Somewhere on Israel’s copy of the road map to peace there must be an off-ramp to psychopathic behaviour, and evidently it’s the first exit the Israeli Air Force chooses to take. Physicians for Human Rights-Israel and the Gaza Community Mental Health Program have submitted a joint petition to Israel’s High Court asking that something be done to stop the IAF from repeatedly assaulting the Palestinians with sonic booms.

While the Israeli military has withdrawn from Gaza, things are far from calm. In regular late-night and early-morning fly-overs, IAF pilots have been punching their jets to the speed of sound. The resulting sonic booms—sometimes as many as 29 in four days—are said to be causing widespread trauma.

In 2001, Air Force Commander Dan Halutz ordered pilots to avoid crossing the speed barrier over populated areas of Israel because of “the tension” it created. Today, as IDF Chief of Staff, Halutz is ordering pilots to cause that very same tension to Gaza residents.

» Scott Saxon