Oh gosh dianavan, does that statements such as those following didn't really mean anything at all then:

•        We shall not enter Palestine with its soil covered in sand. We shall enter it with its soil saturated in blood.

•        ... the full restoration of the rights of the Palestinian people. In other words, we aim at the destruction of the State of Israel. The immediate aim: perfection of Arab military might. The national aim: the eradication of Israel.

•        The existence of Israel is an error which must be rectified. This is our opportunity to wipe out the ignominy which has been with us since 1948. Our goal is clear -- to wipe Israel off the map.

The fact that those statements were made at all is bad enough, the fact that those statements were made with three fully mobilised armies camped out on Israel's borders lent a certain "we're only kidding" slant to the rhetoric.

Now then dianavan - a question for you - when has Israel ever made any similar statements with regard to its neighbours?