B T : ......''but for the life in me I cannot understand how you guys and the Palestinians will not accept a Two State solution.

We have to look into the history of this part of the world .There have always been massacres in the Middle East. (You gave us the massacre of Sabra and Shatila last week,about 460 to 3500 killed,by a Christian Phalangists party). Looking at the map
you could think yes, that area could be Palestine and west of that Israel? Israel will agree to borders (our state v's their state),but it wants secure and recognised borders!

The West Bank and Gaza Strip are disputed territories whose status can only be determined through negotiations. Occupied territories are territories captured in war from an established and recognised sovereign. As the West Bank and Gaza Strip were not under the legitimate and recognised sovereignty of any state prior to the Six Day War, they should not be considered occupied territories.

The people of Israel have ancient ties to the territories, as well as a continuous centuries-old presence there. These areas were the cradle of Jewish civilisation. Israel has rights in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, rights that the Palestinians deliberately disregard.

Despite persistent claims by the Palestinians and their supporters, occupation is not, in and of itself, illegal. It does not violate international law. Political motivations lie behind the claim that Israel's presence in the territories is illegal. Israel's presence in the territories is not illegal. ( cont)