Thought experiment

Suppose Israel would place 10.000 heavy artillery around Gaza. These guns would be controlled by a computer, which gets its input from surveillance satellites, motion detectors and radar.

Every time a Kassam rocket is launched at Israel, all 10.000 guns fire 10 High-Explosive rounds into Gaza. The computer orders it. No human intervention is involved.

The Arabs are made aware of this, are even demonstrated the system.

Now an Arab fires a Kassam rocket at Israel. Who is responsible for the Arab casualties that are the result of the computer's automated response?

And why is Israel's response any less automatic, any less drastic? And if it weren't, who would be responsible then?

Remember

"The pain is great, almost too great to bear," said Miriam Asheri, mother of slain Itamar resident Eliyahu Asheri in an interview with Israel Radio on Thursday.

"But one thing I feel, despite all this…is that in the wake of disagreements between our brethren, with our different worldviews and different relationships to the land of Israel that creates a lot of conflict, a lot of anger, a lot of argument - many times, I've asked G-d that he should first of all grant me love for everyone in my heart, and … that He should show me the special quality of the nation of Israel, and that I should succeed - that we should all succeed in loving each other…truly from the heart."

Miriam said it became clear to her during the course of these trials and tribulations, how wonderful Israel really is. "What help there was…. I don't have the words to describe how encouraging this was…how everyone was truly so wonderful," she said.

"And I think this was also Eliyahu's way. …Whenever there was a fight, he would always say, 'Stop, everyone should have their place…,' and his way was always one of peace. And I think this is an impetus-god forbid we should ever have such a terrible impetus-but an impetus for true unity between all factions, despite disagreements-and they do exist-but to see the good in the Jewish nation…."

According to Miriam, "What strengthens you is first of all to know that everything is from God, to know that to die sanctifying God's name, as he did-that God chose him to sanctify the name of heaven in public, this is the thing that comforts us. Any other comfort is trivial in my estimation, it doesn't let my spirit rest.

Miriam's son Eliyahu Asheri was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists.