"In 1948 tourists from various Arab countries came to welcome Israel as the new kid on the block, and to assure the flourishing of Palestine. These tourists came from Jordan (30,000 of them), Iraq (about 21,000), Egypt (40,000), Syria ( about 12,000) and a few (under 4000) Lebanese. They came in their own tanks and armored vehicles, and airplanes...first class all the way."

Let me be clear here...In 1948 over 100,000 assorted Arab troops from at least 5 Arab countries, invaded Israel and Palestine to assist the Palestinians in destroying the nascent country, Israel, which had been approved by, and recognized by the United Nations.

You may put whatever spin you wish on that invasion, but it occurred, and all of your posturing and dissembling does not change that fact of history. When the dust had settled, Israel had gained some territory, and lost some territory, but the net effect was that it became more contiguous and a bit larger.

None of the Arab countries signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1949; Jordan and Egypt did not give the territory they had taken from the Palestinians in 1949 back to them to create the country of Palestine. And all of your posturing and dissembling doesn't change that fact of history.

Palestine only became an imperitve (other than to Palestinians) in the Arab world after Israel entered the West Bank during the '67 war, and Palestinians wreaked havoc in Jordan and Lebanon in the 1970s. Israel is now expected to make good the Arab betrayal of Palestine. The price for that is peace and recognition from Palestinians and their leaders.

If Palestinians still want a country, and they do, perhaps it is time to stop fighting and work peacefully toward that goal.

As I said a couple of days ago, it will have to be a two state solution, and Jews in the West Bank will of needs become minority citizens in Palestine, just as Arabs are minority citizens in Israel. And Jewish access to Jewish holy places must be guaranteed.