It's about time a leading Rabbi gave a public statement on the Jewish outlook on war.

Rav Mordechai Eliyahu (former Chief Rabbi) in a letter to Olmert explicitely stated that their is no cause to worry about enemy civilian casualties in a war to protect Israel.

Furthermore he said it is forbidden to risk the live of Jewish civilians and soldiers for fear of killing enemy civilians (such as what Israel did in Chomat Magen and Lebanon).

He said that the Palestinians can and do maintain a collective responsibility for what goes on in their own cities.

'In the letter, Eliyahu quoted from Psalms. "I will pursue my enemies and apprehend them and I will not desist until I have eradicated them."'