Israel exists based on international law, based on the decision of the United Nations in 1947 to partition Palestine. The right of the nation of Israel to exist is NOT based on the supposed origins of the ancient Israelites and Judahites, nor on the myth that Abraham had a covenant with our G-d. The torah gives at least 3 different accounts of G-d’s promise to Abraham and the Hebrews and each account is different or contradicts the other accounts. I wouldn’t put much heed in such superstitious writing.

Palestinians are the newest of all the peoples on the face of the Earth, and began to exist in a single day by a kind of supernatural phenomenon that is unique in the whole history of mankind, as it is witnessed by Walid Shoebat, a former PLO terrorist that acknowledged the lie he was fighting for and the truth he was fighting against: “Why is it that on June 4th 1967 I was a Jordanian and overnight I became a Palestinian?” “We did not particularly mind Jordanian rule. The teaching of the destruction of Israel was a definite part of the curriculum, but we considered ourselves Jordanian until the Jews returned to Jerusalem. Then all of the sudden we were Palestinians – they removed the star from the Jordanian flag and all at once we had a Palestinian flag”. When I finally realized the lies and myths I was taught, it is my duty as a righteous person to speak out”. This declaration by a true “Palestinian” should have some significance for a sincerely neutral observer. Indeed, there is no such a thing like a Palestinian people, or a Palestinian culture, or a Palestinian language, or a Palestinian history. There has never been any Palestinian state, neither any Palestinian archaeological find nor coinage. The present-day “Palestinians” are an Arab people, with Arab culture, Arabic language and Arab history as explained in details at : http://xrl.us/bi5c6

When you tell a Big Lie and repeat it often, it achieves credibility and legs of its own. The arabs carry their lies forward without question and with a certain perverse enthusiasm claiming their “historic rights”. After a while, and unless you are very well informed, you might have doubts. In order to chek your knowledge about Israel and the Israelo-Arab conflict try a test about the subject at : http://xrl.us/bkn8g

Do you know our problem?( I fully include myself). Our problem is that we are too naive and believe in good artists. Hopefully you are wrong and Netanyahu is a sincere Jew ,fighting honestly for his people. But ..I start doubting. Unless truth starts to be spoken and this old,rot veil of lies as a way to make (corrupt) politics disappear once and for all,unless this happens...I doubt we are ,naturally, going to get rid of an old repeated pattern that has happened to us since 2000 years without G-ds hands. We seem to have very hard difficulties to learn. A stiffen neck people,indeed...

from your mouth to Gd' ear; but Gd's famous for playing cards close to the chest, so in the meanwhile.....????

Like hell he will. Try reading today's news. "Peace cannot be imposed" said Obama. No one is going to shove Israel around.

Thanks for you comment. I agree 100%.

Thanks for your comment. Despite what many might claim, there really is no such thing as a “Jewish-Democratic State”. Think about it. Either you have a real Jewish state that might have some democratic elements or you have a real democracy that might have some Jewish citizens. Finally, I honestly don’t think my dream is “delusional” but obviously we don’t see eye to eye on this.

Hello Mr. Hess. Too bad the unabridged version of my article was not published since in the opening paragraph I thanked you (without directly mentioning your name) as being the catalyst for the writing of this article. Moreover, I said that the reason I’m writing is to try and bring some clarity to my fellow Jews and to any non-Jews who genuinely support the State of Israel and not merely to respond to your “heckling”. Nonetheless, I once again thank you for your heckling since it caused me to write the article. Regarding what you call “vague”, I don’t think I can be any clearer. How this will come about? I don’t know, I’m not a prophet. I’m just trying to do what I can to wake up the Jewish people.

Amen to your amen!

Thanks for your comment. Regarding Bibi, the Likud, etc, etc, those are questions/problems that are beyond the scope of this article and talkback. Regarding your final question “will anyone do anything to stop a partition of Israel?”, unfortunately there is no easy answer. Everyone has to do what they can, each in his/her own unique way, and try to influence whoever they can. Beyond that, a lot of prayers are needed.

In the meanwhile? Do what you can in trying to wake up the Jewish people! Speak to people about ideas, send people thought-provoking articles, etc, etc.

I'm happy to know that my article has caused you to reconsider your position. Thank you for your honesty and for sharing that with us.

We have had our Talkbacks significantly enrichened by the input Yoel Meltzer. Could you recommend to other authors to contribute as well? This would be a unique opportunity for dialogue. As a (retired) psychologist, I especially enjoyed Mr. meltzer's irreverent comment that it was Michael Hess and his taunting posts which had a part in stimulating Mr. Meltzer to write this article. Oftentimes, our adversaries play a crucial role in our creative endeavors and, in that respect, are useful to us. So thank you Michael (Hess) for your assistance. Someone has to play this unhappy role.

While you do not post often, always, without a miss, your posts are of an heuristic variety well beyond what I have seen in most journal articles on Ynet, JPost or Haaretz. You write with such insight and originality that i almost think that "Marcella" is a pseudonym for a professional correspondant in the mideast or else a brilliant diplomat who wishes to keep her cover. Please contribute more often. With deep appreciation, Robert Haymond

the most fascinating journalist dealing with Israel and the mideast today, Carolyn Glick, whose writings have not appeared in JPost for a month? I am often dumbstruck by her incredible written presentations.

God spells out the exact borders for Israel that He gave years ago. He alone knows when they will become an actuality. Much turmoil will take pleace in the interim.

