Israel invades the gaza strip.

The Jewish armed organizations were illegal terrorists to the British, right up until the day they left. The Brits would raid their weapon hidey-holes and imprison their members regularly. Tanks and planes are not the sort of thing one can hide.
After the British left, the different movements were unified into the IDF, but not without difficulty. (google "Altalena")

As for "way, way past" - first of all, the whole country is tiny. There is no "way, way". But yes, the Jews did try for wider, more defensible borders (the UN partition would have been well for friendly neighbors, but utterly untenable if they insisted on being enemies).

They why on earth does Wikipedia say Arab nations were bombed by planes?

They why on earth does Wikipedia say Arab nations were bombed by planes?

At the outbreak of the war on 15 May, the SA became the Israeli Air Force. With its fleet of light planes it was no match for Arab forces during the first few weeks of the war with their T-6s, Spitfires, C-47s and Avro Ansons. In the first few weeks of the war, the Israelis' light airplanes bombed Arab encampments and columns. The raids were usually carried out at night to avoid interception. These raids usually had little effect, except on morale.

These were not war planes. Not at the start of the war. They were light civilian planes who couldn't do much.

However, as I said, the Jews were prepared for the day of independence, and pre-purchased arms soon arrived from Czechoslovakia and elsewhere to turn the tide of war.
I guess the Jews are evil for having some foresight.
The Arabs of Palestine were not as organized, did not plan ahead, did not declare their own independence or rule of this area, they just attacked - and called the armies of the neighboring nations to help. Did you look at the sizes of the Iraqui, Egyptian, and Jordanian armies and airforces? Can you honestly say Israel swept in with superior military might to take over?

These were not war planes. Not at the start of the war. They were light civilian planes who couldn't do much.

However, as I said, the Jews were prepared for the day of independence, and pre-purchased arms soon arrived from Czechoslovakia and elsewhere to turn the tide of war.
I guess the Jews are evil for having some foresight.
The Arabs of Palestine were not as organized, did not plan ahead, did not declare their own independence or rule of this area, they just attacked - and called the armies of the neighboring nations to help. Did you look at the sizes of the Iraqui, Egyptian, and Jordanian armies and airforces? Can you honestly say Israel swept in with superior military might to take over?

Still doesn't justify storming into civilians and taking their housing =/.

Why are we arguing about something that happened 60 years ago again?

Still doesn't justify storming into civilians and taking their housing =/.

Why are we arguing about something that happened 60 years ago again?

Because it has relevance to what is happening today in the Middle East....

Still doesn't justify storming into civilians and taking their housing =/.

Why are we arguing about something that happened 60 years ago again?

Nobody stormed into civilians and took their housing. At most, they took housing that was abandoned by its terrified occupants.

Not sure why you are arguing, I am trying to correct misconceptions that paint the Jews of Israel as evil colonial invaders who enjoy attacking innocent Arabs, today or 67 years ago.

I doubt anyone is following this anymore, though.

Because it has relevance to what is happening today in the Middle East....

Only reason someone would want to argue about something 60 years ago is to deny the legitimacy of Israel, which I'm not doing.

I'm debating that a majority of Isrealies (or at least, the government) wouldn't let some Arabs back into their homes =/.

Only reason someone would want to argue about something 60 years ago is to deny the legitimacy of Israel, which I'm not doing.

I'm debating that a majority of Isrealies (or at least, the government) wouldn't let some Arabs back into their homes =/.

Regardless of whether you are not denying Israel's legitmacy, many others do, so when misconceptions are brought up, they should be clarified.

I doubt anyone is following this anymore, though.

A few people are. Most have short attention spans.

Is it bad that I want to block my dad on facebook for such comments as "So Israel is being bombed by the Palestines with rockets supplied by Iran. And where is our President? In Thailand visiting a Buddhist Temple. Now that's important. Wouldn't you say." and "Israel we apologize for Obama"?

Is it bad that I want to block my dad on facebook for such comments as "So Israel is being bombed by the Palestines with rockets supplied by Iran. And where is our President? In Thailand visiting a Buddhist Temple. Now that's important. Wouldn't you say." and "Israel we apologize for Obama"?

Comments like that really bother me. Your dad should do some research on what Obama has actually done for Israel.

