# Does Israel have to stay where it is? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 2, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-israel-have-to-stay-where-it-is/694657 "2014-08-02T17:35:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-israel-have-to-stay-where-it-is/694657/101 "2014-08-03T06:40:05Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I think it’s more, like, “who the hell moves countries? Since when is that even an option?” When it allows people to stick it to the Jews, all the time. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-israel-have-to-stay-where-it-is/694657/102 "2014-08-03T06:58:24Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > How about if the folks who keep attacking Israel move instead? [It’s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Palestinian_exodus) [been](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1949%E2%80%9356_Palestinian_exodus) [done.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_Palestinian_exodus) How’s that workin’ out for ya? ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-israel-have-to-stay-where-it-is/694657/103 "2014-08-03T07:06:04Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > [It’s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Palestinian_exodus) [been](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1949%E2%80%9356_Palestinian_exodus) [done.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_Palestinian_exodus) > > How’s that workin’ out for ya? “How’s that workin’ out for ya?” He’s an America so what did you mean by the use of the word “ya”? Were you under the impression he was Israeli? ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-israel-have-to-stay-where-it-is/694657/104 "2014-08-03T07:58:12Z")
This thread is degenerating quite rapidly. Not entirely surprising. There really haven’t been many constructive posts, so unless people actually want to argue for the OP, let’s just leave it at that. I’m fine being the ignorant one who asked a stupid question, but if this is just going to drag on meaninglessly, let’s just end it. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-israel-have-to-stay-where-it-is/694657/105 "2014-08-03T08:30:50Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > This thread is degenerating quite rapidly. Not entirely surprising. There really haven’t been many constructive posts, so unless people actually want to argue for the OP, let’s just leave it at that. I’m fine being the ignorant one who asked a stupid question, but if this is just going to drag on meaninglessly, let’s just end it. Then I’d recommend PMing the mods and ask them to close the thread or move it to the pit. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-israel-have-to-stay-where-it-is/694657/106 "2014-08-03T09:49:20Z")
Voluntary emigration is a logical step before forced migration; and assuming people want to move to a state with their own dominant religion then Muslims have many more countries to choose from than Jews. _ **But Palestinians cannot emigrate.** _ They don’t even have passports. Arab countries like to keep Palestinians in overcrowded and pathetic conditions adjacent to Israel because that serves their political agenda. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-israel-have-to-stay-where-it-is/694657/107 "2014-08-03T12:21:30Z")
> [@LC\_Strawhouse](#): > > OP, it sounds like your motivation is mostly to reduce personal stress on yourself when reading the news. It’s as if you’re worried that you’ll get drafted or something if there is enough of a chain reaction from the Middle East. It’s not really a healthy place to be and you’ll just have to do the same thing in Korea, Ukraine, etc, etc. How can you read the dude’s posts in this thread and think he’s actually read the news? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-israel-have-to-stay-where-it-is/694657/108 "2014-08-03T12:28:00Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Really, the UN should cede provisional political management of the region to China. The Arabs have shown themselves to be incompetent, the Jews have shown themselves to be jerks, the Druze pretty useless, and so on. China would be a nice neutral boot heel to put all of them under and stop the gratuitous violence. Well, I guess you’d have to discount the current issue of “gratuitous violence” by some extremists, religous and otherwise, here in China to think that China’s government would have a chance of putting a stop to it overseas. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-israel-have-to-stay-where-it-is/694657/109 "2014-08-03T12:31:47Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Not fighting the premise though, I think moving people forcibly is definitely less evil than letting this endless war continue if those were the only two choices. The people moved will get over it eventually, especially if they see the other side didn’t “win” It’s been a while since the Ilois were moved from their homes. And it doesn’t look at all likely that they’ll ever get over it. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-israel-have-to-stay-where-it-is/694657/110 "2014-08-03T13:03:05Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > “How’s that workin’ out for ya?” > > He’s an America so what did you mean by the use of the word “ya”? > > Were you under the impression he was Israeli? She, but yeah, I’m American. My parents are holocaust survivors. My dad fought in 1948, when after being liberated he, my mom and my eldest sister emigrated after giving up my dad’s priority status to come to the US. Much of my family still lives in Israel. All in all, it’s worked out fine. The town my folks lived in was a sand dune. When we visited in 1980 it was a busy, bustling city. My attachment to Eretz Yisrael runs very deep in this American girl. I just would like other countries to stop lobbing rockets at my family. I would like it if Israel could defend itself without having to make soul crushing decisions about loss of civilian life. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-israel-have-to-stay-where-it-is/694657/111 "2014-08-03T13:26:58Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > “How’s that workin’ out for ya?” > > He’s an America so what did you mean by the use of the word “ya”? > > Were you under the impression he was Israeli? Chill, dude. He’s mocking Sarah Palin’s speech patterns. “How’s that hopey-changey thing workin’ out for ya?” In fact, I would expect few non-Americans would get the joke. ---
