Why is this ok?

Why is it ok for the Lebanese to celebrate Hizbollah attacks on Israeli citizens (see picture left)? You will be hard pressed to find that sort of celebration amongst Jews anywhere in the world, least of all Israel. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, I'm not so naive, but every time there is a strike against Israel or better yet perhaps you can all recall how large numbers in the Arab world reacted to 9/11, it seems they celebrate this death and destruction. What kind of people celebrate murder?
I had a discussion the other day with a good friend, and it came out that the Israeli soldiers who have been kidnapped are in such a position that perhaps they cannot be compared to innocent Palestinian civilians who have been killed. After all they are soldiers, it is what they have signed up for, regardless of conscription laws, they are soldiers so they become fair targets. But I cannot agree with this, the lives of these soldiers, of any soldier in the world, is just as valuable as civilians, are they not someone's husband or wife, are they not someone's brother or sister, father or mother, are they not someone's child, or friend? Will they not be mourned with the same intensity as a civilian. Perhaps, I would argue that their lives are even more valuable, since they are the ones put in charge of protecting the rest of us. It is these men and women who are out there to give us some peace of mind, to protect us from those who wish to kill us, from those who would rejoice at our deaths. No, I will never see a soldier as a fair target.
Others have aruged that Israel is in the wrong, the Hizbollah and Hamas are just targeting soldiers, and no Israeli civilians have been killed. Well, are you happy now?


Is the very real threat of rockets being fired into Haifa or Safed not enough of a reason for Israel to defend not only its borders, but most importantly its people? Do we have to wait until 8 people are killed by Hizbollah katyusha fire (above left)? Or until Hezbollah-fired rockets hit buildings in the northern costal town of Nahariya (above right)?
And I will not accept the statement anymore that Israel is not entirely blameless. They disengaged from Gaza and it was seen as a sign of weakness by their enemies, a green light for them to kidnap soldiers and settlers and to fire rockets at civilian targets- and make no mistake, these rockets are hitting purely civilian targets on purpose.
Israel has a right to defend itself as any other nation in the world who comes under attack does. We are lucky in Canada, we do not understand what it is like for our neighbours to hate us- like Iran, who wishes to see Israel obliterated off the map for the simple reason of being a Jewish state.
I do wish for a peace, I do not want to see anyone die, soldier or civilian on either side. But I will not stand by and see this peace happen at the expense of Israel.
Am Yisrael Chai!