Perspective is useful. Tony Leon opened his most recent column by building on some mathematics by Gen David Petraeus interpreting the “slaughter” of 1,400 Israelis as being like the death of 40,000 Americans and therefore “far worse than 9/11” (“ANC’s line on terrorism has changed along with the presidency”, October 24).
Since the Palestinian population is less than 60% of the Israeli population, and since Israel’s retaliation has led to the slaughter (I use Leon’s emotive language equally) of some 4,200 Palestinians since then, using Patreus’ thinking would conclude that this is the equivalent of 200,000 Americans.
By this logic the Israeli response is already five times as bad as the initial Hamas attack.
Greg Becker
Via email
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