Violence breeds violence

Israel launched its now week-old assault on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip believing that the intimidating barrage would bring peace. But instead of bringing Hamas to its knees, the bloodshed may sink the Israelis deeper in a vicious circle of violent interaction, not only with Hamas, but the Palestinians as a whole.

The offensive was targeted at "Hamas and other terrorist groups", according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Israel says its attacks have taken aim at facilities responsible for recent attacks on Israeli targets. But the number of civilian casualties is too costly to support the logic of self-defense. According to United Nations sources, 77 percent of the casualties have been civilian.

Israel will "act with patience, forbearance, with determination, responsibility and aggression to achieve the goal of ... restoring calm for a long period by dealing a significant blow to Hamas and other terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip," Netanyahu said.

The Israeli offensive has shown convincing determination and aggression. But the Israelis have done it before, with the same hope. What happened afterwards? If violence could result in calm, Israel would not be doing the same thing again today.

Now is time for Israel to display more patience, forbearance, and responsibility.

Rather than defeating or isolating Hamas and other groups perceived to be threats to Israel, the current attacks risk escalating anti-Israeli feelings in the victim areas and groups, brewing broader potential security threats.

However, Israel has turned a cold shoulder to truce proposals and international mediation efforts, with Netanyahu saying that no international pressure can prevent his country from attacking "terrorists" dedicated to Israel's destruction.

But past experiences indicate violence does not provide a real solution to the long-standing problem. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay was correct in pointing out that resorting to violence can only lead to death, destruction and distrust.

The ongoing attacks are by no means the best guarantee of the long-term security the Israelis imagine. Because, rather than ending the mutual hostility between the Israelis and the Palestinians, violence consolidates it, making it even more unlikely for the two peoples to get along with each other.

The international community can exhaust every possibility to maneuver a cease-fire. But it is up to the Israelis and Palestinians to work on ending their hostilities, cause and effect of the long standoff.