Once again we see Hezbollah, Hamas & Fatah (with the addition of Syria - which is now allowing "civilians" near the border with Israel for the first time since 1973) promulgating the myth, that there is some magical "Right of Return" for Palestinian's who chose to leave Israel at some time after the passage of United Nation's Resolution 181 (http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/un/res181.htm) which provides (UN Resolution 181 (1947), Part C, Ch.3) that:

"1. Citizenship Palestinian citizens residing in Palestine outside the City of Jerusalem, as well as Arabs and Jews who, not holding Palestinian citizenship, reside in Palestine outside the City of Jerusalem shall, upon the recognition of independence, become citizens of the State in which they are resident and enjoy full civil and political rights. Persons over the age of eighteen years may opt, within one year from the date of recognition of independence of the State in which they reside, for citizenship of the other State, providing that no Arab residing in the area of the proposed Arab State shall have the right to opt for citizenship in the proposed Jewish State and no Jew residing in the proposed Jewish State shall have the right to opt for citizenship in the proposed Arab State. The exercise of this right of option will be taken to include the wives and children under eighteen years of age of persons so opting."

As the relevant persons where not residing within the borders of the State of Israel (as recognised by the relevant party, namely Chairman Arraffat, who recognised the State of Israel in 1993 prior to the Oslo Accords). Any person living outside the borders of Israel, does not get to return & if they abandoned their property they are deemed to have done so voluntarily. Anyone who wishes to attack Israeli Defence Forces on the borders with the Palestinian Territories, Lebanon or Syria would be well aware that no member of the IDF will allow themselves or their compatriots to be taken prisoner by these invaders (for fear of providing yet another IDF hostage).

Insh'allah

Funnily enough, I'm getting to the point where I couldn't care less what these areas of the world do to themselves. They're all as bad as each other and as stubborn as a dead mule. The Muslims there won't give in and neither will the Jews. It's a matter of stupid stubborn pride.

We should be concentrating on educating and assimilating our own immigrants with appropriate counselling - coz most from war zones need it - and welcoming them. It's up to us to open our arms to these people and make them feel welcome instead of making them feel isolated because of the ridiculous media we have here. There's definitely not enough people here doing it.

Maybe if each local family took one immigrant family/group to the footy and cooked them a BBQ once in awhile we might make a difference.

Maybe the Israelis and EVERYONE else over there need to do that too.

Why? I'll happily go to BBQ's, pits, etc. with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander People, after all, they belong here. Why should anyone be forced to extend a hand of kindness to people who just want to bite it off?

When did I say forced? The problem is EXACTLY the mistrust from both sides. Don't do it, I won't lose any sleep over 'you' being insular and ignorant of the bigger picture. The bigger picture being: humanity, in all its meanings.

BTW, I'm an immigrant. I'd happily have a beer with you. It seems you hate me just because I wasn't born here. Who's got the problem between me and you?

StG, I could hold a BBQ for immigrants soon if you like. Hope they like pork chops, bacon and plenty of beer and wine. I'm sure they will if they want to assimilate.