Hamas spokesman Rantissi told Newsweek: "Combatants are not just people who wear uniforms." He considers all Israeli men combatants because they at one time or another served in the army and do reserve duty, and the same goes for Israeli women, most of whom have served in the army. So the majority of the Israeli population are considered combatants. Following is an excerpt from the Hamas interview in Newsweek on-line: http://www.msnbc.com/news/785094.asp?cp1=1Q: What do you mean? How does Hamas define civilians?
A: An Israeli civilian is someone who never took part in the fighting. If he
participated in the fighting in the past, years ago, he is not a civilian.
That's why Israelis are still pursuing the Germans who took part in the
Holocaust, though some of these people are in their 80s. They are still
considered soldiers.
Q: So you consider all Israeli men combatants because they at one time or
another served in the army and do reserve duty?
A: Yes.
Q: What about Israeli women?
A: Most Israeli women served in the army.
Q: According to these criteria, what percentage of the Israeli population do
you consider combatants?
A: The majority. We choose military targets. If civilians are liable to die,
that isn't a reason to stop the attack. But we don't set out to kill
civilians. | Note: The Newsweek link points to an expired article. |
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