Violence breeds violence

ISRAEL LAUNCHED ITS NOW WEEK-OLD assault on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip believing that the intimidating barrage would bring peace. But instead of bringing Hamas to its knees, the bloodshed may sink the Israelis deeper in a vicious circle of violent interaction, not only with Hamas, but the Palestinians as a whole.

The offensive was targeted at "Hamas and other terrorist groups", according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Israel says its attacks have taken aim at facilities responsible for recent attacks on Israeli targets. But the number of civilian casualties is too costly to support the logic of self-defense. According to United Nations sources, 77 percent of the casualties have been civilian.

Israel will "act with patience, forbearance, with determination, responsibility and aggression to achieve the goal of ... restoring calm for a long period by dealing a significant blow to Hamas and other terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip," Netanyahu said.