If the Israeli military denies intentionally killing civilians

[Ignoramus]

It doesn't mean that they aren't intentionally killing civilians necessarily. Because, it's possible that they are not telling the truth.

Similarly, if the US military denies that the torture at Abu Graibh was done as a matter of policy, it may be that they aren't telling the truth.

[formactv]

1. And the US is sending more weapons over to Israel

because Lebanon is sucking the bombs and ammunition out of Israel at a furious rate. Those poor Israelis.

[MrPrax]

2. Yup...

Israel is simply defending itself -- or so the racists would have us believe.

[Sherman A1]

3. I think

the saying goes "truth is the first casualty of war"?

[adriennui]

10. i guess i'm a racist

however, you're using that word incorrectly. aren't lebanon and pseudo-palestine arab states? and aren't arabs caucasians? makes no sense.

[MrPrax]

11. Probably...

If you believe that the only way Israel can achieve it goals of 'self-defense' is through genocidal violence against Arab populations in neighboring countries, bombing humanitarian convoys, deliberately targeting UN peacekeepers, utterly destroying the infrastructure of a competing nation and burning children alive, based entirely on a racist ideology then yeah...go for the racist...because the alternative is 'monster'.

[cali]

4. here's why i doubt it's intentional:

how do the israelis benefit from intentionally kill civilians?

[Ms. Clio]

5. how did the U.S. "benefit" from intentionally killing civilians in

Fallujah?

Juan Cole says the intention was to eliminate neutral observers.

[chimpymustgo]

6. Doesn't seem to be hurting them, and it's surely not STOPPING them.

Regardless of what they SAY their intentions are or are not...the RESULTS are indisputable: hundreds of innocents - DEAD.

[Solo_in_MD]

7. Occam Razor is you friend

1) The IDF has expended a great deal of ordinance
2) It does not much to kill lots of people when you using lots of bombs
3) While there are casualities, they are not in the 10s of 1000

Conclusion: The IDF is not intentionally targeting civilians since there are not mega casualities. It is not possible to tell how hard they are trying to avoid them, but they certainly are not trying targeting them.

[chimpymustgo]

8. Nor are they trying to avoid them, by that same reasoning - and results.

eom

[Solo_in_MD]

9. I could go either way on that

The casualties are quite low given the amount of ordinance that has been used
Hezbollah is intentionally mixing with civilians.
Some of the casualties are Hezbollah. What percentage is going to be hard to determine
High percentage of LGBs being used
Leafleting etc to warn the civilians to leave certain areas
On the other hand there are now reports of cluster munitions being used.

My current thinking is that by and large they are making reasonable efforts to avoid civilians but are not accepting any additional risk to their soldiers in doing so.

I'm also open to being convinced otherwise.