Are Your Assumptions About Israel and the Middle East Valid?

There have been many truces between the Palestinian nationalist terrorists (aka Fatah) and the Palestinian Islamist terrorists (aka Hamas).

And still the fighting and deaths continue.

There have been many announcements about the imminent return of the Israeli kidnapped soldiers.

And still Gilad Shalit, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev continue to languish somewhere in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria or Iran.

There have been many conciliatory overtures and soothing words in English by Israel's neighbouring enemies hinting to rose-coloured-glass-wearing Western audiences that Israeli concessions will be rewarded.

And still the hate propaganda in Arabic in print, on radio, the Internet and TV continues.

There have been many concessions by Israel to its neighbouring enemies including withdrawals from the Sinai, Lebanon, Gaza, parts of Judea and Samaria (aka West Bank) and prisoner releases.

And still the suicide terrorism, rocket attacks against Israeli communities and other forms 'resistance against the Zionist occupation' continue.

There have been many years since Israel successfully absorbed hundreds of thousands of Jewish refugees ejected from hostile Arab countries, while hundreds of thousands of Arab Palestinians left mostly of their own accord to make way for the invading Arab armies into Israel.

And still the Palestinian refugee problem with its fictitious 'right of return' claims continue to remain 'open wounds'.

There have been many plans, proposals, initiatives, accords, road maps and diplomatic solutions imposed on Israel by many outsiders including Europeans, Americans, Quartets, Arab Leagues and the UNs to achieve a just and lasting peace.

And still the rejectionism within most of Israel's neighbours continues.

There have been many wars, battles, acts of terrorism, divestment campaigns, UN resolutions aimed at weakening and eradicating the State of Israel as a Jewish state.

And still the population growth, economic growth and living standard increases within Israel continue.

There have been many minorities persecuted in Arab countries including Jews, Christians, Assyrians, Copts, Muslims - Shiite or Sunni, Kurds and Azeris.

And still the minorities in Israel continue to enjoy religious, cultural, economic and political freedom unsurpassed by any western country.

There have been many articles like this one written over many years to highlight the facts about Israel in particular and the region in general.

And still anti-Semitic anti-Zionism within the Arab, Islamic and the secular Western world continues to rise.