It is an image that will haunt very many people across Israel. A corner of Beit Shemesh, flattened by an Iranian missile; a synagogue destroyed; people killed while they sought refuge in a bomb shelter.
When we arrived on the scene, we were told, repeatedly, that this was just a place where people lived, prayed and got taught. No military base, no hardware, not even a government office.
“Why would this be a target,” said one person. “There is no excuse.”
Sadly, of course there’s an excuse… In war, common decency is lost. Retaliation is considered normal. The generals don’t care if “mistakes” are made because “enemy” lives are not valued.