Israel's Ethical Defense

by AIPAC

In the heat of battle, how would you respond?

Published: April 24, 2010

Give Tzedakah! Help Aish.com create inspiring
articles, videos and blogs featuring timeless Jewish wisdom.

Visitor Comments: 21

(21) Anonymous, June 12, 2012 9:54 PM

why is it fair that they can shoot Israel kids but we cant risk hitting there kids

(20) M. Minor, April 29, 2010 4:47 PM

IDF - we are proud of you!

IDF - I am a Gentile. But your integrity and moral judgement is so admired. Those precious young people - what difficult decisions they must make. Our prayers are with you. Even though UN and many countries defy your rights - I, for one and there are many like me love and respect your right to the land that God gave you.

(19) ben karan, April 27, 2010 10:43 PM

confused values

all of israels attempts to save civilians or delay in destroying our enemies, has not impressed the "nations" the opposite is true- we have lost countless lives by waiting instead of preempting, and by not responding immediately with the goal or destruction of our enemies, if germany had been immediately attacked- and hitler destroyed befor he got stronger and organized tens of thousands may have died and tens of millions saved.- the video is touching and is incorrect by logic and halachically- there is no exaggerated mercy once enemy has chosen to fight and has been warned.- this is a shameful attempt at western values instead of making hard jewish choises- when pity is given to the brutal, brutally will be visited upon the innocent.

(18) , April 27, 2010 10:06 PM

Hashem Yismor! Hashem should give you wisdom to know what is right.

(17) Dvirah, April 27, 2010 6:36 PM

A Solution

If a dart gun can bring down a charging elephant, it can immobilize a Palestinian terrorist, without killing him. It also won't kill a civilian if the civilian gets hit instead. Perhaps a change of weaponry would be of help. Once the terrorists are immobilized the IDF can go in and strip them of their weapons and destroy their capacity to make war and attack Israel (at least for a while). As Rabbi Solomon would say, something to think about - and maybe even implement.

(16) Dimitar, April 27, 2010 2:34 PM

IDF, you're doing OK

Civilians casualties are lying on the conscience of the Gentile peoples. The UN, the media, the governments worldwide let themselves to be deluded by Arab propaganda. The killed Arab kids are their burden. IDF, may HaShem bless you and protect you!

(15) Yehoshua, April 27, 2010 11:03 AM

Rules of war

Since WWII (or for Israel a bit after that) all western countries have been taught that killing civilians during war is not allowed and it is better to loose your own life than kill a civilian. (A prime example is Vietnam) Do you know that the US killed 50,000 people in Dresden in one night during WWII and dropped bombs on cilvilains in Japan to end WWII? Even William Cohen formerly of the CIA stated that a country is responsible to its own citizens but not the country at war with that country. (unfortunately the US does not agree to his opinion) Israeli soldiers used to say "who was that?" (i.e. they would shoot first) not "who is that?" when confronted by someone they didn't know. Do you know how many Jewish lives have been lost trying to protect Palestian lives? If Western countries were fighting Hitler nowadays the war would have gone on for atleast ten years and Hitler would have been able to kill every Jew in Europe. This video scares me to death when my two oldest are boys and are close to the age of serving in the Israeli Army.

(14) , April 27, 2010 5:20 AM

I say having the morals to not fire at terrorists through children is the thing to do. If those being fired upon show the world their core values, shouldn't the world respect that higher calling... the preservation of children's lives as well as their own? This will always be a hot button issue, but those of us that may have commented are not in the military and that in and of itself is another culture altogether. They take on the responsibility for so much.... safety of others. Also, the responsibility that G-d gives each and every one of the IDF on a daily basis is, at best, a test of free will, love of G-d, love of country and the people that make up the population and how to work out a situation that has not brought peace to the region for many reasons. Some of which are based in meddling by other nations that want power over the region and/or Isreal and more. I don't have enough room to continue, but I want to say stay safe, I know that you have to make these kinds of choices on a daily basis and Shalom Aleichem Shalom. Come home alive or go home alive after your time in IDF. You certainly should be appreciated for all the good that you actually do. Kathy

(13) Moriah, April 27, 2010 3:39 AM

It's sad that they can sleep

It's sad that our soldiers and government can sleep when they watch our enemies firing rockets that kill and injure Jewish men, women, and children. Nearly all of Am Yisrael has been led into thinking that our main goal in fighting our enemy is not to hurt any of our enemy that isn't presently shooting at us. If by the way we can win a war then fine- otherwise it's better that Jews should die than heaven forbid we won't be able to sleep at night. I pray that G-d should have mercy on us.

