No Joke intended Mate! - people on 'both sides' then were just as scared of 'the other side'*** as now in the Middle East.

Just like the USA (and I can remember many loudmouth rednecks here on Mudcat ranting about 'sticking it to the Iraqis'!) is now tiring of 'the blood bath that is Iraq' - the Israelis will never have any REAL desire for peace (and want to live in peace with their neighbours) until they bleed as much as the people their armies kill.

Probably take a few nukes tossed around on both sides to do that, things have gone so far, and the racial hatred so deep now. Just like in Iraq, every one that is killed makes 10 more enemies - on both sides.

*** The (US) White House TV show has now shifted from Commercial TV (too serious, mate!) to the ABC - the last show made the strong point that BOTH sides in the Middle East have far more in common with each other culturally than they have differences. And also made the point that NEITHER SIDE wants to be seen as 'weak' by giving ANYTHING away, first to do it or not.