As the world is on a knife-edge over Gaza, Israel and Iran are following the rules of the jungle, not the rule of law set out in the United Nations Charter [Video]

The tail-spin of violence between Israel and Iran is a bitter lesson on what happens when we let the law of the jungle smother the rule of law.

Israel’s latest missile attacks on Iran followed the latter’s largely ineffective barrage of 300 missiles and drones against Israel over a week ago, which severely injured a seven-year-old child and damaged a military base. Iran’s strike was a response to Israel’s killing of two Iranian generals and eight others at an Iranian consulate in Syria earlier this month, seemingly to deter Iran’s support for Hezbollah.

Both countries have snubbed calls from world leaders to de-escalate. Both claim to be the victim of the other. These retaliatory strikes are a frightening escalation of conflict in a region already on a knife-edge over Gaza and must cease immediately.

Much Western political and media commentary has been partisan, reflexively taking Israel’s side over …