Hypocrisy and the war in Gaza

What about the fact that this war didn’t start on December 27? Since 2001, Hamas has been shooting rockets into Israeli cities. Not military installations, but cities. When Israel withdrew from every inch of Gaza in 2005, the rockets increased, not decreased. So for eight years Israeli cities were brutalised by Hamas rockets, but the media took notice only when Israel responded.

And when Israel did respond, people accused it of using disproportionate force. What do they want Israel to do? Would a “proportionate” response be to lob an Israeli rocket at a random Palestinian city for every rocket fired at an Israeli city? Would critics have Israel respond to a war crime with a war crime?

By Ben Carlill, On Line opinion.

On Line Opinion has a survey for Queenslanders.

This is just a quick reminder that our first poll of the year (which is on Queensland politics) is closing tonight at midnight. We've had a reasonable response so far, particularly given the time of year, but I'd like just a few more. If there is an early election, I'd like to be well-prepared
The poll is at:
http://polling.nationalforum.com.au/index.php?sid=39517&lang=en