Palestinians have begun shooting back at Israeli forces and shooting at armed settlers, who have often shot unarmed Palestinians. While Palestinians have the right to attack military occupation forces in their lands, Israeli troops have the right to defend themselves from serious danger. But the large majority of those shot by Israeli forces have not been armed. While the media report that Israeli soldiers use rubber bullets, these projectiles are rubber-coated metal pellets that are lethal at ranges under 40 yards. About half of the fatalities have been caused by these bullets.
Much Israeli ammunition is deadly.
Amnesty International demands that the United Nations investigate the situation and bring those responsible for crimes to justice. The Israeli forces' conduct under international law must adhere to the Geneva conventions. Yet The News Journal only criticizes the Palestinians for resisting the Israeli occupation. The U.N. Security Council, of which the United States is a permanent member, passed Resolution 242 in 1967, which stipulates Israel should withdraw from the territory it conquered in the 1967 war. These territories include the West Bank, the Gaza strip and East Jerusalem.