I agree that this is truly is a knotty problem, yet I also think that it has become more complicated as time goes on. I honestly believe that the Palestinians are the perpetrators of the majority (not all) of the violence that occurs between the two peoples, and that it is about time they are getting their come uppance in a big way. I look at it this way:
The land formerly known as Palestine was a part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. Because it was land under the umbrella of another nation, the Palestinians were essentially "renters" with the right to occupy that land until the "owners" said otherwise - or new owners came in and set it up differently. When the Turks eventually ceded the land to other nations (the British and the French, if my memory serves me correctly) who became the new "landlords" (for want of a better term), it was decided to divide the area up and allow the Jews to live there - side-by-side with the Palestinians. Whether or not anyone wants to admit it, there was an honest attempt at fairness here. The Palestinians could have been completely booted from the area because it was never their land to begin with, but instead, an attempt was made to placate both sides. However, the Palestinians, angry over being outed from certain portions of land (that they understandably felt as if should have been theirs since their ancestors had been there for generations) - decided that if the Jews were going to live on land that they perceived to be theirs - but actually wasn't - then they were not going to "play ball". As a result, the Palestinians - BY CHOICE - gave up any of their opportunities to have any say in the matter. Yet all these years later, they want the world to see them as victims of the mean Jewish people who came and robbed them of land that was NEVER theirs, for decisions that the Jews had no more of a say in than they did, and for their OWN CHOICE (by not cooperating) to allow ALL the land they wanted to go to the Israeli's. To add fuel to the fire, the Palestinians, who already had a burning hatred for the Jews, made a PUBLIC DECLARATION that they would never peaceably live with the Jews. And they have made good on this statement over and over again. History books show that it was the Palestinians who fired the first shots onto the Israeli people in this ongoing territorial battle. The truth of the matter is that the Palestinians will never rest until they have complete control over land they deem to be theirs (but never was!) and all Jews within a nuclear missle's shot are dead. Additionally, the Palestinians perpetrate the half-truth that this ongoing battle is about land. The broader picture clearly demonstrates that this is as much about Jewish annihilation, if not more so, than it is about land. If the Palestinians truly wanted peace, they would have accepted and lived by one of the many peace treaties that have been offered to them through the years. But they have consistently chosen violence instead - and they have the nerve to call the Israeli's terrorists?! The Israeli's have never made a public declaration that they want to see the complete destruction of the Palestinian people! The Israeli's have tried - most notably in the past - to make concessions with the Palestinians, yet, the Palestinians refuse to accept anything less than complete control of that region! They can not and will not accept that Israel has the right to exist. They downright refuse to acknowledge that the land was never theirs to begin with, and that the land owners who gave the land to the Israelis had the right to give the land to whomever they pleased! I am not without compassion for the displaced Palestinian people - don't get me wrong - but I do NOT have compassion for those who choose to wage war on the Israeli's simply because the two were forced to be neighbors. Quite frankly, I am glad to see that Sharon is not sitting back and taking it anymore! Bravo for him and for the Israeli's! They should be fighting back! It bugs me to death that there are people who eat up the Palestinian propaganda that they are being terrorized by the Israeli's! That is utter bull especially in the face of the numerous opportunities the Palestinians have had over the years to come to an agreement with the Israeli's and call a truce once and for all to this whole matter! What does the world expect? For the Israeli's to just sit out in front of the local drug store smoking cigarettes, sipping sasparilla, and feeding the birds while the Palestinians are making good on their PUBLIC DECLARATION to rid the world of their entire race?
I say that the nation of Israel has a right to exist, and the Palestinians are getting what has been coming to them for a looooooooooong time. Now that the leader of Hamas is gone, I hope they get that "harmless" Arafat out of the way next. That will truly be a day to celebrate.
growedup
