Keeping score during a war

Re “Killing can never be proportional,” Opinion, Jan. 7

Etgar Keret’s assertion that killing can never be proportional assumes a continuing or permanent state of war among the contenders.

However, if the prospects for peace are considered, then proportionality of casualties becomes very relevant. The prospects for peace improve when the difference in casualties suffered by each side becomes zero.

If the difference is large, then the motive for vengeance takes over, and it delays the prospects of peace.

In the long run, peace between Israel and Palestine is inevitable, as it has been with Egypt and Jordan. It follows that each side must consider the value of peace in its calculations and speed up the day when peace can be established.

Nake M. Kamrany

Pacific Palisades

The writer is a professor of political economics at USC.

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Keret is correct that proportionality has nothing to do with the Gaza conflict.

To protect its citizens, Israel must stop the rockets.

Whatever force is necessary to stop the rockets is the right amount of force.

That is the formula needed.

Mike Cregan

Santa Barbara

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Keret is missing the point on proportionality regarding the Israeli response to Hamas.

If my neighbor shoots and injures or kills my son because of a dispute, and the police won’t do anything about it, I’m not going to give my neighbor a proportional response like injuring or killing his son (which is revenge). I’m going to do whatever it takes to prevent my neighbor from ever doing it again.

Israel is not “doing” revenge, or a proportional response. It’s trying to put an end to the attacks.

Hugh Rose

Newhall

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Keret’s article is plain silly.

He claims -- as if he really knows -- that Hamas did not stop shooting missiles into Israel when Israel and Egypt asked to extend the cease-fire because Hamas wanted Israel to suffer as much as the Gazans over closed borders. Hamas wanted to see to it that there would be proportionality.

As for vengeance -- another silliness.

Israel did not start a war on Hamas for vengeance but for the purpose of eliminating the awful firepower Hamas has accumulated, sent to it by Iran and smuggled into Gaza.

Batya Dagan

Los Angeles