The Case for Israel - Restated

The case for Israel is simple.

Israel was created by the United Nations in 1947 along with a Palestinian State, carved out of what was left of the British Mandate created after WWI. The British first carved out a portion which it gave to King Abdullah, a refugee from Saudi Arabia, as a present or reward for not joining Germany in WWI. Britain and France also split part of the land and created Syria and Lebanon, these states also arising as a result of the allied victory in WWI.

For many centuries, Jews maintained a continuous presence in Jerusalem and throughout the Biblical "Holy Land." (Muslims were late-comers as Islam was not founded until the 7th Century C.E.) In 1900 the population of Jerusalem was primarily Jewish as it had been for hundreds of years. While there was never a nation or state known as Palestine, the area generally thought of as Palestine was inhabited by Jews, Christians and Muslims.

During the British Mandate these groups were considered Palestinians. The Palestinian Brigade of both WW1 and WW2, which fought for the Allies, consisted of only Jews. The Arabs sided with Germany in both wars.

Mohammed never set foot in Jerusalem and Muslim prayers are directed toward Mecca. Jews always directed prayers toward Jerusalem and were the only people to ever make it their capital.

The day after the UN created the new states of Palestine and Israel the Jews accepted their new state, while the Arabs rejected theirs. Six Arab nations, (all members of the UN) immediately invaded Israel with the goal of driving the Jews into the sea and destroying the new Jewish state. But Israel prevailed and repelled the attackers.

Trans Jordan annexed much of the former area and changed its name to Jordan and kept half of Jerusalem. The Jewish Quarter of the city was destroyed and Jews were barred from entering Jerusalem to worship.

During the Six Day War, Israel recaptured Jerusalem, and named it their capital. The Arab world has consistently, from the outset, refused to recognize Israel and refuses to accept displaced Palestinian Arabs as citizens, preferring to keep them in UN supported camps where they have languished for the past 60 years.

Egypt and Jordan are the only countries to eventually make peace and recognize Israel. It is interesting to note, however, that Jews can neither live in nor own land in either nation.

Israel is the only nation not recognized by all members of the UN. It is not accepted as a member of any of the UN’s regional organizations. When Israels ambassador to the UN rises to speak, representatives of 22 other member states get up and leave!

Israel is the only nation treated in such a manner!

One cannot help but wonder if anti-Semitism is responsible for this treatment. And even though Israel has fought and won five wars, peace remains elusive because of the "rejectionist" Arab states.

By Bob Poris