WRONG, it was the British Mandates, before the it was part of the Ottoman empire, before that it was under the Arab Crusaders, before that it was in the hands of the Byzantine Empire, before that in Roman hands and before that in Jewish hands.
During the Ottoman Empire Reign Palestine/Israel was a very barrier country. It wasn't until the later 1800s and during the British Mandates that the Arab populations started to rise. Yes they were around since the Arab Crusades (the Palestinians took the name in which the Romans gave to the lands over a half-century before the Arabs arrived).
Uh, so? It doesn't matter what their name was and who controlled it from empire to empire. The point is that people lived there. Real peoples with families and lives. It wasn't just empty land- somebody lived there, and eventually they became known as 'Palestinians'.
Have you? You have a point with Jerusalem, but they are being offered equal land for equal land taken, including a land bridge from gaza to the WB.
uh, yes. And now that I have more than 15 posts I can link it for you so you can take a look at where the walls are being made -
http://www.passia.org/palestine_facts/MAPS/newpdf/WestBankWall.jpg
There it's very clear: a Palestine right in the middle of Israel, West Bank choped into pieces with Israeli settlements inside, with Israeli military bases on the crucial and convinient location right next to the Dead Sea and the river. Hard to see how a land bride from Gaza would be incredibly useful when you have to pass by a couple of foreign checkpoints if you wanna get from one side of your 'OWN' country to the other- five times over. A good image is also available from the aforementioned Amnesty International 2007 Israel Report, which I suggest you read. You have to remember, this wall is INSIDE the West Bank, not around it. So much for 'keeping 'em terrorists out', more like keeping expansionism right in. Besides, equal land for equal land taken? Desert land is not the same as fertile river land, my friend. What Russia wouldn't give to 'exchange' land from the Ukrain, Poland, and Belorus to Siberia.
I have seen the wall. It wouldn't be necessary if suicide bombers didn't have a knack for blowing up markets of civilians. The Saudis are building a fence to keep out terrorist from Iraq. South Korea protects itself from North Korea. Why is that the Jews who face a larger threat from terrorist get the shaft? Probably because people are struck with the same disease as a douche-bag like Shogun.
Suicide bombers wouldn't be necessary if Palestine wasn't under OCCUPATION. I don't know about you, but if MY country was under occupation, I'd consider it. Not defending the practice, just keeping it as real as possible. Sure, Israeli's might face threat from crazy whackos, but Palestine face a threat from an Israeli occupation, fencing, and checkpoints. I guess they just don't 'matter' enough, though. The strong do what the will, the weak do as they must.
What do you want them to do? Be sitting duck for suicide attacks. Since the fence has been built there have be no suicide attacks. I don't think that is a coincidence.
No, I have no doubt that the fence is causing hardship on the Palestinians and some Israelis (probably even some wildlife); however, the alternative of being sitting ducks is 1 that no rational government should make.
What do I want them to do? Leave Palestinians the 22% of their country's land that they've kept and move out completely. 1967 borders and an independent Palestine.