while their tactics disgust me, and i find them reprehensible, i can understand them. ive always been a small guy, and bullies always seemed to try targeting me. they were disappointed when i wouldn't stand toe-to-toe with them and duke it out "like a man", but instead took every opportunity given to hurt them as badly as i possibly could. fighting clean is a luxury of the strong, and if the strong wish to push the weak around then the weak will use whatever tactic will help their cause.
the thing with the situation the OP is alluding to... both sides feel like they have been wronged (imo both are right on this). palestinians feel that israel is bullying them. israel feels that the palestinians are part of a pack of big boys that want to clean the floor with them. and once again, both are somewhat correct (imo)