Comments like that really bother me. Your dad should do some research on what Obama has actually done for Israel.

Thats what I was thinking :\

Im tempted to take a screenshot of a quote of him giving his support of Israel and their efforts. But I know he will be pissed if I did.

Is it bad that I want to block my dad on facebook for such comments as "So Israel is being bombed by the Palestines with rockets supplied by Iran. And where is our President? In Thailand visiting a Buddhist Temple. Now that's important. Wouldn't you say." and "Israel we apologize for Obama"?

I'm curious. What does he think Obama should be doing?

So basically youre saying the arabs shouldve rather died in the attack than leave their homes for their lives and that that justifies the jews for taking the homes that were conveniently there when they attacked. Ok.

So basically youre saying the arabs shouldve rather died in the attack than leave their homes for their lives and that that justifies the jews for taking the homes that were conveniently there when they attacked. Ok.

Except that those that stayed didn't die. They became Israeli citizens.

I'm curious. What does he think Obama should be doing?

My dad is one of those people that thinks Obama is doing horribly as a president, that he wasnt born in America, and that he is doing a horrible job as president. A lot of this really came about AFTER he joined a church and became a regular member thereof, going every week and attending church function. In example, a few weeks before California had the whole Prop 8 issue during the last election, I asked my dad how he was voting on it, and he said that they should be able to do what they want to do, and that he would probably vote to allow gay marriage. About a week before voting day, I asked him again, and he came at me with bible quotes and all, and straight out told me he was voting to not allow gay marriage.

So basically youre saying the arabs shouldve rather died in the attack than leave their homes for their lives and that that justifies the jews for taking the homes that were conveniently there when they attacked. Ok.

That's not what she said at all, but okay.

You really should just stop posting at this point, Dean.

I agree with your father on his first facebook comment, but lets please not turn this into another Obama thread...I'm tired of hearing about him and I'm sure you guys are tired of hearing about him from me.

 Spoiler

If nothing else, just remember that, he was given an opportunity to stop giving Egypt aid after Mubarak was deposed and the Muslim Brotherhood was put into power, but it was not done. Yet another thing I agree with Ron/Rand Paul on; why are we aiding people who directly and openly aid terrorist organizations, such as Hamas? We are literally aiding the wrong side of the current conflict, at this point; the Israeli government can easily make that connection, too.

Except that those that stayed didn't die. They became Israeli citizens.

Uh.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killings_an...estine_War

Yes, I'm very well aware of the fact it has both sides casualties on it.

Uh.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killings_an...estine_War

Yes, I'm very well aware of the fact it has both sides casualties on it.

Actually, it doesn't even matter, for the sake of this discussion, what actually happened.
None of them could see the future. It's only logical to prefer to save your life than your property.
However, it's equally logical to realize that anything left behind would be seized by the enemy. Expecting your enemies to be murderers but not thieves is a bit absurd, don't you think?
They were "expecting to return" because they were expecting the Jews to eventually be defeated. That hasn't happened yet.

Actually, it doesn't even matter, for the sake of this discussion, what actually happened.
None of them could see the future. It's only logical to prefer to save your life than your property.
However, it's equally logical to realize that anything left behind would be seized by the enemy. Expecting your enemies to be murderers but not thieves is a bit absurd, don't you think?
They were "expecting to return" because they were expecting the Jews to eventually be defeated. That hasn't happened yet.

Oh good, now I can finally stop arguing here, and focus now on the damm flash mob in front of one of my university's buildings where there's pro-Israelis on one side and pro-Palestinians on the other.

I usually go on the side that is unrepresented (see: Palestinians here) but both sides were as equally large, so I had no idea. So...I walked back to my dorm where now I'm on Southperry. I might walk back, go in the middle, and yell some nonsense "Why the hell can't you guys just live peacefully together?" Or some crap like that.

Nobody stormed into civilians and took their housing. At most, they took housing that was abandoned by its terrified occupants.

Not sure why you are arguing, I am trying to correct misconceptions that paint the Jews of Israel as evil colonial invaders who enjoy attacking innocent Arabs, today or 67 years ago.

I doubt anyone is following this anymore, though.

i am, i simply don't have anything to post.