I’m always puzzled when I hear reasoning of that general sort: “If Israel did x, the Muslim street would get angry; but if Israel did y, the Muslim street would be okay with it.” I’m also puzzled by suggestions that Israel do what is literally impossible to accomplish, such as going house to house and killing not a single civilian but only Hamas members.
I’m not based in Libya. I’ve never even been there or to any Arab country. Nor am I a Christian missionary, or even a Christian. But it seems glaringly obvious to me that the Muslim street considers everything Israel does to protect itself to be not just unfair but an evil abomination. Also, the Muslim street does not consider anything Israel does to protect itself to be fair. If a single Muslim is killed by Israel, that is unfair and evil – and in fact if no Muslims are killed by Israel, Hamas and others will lie and say that they were. If a single Muslim’s home is destroyed even if no one is in it, that is unfair and evil.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member