"But then soldiers, under arms and orders, shooting children is considered offensive, too."

But not as offensive as the parents (or society) which allow their children to be in the situation in which they could be shot.

"By the way, passive civil disobedience only works against a civilized society. Don't think it will work against the Israelis. Historically, Sharon has regarded civilians who weren't fighting back as cannon fodder."

Children are not capable is civil disobedience. Civil disobedience requires that the person is aware of the consequences.

"Had the US civil rights movement just used civil disobedience against the South, Bull Connors would have had his dogs chew them to bits. He did anyway, until the Feds and North protested. It was the Feds and North which lent the moral power to the movement."

Nope.
Though it could be argued that northern press was protected by Feds, and thereby enable the story to be covered.
But moral power was from the leaders of the movement. And it was the South recognizing this morality (and having the opposition's immorality exposed) which changed the South.