I expect that when I tell you that I AM NOT anti Israel my statement will be met with ridicule - perhaps even abuse - or perhaps not responded to at all - ignored - silenced by silence. . . .. . . Who would have believed that the Israel Defense Forces would fire flechette shells at a soccer field where children were playing, wounding nine people, including two children, without anyone protesting? . . .
but what th' hell . . . I am NOT anti-Israel.
The "war on terrorism" (prior to 9/11, the Middle East conflict) is not advanced but, rather, is prolonged and guaranteed another incarnation by Israel's use, for instance, of flechette shells . Israel is not helping my country OR MY PRESIDENT by such insane behavior.
I agree with you that such incidents as the one you mentioned - if true - are not in anyone's bests interests, and should be condemned in the harshest language possible. But I have a very difficult time believing that IDF forces intentionally fired flachette shells on soccer playing Palestinians kids. The IDF is a very disciplined bunch, and their training strongly emphasizes restraint around innocents. Indeed, many times this restraint has caused their own deaths. No doubt there are rogue elements within the IDF who have committed atrocities, but they're the exception, not the rule. ...And are almost always punished severely for their transgressions.
Israel is in a war with terrorists in the disputed territories, and as in all wars innocent people die. These collateral deaths are unfortunate, but mostly unavoidable. Similarly, I feel for the innocent Iraqi casualties in our own upcoming conflict in SW Asia. But again, I see them as unavoidable. War is horrible, but many times the alternative - inaction - is exponentially worse.