[the_Watchman]

From an historical viewpoint, the Jews could just as easily say the same thing. They inhabited it during the beginnings of recorded history.

Show us any literature or culture from inhabitants prior to the Jews 400 B.C.

[bob808]

Well I certainly do not claim to be an expert historian in the area. However, I believe that "Palestine" was part of the Ottoman Empire throughout the greater part of the last 2 milenium.

Now, if your argument is "we're reclaiming ancient lands wrongfully taken from us by the Ottomans (or whomever)", that's fine and the line of reasoning has its strengths and weaknesses; however, that is very different from saying "hey, nobody was really using it so it's ours".