Some joyous tidings from Israel

[Marshal Murat]

A desert?

Is this serious? I can't tell. I mean, seriously?
I'll admit that Palestine isn't a desert like Saudi Arabia, but we aren't talking about lush fields of wheat either with rolling green hills. Palestine is rocky, hilly, desert in the south, and has a Jordan River Basin that is lush with local water.

Source 1

Arab population also increased at an exceptional rate. According to records, about 18,000 non-Jews entered Palestine between 1930 and 1939 when there were more or less reliable figures. In the same period, about 5,000 non-Jews left. This does not count illegal immigration of course, or immigration prior to 1930. Economic analyses show that by the 1930s the standard of living of Palestinian Arabs was approximately twice that of Arabs in surrounding countries, whereas in Ottoman Turkish times it was lower than in surrounding countries.

Really, prior to Israel, Palestinian history centers on Jerusalem as the site of Muhammad's ascent into heaven. I'm sure the great poets and mathematicians of Islam visited or lived in Palestine, but Palestine wasn't and isn't known as a source of geniuses or philosophers.

Source 2

The first three centuries of Ottoman rule isolated Palestine from outside influence. The discovery of sea routes to the East began to erode the importance of the Middle East to commerce. In 1831, Muhammad Ali, the Egyptian viceroy nominally subject to the Ottoman sultan, occupied Palestine. Under him and his son the region was opened to European influence. Ottoman control was reasserted in 1840, but Western influence continued. The Ottoman tax system was ruinous and did much to keep the land underdeveloped and the population small.

So don't give me crap about not understanding all about Palestine. Clearly we both have areas that need some growth, but seriously, grow up.

But to get back to the original topic.
I can only hope that Israel has accomplished it's goals. We've let them bomb Gaza, take it to the streets, and prevent rocket attacks for the next couple weeks, maybe months. Ceasefire that both sides can agree on.

I would be the first to suggest that Israel allow an open border, somewhere. I don't understand why Egypt is so very anti-Gaza. Explanation please?