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.

Aye, I was thinking prawns & beer too, maybe a pool party with hot chicks in very little clothing... Get it out in the Isa and we'll see just who is who ("You're not an Aussie till you've been to the Isa" as the classic ad used to say)...

I reckon we get the Rum out too, go for a wander down the river to Sunset, there's real, true blue, dinky die Aussie's down there, who'd teach some here about what is (and is not) Australian (and don't mind a drink or a feed either as it happens)...

Oh I forgot, don't worry about racism down that way... If you are drunk and racist at a p*ss-up in Sunset, you are likely to reconsider awful quick

Yeah, I guess it's hard to be considerate to others when you're a selfish narrow minded twat.

Who says I have to be considerate? I obey the law, I don't burn down buildings, etc. I am entitled to be as pleasant, or otherwise, as is legally permissable (and only when the opposite is proven beyond a reasonable doubt). However, I challenge anyone here to go to Sunset and tell the traditional owners (predominantly Kalkadoon & Lake Nash mobs) and those that live in the area, what is and is not Australian. I've got relatives there and have lived in the area, they aren't racist, they just don't like immigrants. They don't regard shades of white/brown/black as important. Then again, show some respect and it really won't matter who you are or where you come from (don't and I expect you'll regret it).

I suggest you go carefully, stir it up too much and the Police won't go in there until the following morning...

Dream on Custard,

As a bloke who has been damn crook on a feed of prawns in Isa I'm going to say it is too hot, too far away from the ocean and the hygiene is too bloody suss for me to ever recommend them as chow in that town. Plus the reason they drink so much rum there is the beer is so bloody ordinary.

Finally the only hot chicks you will find there are in the chook shed. Thought I might have spotted some talent at rodeo time but most were barely distinguishable from the stock.

Now Broome on the other hand! Lets just say a good mixing of Japanese, Malay, Indonesian, White and Indigenous can produce some real stunners. Plus a pretty fair number of them are talented as well.

Really Aussies there mate, not just east coast mining blowins/blowhards.

Nothing wrong with the Isa, just the fly-in/fly-out w*#*ers. Get in with the locals, learn to cope, learn to enjoy the place. Go down to the Burger King, get something to eat, sit there and listen. You might be surprised to learn the owner (and his son) are Bosnian Moslems (yet the son worked at Doomadgee and was well accepted as Sport & Rec. Officer - also the bloke who leant me his Koran to study). Immigrants who have made an effort are what make Mt Isa - Mt Isa. Immigrants who don't make an effort live in ghetto's in major cities and want Australia to conform with them.

Fair enough Custard, I will give it another try. Perhaps the rodeo attracts the wrong crowd.

Happy to visit but I'm a little suss about ever bringing a family up there. The locals might not want to talk about it but that lead thingo does make it a bit less attractive.

Just out of interest if a character like Austin Powerless was to go into the Isa Burger King, shove a pork chop under your Bosnian mate's nose then tell him if he didn't eat it he wasn't an Aussie and should go back to where he belonged, what sort of reception do you think he could expect?

You must be a little busy at the moment Custard so if you don't mind I would like to hazard a guess. I reckon dear old Austin might have a little trouble walking to the door because of the pork chop shoved up his arse.

All the mob from that part of the world are thoroughly cranky bastards. Here's a tip for the young and reckless, if you every get an invite to the underground Serbian Church in Coober Pedy on a Friday night for a feed, have the good sense not to utter a bad word about Milosevic. And if you get one or two of them particularly drunk and they tell you that opals paid for a tank division during the Balkans conflict, believe every word.

Plus if at any stage during the night you look up to see an orthodox priest in full garb and beard pulling beers do not mention it. If you are still there after midnight get them to tell you the story about a bikie gang who tried to muscle in on the town. It is hilarious when you have had a few but a little sobering when you remember it the next morning.

Finally if you are offered a piece of opal late in the evening at a special price because you are now one of their brothers, do not insult them by trying to bargain.

csteele, what a cold description of humanity you have. Are we all that evil? and does religion, just need to clean up its act. I think when people understand the balances, where will be no problems.

Yes the blood of Christ I in-deluge in, and maybe that's what your teachings are telling:)

I think man-kind is big enough to stand together and how we all do business, will depend on you all.

My Account here.....will be deleted.

Now your all on your own.

Goodluck, and all the best....that your planet needs.

A song and artist, that speaks for all of us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-JQ1q-13Ek&feature=related

7 billion! Its just not fair to all those that are not born yet.

And you will be blamed for it, and you know history always repeats:)

Thanks.

LEA