Just last week Hamas militants destroyed the border wall that separates Hamas-governed Gaza and northern Egypt. The destruction of the wall allowed Palestinian civilians to cross over into Egypt gaining access to much needed supplies.

Israel has adopted a policy that the United Nations has termed ?collective punishment? against the Palestinians in Gaza in an effort to halt Hamas rocket attacks against Israeli towns. The Israeli government placed a blockade on Gaza, preventing any supplies from entering the territory, leading to Gaza?s only power plant running out of fuel. Such actions by the current Israeli administration also have led to the naming of Gaza as a ?hostile territory.?

This current action by the Israeli government is not logical and in fact extremely dangerous both to Israel?s international credibility and security. Israel considers itself a democracy, and despite certain lapses into extreme aggression Israel is, in fact, a democracy. However, what must be recognized is that as a democracy, a country must adhere to certain standards of humanity, regardless of what the perceived enemy of the time may say or do in violation of those very standards.

Israel?s current perception is that Hamas is a violent, illogical and hostile group, and instead of acting appropriately to defeat such violence and hostility, as a legitimate democracy, the administration has decided to mirror those same attributes by way of punishing all Palestinians in Gaza in hopes of bringing about change and ending the rocket attacks.

How is it then that one can go about both defending one?s own citizenry against such aggression and maintaining the standards of humanity inherent in a democratic system? The answer: fairness. If Israel truly wishes to see the violence against its citizenry end, it must begin dealing with the Palestinians in a fair manner. Actions such as cutting back on military operations, ceasing such ridiculous blockades, halting the building of illegal walls and settlements and allowing more fluid movement in and out of the Palestinian territories would grant Israel the security and peace it says it desires.

These actions would accomplish the near eradication of such militant elements as Hamas. By allowing Palestinians hope for development and a change for the future, such reversion to desperate aggression would become undesirable.

Also, it is key for Israel to realize that such aggressive actions undermine not only its own stability, but also that of the entire region. Due to the severity and inhumanity of this most recent full blockade of Gaza, the destruction of the border fence has now left the Egyptian government to deal with the massive influx of Palestinians seeking supplies. This places the Egyptian government in a difficult position: How should it treat the Palestinians humanely and calmly while also attempting to re-establish security and order near the border without seeming unsympathetic?

This is similar to the problems Israel created in Lebanon after its unjustified war against Hezbollah in June 2006 in which not only did Israel fail to destroy Hezbollah, but in fact strengthened the party, creating this most recent political mess within the only other democracy in the region.

Israel?s desire to establish peace for its citizens is completely justified and proper. However, in order to truly establish a sustainable peace as a democracy, Israel cannot choose when it wants or does not want to enact the basic principles of humanity. A lack of fairness when dealing with the perceived enemy not only allows the enemy to grow, but eventually breeds a lack of fairness in the domestic society. What have Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo done to American credibility, security and democracy? All three have in fact been eroded beyond recognition. Israel must understand that it must choose either to be a beacon of peace, security, prosperity, humanity and fairness to everyone both within and outside its borders, or to be a violent, hostile place where democracy and peace have become nothing more than old jokes.

Wasim Salman ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in international relations.