BRAVO, Sarah B. You have spoken for SO MANY Israelis who are SICK to death of hearing the Pallies spew their garbage.

point of view, Israeli Arabs prefer being governed by an Israeli administration as under such a domain they are allowed much more freedom than under any Arab regime. They are also granted excellent healthcare benefits and educational ones as well. Compared to what would occur under Arab domination, they prosper economically. In Samaria and Judea, much of their work comes about due to trade and construction of Jewish homes. Although the pay level tends to be low, they (Palestinians) pay no taxes so, in fact, their pay scale is far greater than one is led to believe. In the meantime, Jews who reside in Samaria and Judea do pay taxes and also find it hard to obtain well paying work. The situation for most Jews within Israel proper is much the same. Life is quite tough, perhaps because Israel spends over 60% of its budget on military and security related activities and goods. Your diatribes contain some truths but there is no sense of social context in them. I have critiqued you on that count before. I think that's because you do not reside in the area. Armchair Palestinians just don't get it. Perhaps you'd like to visit Israel, Gaza, Samaria and Judea for an extended stay; if you were to, your diatribes would take on less of a feeling of anger and indignation and perhaps begin to reflect the realities of the situation here, both for Arabs and Jews. Why don't you try it, Noor?

Over the past 61 years the Arabs/Muslims certainly have tried to wipe Israel off the map. Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran are still trying and only recently Abbas mumbled about resuming the armed struggle. The Saudi Peace plan was shelved for a reason. It offered Israel nothing but lip service. All the while terror attacks against Israel continued. While the Israelis accepted a small piece of land in '48 and developed it, the Palestinians have spent the past decades refusing, complaining and avoiding any peaceful coexistence with Israel. They even refuse economic cooperation with Israel which could really benefit them.

and planned to use them, they just forgot that Israel is small and they might end up hurting palis as well since wind can carry radiation dust to the west bank, but I didn't heard pali complain against Iran cause you so full of hatred you just don't think things through.

Israeli Arabs do infact have their own teams and one of those teams, from Sahknin, went on to represent Israel (proudly, I might add) internationally after winning against other teams nationally. As for the "palestinians" (a term used to describe the non-Israeli Arabs next door, as the term was made up), they do have their own teams. Infact, they sent a team to the Olympics in Beijing in 2008. No other State-less population has ever been given that offer by the Olympic Committee - not Kurds, Basques, Tibetans, or Tamils. Seems a bit racist, no?

Legally, Palestine was never a State. Who cares what it says on a map? The truth lies in legal documentation and Intl law (as you claim to know and throw around wantonly). Alsace is a large region in France but hardly one considered a previous "State" by any stretch of the Leftist imagination. Palestine was only a region within the Turkish Ottoman Empire, a land renamed by Romans to cut Jewish ties to it centuries before (sounds like what the "pals" try to do now). Then it was won by the Brits in WWI and became a Mandate, under which most Arabs considered it "Southern Syria" or part of the "Levant". There are still groups that demand the whole region return to the original Levant. Then, of course, you know of the magic of Israel's birth. At no time, was there ever a State named or ruled over called "Palestine". Passports do not make a State.

Apparently, neither can their Arab brethren. Latest stats show that Arabs contributed less than 3% of the total aid to UNWRA and the "palestinians". That does not, of course, count the weapons and illicit funds used to wage terror and destroy peace. But in that case, it's only Iran that's the perpetrator and they're implicated in violence all over the world.

1) Quote: The Arabs' "intent has always been to wipe Israel off the face of earth". Response: "The Arabs don't have the means to..." do so. Conclusion: The intent is there and not denied by the poster, only the means are presently, and only for now, are missing. 2) Quote: And since the Arabs "refuse to accept Israel's RIGHT to be". Response: "We don't have to". Conclusion: No, the Arabs don't formally have to accept Israel's RIGHT to exist. But Israel, being the nation-state of the Jewish people, exists based on League of Nations' decisions and United Nations resolutions; it has been accepted as a member state in good standing into the UN as a Jewish state. Yet, the Arabs have attempted time and again to wipe Israel off the face of earth, contrary to the UN Charter, e.g. 1948, 1967, 1973. Shouldn't the Arabs accept Israel's RIGHT to exist as the nation-state of the Jewish people if indeed they mean to ever live with it in peace? 3) Quote: "End of conflict". Response: Not even a denial of the the claim made that the Arabs so far have refused to accept an agreement of peace explicitly as the "end of conflict" between Israel and its Arab neighbors, Palestinian and otherwise. Conclusion: The conflict will end only when Israel, through one means or another, is no more. 4) Quote: "Why should we not believe them when they write and talk - always in Arabic of course". Response: "That's what I'm saying. Why should you not believe us?" Conclusion: Need I say more to prove my point...??

with sentiments such as these, Mr. Arias' life could be in jeopardy by the arabs...they don't like it when people don't agree with them.

the state of palestine will easily pass the banana republic of costa rica in every economic category within 5 years after gaining independence. thats because of our people are educated and dedicated hard workers, unlike the people of costa rica! thanks for your advice, but no thanks! we know better!

