JUSTICE - No. 70

14 No. 70 JUSTICE some ‎European states, have not been involved in war, nor have they had any experience with an armed ‎conflict. These same officials say, “Oh no, you’ve got to use proportionality. If they only attack you with o‎ ne cannon, you cannot shoot back with two cannons.” This is rubbish; however it creates a very real public relations problem. Every army in the world knows that if you are attacked with a rifle, ‎there is no requirement that, “You can only shoot back with a rifle. You cannot use a machine gun, ‎that’s not fair.” Yet again and again, we hear accusations that “Israel is using ‎disproportionate force in warfare,” and I think the answer is “yes.” Sometimes that is the entire point. During the 2006 war against Hezbollah, Hezbollah apparently learned that when it attacks Israel, Israel will respond forcefully. ‎There has not been a full war with Hezbollah since 2006, in part because Hezbollah are choosing to be very careful not to repeat its mistake. I hope Hamas learns ‎the same lesson.‎ In summation, Israel respects international law, and it is in our interest to r‎espect international law. Israeli courts adhere to and enforce international law, but only law as it exists, not as it is tailor-made for Israel.‎n Robbie Sabel is a professor of international law at the Hebrew University Jerusalem ‎and a member of the Academic Advisory Board of Justice. His most recent book is “‎ International Law and the Arab-Israeli Conflict” (Cambridge University Press, 2022).

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