Make up

War As Make Nice

Israel’s commendable but costly military tactic

Has a nation every conducted a war like the one Israel is waging against Hezbollah? Instead of the usual “war is hell,” it’s more like an attempt to conduct war as make nice.

Do we hear announcements from Israel anywhere remotely near “we will destroy you to the last man”? No, we hear niceties like:

"… terrorist elements ... are using you as human shields by launching rockets toward the state of Israel from your homes."

"All cars and of any type will be shelled if seen moving south of the Litani River because it will be considered a suspect of transferring rockets, military ammunitions and those causing destruction.”

“You need to know that anyone moving in any type of car will put their life in danger."
Leaflets warn of a "painful and strong" response to attacks by Hezbollah and warn the residents of three suburbs in the south of Lebanon to evacuate.

And, to make nice even more, Israel has granted the Red Cross "freedom of movement" for its convoys, which have been providing aid to people in Lebanon.

Yes, many Lebanese civilians have been killed – 689 at last count. But there has also been a toll among the Israelis: at last, count, 36 civilians and 67 soldiers dead, and each death is a heartrending tragedy. But war does come with some unavoidable loss of life.