So WHO was the ruler of Palestine during the 1800's? I think the point is that Palestine is the name of an area, not a country. It was relatively insignficant to the Moslems. The only reason it is interesting to them now is that the Jews are there.
It was relatively insignficant to the Moslems. The only reason it is interesting to them now is that the Jews are there. That's pretty weak justification, if you ask me. If I own a couple of acres, and a corner of it is rather desolate and unused, does someone have the right to move in and build a house on it just because I'm not using it at the moment? After all, it's still my land, right?