…the most deadly bomb explosion in the Irish troubles took place at Omagh after the ceasefire was in operation; fortunately the British government didn't respond to it as an IRA act - which it wasn't." – MGOH

Who was responsible for the Omagh Bomb then Kevin if not the IRA??? I mean there are a few of them aren't there. You have the "Official" IRA, the ones who had the good sense to stay out of "The Troubles". You have the "Provisional" IRA, the ones who decided to get stuck in and managed to murder around 2500 of the very people they said they were "protecting". You have the "Real" IRA who actually did claim responsibility for the Omagh bomb, which sort of has me mystified as to why you would say that it had nothing to do with the IRA. Then finally last but by no means least you have the "Continuity" IRA. Of that lot Kevin only two have renounced violence, disarmed and disbanded.

"The Palestinians have their own culture and form their own ethnic group" – Carol C

Utter crap the term Palestine was only brought into prominence about 80 years ago. Tell me what "ethnic" group comes from Palestine – Tell me even what Palestine is? I know what it was and I know how the name came into being – you obviously don't. What is this Palestinian culture and where did it come from? The "Palestinians" were invented/created by Yasser Arafat as a vehicle for making money in the early 1970's – It's a thing that Tosser Arafat's family have a gift for, exploiting the poor and helpless in order to accumulate wealth. As someone on this thread asked – Wonder what did happen to Arafat's $300,000,000.

"The entire state of Israel is an Artifical Creation of the British Government...Balfour Declaration, 1948." – Sorcha

I would advise you Sorcha to go away and do some reading, get your facts straight then come back and retract that complete and utter fabrication. If you do you will find no mention of "Israel" from 1920 until the time that the Jewish Settlers in Palestine declared their country of Israel and independent state in 1948 – that Sorcha was AFTER the British left – creation of the British Government indeed, the Mandated territory of Palestine was the creation of the League of Nations – not the British Government. The Arabs – yes "just Arabs" – refused a single state solution for Palestine from 1920 until 1936 by demonstrating clearly that could not live peacefully with their Jewish neighbours. In 1937, during the Great Arab Revolt, the Peel Commission proposed a two-state solution. That two-state solution was taken up by the United Nations and was proposed in 1947 towards the end of the old League of Nations Mandate. The Israelis accepted the plan but the Arabs – yes those not so special just Arabs again – rejected the proposal.

"So, pdq, the Arabs should just LEAVE their homes, property, belongings, and 'go' somewhere?????? I think NOT" – Sorcha

Well that was the OK thing to do as far as 820,000 Jews were concerned after those Arabs lost their war in 1948 Sorcha. You see having failed to wade in Jewish blood and drive the Jews into the sea while conquering Israel; they deported 820,000 Jews from Arab countries that they had lived in peacefully for centuries. No choice was involved Sorcha they got 24 hours if they were lucky, had all their money and possessions taken from them and were booted out. The only place for most to go to was – yep you've got it in one – Israel. Now when they arrived in Israel they were made welcome and integrated into society, there was no fencing them up in camps and keeping them in poverty to suit the political agendas of others.

Bit different for the Arabs of the former Palestine wasn't it Sorcha. Because at the end of the 1948 war, Palestine had ceased to exist hadn't it? You had the Jewish section of Palestine according to the UN plan of 1947 which was now called Israel, but what about the "Arab" parts of Palestine?? Well Egypt had invaded and taken the bit known as Gaza, while Jordan had invaded and taken the bit known now as the West Bank. Did the Arabs of Egypt and Jordan make the Arabs of Palestine welcome on let's face it was their own land – Hell as like they crammed them into refugee camps – now you tell me Sorcha just how the hell do you become a refugee in your own country??