First and foremost, Israel is governed and substantiated through the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces). All Israeli males aged 18 are conscripted into the military as a foundational duty to fight against Palestinian resistance and to further their occupation in Palestinian territories. According to the Institute for National Security Studies’s recent publication (2009), IDF conscriptions have now resulted in a force of 176,500 active duty soldiers along with 445,000 on reserves equalling 621,500 members. Ever since its independence in 1948, Israel has been involved in innumerable conflicts:

1. 

   Shhhhhh, Anti-Semitism on the lose

   War of Independence (1947-1949), where the number of deaths exceeded 6,000

2. The 1967 War (776 deaths),
3. The War of Attrition (1968-1970: 1,424 deaths),
4. The 1973 War (2,688 deaths),
5. The First Lebanon War (1982-1985: 1,216 deaths),
6. The Second Intifada (2000-2005: 328 deaths),
7. The Second Lebanon War (2006: 117 deaths),
8. Operation Cast Lead (2008-2009: 10 deaths)

Source: “Israeli Casualties in Battle”, Jewish Virtual Library

The Israeli military has been responsible for several violations of humanitarian law, ignoring unbelievable numbers of UN resolutions against Israel. For example:

1. Res. 726 (Jan. 6, 1992) – Recalls resolutions 607, 608, 636, 641, and 694 calling on Israel to respect the Fourth Geneva Convention, “Strongly condemns the decision of Israel, the occupying Power, to resume deportations of Palestinian civilians”, “Reaffirms the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention … to all the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem”, and “requests Israel, the occupying Power, to ensure the safe and immediate return to the occupied territories of all those deported”.

Here, Israel has been systematically involved with driving and blockading Palestinian right to approach their land the way they see fit, violations such as these deportations a clear example of the IDF’s mission to overpower and disperse Palestinian civilians. Whenever the IDF engages in military conflict, they immediately reinforce West Bank closures. According to the Goldstone Report (“The Mission”) (pg. 427):

The closures affected thousands of workers, students, people needing to have access to Palestinian hospitals in East Jerusalem, worshippers and those visiting family and friends.

Such a clear violation of Humanitarian Law constantly perpetuated by IDF, a complete and utter disrespect to the Palestinian people and to their economy. Whilst it is well-known that the Palestinian economy is relatively intertwined with Israel’s industry, the aspects that Palestine can reinforce as part of their own economy is deeply affected. According to economist Shir Hever, for each day of closure the Palestinian economy loses 4.5 million and purges 276 whilst driving 646 people below the poverty line (Submission to the Mission by Shir Hever, Alternative Information Centre).

Furtherance to that, let’s take a closer look at another human rights violations:

1. Res. 672 (Oct. 12, 1990) – “Expresses alarm at the violence which took place” on October 8, 1990, “at the Al Haram al Shareef and other Holy Places of Jerusalem resulting in over twenty Palestinian deaths and to the injury of more than one hundred and fifty people, including Palestinian civilians and innocent worshippers”, “Condemns especially the acts of violence committed by the Israeli forces resulting in injuries and loss of human life”, and “Requests, in connection with the decision of the Secretary-General to send a mission to the region, which the Council welcomes, that he submit a report to it before the end of October 1990 containing his findings and conclusions and that he use as appropriate all the resources of the United Nations in the region in carrying out the mission.”

How does one justify the IDF’s position, reinforcing the unnecessary loss of Israeli lives along with a majority of Palestinians currently suffering under a genocidal regime? I’m not sure how, but I’m sure a Zionist will be able to answer.