Interesting comments by *SpinDoc* though does anyone know exactly why the Arabs/Islamists were unhappy with the UN's original partitioning from their perspective?

*DavidF* has suggested that notwithstanding shared genetic heritage, that this alone won't stop the conflict as it is a "religious" conflict.

So since the formation of "Israel" till now, exactly what role do the so called "Holy Sites" play in all of this.

I ask this because assuming something of what SpinDoc says is correct, and assuming the mass mobilisations against ISrael were not purely for sport, exactly what were their motivations?

If other Arabs/Islamists have little regard for the Palestinians, and I suspect that there is quite some truth in that, then what exactly is in it for the "fundies?"

Now, there is of course the site sacred to Jews as the Old Temple, to the "Christian Crusaders" for other reasons, and for the Muslims as the place where P.Mohammed ascended.

I'm out of my field here - can anyone profer up some knowledge?

Spindoc,
I think you will find that there were in fact 2-3 organisations that were trying to establish a national identity one going back to pre WW1. They had their own local structures that were co-opted under the Ottoman empire. After WW1 they stood in their own rights and opposed the Jewish aliyot.(waves of immigration)
What they weren't was cohesive. They were factionalized and each group had different objectives and opposing class oriented power bases.

See Ch5 "the Israel- Palestine conflict, 100 years of war" By James L Gelvin Prof history UCLA

Max
Thanks for the attack I was pointing out to you that much of what you were saying read like the Israeli spin doctors. The spin part comes about when it comes to the legitimacy of their claims. I have no pragmatic reason why the Israel's shouldn't have a a “home land” but to me the end doesn't justify the means. Much of the Jewish 'nationalism' saga is spin e.g. their claim to Massada. The archelogical truth is some what different. Read the book it is balanced, objective well referenced and in essence is pragmatic in nature.
The Jews gained the territory by the same means international PR, chicanery, Bullying and cowardly terrorism techniques applied against them in WW2.
Their claim is based on their religious book that allegedly promised all the land to the Euphrates River....that includes Iran, Iraq. Given Israeli quasi apartheid attitudes of excluding the Palestinians from work in the early years. Profiteering in an early market crash.A beligerance to their expansion can you blame Arab resentment.
Humanist rubbish has nothing to do with the what I said. I am objectively suggesting to all that the case for either side is far from clear and neither side is blameless.
Israel has a better funded more ubiquitous PR machine and stronger allies. Much of what it puts out has little to do with truth. The issue of importance is how to defuse the pit of vipers fairly.

Ahmadinejad was merely echoing the words of Mohammed (peace be unto him) and the words of the holy Qur'an (2:62-65; 5:59-60; 7:166) which refers to Jews as apes and Christians as pigs.
Please show some respect for the religion of peace.

Speaking for myself, I'd rather be an ape than a pig. Can we swap with the Jews?. Do pigs have cannibalistic tendencies?. If not, they should still be sweet with the Kosher thingo.

Stg, notwithstanding the amazing "Racing and diving pigs" on at the Royal Easter Show I agree, better to be an ape I think. Although those diving pigs were pretty darn good...

I have tried to send text to forum many times withougt success I registered with a new email and I tried to sent a text with the new name but I failed. PROBABLY I BLOCKED FOR EVER!
Antonis Symeonakis
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