No one is innocent in the middle east is more of a general comment about factions. This would include Israel, Palestine, other Arab nations, the UN, America, Canada, everyone who has felt the need to stick their fingers in ME regional politics. The creation of Israel was the most messed up implementation in the history of implementations, and actions taken by all parties at the time and since have resulted in what we see today. Just wanted to clear that up.
The nature of nuclear weapons makes it highly unlikely that they would use them close to home - highly unlikely and suicidal. Again, if it ever got to that, there would be much bigger problems to worry about.
I'm Canadian, and as such, have a completely different view on guns than my American friends to the south. Our gun culture is completely different, we do not look at guns as a means of self defense, in the universal way they are viewed in America. However, I'm realistic in understanding that I cannot apply my culture to America, anymore than I can to the Middle East. It's not a matter of opinion, it's a matter of ingrained characteristics, spanning generations. It is arrogant folly to think you can transplant your values - something we know quite a bit about in North America, as we continue to pay the price for that colonial sentiment. Those millions of innocent children and civilians you're (rightly and admirably) concerned about would certainly see far more casualties, if not for the nuclear deterrent.
I believe your heart is in the right place, and ideologically I agree with you. Practically, however, the reality of the situation is unlikely to meet our ideals in this particular region, not within our lifetime. Therefore, in an imperfect world with an endless degree of variation in regional realities, it is possible that a nuclear arsenal can save lives. As much as I hate to say that, and wish it were different. I'm not sure how you prove me wrong here, but it would be great if you could.