Dangerous development

The discovery of the bodies of the three Israeli youth kidnapped more than two weeks ago has increased tension between Israelis and Palestinians, taking it to a more dangerous level.

The killing of the three young Israeli settlers is bound to give the Israeli-Palestinian crisis — reached as the obstinate Israeli prime minister refused to talk peace after the Palestinian Authority and Hamas formed a unity Palestinian government — a new, ominous, dimension.

Yet, it should not be forgotten that Israel’s “declaration of war” on Hamas and the PA after they struck the accord to form the new government is greatly responsible for creating a dangerous environment and may have contributed to the killing of the three Israeli youth.

The very recent exchange of heavy fire between Hamas and Israel threatens to start a new cycle of violence that both sides will have difficulty containing, if at all.

Israel cannot impose collective punishment every time one of its people is hurt or dies. Yet it does that almost every time, in contravention of international law.

Already many Palestinians were killed during the futile searches for the three kidnapped Israelis, and many more died in the aerial strikes conducted by the Israeli air force against Gaza over the past few days.

Worse, Israel is contemplating further punitive military action against Gaza and its people.

This exaggerated use of power is only conducive to more aggressive behaviour. Surely Israel knows that.

It is not even known who is responsible for the death of the three young men, which makes indiscriminate killing by Israel an act of intended cruelty.

The blame for the death of Israelis and Palestinians alike should be put on the lack of an environment of peace, the result of Netanyahu’s refusal to engage the Palestinians in real and constructive peace talks that would lead to the creation of a Palestinian state.

It is the absence of peace between Israelis and Palestinians that breeds hatred and violence, and it is Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land that deprives its citizens of security.

Not difficult to figure out, is it?