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The conflict in the Middle East? The word "conflict" is singular. The implication being there is only one, when in fact there are many. So many that they overlap in many instances. In Iraq for example, we (the US and allies) are contesting primarily with insurgent representatives of Al'Queda. At the same time Shia and Sunni factions discuss their differences with AK-47's while the Kurds are getting kicked around by the Turks.

Surrounding nations each host their own Carnival of Conflict and Conquest. Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Sudan, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. Those who do not currently have warring factions within their borders have a tendency to conduct training camps through which they manufacture and export the raw material of conflict... fanatical Islamic terrorists.

On the western edge of the Middle East, we find the one unwilling participant in conflict - Israel, and their all-too-willing opponent, the so-called Palestinians. Why "so-called?" Because Palestine is not now, nor has it ever been a nation, hence there are no Palestinians. Palestine was nothing more than a region with loosely defined boundaries, no government and no Capitol City. Prior to 1948, residents of the sparsely populated region were Arabs from the surrounding Sultanates and Jews who began migrating back to the land of their forefathers in the mid to late 1800's.

When the United Nations declared the Soverign State of Israel in May. 1948, the Muslim Imams ordered their people to leave the area so there would be no hindrance to the Islamic Arab forces effort to "Drive the Jews into the sea!" Nearly one million Arabs left of their own accord. They were not forced out by the Israelis. The combined Arab forces failed to drive the Jews into the sea. They continued to constantly harass Israel. Then in 1967 they tried another mass assault. They not only failed, the failed miserably. Israel captured the Golan Heights, the West Bank, previously known as Judea and Samaria, and they captured the Sinai Peninsula.

Those were legitimate spoils of war, not illegally occupied territories as the biased Jimmy Carter would have us believe. Following negotiations with Egypt, and at the insistance of the U.S. the Sinai was returned to Egypt and the Israelis withdrew. Because of defense considerations they refused to withdraw from the Golan and the West Bank.

Prior to 1967 the term "Palestinian" was considered extremely derogatory, almost equal to the "N" word in America today. Then Yasser Arafat, creator of Airplane highjacking, and his cronies recognized the publicity value of playing the victim and began calling themselves Palestinians. Arafat was an Egyptian.

In 1973 Israel's refusal to withdraw proved to have been a wise decision as the Arabs tried yet again. Again they were unsuccessful. Since 1973, no further mass attacks have been attempted. Instead they have relied on terrorist tactics: bombs planted in public places, suicide bombers, rockets aimed at civilian targets, lone gunmen spraying crowds, etc. Many Israelis are worn down to the point of agreeing to give up land for peace in the fervent hope that by establishing a State of Palestine the harassment will stop. They have not read the Qur'an.

The words of Mohammed as written in the Qur'an say the People of the Book (Jews) and all other infidels (anyone who is not Muslim)are not worthy of life. Muslims are instructed by their own Holy Book to kill all who refuse to convert to Islam! When the Palestinian Authority was established, the major objective of the organization, as stated in their Covenant, was to drive Israel and the Jews into the sea. This wording has not been deleted by the current "moderate" President Abbas.

Learn more about this author, Bill Stafford.
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