[Abcdxxxx]

Preechr, Here's the problem with you breakdown of the conflict: It hinges on a 25 year period where the Palestinians united simply to play for the cameras, and manipulate the history books...and as a result, I guess you're buying into the mythology they've laid out for you.

Your timeline between the Intifada (1987) and our first "foray" into Lebanon (Sabra Shatila, 1982. Beirut barrack bombings, 1983) is way off. Arafat represented at best only 20,000 Arabs calling themselves Palestinians in 1973 when Israeli peaceniks first called for talks.

The meaning of intifada is to shake off, awake, or if you stretch it, they'll say it means the struggle, or ultimately "uprising". The was no true desire to "seperate" so much as milk the system. Their jobs, and social care was provided by Israel well into the Oslo era. Even today, Israel provides them with utilities without pay. These are Arabs who never had such ammenities before Israel's existance. Most importantly, there weren't millions of Palestinians living in the conquered territories 20 years ago.

That first intifada was a Fatah affair with Arafat organizing it from Tunisia, using Iraqi and Saudi money. Additional support came from the Arab League which made the PLO a member in the 70's. It was the first time they sent children to the front lines, and don't mistake it, even the rocks were imported. Hamas came on the scene just before that first Intifada, when they refused to take part in the planned strike days and organized their own attacks. There was nothing honorable or organized about it. Four Palestinians in Jabalya got hit and killed by a car, and the rumor was it was revenge for an Israel that had been stabbed the day before. Three days later, Palestinian teens were throwing Molotov cocktails, and the IRA were teaching pipe bomb making classes. The Unified Leadership of the Intifada, as the organization was called, was the PLO.

Anyway I guess we can pretend that Mel Gibson sparked debate too, eh?