Does Israel have the right to exist?

From what I've gathered, yes they do. For one, after the Great War, the Ottoman empire was scattered. France and England got most, if not all, of their territories. One of England's territories was the lands near the Jordan River. Since it was their land, it was up to them what to do with it. They designated 25% of it to be a new Jewish state, while the other 75% was to be Trans-Jordan. However, the Muslims were still not satisfied with only having 75% and attacked Israel. Then the blood-shed began, with Israel gaining more land because of victories in the wars. Some say that Israel has no right to exist because they "invaded" on Muslim land. But since it was officially handed to Britain, who officially gave it to the Jews, you can only argue it was wrong morally. However, if on the topic of land morality, all Americans should leave to England, Ireland, etc. since we brutally took the lands from natives and Mexicans. Same with European-blooded South Americans. I've read that the Palestinians fled during the first of the Arab-Israeli wars not out of terror from brutal Israeli soldiers but because the Muslim countries promised them the land they thought they would recapture and told them to run away for awhile.

So as of right now, my views on Israel is that it definitely has the right to exist, as it was done in a legally binding contract. It has just as much right as America or Canada has to exist. However, the borderline (if not full) terrorist actions of Begin's secret covert-ops or Sharon's insanely religious fervour (sounds like ethnic cleansing) prevents me from taking firm sides in this issue. To be on the Palestinians' side is not to be only against Israel, for many Muslim countries were bad to them as well. Israel bulldozes civilians, while Hamas targets malls and streets. Is there an issue more clouded than this?

I am wondering if anybody can provide more facts, because I am just beginning to delve into this very important issue.

The question is who get Jerusalem. We Catholics see that city as a important piece of history to our faith. I can say that I don't like what either side has done with it and if were up to me neither would get it. I say give it to atheists that value it's historical value.

Israel already "got" it. It is the capital of Israel once again.

I am not going to disolve it since two wrongs don't make a right.

The Israeli/Palestinian Affairs forum exists for discussions akin to these.

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