Can you believe they actually have the nerve to act in their long-term strategic interests (survival), rather than pay attention to public-opinion polls?

Several things should be clarified. First, Israel has never initiated aggressive action against her neighbors. On the other hand, its Arab neighbors have initiated five wars against Israel and lost each one decisively.

Yes, Israel kept lands captured as a result of the war. That’s what the winner of a conflict usually does, especially if it wasn’t the one who initiated the aggression. The Golan Heights, in particular, were critical in protecting Israel from further attacks. Twice this area was used by the Syrians to set up military fortifications to shell Israeli villages.

I have no idea why these captured lands should ever be given up. Do you really think Israel’s Arab neighbors, especially the Syrians, can be trusted after five wars? Remember, it was Arab actions that caused the loss of these lands.

Second, let’s make geographic comparisons. It should be obvious when you look at a regional map but here are some statistics. Israel is slightly smaller than New Jersey, with approximately 8,100 square miles and a population of 6,352,117.

On the other hand, its neighbors, Jordan, Syria, Egypt and Lebanon, have a total area of 501,705 square miles and a total population of 90,548,115. Throw in Iran, another avowed enemy of Israel, and you add an additional area of 642,720 square miles and another 68,688,433 people.

Yes sir, those Israelis sure are bullies. If you can’t see why Israel is a little nervous about protecting its citizens and can’t understand why they lash out aggressively when attacked, then you will never be convinced of anything factual.

Now let’s look at the latest aggression begun by Hezbollah. I think the terrorists are rethinking the intelligence of their latest attack. I can hear a giant "oops" coming from them. Those on the left say Israel’s response has been "disproportionate." How can anyone look at the above statistics and claim that?

The Israelis’ actions are entirely appropriate and, if anything, they have under-responded to date. They will not have responded appropriately until Hezbollah is totally disarmed and fatally crippled strength-wise.

An acceptance of a cease-fire on the part of Israel would also be a huge mistake. It will only give the terrorists time to allow their sponsor nations, Iran and Syria, to rearm them. An effective cease-fire will be when Hezbollah has been wiped out.

Also, if I were Iran or Syria, I would be getting a little nervous about the future. I think Israel’s tolerance of those terrorist-sponsoring countries is wearing thin.

Next, let’s look at the "civilian" casualties. Other than the children, I am impressed that the Lebanese health organizations can so easily identify who is a civilian and who isn’t. If it were possible to do this, they would be able to identify which man or woman would be the next to strap a bomb around themselves in order to kill as many innocent Israeli citizens as possible.

Wouldn’t it be nice if these "innocent" Lebanese would take it upon themselves to take care of the terrorists cowardly hiding among them. As scary as that decision seems, what is the alternative? Either you take a stand against the terrorists or do nothing and let your children die. It’s a seemingly no-win situation. You know as well as anyone the Israelis do not intentionally target innocent civilians.

Finally, the loss of innocent lives should be addressed. Every single life is precious from its beginning (that’s delivery date minus 9 months) to the very end. And the responsibility for every life lost as a result of this latest conflict falls squarely on the shoulders of Hezbollah.

It’s an abomination for the terrorists to hide behind innocent civilians. What is Israel to do? Pictures taken clearly showed rockets being repeatedly fired by Hezbollah from near that building in Qana. Hezbollah knew with certainty who was in that building. How was Israel to know? Lebanese citizens have to take it upon themselves so that this is not allowed to happen in the future.

I’m really getting tired to hear the leftist elites calling for war crimes against Israel and the United States. Why don’t these same people rise up in protest of terrorist acts? The terrorist acts are much more barbaric and preplanned.

Remember the beheadings, the assassinations, the mutilations of people. I find it hard to understand why the most vocal groups against the U.S. and Israel don’t show the same disgust with terrorist acts. Some people would call that hypocritical.

———

Tom Sears is a professor of accounting at Hartwick College in Oneonta. He can be reached at SearsT@hartwick.edu. His column appears every other week.