My assessment:

-the Holocaust happened, it was probably not exaggerated but it should be known that a large number of the killings were not jewish, jews made up the majority though--the holocaust also killed millions of homosexuals, mentally ill, gypsies, and Russian soldiers and peasants.


-Isreal was threatened and hated as soon as populations began to arrive and colonize under UN supervision. To arabs this was a cultural invasion--and this is sympathizable. To the Jewish population is was freedom, a chance at a Jewish state, and independence.

-Both sides were equally threatened before any war occurred. Isreal immediately feared war from Arab neighbors who generally hated them. The Six Day War was a preemptive strike against what they feared as a future invasion--there were signs pointing to this. Isreal did provoke the war, in order to destroy the military buildup of the Arab league and and Russian-aided nations surrounding it and secure strategic ground and buffer zones to the Israeli state.

For 60 years Israel has survived in a state of fear to which is destroys all opposition before it can build.

For 60 years arabs have survived in a state of anger at what they see as an endless struggle against a western parasite on their land and a threat to their sovereignty.

So it goes both ways.


I think that the location of Israel was just a poor decision in general because of the cultural clash it was bound to create.


-Israel is no better or worse than any of the middle-eastern nations, except that is has a more powerful military.

__________________
"...Follow the crystal star to the pyre of the flame; there exists the dwelling of the spreading fire. The heart of this life rests upon the fate of that place, and what begins there sends a contagion to the rest of the universe.
As long as the fire burns we shall never be free..." (The Shadows of Yavara, Final Reclamation)