The sources are unlimited.  I suggest you read a few history books on the subject by accredited historians, diplomats etc.  Frankly, I'm surprised you are unaware of these basic facts.   Any first year Middle East Studies student at a good university is familiar with them.  Start with "The Passsionate Attachment," by George W. Ball (undersecretary of state in the Johnson and Kennedy administrations and subsequently US ambassador to the UN.) His bibliography will suppy you with an abundance of further sources.

''''''I went to Gaza last year with freegaza.org to bring materials essential to all humans and denied Palestinians by Israel .  Israel said they would blow up our boat. They spared us but later attacked other boats we sent to Gaza and kidnapped other peace activists trying to help Palestinians to fish or bring humanitarian aid to the people under Israel's brutal siege of over 2 years. Cynthia McKinney and an Irish Nobel Laureate Maguire were kidnapped on their way to Gaza by the Israeli Navy and put in Israeli detention for 6 days. Maguire was denied important medicine while confined.  I'm sad to see that this video is edited and we are unable to see all of it. Thank you Jon for having these 2 lovely and courageous people on your program.''''''''

Watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J4QY2N5Wlw

    An Israeli writer, Agnon, got the Nobel prize for literature in 1966. Israeli writers,  like Amos Oz,  has his books transalted in 36 languages, including Chinese.

    And, in the sciences, Israel has the highest per capita ratio of scientific publibations in the world. Its scientists have won Nobel prizes in physics, chemistry, economics.

    As for Sand's book.  Contrary to his assertion the genetic research  shows that despite their long-term residence in different countries and isolation from one another, most Jewish populations were not significantly different from one another at the genetic level. The researchers studied seven Jewish populations: Yemenite, Ashkenazic, Near Eastern, North African, Asia Minor and the Balkans, and Ethiopian. The first six showed a strong affinity, with the Ashkenazic and Yemenite populations coming out the closest. Palestinian, Syrian and other non-Jewish Middle Eastern populations were also very close to the Jewish populations. Another research showed that the Jews in different countries are much closer to Jews in other countries that to their non-Jewish neighbors.

      That means that the Jewish communities in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East descended from a common Middle Eastern population.

      Those who deny the exitsence of the Jewish people and the legitimacy of its nation- state are nothng  short of racists or ignorant or both.

      It is unfortunate that Dr. Barghouti was not arround in 1947/48. Maybe he would have been able to convince the Arabs to accept the UN partition plan and thus prevent the war. Had this happened, there would have been no war and no refugees and the Palestinian Arab state would  have been 61 y old today, side by side with the Palestinian Jewish state.

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Cypher_RE wrote:

But hey, we can play the blame game all day.

 

Has anyone any suggestions to achieve reconciliation? 

 

I'm all ears (eyes, really). 

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Thank-you, Cypher_RE, for the question! It will have to be love. 

When I was 12 years old, I was captivated by "Exodus", the novel by Leon Uris. I lived it! I loved the Jewish people, sympathized with them completely. I even wanted to be a Sabra! They were so brave.

I became disappointed by adamant warriors from Israel speaking vengefully.

I have come to recognize that the bravest thing is to face the demons within in order to see yourself and the world more clearly. Healer, heal thyself, first and foremost.

I think one incredibly simple exercise that would make a difference, were it to be tried, is to have people who are angry with one another to sit on cushions on the floor, in one room, in silence, and breathe deeply, as they look upon one another, for at least an hour. Simply breathing deeply. That would take balls. But it would create an opening.

After the hour, there would be brought to them foods that they would share and eat, still sitting upon the floor with one another, but with no talk.

Then they would, once more, just sit and feel each other's presence. Listening to the sound of one another breathing for another hour.

An important component would be a bystander who was truly impartial, loving and interested in the whole thing, one who understands resolution. One who loved all present. One who was fearless. This fearless love creating a peaceful tone.

This exercise could be utilized everywhere with all who currently war with one another. It would be good. It would not cost much.

It would work when I am ready to be the bystander.

Your an anti-humanist, you care only about jews. Palestinians had ZERO TO DO WITH YOUR HOLOCAUST GOT THAT?

Yet you choose to let out all your pain on this DEFENSELESS PPL. If it weren't for our Tax dollars helping the LARGEST WELFARE STATE IN THE WORLD, ISRAEL where would ISRAEL BE? 

Where would Israel be if we gave the PAlestinians what we gave the ISraelis?

The israeli govt is NOTORIOUSLY wanting to destroy the image of the ARabs/Muslims. They have committed FALSE FLAG OPERATIONS FOR DECADES to put the sole blame on the ARabs.

With their terrorists Gangs like Irgun, Haganah,etc...

the Israeli govt commited these terrorist acts...

Lavon Affair

King David Hotel Bombing

Uss Liberty Attacks

Lord Moyne murder

Mexican Congress attacks(foiled by mexico, two mossad agents arrested with fake passports and explosives, oct 2001)

Then you look at all the ethnic cleansing against the palestinians, the nabka, the lebanese massacre in 1982 under sharon.

I mean who can support this TERRORIST STATE OF ISRAEL, who uses WMD against a DEFENSELESS PPL. All because they HAVE THE MIGHT!

I as a Jew with all my heart will DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO STOP THE FLOW OF AID and HAVE YOU CHOKE ON THE HUMMUS THAT YOU STOLE FROM THE PALESTINIAN CULTURE!

Shalooooooooooooom.