Op-Ed: Israel, bully or bullied?

Israel/Palestine is one of those questions where it is very hard to hold a nuanced position, it is always assumed criticism of one side is support for the other. This is extremely detrimental to reasoned debate.

Often one-sidedness appears in the debate and is repeated in an effort to correct that particular skewed perspective. However, I cant help feeling that the recent opinion piece on this site 'Slapping a bully in the face' veers too far in Israel's favour, portraying it as an 'innocent' victim of other nations excesses. Before we start lets establish one thing; Israel has a right to exist and its citizens have a right to a peaceful life. Asserting that right does not however give the Israel a blank cheque to do as it pleases; something it often receives from a guilt-ridden West. Let's start with the issue of collective punishment of the Palestinians, especially those living in the Gaza Strip. Leaving aside the frequent Israeli air strikes in the region there can be no doubt that the cutting off of essential supplies to the Strip is exactly that. Even Israel's High Court has baulked at the notion of power supplies being cut although it has allowed the limiting of fuel supplies. Historically however we all know that Israel has targeted civilian resources in a direct violation of internationally established rules of warfare. The Geneva Convention is quite clear in its prohibition of;

Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism

In the 'schoolyard scenario' what role is Israel playing here? It certainly is not the one of the 'new kid on the block' struggling against a oppressive aggressor. It is clearly the aggressor, in fact the Israeli state in collectively punishing the Palestinians is committing an act of terrorism, state terrorism directed against an entire people. Israeli state terror against the Palestinians is commonplace. How else can you explain the 10,000 plus Palestinian prisoners? How else can you explain the 4,000 plus Palestinian homes that have been demolished in Israel's quest to (illegally under international law) expand well beyond it's current borders? Another story on Digital Journal today highlights the contradictions for those who wish to see Israel as the 'victim'. A story by dpa news reports that the United Nations has called on Israel to cease it's violations of Lebanese airspace and of UN Resolution 1701. Once again, the Israeli state is the aggressor. Israel is not the 'victim' of bullying, that is not to say attacks on its civilians are justified, but in many scenarios is the instigator of aggression. If there is to be peace in the Middle East it will not come until the violent excesses of the Israeli state are curbed alongside the barbaric terrorism of Hamas and it's ilk.