I think we should all support plucky little Israel in its battle against overwhelming odds. After being blockaded for seven years, with no access to clean water, denied essential medicines, suffering massive child malnutrition, and with an unemployment rate of 46 per cent, Israel has no choice but to rise up against its oppressors.

With only Falcon and Raam fighter jets, Puma armoured vehicles armed with rockets, Merkava tanks, Apache and Seraph attack helicopters, Sa’ar missile ships, Corvettes and armoured Caterpillar bulldozers, machine guns, sub-machine guns, sniper rifles etc, and a $16billion annual arms budget, it is clear that they will struggle against an enemy armed with home-made unguided rockets, Kalashnikovs and stones.

Israel also suffers from weak defenses consisting only of the Iron Dome, David’s sling and High Energy Lasers, while the Palestinians have the sophisticated roofs of buildings and cellars.

Unlike Israel, Palestinians break humanitarian law by using unguided missiles that do not distinguish between military and civilian targets. We must hope and pray that Israel manages to survive as the odds are so heavily stacked against it.

Philip Clayton

Oakleigh Road North, Barnet