Due to the atrocities on both sides, I would say neither Israel nor the Palestinians derserve our support until they can play together in their tiny sand patch

In these never-ending articles about Israel and the Palestinians, has it ever occurred to anyone that the people who are least supportive of their fellow Muslims are the Muslims of the rest of the world?

Other than to sell them arms,of course.

Had Middle Eastern countries resettled their brethren, just as Israel resettled some 700,000 Jews who had lived in the Middle East prior to 1948, then there would be no problem now.

"Modern Jews in Europe are not the people of ancient Judea and hold no title deeds to modern Palestine. Yet that is their claim for being there".

No, it isn't. And it couldn't be. Not even God can give people a sovereignty entitlement that can be handed from one generation to the next for ever, independently of conquest, invasion, settlement or international mandate.

As I understand it, the claim of Israelis to parts of Palestine comes from a UN mandate.

In any case, there comes a time when people gain entitlement to their share in running a country from simply having been there for long enough.

How long is long enough? I'd love to see some reasoned argument about that.
And some reasoned argument about the residual rights of conquored peoples and first peoples. There is not much in the literature that makes sense.

Hear hear, ozibub, a UN Mandate is the source of the title to the lands.

Let's return to the lands and borders set out in that original mandate.

That'd solve everything...or are you being mischeiveously provactive?

http://www.friendsofpalestine.org.au/images/Palestine%20Map%20Big.jpg

Four Maps show the trend over 40 years. From Left to right, original Jewish land holdings, '47 UN mandated borders, borders after the '67 war, Barak's proposed borders revealed by Clinton at the failed Camp David summit...the proposal Arafat rejected.

LEV... good to see you are well read....

But not as informed perhaps as you could be..

The only claim 'Israelites' or..Jews have to the land is:

1/ Internationally agreed mandate ?
or
2/ They are there...they have the firepower.. now they are like all other nations.
or
3/ There are enough Jews of biological connection to the Jews of old.. such that they represent a viable covenant community, and if they are living in obedience TO that covenant.. (apart from the fact the the Messiah has come and thus superceded/fulfilled that particular covenant) then..they, and all proselytes.. 'God fearers' have a divine right to be there based on the Abrahamic covenant.

So.. a Jew or Godfearer/proselyte who is obedient to G-d has a divine right to inhabit and subdue the land. (in strict Biblical terms.. looking only at the Old Testament)

Christians see the return to the land similiarly to how the settlers see it.. as fulfulment of prophecy. (Ezekiel 37 and following)

I don't think the issue is one of 'support'.. except for those who may believe Israel is 'right' and 'threatened'.. for me.. its about unfolding history of salvation, and what will be.....will be.

I'll mention it again.. for the (broken) record :)

1/ Watch Jerusalem... specially the Temple Mount
2/ It all comes back to that...in the long run.
3/ The future of the world.. will centre on events there.

Whatever the history, as one who is outside this conflict I can only judge from the actions of those involved. Wealthy Israel is overwhelmingly the stronger in terms of fire power, military might and powerful allies. It retaliates for one death with overwhelming fire power, the killing of many and the destruction of the homes of impoverished people. Far from cowing Palestinians into submission these reprisals strengthen Arab extremism and breed a stubborn resistance which swell the ranks of terrorist "martyrs". After fifty years of such counter-productive strategies clearly Israel needs to think again. I know there is intelligent opposition within Israel which urges more constructive engagement with the Palestinians. Israel will deserve our support when it shows signs of doing this.