They are not a unique population, they have no collective history dating back more than several decades, and their whole narrative is "existence on the ashes of another population". Funny, you sound like the Arab leaders who claimed the same thing in 1948 and urged Arabs to "join the struggle" by vacating their homes so Arabs could destroy the Jews. And we all know how that turned out, huh?

with a majority supporting both moral and aid support to Israel, while cutting support for "Palestinians". Probably because the aid given to Israel is really spent 100% in the US, while aid given to Arabs leaves the US and is never seen again. Doesn't take a Ph.D. in Economics to know which one hurts the economy and American public more. What really pissed off the Americans is the billions spent to help Karzai govt even though the corruption across Afghanistan reaches right back to the Karzai family.

After all, its written on your Blue Card and the benefits you receive (though I have no idea why) come from a sovereign State that you claim doesn't exist. Isn't that always the case among Arabs? Denounce people you oppose but cry louder when they don't hand you cash and benefits. Ah....the complex result of a spoon-fed welfare population. Truly, your "people" are a good topic in socio-economic psychology classes regarding the failings of a population when their basic human rights of self-responsibility are taken from them.

I once got a "visa" stamp while visiting Macchu Picchu. Doesn't make it a sovereign nation, does it? But I guess anyone can print fake travel documents. Just ask Mabhouh. BTW, no one claims that Israel will allow these Arabs to move into Israel nor to become citizens and receive a real passport (in a real nation). So, wouldn't they run the risk of the same "bad treatment under occupation". Oh - but yet they still claim its better than in the PA. Even the Arabs in West Bank speak highly of working in settlements compared to working in Ramallah. Guess everything is relative, huh?

Besides occupation and oppression, Arabs are equally good at erasing history and usurping narratives of other populations as their own. The entire Koran is filled with examples stolen from the Bible and Torah. Just ask Nasrallah who claimed there is no Persian culture, just an Arab one.

The entire premise of the poll is that Jerusalem may some day be divided and its Arab residents required to choose. Jerusalem will never again be divided, so the poll is basically irrelevant. Next question?

Why have we allowed the Arabs to claim the name " Palestine"? From the 7th Century it was a Jewish land and accepted internationally. Is it too late to write their "state"as "palestine?"- lower case and in quotes?- There is no sound "P" in Arabic- it's a" b" .

As everywhere worldwide people look first of all to their well being , their income , the health services , benefits . I remember the atmosphere in the Old city of Jerusalem after our Capital was liberated . Full off Israeli visitors and tourists from abroad who were all shopping and eating there . That is what counts for most people , to give a good life for their family . And this can only happen when they are Israeli and not PA citizens

Would you rather live in an Islamic republic or in the only democratic state in the region - and one where you have freedom of religion as well?

Charles, all Arab residents of East Jerusalem became Israeli citizens the day that Israel formally annexed East Jerusalem. The question asked by the poll was both hypothetical and absurd -- it asked the poll respondents if they would prefer to be citizens of Israel or citizens of a hypothetical "Palestinian" state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Jerusalem will never be divided again, so the question is pointless. The Arabs of East Jerusalem were made citizens of Israel in June 1967, so the point is moot.

can you give hard guaranties that jerusalem will never be devided again? do you really know what will/can happen in the future? if yes, you will have a great future. if no, nobody can give the answer. all the best to you, mazzeltov.

Certainly not when your "lesson" contains big errors . Not all the Arabs of East Jerusalem became Israeli citizens , most [ see MFA reunification of Jerusalem ] became only RESIDENTS . The Israeli governement REUNITED Jerusalem , not annexed [ a ugly word ! ] "On 28 June 67 the Israeli governement announced the REUNIFICATION of Jerusalem to take place the following mornin [ Martin Gilbert , Jerusalem in the 20 th Century p. 299 ] The Israeli Knesseth formally ADDS .. [ timetables of Jewish History ] Since the REUNIFICATION of the city ....Political dictionary of the State of Israel . A little bit research was needed to give you some proofs . Now regarding the poll . This poll ONLY shows that a majority of East Jerusalem Arabs prefer to live in Israel , unther Israeli juridiction . If it's result had been different , it had not changed anything .

Charles, mon ami, I'm afraid I must disagree. East Jerusalem was formally annexed. See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Jerusalem Note the first sentence in the third paragraph: "Following the 1967 Six-Day War, the eastern part of Jerusalem came under Israeli rule and was annexed to Jerusalem,together with several neighbouring West Bank villages ..." By the way, it is possible that you are simply not aware of the nuances of language. You cannot "reunify" that which you do not own. Hence, annexation had to happen before reunification. Shabbat shalom, Charles.

Jerusalem has been the capital city and the heart of the Jewish people for thousands of years. When your forebears in the Netherlands were painting their faces blue, howling at the moon and swinging from trees, the Jewish people were praying for the peace of Jerusalem, turning towards Jerusalem in those prayers and worshiping Jerusalem. You are not Jewish, so I do not expect you to understand. But you can be sure of this: Jerusalem is the eternal and indivisible capital of Israel. It will NEVER be divided. Of that, dear, I am certain.

Everyone can write in wikipedia . I prefer my references , When the ministers decide that "Jerusalem shall be REUNITED the next morning" it means this . Jerusalen was divided in 1948 , and REUNITED in 1967 . Jerusalem was ALWAYS seen as belonging to us , was only occupied illegally by Jordan . You can annex some territories that were not your property , effectively or not [ Golan ] . If you will google "jerusalem annexation" you will find many anti Israeli sources .

"Jerusalem has been ....." this in your # 44 . So it was OURS [ not officially ] , and we REUNITED our Capital in 67 . East Berlin was not annexed to west Berlin either , Berlin was REUNITED .

Look at the MFA site [ ministry of foreign affairs ] "today we have UNITED Jerusalem" Moshe Dayan , 7 th June . Read the rest too . The MFA site is for me a seriouser source as Wikipedia . Charles , ONLY Petach Tikva .

there's an easier explanation for why israeli citizens have more freedom of movement and better job opportunities than palestinians. it's called the occupation. think israel is inherently better? guess we'll never know....

Before the "occupation" as you call it there were also better opportunities for Israeli citizens . Before the Liberation of East Jerusalem in 1967 , only 40 % had water and 60 % electricity in their houses there .