Same piece (Irish Independent)

In fact, Israel must be the only country in the world which is expected to accept the execution of three of its citizens without doing everything within its power to eradicate those responsible. But then they are used to being asked to stoically accept atrocities without retaliating, because when they do push back they are then accused of being 'disproportionate' in their response. This ignores the fact that Hamas routinely launch their rockets into southern towns like Sderot from schoolyards in Gaza, safe in the knowledge that any retaliation will provide the kind of footage that fools people into believing the Israelis like nothing better than bombing schools.

Eighty rockets have fallen on their soil in the last month. Would we expect any other country to sit on their fingers, hoping that the brave freedom fighters of Hamas will simply become bored and return to their mosques?

These are the questions which Israel's oh-so-liberal opponents need to ask themselves – does Israel encourage its citizens to strap on suicide belts and get on a bus? Does Israel execute gay people or women who wear immodest dress? Does Israel openly call for the destruction of another country and the genocide of its citizens? (And, in a case of business before pleasure, Hamas openly declares that they will first kill those Palestinians who have made a life for themselves across the border.)

Do opposing factions of the Knesset openly kill each other on the streets, as we saw Hamas do to members of their rival Fatah?
- See more at: http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/ian-odoherty/how-dare-israel-defend-itself-we-only-like-them-when-theyre-victims-30398921.html#sthash.ocmemgMn.h9tGz898.dpuf