According to this headline for an Irish Times editorial, a “cycle of violence” has started following the murders of three Israeli teens by Hamas terrorists:
There is no “cycle of violence.” As Cherryl Smith points out in an exclusive article on this very subject, scholars examining this misused term have concluded that “Israel responds predictably and systematically to Palestinian violence.”
There is no moral equivalence or “tit-for-tat” when Palestinians initiate violence and terror and Israel responds with counter-terror measures to defend its civilians. In this case, the Irish Times has its chronology confused. Even if this “cycle of violence” were real, how could it be initiated by Israel following a Palestinian terrorist attack?
Once again, it all started when Israel fired back.