**Author:** ![callander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ed655f/32.png) [@callander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/callander)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-israel-have-to-stay-where-it-is/694657/112 "2014-08-03T15:08:15Z")
Correction I meant to write 7 clean days and the general 5 days for the cycle. It’s the dyslexic dork in me. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-israel-have-to-stay-where-it-is/694657/113 "2014-08-03T15:45:04Z")
How exactly do you move a country?..and persuade that country to go along with it? ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-israel-have-to-stay-where-it-is/694657/114 "2014-08-03T19:04:45Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > How exactly do you move a country?..and persuade that country to go along with it? Since the OP has admitted to being really “ignorant”(his word not mine) regarding the whole situation, to the point that he didn’t know Syria bordered Israel, I doubt he thought that far ahead. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-israel-have-to-stay-where-it-is/694657/115 "2014-08-03T22:59:54Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Even if the hardcore Zionists don’t want that, **could they be compelled by force** to relocate by the international community if the wars continue for another few decades? What is the international community going to do, blockade Israel? Use sanctions? ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2014, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-israel-have-to-stay-where-it-is/694657/116 "2014-08-04T02:59:11Z")
So no Jews in Islamic countries because Muslims don’t like them living there. No Jews in European countries because the Europeans killed many of them and don’t particularly want them back. Are there any other places Jews aren’t going to be allowed to live? Am I allowed to live America? Canada? Australia? A few assorted Pacific islands? Let me know will ya? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2014, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-israel-have-to-stay-where-it-is/694657/117 "2014-08-04T03:06:50Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > Am I allowed to live America? Canada? Australia? A few assorted Pacific islands? Let me know will ya? Thanks! Yes you can. You can get off the cross now. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2014, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-israel-have-to-stay-where-it-is/694657/118 "2014-08-04T03:12:17Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Not fighting the premise though, I think moving people forcibly is definitely less evil than letting this endless war continue if those were the only two choices. The people moved will get over it eventually, especially if they see the other side didn’t “win” Forcibly relocating Jews from a particular country so they won’t be in the way of people who have a superior right to be there? I could _swear_ I’ve heard that idea somewhere before. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2014, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-israel-have-to-stay-where-it-is/694657/119 "2014-08-04T03:15:15Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Let’s talk about force for a little bit. There’s currently about eight million people living in Israel. About three million of them (per wikipedia) are fit for military service - and have already been trained for it, thanks to Israel’s conscription policies. And they’ve got a _lot_ of experience fighting people who want to remove them from the area. > > How much force do you think it would require to move those people? How many of them are you willing to kill to establish control over the region and start the massed deportations? How many are you willing to kill during the bloody insurrection that is guaranteed to go on during the lengthy deportation process? How many are you willing to have die on the journey to where ever they’re going? And where exactly are they going? Whose land are you going to take away to give to what ever remnant of the state of Israel survives your deportation process? And where are you going to put the people the Israelis have displaced? It might be a nice change of pace for the Israelis and the Palestinians to stop killing each other and instead work together to destroy whoever it is trying to forcibly evict _both_ of them. Hmmm… after the war (if there is an “after”) I wonder if their spirit of cooperation might continue. Oh yeah, have I mentioned that Israel has a buttload of nuclear weapons? ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2014, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-israel-have-to-stay-where-it-is/694657/120 "2014-08-04T03:15:22Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Why relocate the Israelis? Why not relocate the Palestinians instead? Answer that question, and I suspect you’ll find the answer to the question you asked, too. Because the Jews were overwhelmingly immigrants to the area when Israel was formed as a Jewish state. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-israel-have-to-stay-where-it-is/694657.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-israel-have-to-stay-where-it-is/694657.md?page=7)