As the middle eastern conflict escalates into an inevitable war I’d just like to know if the palenstinians have any credible claim to Jerusalem. I’m not saying they don’t, just that I don’t know their claim (obviously they must have one). Also, who do you think has more of a right to…well…whatever it is they’re fighting over?
Over to you.
Ummm, guys…I’m really, * really * sorry about this, but, well, it was me.
I caused all that unrest in the Middle East. Neither side is at fault; it was all me.
Ummm, sorry?
Oh yeah, and about that cause of cancer thing…
Again, Myrr21???
I thought I told you to sit in the corner after that Chernobyl thing. Bad! Bad Bad Bad! Go back to your corner and don’t come out until you’ve learned your lesson! 
Zev Steinhardt
The big problem is that everyone can find good reason to blame everyone else for something and everyone is guilty of everything so everyone has to do anything to everyone to keep hold of anything they have .
I think it’s safe to say that Gavrilo Princip is to blame.
Things weren’t so bad in Palestine when it was under Ottoman rule. The big blow-ups began when World War I caused a breakup of the Ottoman Empire and the British took over and completely mishandled their power over the colonial occupants. As Princip’s shot is the one that launched World War I, I lay the blame at his feet.
I blame Jesus. And Mohammed. Hey, you asked…
The United Kingdom
God.
the old boy really should have hired a good lawyer before he started brokering land deals.
Alexander of Macedonia, the bastard.
All of the above people and entities.
But, to answer the post rather than the title,
Well, they were living there (pre 1948). They still live there. It has sites that are holy to them too.
Personally I think “they were living there” is a reasonable basis for a claim.
Although I think other land the Israelis have moved into causes more conflict. Jerusalum is just the emotional vortex.
Wait a minute. God I understand but why blame Alexander?Muslims and Jews (and Christians etc.) were living very well together way up until the Crusades.
I think you’re definitely on to something there.
Of course, he doesn’t lack for co-conspirators. Abraham, for instance. He couldn’t be happy with one woman, oh no, he had to go and boink the housekeeper. :rolleyes:
Two of our old friends are responsible. Of course, I’m talking about Stupidity and Bigotry. And their kid, Intolerance.
That’s all it boils down to.
I wish it were that simple, Kilt.
Unfortunately, I think there’s a strong element of greed underlying one side’s claims, and there’s a strong element of paranoia (somewhat justified, perhaps) underlying the other side’s position.
Stupidity can be countered by education. Bigotry can learn coexistence when necessary. But there’s no good answer for greed vs self-preservation.
The Palestinian perspective is that the Jews stole their land, and they want it back.
The Israeli perspective is that the Palestinians are out to kill them all and take ALL the land, not just the pre-1967 areas.
If only it were as simple as religious or racial intolerance!