"Israel at its best"

(Photo: The bodies of three Palestinian siblings from the Al-samoni family, killed by an Israeli tank shell
early on January 5, 2009 lie in the mortuary of Al-Shifa hospital, Gaza City. Getty Images)

Why Gaza Matters, by Yossi Klein Halevi:

It was Israel at its best. In response to random attacks aimed at its civilians, Israel launched precise attacks aimed at terrorists.

(Photo: The bodies of four Palestinian siblings from the Eliwah family lie at Gaza City's al-Shifa hospital mortuary on January 5, 2009. Getty Images)

"precise attacks aimed at terrorists"

(Photo: The bodies of two Palestinian children, killed by an Israeli tank shell early on January 5, 2009, lie on the ground next to two corpses of adults at the mortuary of Gaza City's Al-Shifa hospital. Five children were killed in two separate Israeli strikes in Gaza early today, Palestinian medics said. Getty Images)

"random attacks aimed at its civilians"

(Photo: Palestinian doctors carry the bodies of children killed by an Israeli tank shell, to the morgue at Shifa hospital in Gaza January 5, 2009. Reuters Images)

"It was Israel at its best"

(Photo: A badly wounded Palestinian youth is carried into a hospital in Gaza City on January 4, 2009. Getty Images)

"random attacks aimed at its civilians"

(Photo: Palestinian medics carry a wounded boy into a hospital in Gaza City on January 4, 2009 as Israeli troops continue its ground assault in Gaza. Getty Images)

"precise attacks aimed at terrorists"

(Photo: Palestinian father carries his wounded baby daughter into a hospital in Gaza City on January 4, 2009. Getty Images)

"It was Israel at its best"

There is no question that the actions of terrorists operating in Gaza are criminal. No question. None. The launching of rockets against civilian targets is illegal. It's wrong. It's criminal. It's terrorism.

However, Israel's response is disproportionate. It is illegal to use white phosphorus against civilian targets. It is illegal to wantonly shell civilian targets. Every effort must be made to avoid civilian casualties and to limit the use of weapons to legitimate combatants. Israel doesn't seem to be making any effort to limit civilian casualties. In doing so, they are violating international law and giving up any legitimacy they might have claimed.