Just look over past Nobel Prizes you will see it is political tool to boost Imperialist policies in general and zionism in particular High Treason IDs from Muslims can get Nobel Peace Prize like Sudan from Egypt We hear a Russian Nobel Prize Physicst Solijenistin for decades who was presented as if he got Nobel Physics Prize In fact he was prized with Nobel for Literature for his stupit books Gulag Then Hobel was a tool against Communism now it is a tool against Islam in hands of Western Imperialism and Zionism

Today, 62 years ago, the UN voted to establish a "Jewish state" and an "Arab state" in the Land (UNGA Resolution 181, 29.11.47) If the Arabs accepted this resolution at the time instead of beginning to mass murder Jews on the roads, in isolated villages and in mixed cities the following day; if the ARabs accepted this resolution at the time instead of inviting the Arab armies of five Arab states to join the war on the 15th of May 1948 whose aim to wipe the state of Israel off the face of earth upon its proclamation, then there would be no death, no destruction, no refugees, etc. Instead, there would be today two nation-states living along side each other in peace. But that was never the Arabs' intent nor is it today. They rejected the establishment on any piece of land the independent state of Israel and they continue to deny Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state to this day. How could peace be advanced if one side is so intransigent...??

i'm not interested in what each side should do, i'm talking about the barbaric identity you palestinians have created for yourselves. don't distance yourselves from it - you've earned it!

Noor, how ignorant can you be????Everyone called this piece of land Palestine in those days before the independence of the state of Israel. However didn't mean it was yours,the Arabs,,,,,Please learn history...

Forgive me for dashing your statements with cold hard facts, but the Palestine Authority has enjoyed autonomy for twenty years. With nothing to show for it except 40% unemployment, crumbling infrastructure and absolutely no foreign investment, despite the billions of euros and billions of dollars that have poured into the coffers of the Palestine Authority. On the other hand, the PA "leadership" have managed to purchase some lavish second and third homes in Europe and have funded some very hefty personal offshore bank accounts. For that matter, for all your grandiose talk, how is it that not a single Palestinian living anywhere in the world has come to help build a Palestinian state? Hell, you haven't managed to attract any Palestinians living right next door in Israel! Wonder why that is. Costa Rica has done a remarkable job in combating inflation, instituting social services and reducing unemployment. You may ridicule a "banana republic," but the fact of the matter is that bananas represent an extremely lucrative export crop for Costa Rica. Costa Rica also enjoys much tourist revenue. It's a nice place to take a vacation. The only "export crop" the Palestine Authority can claim is terrorism. Frankly, I'll take Costa Rica over your lot any day of the week. I think most people would.

goes to palis leaders and not to the wellfare of the palis, you said something on banana republic?

costa rica... i am sure the palestinians will take your suggestions in to consideration...lol...go deal with your continents enormous problems before you bark opinions on the middle east

"The Arabs don't have the means to wipe Israel off of the face of the Earth. So, put a sock in it." The matter is Arab-Israeli conflict. 300+ million people against 7 millions. Arabs have repeatedly tried. "We don't have to. No other stateless people had to recognize their oppressor's right to exist, so why should we? We do accpet the two state settlement, however, since the 1970s. We are just waiting on you. The UN Charter does not call for a stateless people to recognize their oppressor's right to exist before they are granted statehood. This is found nowhere in any UN resolution or League of Nations document. This absurd precondition was created by your leaders." It's your opinion that Israel were an oppressor - the fact is another and totally different issue. So called "Palestinians" as people, yes, you were founded at the Arab League Cairo meeting in 1964. Believe or not: people can be founded. Oslo means that the terrorist organization PLO was transformed into PA and the condition was, is and will be recognition. This condition binds your Arab leaders. If you deny this fact, as well I can state you are mentally not just sane. "In 2002, Saudi Arabia proposed and initiated the Arab Peace Plan of 2002, which called for acceptance of the two state solution and normalization of ties with Israel. The fatah under both Arafat and Abbas not only accpeted the two state settlement, but recognized Israel's right to exist, something that was more than demanded of them. In 2002, Hamas sent a delegation of its own to the Arab League where it signed the Saudi-initiated Peace Plan, authorizing its support for it. Israel never came up with such a thing.its just a matter of opening your eyes." Well, Saudi "peace" plan asks Israel to surrender. Even you know, the losers don't dictate the conditions for peace. And, the Arabs have repeatedly tried to end Israel, however, losing each time. Even UNSC242 is uncommon: normally losers lose something definitely. 242means, instead, that the Arabs are granted the option to restart chess game all over again until they succeed. Yet, about 242: Samaraia and Judea plus Gaza are disputed areas and according to the same 242 Israel is not obliged to give away an inch of its disputed land anymore. Most of the land won in the Arab initiated war is anyhow given away, too generously. That's what Im saying. Why should you not believe us? That's what you are saying and there is no reason to believe you, not a bit.

