ISRAEL P.M. THINKS HIS COUNTRY SHOULD BE PUNISHED

         NETANYAHU IMPLIES THAT ISRAEL SHOULD PAY BIG PRICE FOR USE OF                    
                                   WHITE PHOSPHORUS IN GAZA WAR            

I see that Prime Minister Bibi of Israel is saying that anyone who uses weapons of mass destruction must "pay a big price."  Sure.  I'm not clear what penalty he thinks Israel should pay for it's use of phosphorous shells during the Gaza war.

White phosphorus burns on contact with air, emitting smoke. When it comes into contact with skin, it causes severe chemical burns that may extend down to the bone, that are difficult to heal because they may reignite when exposed to oxygen. The chemical has been used by international forces in Afghanistan, where an 8-year-old girl was severely burned on her head and neck by a white phosphorus shell in 2009.

In 2009, Human Rights Watch claimed that Israel’s use of white phosphorus shells over densely populated areas of Gaza during Operation Cast Lead was evidence of war crimes.White phosphorus is legal because, even though it is a dangerous incendiary, it is primarily used to provide smoke cover for troops. However, the HRW report said that their researchers found clear evidence that the Israeli military fired white phosphorus over dense urban areas where troops weren’t present and safer alternatives were available. As a result, the shells killed twelve civilians and wounded dozens of others.