I guess that's just my ethical system. He alone is not capable of initiating national conflicts, he simply does not have the power.

He has (had) the power to influence the decisions of those with power, but in any circumstance, as long as those in power have control over their own emotions/actions, they should be solely responsible for the actions they take.

Example where some people might disagree with me: If the Hamas launches rockets on an Israeli settlement, killing hundreds, and in return Netanyahu orders a retaliation, killing one Palestinian civilian. Then I believe Netanyahu is responsible for that death, and Hamas is not. Because Netanyahu made the conscious decision to attack.