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"I have been a constant and steadfast defender of Israel, but this nonsensical criticism of the Vatican is over the top."

That is over the top, disgusting and shameful.

No, over the top is saying that someone who straps explosives on and detonates themself in the middle of a crowd of innocent people is no worse then Israeli soldiers bulldozing the murdering terrorists home.

I think what the Vatican is driving at here is that, much as in Ireland, there is a continuous cycle of revenge-killing and bulldozing going on. Furthermore, when you bulldoze the home of someone who blew themselves up, you are seeking to punish their presumably innocent family for their crime. Since they are dead, you are destroying the property of their heirs. And that is not within the modern Western tradition of property rights. It smacks of a cruel oriental outlook.

Personally, I can see why the Israelis do it and defended their policy even in that Rachel-vs-bulldozer incident (the bulldozer won, BTW). But I wouldn't be comfortable if my church glowingly and publicly approved of such methods of reprisals.

So I grasp the Vatican's reluctance to embrace such methods. It would truly be more clearcut if revenge wasn't being taken on those who didn't commit the crime. And that is all that I think the Vatican was trying to say. If you want victim status with others, you have to stop throwing punches at anyone you can get your hands on.