"In Anne Frank's diary, she conceded to the existence of Palestine. Mr Ben-Gurion himself had a Palestinian passport." Correct, those days the term "Palestinian" meant, as historically, a person living in the mandate area and representing either the Jewish population or Christian Arabs. Later, as you well know, Muslims have - according to their habits - stolen even the identity and thus adopted the term "Palestinian" to their own. That's a fabrication and falsification. Upon lies you, however, never build anything.

"Because the first democratic Arab election in 2006 was the first democratic election that the entire world has ever seen, and it happened in Palestine." It happened in Israel. if so, the first democratic Arab election as "early" as 2006 - wow, how developed people.

can be easily applied to Europ. :) norway isn't exactly in the ME. (I hope) stop burning churches ok. this phenomena is bad for your image.

Wonder what will happen to Norway when that North Sea oil runs out in the next ten years? (The Scots and the Brits got the deep end of the reserves; Norway got the shallow part.) I guess it will be going back to being the second poorest country in Europe. Hardscrabble farms and dried salt cod. Fun future. For the record, Nordea Bank is teetering on the edge; Norway's other major claim to fame -- its shipping industry -- has suffered mightily (eight major shipping companies going bankrupt in a six-month period is a staggering commercial loss and is the reason why Nordea is about to tank). So -- no pithy comments from you about Costa Rica. Right now, Norway would kill for Costa Rica's economy. Moreover, why would a Norwegian enjoy a greater right to comment on the Middle East than a Costa Rican? Follow your own advice, and look to Norway's growing problems. Plenty of fodder for you there.

You know, all the universities in disputed provinces of Samaria and Judea were based by Israel. Thanks to Israel you can read, write, enjoy academic studies and democratic options.

Noor " In Anne Franks diary, she conceded the existence of Palestine. Mr Ben Gurion himself had a palestinian passport " 1) Of course she conceded the existence of Palestine thats what that region was named at the time but she didn't say that this was an arab state called Palestine. It never has been. Most the arabs themselves followed the zionists who needed labourers and offered a better standard of living than they were used to & they came from as far away as Iraq They were the 19th century version of the foreign workers that have come to Israel because the standard of living is higher. Lets not forget the idea of an arab nation state was a new one until the 20th century. Statehood was a European concept rather than an arab one. Even the jews living in Palestine were not bothered about independence that idea developed out of zionism which is an ideal born in Europe where the idea of statehood was something people understood about and considered important. Also up until its creation in the 1920s Jordan was known as Palestine because it was about 80% of biblical judea renamed Philistina by the romans. 2) Mr Ben Gurion did not have a palestinian passport because the region known as Palestine was not an independent state and did not issue passports. There would have been ID cards for the locals ( jews & arabs ) but they were not citizens of any country not Turkish, not British. They were simply RESIDENTS of the region known as Palestine.

I think you had a great idea. But although an Arab state can do very well without social welfare, it could not exist without weapons. This is what the whole fun is for. I wish you could convince them over there....

Noor, you conveniently overlook two rather important facts: First, the British never thought of Arabs in Mandatory Palestine as loyal subjects. While there was a Jewish brigade who fought alongside the British in World War II (my husband's grandfather, for one, served in the Jewish brigade and fought in Italy), and while ultimately the Brigade was expanded to include other displaced nationalities (Greek Jews, Maltese Jews, Turkish Jews and even Ethiopian Jews), it NEVER INCLUDED ANY ARABS. Secondly, you also overlook the fact that when anyone in the world thought of "Palestine," or "Palestinians," they intended to refer exclusively to the land promised to the Jews by the Balfour Declaration and by the League of Nations, and to the Jewish people. Arabs were referred to as just "Arabs," and had no role in the picture until the General Assembly resolution offering partition. Even in the resolution, the language specifies a "Jewish state" and an "Arab state." Not a single mention of "Palestinian." Stop trying to steal a history and a legacy which is demonstrably not yours. Sadly, the only history you can claim is one of appallingly poor choices and the only legacy you can claim is one of unrelenting terror. Not much to be proud of, admittedly, but there you have it. It is what it is.

"including one which would have given the Palestinians 90% of Judea and Samaria and allowed a Palestinian state to name East Jerusalem its capital." Link please,or more info.

'Perhaps you'd like to visit Israel, Gaza, Samaria and Judea for an extended stay; " I would Robert.

Can you really be so ignorant of the world to believe that Costa Rica is in the southern hemisphere? The mind boggles....