Why do people call Israel "palestine" when its clearly not?
369551
Let's recall that Israel did not exist until post-WWII when Europe took it over as a homeland for the people of Jewish faith living in Europe.\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine\n\nIt also refers to the entire region - Israel, Egypt, Syria and Jordan.
184377
Well, Israel doesn't meet many theoretical criteria for being a state:\n- no actual natives to the land\n- built on occupied land\n- not recognized by its neighbours or a relevant majority of the international community (yes the world powers acknowledge Israel but what about other countries?)\n- furthers borders through invasion\n- the declaration of idependence violates Palestine's mandate (at that time).
768627
There is no ethical reason for Israel to have their own state in the Middle East. Why should they have been allowed to just come in and take land away from the Palestinian people? If every race of people who have lost land in historical wars were allowed to just come back, then California does belong to Mexico; the American Indians own The U.S.; Northern France belongs to England; Greece owns Cyprus, southern Italy, and Bosnia... The difference with this situation is there was no war for land to be won. The Zionists just came in, with some minor support from Europe, and took the land. If the Ottoman Empire had chosen to be against Germany in World War I, Palestine would never have come under British control, and the Zionists could have never pressured Parliament to encourage a Jewish migration. Once the Holocaust happened during World War II, a complete and udder disgrace for all humankind, the Zionists had the upper hand, and with Europe domination in the Middle East, they had no problem setting up Israel as a State. Things could have been alright, but some of Israel's leaders wanted to create an Israeli State that controlled lands owned by Jordan, Syria, Egypt, and of course, Palestine. If they had just stayed within their borders, everything would be a lot less violent. Bottom line is, the land belonged to Palestine before Europe gave it to the Israelis.
416615
there are no palestinians.. that is simply a made up name for ARABS who are no different than any-other arabs in anyway.. no differnt language, culture, history, even religions, \nThe jews did not invade the land, it is jewish land, and jews have lived there continiously for 3300 years, long before arab/muslim occupiers came.. \nWhere was your condemnation from 48-67 when arabs occupied the lands you now claim for yet another arab state? \nThere has never been a country, nation, state, called palestine EVER in all history.\narabs/muslims need to stop attacking israel and this war will end!\nThis is simply one of many worlwide wars by islam against non-muslim neighboors
687540
israel is jewish land, and has been since 3300 years ago. long before arab/muslim occupiers came to the area. End of story.
1069319
for one soldier, yes, israel is retarded, fatah and hamas were just considered recognizing israel as a nation, then israel starts bombing the shit out of gaza, and not every one who lives in gaza is a terroist, their pissed at the israelis for stealing their land then locking them up in the most densely populated patch of earth on the planet. funny how the israelis are never called terroist when they murder innocent palestinian children
1151250
Israel is a country in the middle east that was created by an UN declaration in 1947, and which declared its independence in 1948.\n\nThere has never been a country called Palestine- the omans renamed the province of Judah to Palestina after the Bar Kochba revolt to punish the Jews- since they knew from Jewish history that the philistines had been a foe of the Jews.  The are passed through various hands- sometimes retaining the name, at other times being renamed.  During the time of the Ottoman Empire it was acually divided into numerous administrative districts and had no single name.  \n\nAfter the British displaced the Ottomans- the area was known as the Trans-Jordan and ruled by a British mandate.  The area of Transjordan included Syria, Lebonon and Jordan, as well as the are then xcalled British Palestine.\n\nThe UN mandate divided the area into two states- one for the Jews, the other for the native Arabs who had taken the label "Palestinians" around 1920 or so.  Unfortunately- when Israel was declared five Arab armies invaded Israel- and when unsuccesful in destroying Israel occupied the land set aside for the Palestinians and turned them into refugees.\n\nIn the modern era Israel has active Peace Treaties with Egypt and Jordan- and the active conflict in the region is between Israel and the Palestinian Authority that has been given limited control over the Gaza and Westbak, and which will be the government of a future Palestinians state.
