The Israeli Air Force didn't phone before blowing up that car and killing an old man and wounding four children, as reported in that Haaretz story I linked to. Or, of course, before killing 18 civilians, including a whole family, last week in what was claimed to have been, and perhaps was, a targeting error.

But the precedent of Palestinians using non-violent means against state terrorism is now established, and offers a model of martyrdom with a lot more potential for achieving something than futile suicide bombings or overwhelmingly ineffectual rockets. Though since that makes it a lot more threatening for the irredentists on the other side, it could be a very rough ride ahead.

I have an uneasy feeling there will be those in Israel arguing in favour of going ahead regardless. "So what about the bleeding hearts? If we keep hitting the target these human shields will give it up once a few more have been killed... And who's going to remember them once they've gone back to something we can handle, like suicide bombs?"