Matty, you appear to be saying that Israel will always be a small nation so we may as well give up much of our land. The fact that Israel is a tiny nation, and our Arab neighbors have more than 600 times our land mass, makes ceding our land even more insane. Ending concessions will make Israel secure. Not begging terrorists to sign a worthless piece of paper. Israel should make it very clear that if our enemies start a war, we will keep all land we win in the war. War with Israel must no longer be a "no lose" proposition for Israel's enemies. Imagine how much stronger and more secure Israel would be if we'd kept the Sinai and Gaza! It is incomprehensible how any Israeli, outside a lunatic asylum, could support the monstrous Two State Final Solution.

This analysis of Israel's position is not only myopic, but dangerous. If "God who has brought us home after nearly 2,000 years in exile, has final decision on who lives where," why does Israel need the Ministry of Construction and Housing? If administration of the land falls to God, why have a government at all? The implicit argument of this piece suggests that Israel can act not only with impunity, but with willful ignorance of the logical consequences of her actions. According to this line of thought (?), despite this myopic policymaking, God will somehow protect us. This narrative claims as proof of God's hand in Jewish destiny the formation of the state of Israel and its continued existence in the face of the existential threat posed by its neighbors. While this narrative is useful in the synagogue, it is hardly a useful methodological framework in which to understand diplomatic history. Would we find useful a study that, when looking at the successes of early America despite diplomatic isolation, a weak central government and a hostile native population, attributed America's success to Manifest Destiny? Certainly not. In fact, we would call that propaganda. We do not benefit from the lessons of history if we believe that God was the motive force behind it. Israel has succeeded not because of some divine decree, but because of the steadfastness, ingenuity and patriotism of her citizenry. Part of this success is due to the shrewd policymaking of her earliest leaders. Leaders like Sharett, Ben-Gurion and Dayan did not accept their destiny, they created it. They did not, as Meltzer would have it, pursue obviously short-sited policies and hope that God would protect them. If Meltzer's one-state pipe dream is to proceed, Israel will be forced to choose between maintaining a democracy and its Jewish character. This is a choice Israel cannot afford to make. Those who advocate transfer policy simply don't know their history; it has never and will never work in the Middle East. This river to the sea policy is clearly a dangerous. This danger, and not some liberal conspiracy, is the driving force behind the accession of three hawkish PMs to the necessity of the creation of a Palestinian.

A one state solution would only be possible if Israel renounced its intended status of being a Jewish nation. Israel would have to rescind all laws which show preference to Jews over other groups, no matter what. Israel would have to completely sever all religious involvement in government. Israel's Jews won't do that, so it is either two states or one apartheid state with a permanent Arab underclass, and perpetual conflict.

Thanks to Ron B for the reference to this test on one's knowledge of Israel and the mideast. I scored reasonably well (71) but I was surprised by what I did not know and the new information I became privy to. I won't "spoil" this for anyone else who might actually refer to this page but I assure you, all but absolute experts will be fascinated.

...I appreciate it. You have a tough row to how in selling a One State solution, given that in short order such a fate would mean that Jews would be in a minority in [greater] Israel. Or, the grisly alternatives. The ones you "don't know" about. The thing is Yoel, even though you admit that I goaded you, you still never answered where the borders you envision will be? Is it just Gaza and the West Bank and East Jerusalem, or is there more in store?

it is the life we are not playing on a stage .. so why someone want to play unhappy role .. i think if it is an offenseve role sombody do it happily for money or benifet or as relevance .. i wrote here what i think sure iam happy to write even if it is not happy thing ... sorry if i boycot a specialist in psychatry . but iam happy to do it

...thank you.

sir. in any test there is a question and need a reply .and the reply depends on what is the question .. but here you put the reply and many say amin but i prefer to those who put the question to this article so i think it is not a test it is somthing like any son support his mother saying simply becouse it is his mother .... sometimed my son do not agree on my saying about a simple thing lastly he say ... i agree becouse you are my mother .... salam to you and to evry one

just have to disagree.

Either you believe in God, as I unabashedly do, or you don’t. Thus I clearly see God’s hand in history. Based on your comments this seems to clearly differ from your worldview. Thus you make conclusions, based upon your outlook, that my position is myopic and dangerous. You imply, not me, that according to my thinking Israel doesn’t need a government and we can just leave everything to God. Still further you imply, not me, that according to my thinking Israel can act with impunity and willful ignorance of her actions. Furthermore you write “We do not benefit from the lessons of history if we believe that God was the motive force behind it. Israel has succeeded not because of some divine decree, but because of the steadfastness, ingenuity and patriotism of her citizenry”. For you there appears to be a contradiction here but for me there is no problem in seeing that God was indeed the motive force behind the creation of Israel but at the same time Israel has greatly benefited from the heroics and creativity of its citizens. That you disagree with me, that’s fine. Moreover, I truly appreciate that you take the time to respond. However, perhaps you should try to understand someone else’s position a bit more before jumping to conclusions of what you assume the other person really believes. Be well. Yoel.

Actually, Michael, current estimates are that Jews constitute about 68% of the population from the Mediterranean to the Jordan River, not including Gaza. If you include Gaza, then it is about 60%.

Hi Keren. Regarding Netanyahu, watch what he does, not what he says. Furthermore, he has a rather mixed track record in issues regarding the land and heritage of Israel. He wants to make partition appear not as his fault, but as inevitable. His goal, like all ordinary politicians, is to stay in power for as long as possible. He has already postponed Likud elections that could threaten his power. He's quite assertive and ruthless when it comes to timid Likudniks and settlers, but gives quite a different impression when he meets Obama. Almost as if he does not want to fight back.