[Yulee]

The only people called Palestinians were the Jewish settlers prior to 1967. These Jews were considered settlers in the Palestinian Mandate set aside by the League of Nations as a home for the dispersed Jews of the world. Unfortunately the British reneged from their promise and gave two thirds of the mandate to a Saudi Prince and named the country Trans-Jordan.

Miraculously,once all the Arab armies were defeated for the third time (1947, 1956, and 1967)the term Palestinians started being applied to the Arab citizens, who had been given Jordanian citizenship prior to 1967.

Jordan backed off its claim to the West Bank, which it had occupied since 1947 (Jordan already occupies two thirds of the Palestinian Mandate promised to Jews as a state).

A new issue arose, the big bad Goliath State of Israel was now oppressing the newly named Palestinians, most of whom had immigrated into the area from other Arab states in order to create an increased Arab presence in the Mandate.

Read Innocent Abroad by Samuel Clemons. The area was desolate and had very few residents in the late 1800’s. Jewish settlers moved to their homeland as a result of Pogoms in Russia and discrimination elsewhere. They drained the swamps, irrigated the deserts, and prospered. Arabs migrated also.

Jerusalem, until the Arab armies occupied it in 1948, was predominately a Jewish city. Between 1948 and 1967 Jordan destroyed Jewish worship centers, dug up Jewish graves, gave land and property that Jews had paid dearly for to Arabs, and built up the myth of the Dome of the Rock being the second holiest Muslim site. King Hussein covered the Dome of the Rock with gold. Until this time the Dome of the Rock was a run down mosque. There are pictures of it from the 1800’s and early 1900’s to prove that it was run down. Please realize all those who call themselves Arabs are originally from the Arabian Peninsula and went out from there to conquer the world for Islam. Jewish people are of the tribe of Judah (the Southern Kingdom) and Jerusalem was its capital. Since 1000 BC, no other nation has ever had Jerusalem as its capitol. There has never been a Palestinian nation, a Palestinian capitol, a Palestinian government, until Israel bowed to pressure to let Arafat back in, with the promise from him that he would make peace, and recognize Israels right to exist.

[La Enchiladita]

Wonderful history lesson, Yulee, thank you. The more one learns, the more complicated it is. However, Jerusalem itself is the main point of contention: the perpetual tug-of-war among Jew, Christian and Muslim.

For Newt to put this complicated situation into a simple sound-bite does not do justice to all concerned, including Israeli Jews.

I wonder how many FReepers and evangelicals realize that Israel is prepared to accede to a two-state solution. The problem is the Palis refuse to negotiate because they want all of Jerusalem. They had their day, though, when the Ottoman Empire ruled Jerusalem for 1000 years. The best that can be attained is for all three to have their ‘place’ in Jerusalem.

[coolbreeze]

The Brits did more than renege on that....in 1947 the Arab Legion was armed with Spitfires, Tanks and the latest Brit small arms...the Israelis had war surplus seized ME 109’s and beat up mausers....stomped those goat lovers too...

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

The only people called Palestinians were the Jewish settlers prior to 1967.

Nonsense. From the New York Times in 1921:

"JERUSALEM, April 10.--The political horizon in Palestine is clouded by an agitation of Moslems and Christians against the Zionists, who they believe are striving to obtain control of the country and drive the Palistinians out of business."link

Defining these people out of existence isn't going to make them go away.

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

By the way, the same UN mandate that created Israel uses the term “Palestinian citizens” repeatedly.