By Andrew L. Jaffee

When Israel was defending herself from a rain of rockets fired by Lebanese-based Hezbollah terrorists, the Jewish state was accused of using “disproportionate” force. Hmmm… Let’s talk disproportionate and hypocrisy. When Lebanese security forces tried to arrest Palestinian bank robbers hiding in the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp, Fatah al-Islam terrorists, “an Al-Qaeda inspired group,” “attacked army posts at the entrances to the camp. A large force of Lebanese troops hit back, bombarding the camp and storming a building on the outskirts of Tripoli.” Proportionate? On Tuesday, “A UN aid convoy which entered the Nahr al-Bared camp in northern Lebanon has been forced to leave after shells exploded near its vehicles. … There are reports of injuries…” Disproportionate? Today, thousands of refugees are fleeing the fighting in and around the Nahr al-Bared camp. “At least 50 soldiers and militants have died. The civilian toll is unknown.” Proportionate?

I can’t find a news story about Lebanon’s chaos on the BBC without the following disclaimer:

Lebanon is home to more than 350,000 Palestinian refugees, many of whom fled or were forced to leave their homes when Israel was created in 1948.

Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza, giving Palestinians the chance to shape their own destiny, but they have squandered that chance by killing each other in an all-out civil war. Proportionate? Of course, the Beeb insinuates that the Gaza chaos is Israel’s fault:

…After Hamas won an unexpected election victory last year, its administration was subjected to an international boycott for its refusal to recognise Israel.

Israel also refused to hand over hundreds of millions of dollars in tax, which it collects on behalf of the Palestinians.

These measures sent the already strained Palestinian economy into a tailspin, and tens of thousands of government workers have not received their full salaries in more than a year.

It was in this atmosphere that tension between Hamas, an Islamic movement, and its political rival, Fatah, regarded as secularists, increased. …

Can you spell “non sequitur?” Despite the mainstream media’s attempt at damage control, Palestinian true colors are showing. All the years of Palestinian dysfunction are coming home to roost: textbooks teaching Jew-hatred, dressing up babies like suicide bombers, running kindergartens to train children to become homicide bombers, rejoicing at the 9/11 attacks on the U.S., families taking money for their own children’s homicide bombings, and systemic corruption; what could the final result of all this chaos be except for the melt-down of Palestinian society? Melting down it is. Proportionate or disproportionate?

   

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Related: Israel, Palestinians, Lebanon

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