Hey Garry in Liffey,
I agree, I think the arguments David makes in respect of The Mandate for Palestine and the League of Nations are null and void.

My basis for this is that the Charter of the United Nations was signed by 50 countries on 26 June 1945 and came into force on 24 October 1945.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charter_of_the_United_Nations
Article 1, Part 2 recognised the right to Self-Determination:
"To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-determination

* These recognised rights preceded the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel, which was proclaimed on 14 May 1948.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel

"In 1947, the United Nations (UN) adopted a Partition Plan for Palestine recommending the creation of independent Arab and Jewish states and an internationalized Jerusalem. The plan was accepted by the Jewish Agency, and rejected by Arab leaders."

* It was a recommendation, not a binding resolution upon the Palestinians, even the Balfour Declaration acknowledged the Palestinians civil rights:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balfour_Declaration
"...it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_states_of_the_League_of_Nations

"The League's greatest extent was from 28 September 1934 to 23 February 1935 with 58 members. The League of Nations was dissolved on 18 April 1946, when its assets and responsibilities were transferred to the United Nations."

(The US never joined the League of Nations)

So in 1948, the UN Charter was already internationally recognised;
- And includes the right to self-determination;
- Which in turn makes null and void any prior decisions made by the now dissolved League of Nations that conflict with the newly adopted and recognised UN Charter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Palestinian_exodus
Let us not forget that the current ruling Likud Party was founded by King David Hotel bomber Menachem Begin, and that these events preceded the Arab / Israeli War and the Nakba.