" -- how's that for a prime example?


He's right. It's a splendid example of both "verdraaid" (twisted, perverse) and "op zyn kop" (on its head, absurd, bonkers).


Was it, ab initio, even an issue who the devil was firing those rockets into Israel? It ain't like a rocket is a love message, with one suitor being favoured, the other considered a mere nuisance.


Much as I want to 'give peace a chance' (I really do, I'm a dolphin loving tree-hugging Californiyite Democrat), I do not see restraint as a valid option when dealing with flying explosive gifts from those poor oppressed Palestinians. Were it up to me (and please bear in mind that I'm also a bloody-minded Brabantine goy), I would come down on the exact location from whence that missile came like divine wrath. Irrespective if whichever dear sweet Palestinian decided in a fit of childish temper to spark the darn thing. Flatten his house, smash his crockery, and make his charming kinderlech orphans.


There are two things that need to be mentioned.

One being that the pustule wot fired off the thing, and everyone connected with it, qualify as rodef - Sanhedrin 72alef states "‘If he comes to kill you, prevent him". Kler. And per Shemos 22, ein lo damim.
The Rambam opines that it is a mitzvah incumbent on all to save those who are threatened by a rodef, even if it means that the rodef himself gets whacked. According to both halacha and common sense (not always in agreement with each other), there is additionally plenty of justification for whacking the rodef before he does any harm. His having, by firing off the missile, proven himself a mortal danger, and clearly intending murder, in this case striking him to prevent another attack is both logical and necessary. The missile constitutes clear proof of his murderous capability.


The second thing is this: There is no time limit on striking back. It is essential to determine precisely who is involved, rather than simply hitting out wildly at the nearest likely idiot. It is better to wipe out an entire nest of these beasts than to kill just one, or the wrong one. Anyone who enables terrorism makes themselves a target. And by the way, that includes some of our fine American kinderlech out there in the Shomron, who knowingly aid and support Palestinian activists with blood on their hands.


The whole concept of overlooking acts of terror gets my dander up. How precisely European to 'forgive' a bombing! And how ill-advised.
It sets a precedent of devaluing the obligation to prevent such acts. It weakens one's right to do so. And it encourages the alleged moderates (Fatah) to become even more violent, more murderous, more brazen. Which, one imagines, is exactly the opposite of what was intended. Amir Peretz needs his head examined.



Please check out Jameel's blog (http://muqata.blogspot.com/), if you haven't ever been there. We don't always see eye to eye, but that should not stop you. We are all very much alike. Some of us just more so.

Other than my bilious editorial commentary, this is Jameel's guest post.