to correct some historical inaccuracies the name palestine was added y the romans after the philistines as a new name for the land after they had smashed the last jewish revolt and wanted all things jewish destroyed and forgotten. so the name and people of israel perdate any palestinians name. however a lot of modern palestinian people are the direct descendants of the "cannanites" who were the ancestors of many jews as well.   judaisim is a religious distinction not a racial one and many modern jews are descendants of converts.

or course none of this really settles the present issues and when people refer to their historical calims they are usually saying they have no legal or moral claim and all should recognize that.

i have major problems with the state of israel in its settlement program, however i equally find the leadership of the palestinians unsupportable. i do not understand the need for so many to take sides. if we all get out of the issue and let things take their course a solution is more probable. i am especially bothered by the new left getting on board to censure israel . as a long time socialist i see no reason to suport fascists of nay kind. the palestinian leadership has repeatedly shown fascist leanings. they have experienced violations of rights but i ain't fighting for them untill they stop such idiocy as electing people who support the protocols of the elders of zion as fact--as hamass does, and abbas wrote his phd thesis accepting those writings as fact(he apologized for being a holocoust denialist but sorry--no holocoust denialist will ever get my support--get democratic progressive leaders and principles and i will support you but not before)

i am also disturbed by the persecution of the christian minority in palestinian territopries. they once made up aproximately forty per cent of the population but after repeated abuse they are now half that. there is also open and violent persecutuion of gays and lesbians and women.

untill the palestinian people start to meet basic human and civil rights standards i am not taking sides. israel at least has human and civil rights protections. most palestinian homesexuals get refugee status in israel for instance.

i really would like to see the left stop taking sides. it servrs no constructive purpose and diverts energy from l;ocal pressing issues