Reply #104: I don't have a position regarding Israel's . .

[msmcghee]

. . administration of the WB. I am not Israeli and I don't know enough about why they have the policies they have. I have read some good criticisms and I've read some good justifications for it. However, I have no doubt they are there to prevent attacks from the WB on the citizens of Israel. Every people and every state has the right to proportional self defense.

As far as different treatment of the Arab and Jewish populations: Again, I have no standing to say what policies the IDF should be following there. It is Israel's citizens that are threatened - not mine. Apparently the GOI believes that the current policies are working better than any alternatives they have. They could be right or wrong. They have to live with the consequences of a wrong choice, not you or me, directly anyway.

However, my impression is that it is from the Arab population on the WB that attacks are directed at Israeli civilians. Protecting those civilians is the IDF's primary responsibility. I see no reason that the IDF should subject the settlers to the same restrictions unless and until they start attacking the citizens of Israel as well - in which case I suspect the IDF would probably treat them just as they do the Arabs there - or anyone there who is likely to attack Israeli civilians.

When you attack the citizens of another state, there will be consequences, some of them very bad. That's how things work in a world that respects the idea of people being able to live in peace - free from such attacks. That's how things should work IMO.