LH, you said:Yes, the Arabs have been beaten badly again and again...but they might well have won in 1973, had not the USA massively resupplied Israel with new tanks in a matter of a few days. This is not lost on the Arabs. They had to go it alone. Israel did not." You help your allies. Thats what the word means.
I don't know of any country who has ever given back land which they had conquered in war without a quid pro quo. Why shouldn't Israel build settlements on its own land? They didn't start the war that gave them the land, so why should they give it back?
When the British Mandate of Palestine was divided in 1948, creating the independent State of Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, it was intended that Jordan be the palestinian homeland. If I am wrong on this I am sure that someone will correct me.
Part of the division was -including Jerusalem- was to remain in British hands but when the fighting ended, Jordan held Jerusalem along with Samaria and Judea. They owned the land by right of conquest and held it until the 1967 war.
Why should Israel not do the same?
Otherwise, a well thought-out post. Wrong, pig-headed, knee-jerk, and starry-eyed perhaps, but well thought-out.
Why can't you see it MY way?

troll***BG***