Davey,
Why must you ask such hard questions? What is it about the Palestinian/ Israeli conflict that interests you so much that you have given us the opportunity to educate you? Sit abck and I'll tel, you why...
First, go back and research what is known as the Balfour letter or the Balfour proclamation, or even the Balfour declaration. It was an agreement with the UK and the cheese-eating surrender monkeys that began to divide up Palestine, which was its own country which was governed bu a bunch of mullahs. The Jews and the Muslims has lived together for quite some time, with occasional fighting, but nothing really major, think N. Ireland before the proclamation. But the Belfour letter began dividing the Palestinian lands to make Israel, so that the Jews would have a homeland. Reference the word "diaspora" and it will make more sense. Anyway, like Oldie stated, the Brits were hanging out in Israel as the Jews and the Muslims started to fight one another, think early peace-keeping force because this way at the beginning of the century. Anyway, the Brits were housing people in a hotel, when it suddenly exploded and killed a bunch of people. It was blamed on the Palestinians, but was actually done by the Jews, whom couldn't necessarily be called Israeli's yet. Long history lesson shortened down, the Jews practiced what we would consider terrorism now, such distinguished Israelis as Menahem Begin, David ben Gurion, Ariel Sharon, and others were memebers of groups that slaughtered Palestinian camps which included women and children, who were trying to flee.
As far as why the US supports Israel, here are some reason why, including what has already been stated and some others:
1. They are Pro-Western and are not a secular government. Much easier to deal and negotitate with someone who doesn't have to consult a Bible, Torah, or Koran.
2. Lots of Israeli's lived in the US first, and have very powerful lobbies in the US, AIPAC, probably being the largest.
3. Stable government.
4. They have money to buy military weapons.
And lastly, guilt.
Israel didn't get a lot of support from the US until after WWII, and we all know what happened there. the US foreign policy is quite clear when it comes to Israel, they recieve more $$ from us than any other country.
I have talked to Shimon Peres, a former President of Israel, and I asked him if Israel could survive without US military and foreign aid. He stated that Israelonly gets 20 million from the us, this was in 1997, which was BS, and he made a point to say that no US soldier has been kiiled in Israel. That is true, but its because we have never had troops to begin with there. And as far as only 20 million, yeah right keep thinking its that low.
We have seen US policy shift recently though. Although we still support Israel, we do admonish them. We support them because the Palestinian leadership is such a hostile, deranged group that has lost control of the people, which is why you have such groups as the Al Aqsa Martyrs brigade, Hezbollah, etc. they used to be all controlled by Arafat, but he has lost credibilty and power, so now groups do what they want. If the Palestinians had better public relations with the US, things might be very different.
As far as why the Israeli's killed a crippled guy? the same reason we'll take Osama out. They both fostered an environment of terror and killing. He is as guilty for inspiring as the people are for detonating.
Just to make a point though, most people are tired of the conflict in Israel,a nd the Palestinians and the Israeli's have never really followed the tenets of Oslo I and II accords.
