<br><font size=2><tt>"is the tree of the field a man" - You are
warring against the men,<br>
and thus you are right (or allowed to) kill them, but is the tree part<br>
of this war? Does it deserve to die? No! You shall preserve the trees<br>
and most certainly not destroy them, for they are valuable and worthy<br>
of preservation, and since they are not part of the war, you cannot<br>
destroy them.</tt></font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">--- interesting the strategy in 2nd
intifada, where war was made by jews davka on olive trees and
probably other roadside trees. as i understand, there were 2 rationales--
1] trees used by the enemy as cover to kill jews 2]
land-revering enemy esteems his olive trees almost as a demigod.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">the rationale of 1] is pikuch nefesh.
the rationale of 2] is demoralization of the enemy; or revenge/spite of
the enemy.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">the reading of the pasuk would seem
to allow 1]; not sure about 2].</font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">does anyone know if there were any Sh'ut
about arbocide limitations in guerilla war/occupation ?<br>
<br>
</font>