Well,GUEST IFOR, a few comments in regard to your post which seems to see only black and white and no shades of gray.

If you read my note you will note that I recommended the book "1948" since it shows--fairly---both sides of the issue (and written by an Israeli).

The UN partitioned the land at the end of the British Mandate. Partition would have worked--hopefully--had the Arab nations not attacked. That they lost and also lost land was their own (un)doing. Palestinans left, at first, on their own accord with the thought of returning when the "Zionist terrorists" were pushed into the sea. How unfortunate that it did not work out that way.

Later comes the 1967 war, then the Yom Kippor war. Let me ask---who started those battles?

Moving to your Gaza comments. The Israelis left unequivocally. What happened ---Palestinians fought amongst themselves and then started shelling Israel. Even Egypt was, justifiably, incensed and forbade entry into their nation at that point.

Let us move to another thought now. Nuclear proliferation. Up to this point only Israel has kept Iraq, Syria, and Iran from those WMDs. Best thank your lucky stars for that. The USSR was a nation that one could deal with.

As to the comments by some other posters---Golan Hts. Again--who started that fiasco (and by the way there is a wonderful film on the subject of the reason they lost it---THE IMPOSSIBLE SPY).(The spy in question is now long deceased since he was executed by the Syrians and his body has still not been returned to Israel.

As to dual citizenship. To the best of my knowledge quite a few nations allow that---Austria is one that I know of (and I turned it down given my personal history with that wonderful place which was so welcoming to Jews in the 1930s and on).

   My own view is that peace is possible--it always is if there is understanding on all sides and nations put self-interest aside in the quest for it. So far it has not happened but it seems that now even Saudi Arabia is softening its position given their problems with some of their brethren. Jordan and only Jordan saw in advance the benefit of a mutual relationship with Israel---and wanted the Palestenians out of Jordan proper. Of course King Abdullah was assassinated So much for the Arab brotherhood.


Bill Hahn