What is “proportional?”

How many Jews must die before Israel may defend itself? (Andrew Bolt)

Graham Richardson:

I don’t care what the rules of war might declare — proportionality does matter. With the Palestinian death toll at more than 1100 and the Israel losses at less than 50, even the hardest-line supporters of Israel begin to question.

The European Union:

Israel has the right to protect its population from this kind of attacks. In doing so, it must act proportionately…

Let’s get down to tin tacks. Exactly how many Jews do these people want to die for every 100 Palestinians? One for two, or an eye for an eye?

And how should Israel manage this, given its technological superiority – a vital edge granted to an open society? By handing over volunteers to Hamas for execution? By letting a few more Hamas rockets actually land in Tel Aviv?

Here’s another “disproportionate” response that don’t seem to have struck Israel’s critics as a crime:

Around 600,000 German civilians died during the allies’ wartime raids on Germany, including 76,000 German children…

Against that toll of 600,000 Germans (or 430,000 according to other sources):

Number of American civilians who died in German bombings of the US: zero.

Number of British civilians who died in German bombings of Britain: 60,000.

Or how about this “disproportionate” response?

Number of American civilians killed in Japanese bombings of the US: fewer than 70

Number of Japanese civilians killed in American bombings of Japan: 337,000

So: how many Jews do Israel’s critics want to die before Israel is allowed to defend itself? A figure would be useful. Is 6 million about right?