[Thrownatbirth]

Iraq was occupied by the Coalition forces from the spring of 2003 until June 28, 2004

True, and even this "occupation" by the Coalition Authority was established by UN Resolution 1483 in May 2003. It placed the responsibility for Iraq's security and the well-being of its citizens directly in the hands of the Coalition.

[SunkenCiv]

Iraq was occupied by the Coalition forces from the spring of 2003 until June 28, 2004, at which time authority was handed over to the Iraqi Interim Government. At that point, Coalition forces remained in Iraq, but Iraq was no longer deemed occupied. If handing over authority to a Coalition-appointed interim government ended the occupation of Iraq, would the same not hold true for the establishment of the Palestinian Authority and Israel? The withdrawal of all Israeli military personnel and any Israeli civilian presence in the Gaza Strip, and the subsequent ouster of the Palestinian Authority and the takeover of the area by a Hamas government, surely would constitute a clear end of the Israeli occupation of Gaza.

It would, if the Arabs and Commies were talking about Gaza. They are not. The entire concept of an Israeli occupation is bogus -- the entire region is Israel.

[ctdonath2]

Silly question:

If Gaza and West Bank aren't part of Israel (hence the "occupation" claim), whose are they? And why doesn't Israel hold the owning country responsible?

[forkinsocket]

End the occupation by removing the Palestinians.