To: Enigma who wrote (83311 ) 3/15/2002 10:58:24 PM From: davemarkun Read Replies (2) | Respond to I am acutally neither arab nor jew, althoug I have lived extensively in both arab countries and Israel. I think your comments re a "war of independence" is way off the mark. The so called occupation came about as a result of the 6 day war which was prompted by the arabs acting belligerent(incursions, closing the straits to Israeli shipping, shelling from Syria, a peace treaty between Syria and Egypt which called for the destruction of Israel). While its true that israle acted pre emptively, it was what any other nation stated would do when threatened as it was. So the occupation came about as result of arab aggression. It is easily verifiable. Just look back at press clippings from the west and arab press at the time. Israle won that war and occupied the west bank just like many other countries have done when winning a conflict. Now whether they ahve acted intelligently in winning over the Palestinians is an issue open for debate. But the legitimacy of the occupation is there. Further, when you look at the entire Arab world there is not a single democracy. Not one country is even close. Although Israel has its issues, it allows the Arab minority inside Israel the right to vote and stand in the Knesset. Incredibly, Palestinians inside Israel have mor rights(and probably a higher std of living) than in most, if not all , arab countries. The fundemental point is that the arbas started the 6 day way, Israel won, and Aran aggression pre-dated the occupation.
