[Pharmboy]

There have been Jews and non-Jews living in "Palestine" for thousands of years; no doubt. I do not think this is where the justification for Zion lies. For me, it is the unique, singular genocidal assault on the Jews by the Nazis (unique in its scope, not occurence) for which they deserved their own country purely--at least--for defensive purposes. Immediately after WWII, the world (other than the Arabs) agreed.

Also, remember this: the Torah relates how the invading Hebrews often killed the males and took the women for slaves and brides in the land of Canaan (Amalekites, Hittites, Edomites, etc.). The genes have mixed up a bit.

[BenF]

Immediately after WWII, the world (other than the Arabs) agreed.

Well, it wasn't quite that simple. Don't forget, Britian did everything they could to ensure that the Jewish State would be "still-born" - exterminated by the Arabs whom they allowed to arm while restricting arms to the Jews. They hoped that they could persuade the UN to intervene so that Britian could go in and "save" whatever Jews were left after the Arabs massacred them. Of course, any dream of a Jewish State would have been dead after that and the Jews would have to be content to rely on others for their very existance. It appears that to this day the Brits are sorry it didn't work out that way.