Judge them by their intentions

Rand Sindberg poses a question for liberals who have been condemning Israel's decision to fight back against Hamas in Gaza. He points out all the issues such as welfare that liberals focus on intentions rather than outcomes. And then he wonders why those Israel-condemning liberals don't look at the contrast between the intentions of the Israelis and Hamas.

What are the Israeli intentions? To live in peace, without a threat to their lives and nation, and to minimize casualties, on both sides, in any war waged against them.

What are Hamas’ intentions? Their intentions (and not secret ones, but stated openly and proudly, as Ron Rosenbaum points out) are the most evil imaginable (other than the extinction of the human race itself). Their explicit goal is the extinction of all Jews in creation. They are prevented from achieving this goal only by their lack of military weapons with which to do so. If their capabilities matched their intentions, Israel would be no more, as would Jewry (and other infidels, eventually) everywhere.

If Israel achieved their ideal outcome, there would be peace for both Palestinians and Israelis. If Hamas achieved their ideal outcome, all Israelis would be either dead or expelled from the Mideast. Let's judge them by their intentions.

Link via Instapundit.