Do Jews deserve a state of their own?

YES. We had one, starting 1200 BCE, but since 70 AD, we were a persecuted and dispersed minority. When empires broke up in the 19'th and 20'th centuries, many people fought for a state of their own, including the Jews.

Can the Jews have a State elsewhere, not in Israel?

NO, it is our ancient kingdom, deeply rooted in our religion and tradition.

Why is there a conflict in the Middle East?

Because the Arab Muslim world refuses to accept a modern, democratic and secular Jewish State. There are 22 Arab States, with a combined population of 250 Million vs. 5 Million Israeli Jews. Since 1947, every proposal for a peaceful solution, by the UN, Israel, ECU, USA, etc. was consistently rejected by the Arab States. They artificially created and maintained the Palestinian refugee problem by not absorbing the 650,000 Arab refugees of 1948, while Israel absorbed 900,000 Jewish refugees from Arab States.The conflict is an Arab-Israeli conflict, not a Palestinian-Israeli conflict (the present conflict with the Palestinian is only the latest phase of a wider conflict, where Arabs have been trying to destroy Israel).

What is the solution?

Full acceptance of Israel by all the Arab States as a legitimate neighbor, including peace agreement, open trade and cultural relations, etc. Israel will be happy to reciprocate.

What is the first step toward that solution?

The Arab States start educating their population toward tolerance and acceptance of a non-Muslim, democratic Israel. For the last century,they have educated their people to hate and reject Israel (the whole West, in fact).

What about the Palestinians?

They are the "weapon" used by the Arab States in their war against Israel. They are suffering, just like the Israelis are suffering, from this bloody conflict. As Aba Evan said " The Palestinians have never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity for peace". I feel sorry for them, but they have been raised to be the destroyers of the State of Israel. They could have had their State on a number of occasions:

• 1947 - UN partition plan - rejected
• 1948 - 1967 - The Vest Bank and Gaza were under Jordanian and Egyptian control (not Israeli)
• 1967 - The rejection of any peace with Israel (Khartoum's 3xNO)
• 1993 - The Oslo agreement provided them autonomy, on the way to a future state (Only Israel gave them that chance)
• 2000 - Barak/Clinton proposal of 97% of the territory and East Jerusalem - rejected again, followed by the latest round of suicide bombings and violence.

Is Israel occupying the West Bank and Gaza?

Out of necessity Israel controls presently the West Bank and parts of Gaza. Within a true and honest peace agreement, Israel will relinquish its control and have the Palestinians govern themselves.

What about the Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza?

Within a peace agreement, most of them will be dismantled. Israel has done so as part of the peace with Egypt and Jordan. Some settlers may elect to stay within the Arab controlled areas, as citizens of Palestine. There is nothing wrong with that, as Israel has more than 1 million Arabs, with full rights as citizens (including 10 Arab parliament members, etc.).

Why is the "whole world" against Israel?

Most of the world understands the Israeli position of negotiated peace, without violence. There is a typical sympathy for the weak, enhanced by the fear of the Arab oil power and seasoned by occasional anti-Semitism.

Does Israel want peace?

YES, but the Arabs want victory (also true for the wider picture of the Islam vs. Christianity)

Does Sharon truly want peace and is ready to dismantle settlements?

Yes, he did this in Sinai and recently in the West Bank.

If the Arabs put down their weapons today there would be no more violence - If the Jews put down their weapons today there would be no more Israel!