(12) Leo Ray Ingle, April 26, 2010 11:52 PM

A Godly nation avoids senseless killing

The cause of civilization and morality is advanced by regulations, procedures, and caution such as discussed in the video. The barbaric behavior of the United States Army in Afghanistan and Iraq, toward civilians in an analogous situation, is reprehensible. Militancy in Iraq grew in orders of magnitude as we killed civilians, including women and children. Finally, in Afghanistan, a killing frenzy reminiscent of Vietnam's Mei Lai, is being controlled by command structure. Senseless killing breeds terror.

(11) David, April 26, 2010 2:32 PM

Admirable

While it is admirable that the IDF does not want to harm noncombatants, the stress placed on the soldiers has to be huge. Further, you have a civilian population that supports and encourages the terrorists, they are less then innocent in this regard.

(10) Mike, April 26, 2010 2:17 AM

The I.D.F. is be very proud to protect Israel,protect the innocent.

This is a very moving piece and proves that the Israeli Defence Force, land air and sea,( for the peace and security of Isreal). Are committed to the preservation of (all) innocent lives at the risk of their own and were successfull in defeating the Hamas Terrorists, cowardly hidding amongst children at schools and hospitals.

(9) Robert Bull, April 25, 2010 11:11 PM

Morality is Great, but......

I too believe in morality, but Israel is fightling against an inmoral enemy, who doesn't really want to negotiate and only wants the total destruction of Israel and Jews around the world. It's almost like Israel is fighting with one arm tied behind its back. Regardless of how moral the IDF tries to be, the enemy will always use any excuse to "paint" Israel as evil.

(8) Elana, April 25, 2010 9:34 PM

Do not agree

Sorry, but I do not agree on this type of war fare. First, it seems like one life for another, one jew can be hurt while another enemy is saved? When the enemy practices these principles, then I would agree. Second, they are just prolonging the conflict...this is not a reason to be proud of. Third, this is exactly why the terrorists hide behind innocents , because they can get away with it. Forth, it smacks of compromise to other nations' views. I always said, you defend your citizens first and worry about what others will say later. Your own citizens come first...HELLO. I can say thank g-d I don't live in a place like that...where my boys can get killed if someone is firing at them and they "are not allowed to fire back" Does that make sense to you? You need to be stronger, Israel. You need to protect your own citizens before others. Once you do that and the enemy knows you do not care where they are hiding behind, then they won't do it anymore...because they will understand that it won't work. And think of the lives you saved because the terrorists now won't be hiding behind civilians.

(7) Barbara Dagen, April 25, 2010 3:11 PM

Kol Hakovod LeZahal

The Israeli Defense Force and the Israelis are amazing. I do not believe that one Jewish life should be risked for the sake of the enemy. We have done that throughout our history and where has it gotten us? Our enemies are cowards. That they have to use children for human shields. Yet, no matter what Israel does she is still vilifiied in the press and the rise of Anti-Israel and anti-semitic continues to grow. I say wipe the enemy off the face of the planet. It is worth the blood of each Israeli. The Arabs do not want peace. They want to slaughter every Israeli. Israel defend yourself!

(6) Anonymous, April 25, 2010 12:46 PM

This kind of morality is missplaced

All the IDF wants to do is show the world "look how great and moral we are. The life of one Jew is worth all the arabs in GazA. THEY ARE OUR ENEMIES! They voted in Hamas and they shelter them thus making them a party to their terrorism. If I was the decision maker, I would have no qualms tp carpet-bomb the whole gaza strip until they get the message loud and clear that we will not tolerate being shot at.

(5) Anonymous, April 25, 2010 12:45 PM

Israel is amazing

(4) Anonymous, April 25, 2010 11:53 AM

Cause of conflict in the first place.

Its simple to see that the attacks by Hamas on Jewish Communities is simply a counter reaction to uprooting civilians on both sides. I do not understand this idea of the state of Israel return Jews to the home land, they uphold this so strict and yet they cannot uphold one of the most basic commandments. If one is going to have a strong religious ideology to a state, they cannot just pick bits of the Torah they like and not observe the others!

(3) Anonymous, April 25, 2010 10:57 AM

Inspiring

The eloquent narrator in the film shows the character and bravery of one who understands that the mission of the Jew is to perform always in ways that are a Kiddush Hashem.

(2) Rafi, April 25, 2010 10:29 AM

Moral Relativism at it's worse

Who determines what is moral and ethical. From a Jewish perspective it can only be the Torah. What does that Torah say about the approach being taken by the IDF? I'm surprised that Aish.com presented this issue without a Torah perspective.

(1) Anonymous, April 25, 2010 8:57 AM

stupid

Maybe we should be really moral and just leave so no innocent arabs who want us all dead will get hurt. It's bad enough that Jews get killed because we're afraid to hurt our enemies, but to glorify this outlook is insanity.

See All Comments