To the Editor,

Contrary to Kathleen Peratis' assertion in her Aug. 30 op-ed, "Diversionary Strike On a Rights Group,"   Israel does not abandon its moral principle in times of war.

Indeed, Israel tries very hard to avoid civilian casualties, which is particularly difficult when Hezbollah hides its missiles and operates in civilian areas.  Israel's need for deterrence and a strong response to aggression against it as a tiny country surrounded by enemies committed to its destruction, however, is the highest moral need.

If human rights groups would turn their attention to the fundamental violations of rights by the Arab world, in rejecting Israel's right to exist, in supporting or not stopping terrorists, in mounting international campaigns against Israel, and in inculcating hatred toward Israel, maybe all this would have been over long ago.

That is why we raise questions as to whether Human Rights Watch and other human rights organizations are either irrelevant or immoral when it comes to the subject of Israel.