702431
The UN said it was theirs.  If the Palestinians had chosen peace in 1948, they would have a country too.  But they chose to fight, got whipped, and lost whatever rights they had to Israel by right of conquest by a defender.  Suck it up and go live in Jordan.  Or Lebanon.  Or Syria.  Or Egypt.  \n\nIf they will have you.  Otherwise, tough ****
120290
Israel is a very small piece of land. God promised this to Abraham, Isaac, and (Jacob later called Israel). God said I will bless them that bless you and I will curse them that curse you. If God was not on Israel's side it would be owned by the Palestinians by now.
761960
I believe it belongs to both Israel and Palestine. Palestinians rejected the partition plan of 1949 so they ended up without a country which I'm sure they regretted all these years. It's kind of like having two nations living on the same space. It's kind of like Native Americans and White people in America only the Native Americans got a lot worst deal. But now there is a Palestine and an Israel and both parties should respect each other and accept the fact that other isn't going away and deal with it.
124567
Because it is a democratic state with Western values in the middle of the Middle East.  Israel is the only democratic country that grants equal civil liberties to women and religious and ethnic minorities.  And it's filled with Jews! Yuck!  The fact is that more Israeli Arabs think that Israel is better than other countries compared to Israeli Jews! (See http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1137605866664&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull)\nBut it's not even the Jewish thing, as much as the fact that Israel, and the US, symbolize the West and corrupt values to fundamentalist Muslims.
635365
The West Bank and Gaza will be a seperate country called Palestine. That is good enough.\n\nIsrael has been under attack since their first day in existance as a country. They have defended themselves amd grown into a successful country while living in a hostile country. Israel is trying to make peace and is willing to give up a lot in return. Look up their past peace accords. They don't want war. They just want to live peacefully without fear of being attacked.
563746
Trick question.  There is no country of Palestine, there never has been a country of Palestine, thus there never has been a president of Palestine.
330447
There is no use.\n\nthe UN is always with what is called "Israel". America is too. So why should the Palestinians trust both?
1032235
You are severely misinformed.  Israel is the only non-Muslim nation in the Middle East and it is the smallest.  Everyone else is bigger and against them.  Jewish pride!\n\nADDITIONAL UPDATE: The Palestinians do not have a recognized "country"  they live in the occupied areas.  Israel was officially recognized as a nation in the late 40s by the world...  The Gaza Strip (the 10% you are referring to) is not a country.  It is within the NATION OF ISRAEL!  Simple history and geography...  Also, in every war or conflict when one side attacks another there will usually be a counter move.  In a conflict does it even make sense to stay and get hit????  No, you strike and dodge the incoming counter attack.  Please, before you go bashing on Israel understand the situation more fully.  For instance...do you even have a clue about the Balfour Agreement?  Probably not...and it's probably the most important moment in turmoil for the Middle East and the Palestinian/Israeli conflict.  As for the Reigning Queen comment below...do you honestly think that anti-Semitic comments will win anything?  No, what it can get you however is the enduring respect of thousands of Neo-Nazi bigots who are following the failed ideas of a man who not only DID NOT succeed in killing us but who also had the guts to commit suicide...yeah, great leader.  \n\n    Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad.
730652
Turn the Israeli army loose, no holds barred, no politics, screw the UN, and there would be no more palestinian problem. That's my solution.\nBTW, there was never a country of "Palestine". It was just a name for the region. It's kind of like saying there should be a new country named "Outback" in Australia. "Palestine" is a made-up cause, promoted by islamists in order to justify terrorism.
413557
Ahh- you are going to be facedf with the normal anti-Israel diatries.  The fact that there has never been an independent country called Palestine, that the Romans called the province Philistina to punish the Jews, the fact that even in ROman times not all the Jews were expelled, the fact that there has been a continuous Jewish presence in the area for the last 3500 years, the fact that until the mid 1800s the Palestinians were a largely migratory group, and even then ended up spread across most of the middle-east, including Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt.  All of these facts slip the anti-Israel lobby by in their virulent hatred.