Interesting backgroud on the Middle East...

I was watching a documentary on the Middle East in the years after WWI and one thing that struck me was that a commission (British I think, but I might be remembering wrongly) went through the area interviewing the people and found that over 80% of the Muslims living in what we'd now consider Palestine considered themselves to be Syrians back around 1920 and wanted their land to be a part of a Greater Syria.

No big news about that, I guess -- I just thought it was kind of interesting.

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whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

Its true that "Palestinians" seem to be regarded somewhat like the Gypsies of the Arab world. Whether its right or wrong I dont know.. But none of their neighbours want them on their land..😷

ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M

@whowasthatmaskedman Yes, it seems the Palestinians, after the Arab attacks on Israel going back to 1947/48, always seem to end up in concentration camps, refugee camps, etc. -- either in Israeli-controlled territory or, more often, on territory of other Muslim nations.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@ChipmunkErnie This whole area has been a human tragedy as far back as you want to go. And not helped by the European wars 1 and 2 and the arbitrary settlement lines drawn after by the de facto colonial master. The introduction of the Jews was the only thing that united the arabs. And now the Jews have actually done something with the land that only makes it a target..Too many outside players are involved for there to be a real solution..😷

ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M

@whowasthatmaskedman The Jews were already there -- they weren't introduced like some exotic species.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@ChipmunkErnie OK. I recognise they were part of a grab bag of tribes who occupied the area. But they had no status until 1948. And the Americans, not the British, were the first to recognise Israel, the State.At that time the land had nothing going for it...😷

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whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@jshm2 Yes. I see that. But it was ever so with people. Sadly our grasping natures are what got us to the top of the food chain and keep us competing..Personally, I taught those I love to be Switzerland wherever possible. That way you survive and take a profit from both sides.. But that cant always work..😷

ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M

@whowasthatmaskedman Yes, the US recognized Israel first, but it was the British back-room deals of WWI and WWII that created Israel and Palestine as nations.