Reply #22: That isn't exactly true.

[The Stranger]

The Arab world created a state of siege for Israel that 55 years after its founding still exists.

If you really want to go back to who did what first, you could start with the the Sturn and Irgun gangs, who were actually terrorizing the British but attacked Palestinians as well during the founding. Yes, the Arab countries did attack Israel during this precarious moment of its founding. In at least one of the wars, however, Israel struck first. In another, Egypt attacked first but actually attacked and invaded Egyptian land Israel was occupying. But, as you can see, this sort of thinking goes nowhere and only prolongs the conflict. Either side could use any number of past attacks to justify furthering the conflict indefinitely.

But there it is again -- the notion that the occupation of others' land leads them to want to attack. Then settling other countries' land makes things even worse -- yet that is what is happening in the Golan Heights, part of Syria. Again, this is an appeal to simple reason here rather than prevalent fear, but take away the occupation and the real reason for wanting to attack may also taken away.

As far as wiping out Palestinians, there are indeed some Israelis who would like to have them "transferred", I believe is the euphemism, and others want far, far worse. I don't think there is any use in denying that these people exist.