[Editorial] Israel wants another intifada?

The clash between Israel and Palestine is getting out of hand. Israel, responding to the kidnapping of one of its soldiers by a Palestinian armed group on June 25, has been engaging in daily military operations against Palestine. It has indiscriminately attacked the Palestinian interior ministry building, a political party building, a power plant, and other facilities, and even arrested the Palestinian deputy prime minister and other government officials. In response, Palestinian armed groups are firing rockets and have declared they will engage in suicide bomb attacks. One worries that the powder keg of the Middle East is again being lit by a cycle of bloody revenge.

The aggravation of the conflict is largely because of Israel’s insistence on following hard-liners’ desire for a military resolution to the kidnapping problem. Three days after its solder was kidnapped, it launched a massive military operation as if it had been waiting for the opportunity. It has refused to have discussions of any kind with the Palestinians, whether regarding a return of the kidnap victim in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel or mediation offers put forth by neighboring nations. Furthermore, Israel is attacking power plant facilities and roads that have nothing to do with its abducted soldier, and it is said that residents of Palestinian areas are suffering from a lack of electricity, water, and food. Such unilateral and inhumane military actions will not win the understanding and support of the international community.

If the attack is a an attempt to use the abduction to make the Palestinian government collapse, then it is a clear act of aggression. The armed group Hamas came to power in a peaceful election held early this year. How can one justify physically removing political elements chosen by a sovereign people?

Even more disgraceful is the "cartel of silence" among the Western countries and the greater international community. They get agitated over the Iranian nuclear issue but about these developments in Israel and Palestine they are not even talking about drafting a resolution, as they frequently do in situations like this. Palestine is already in crisis because of economic sanctions, and you can feel an intifada atmosphere in the air in the wake of the Israeli attacks. Israel must stop these unjustified military actions and seek a peaceful resolution.