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June 21, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels May 13, 2004 Israel shows restraint Recently, Israel assassinated the brutal leader of the terrorist group, Hamas, Dr. Rantisi. This man was responsible for the heinous premeditated deaths and dismemberment of hundreds of innocent men, women, and children (ironic since he trained as a pediatrician). Let's be very clear. Israel faces the stark reality that it may actually cease to exist if men like Rantisi get their way - that is the death of every man, woman and child. Israel has a right and obligation to defend itself. I find it incredible that Israel has not (and rightly so) destroyed the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which it could easily do with its military. This is a testament to remarkable restraint for this small Democracy surrounded by millions intent on its demise. Israel is not a country free of criticism, but it is high time that people start realizing the double standards applied to this tiny nation. Israel acknowledges the right of a Palestinian State to exist. Hamas does not acknowledge the right of Israel to exist. Indeed many Palestinian geographic maps in schools do not even have Israel described! Hamas intentionally and consistently targets school kids and innocent civilians with its suicide bombs packed with bolts, razor blades, and anti-coagulants like rat poison to ensure the ER's can't stop the bleeding! Israel does not intentionally and consistently target innocent civilians. To be fair it must be stated that Palestinian children and civilians have been killed by the Israeli army. However armed Palestinian gunmen routinely place themselves behind stone throwing children and in family homes knowing that innocents will be caught in the crossfire. This they know will garner extensive press coverage to further their agenda as the "victims" and Israel as the "occupiers." The true victims of this tragic cycle of violence are the innocent people on both sides of the borders. The solution is a negotiated peace with two willing parties. This negotiation is impossible when the overriding philosophy of the highly influential Hamas is never to negotiate but to destroy the entire Nation of Israel. The world community must categorically and vehemently condemn Hamas/Islamic Jihad and acknowledge that Israel does not have a sincere partner on the Palestinian side with which to negotiate. We also need to condemn and cut the money going to these terrorist groups and actively support whichever Palestinian group is prepared to engage in rational negotiations with a democratic neighbor. Most of us in America, I believe, would not condemn the killing of Osama bin Laden after what he did to us on Sept. 11. This same rationale applies to Rantisi and what he did to Israel. Israel has to defend herself! We would! Gavin Kleiman Ashland DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams