blackbird

Even if you do not believe in the bible as a written revelation for God, and would therefore not believe God gave the Jews that promised land as recorded in the Bible, the historical fact is that Israel did exist in that area several thousands years ago, for a very long period of time, until Rome destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D. and the surviving Jews scattered to different countries. The land was fought over much in the past 2000 years. Then in the 20th century many Jews returned to the land and the nation of Israel was proclaimed in 1948. Incidentally, the city of Jerusalem is not even mentioned in the Quran while Jerusalem is mentioned frequently in the Old Testament, which is also basically the Jewish Bible and now part of the Christian Bible. I believe Mecca is mentioned in the Quran as an important centre for Islam. But Jerusalem is the eternal holy city for Jews right through history and the Old Testament. The Jewish temple had been built by King Solomon in Jerusalem. It was destroyed around the time of the Babylonian captivity. After the Jews were released from captivity and the King of Persia, Cyrus, allowed the captives to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. Then it was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. Subsequently after Islam was started in the 7th century, the Muslims built the Dome of the Rock right on top of the Jewish temple mount. That is what stand there today.

I never said Arabs in the region were not Semitic people.. I also never said people who call themselves Palestinians were not Semitic people. Jews, Palestinians, Arabs are all Semitic people. The definition of Semite -- a member of any of the peoples supposed to be descended from Shem, son Noah, including esp. the Jews, Arabs, Assyrians, and Phoenicians. (compact Oxford Canadian Dictionary). Dictionary definition of Arab -- a member of a Semitic people originally inhabiting Saud Arabia and the neighbouring countries, now the Middle East generally. Wikipedia definition of Palestine -- Quote Palestine (Arabic: فلسطين‎‎ Filasṭīn, Falasṭīn, Filisṭīn; Greek: Παλαιστίνη, Palaistinē; Latin: Palaestina; Hebrew: פלשתינה Palestina) is a geographic region in Western Asia between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. It is sometimes considered to include adjoining territories. The name was used by Ancient Greek writers, and was later used for the Roman province Syria Palaestina, the Byzantine Palaestina Prima, and the Islamic provincial district of Jund Filastin. The region comprises most of the territory claimed for the biblical regions known as the Land of Israel (Hebrew: ארץ־ישראל Eretz-Yisra'el), the Holy Land or Promised Land. Historically, it has been known as the southern portion of wider regional designations such as Canaan, Syria, ash-Sham, and the Levant. Situated at a strategic location between Egypt, Syria and Arabia, and the birthplace of Judaism and Christianity, the region has a long and tumultuous history as a crossroads for religion, culture, commerce, and politics. The region has been controlled by numerous peoples, including Ancient Egyptians, Canaanites, Israelites and Judeans, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Ancient Greeks and Macedonians, the Jewish Hasmonean Kingdom, Romans, Byzantines, the Arab Rashidun, Umayyad, Abbasid and Fatimid caliphates, Crusaders, Ayyubids, Mamluks, Mongols, Ottomans, the British, and modern Israelis, Jordanians, Egyptians and Palestinians. The boundaries of the region have changed throughout history. Today, the region comprises the State of Israel and the Palestinian territories in which the State of Palestine was declared. Unquote I hope this information will be helpful. I realize it does not answer the question as to whether the State of Israel is a legitimate state or not. One's view of that will probably depend on one's belief about biblical history and how the state came to be re-established in 1948.

Generally I think the reason government doesn't like property rights, is because it gives the citizens some clout or defence against an arbitrary government and forces the government to justify on a legal basis why they want to take away someone's property. Government would rather see citizens with no property rights to make governing a lot easier.

I think if private property were recognized in the Constitution, they could easily have an exception allowing government to buy private property for reasonable market value for the purpose of pipelines, infrastructure, railways, etc providing there was a mechanism to determine that it was a necessity in the general public's or nations interest. Private property should be in the Constitution to guarantee protection of property owners from such things as politicians negotiating away private property to settle native land claims because a handful of natives decide they want a share in some gold discovered or other natural resource on some farmer's field or in some small town. There could be all kinds of scenarios where someone's property could be threatened. We live in a society which has a Constitution and Charter of Rights and countless laws and precedents that make it a field day for lawyers and special interest groups to make claims. If there is one thing we have learned, it is that unless something is spelled out clearly and specifically, it is up for grabs by countless lawyers and special interest groups. Another thing that should raise alarm bells with Canadians is the Calls to Action, a long document with incredibly demands on Canada, as a result of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report. People should read the demands for action. If the government actually accepted all these demands, Canada would be totally bankrupt and the country would be turned over to the aboriginal people completely. It is one major reason we need property rights because without it in the Constitution, Canadians who own property could be under threat in the future. Considering some of the Supreme Court Rulings in recent years and the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions Report: Calls to Action , there are good reasons for Canadians to raise alarm bells about the right to private property in Canada. Calls to Action is full of demands that should be of major concern. For example, Quote 47. We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to repudiate concepts used to justify European sovereignty over Indigenous peoples and lands, such as the Doctrine of Discovery ... unquote http://www.trc.ca/websites/trcinstitution/File/2015/Findings/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf

There are many website with the history of Israel. This is just one. I cannot say it is perfect as I am not a historian on Israel. But it seems reasonable. There is a concise chronology chart which you can view easily. It goes back at least 3000 years. http://history-of-israel.org/history/time_line.php Incidentally the name Palestinian was invented by the Roman Empire about 2000 years ago as a sort of poke at the Jews. It came from the name of the Philistines, Israel's ancient enemy in the Old Testament. Recall the story of David and Goliath. The Palestinians are simply Arabs who live throughout the various countries in the region.

I asked you a simple question, does Israel have a right to exist? You are being evasive. It is dishonest to post all that info and then not answer the simple question. It's part of the anti Israel strategy I guess to not admit they have a right to exist.

You won't answer so I take that as a no. You don't recognize Israel's right to exist then.

Convoluted answer. About as clear as mud. Do you accept Israel's right to exist?

To be fair, I just watched your video. I view it as a Palestinian propaganda video. Historically the land of Israel belongs to Israel. Would you accept that Israel has a right to exist?

I'll take a look at it if it isn't a long, drawn out thing.

Because I am speaking to other people. I don't really usually try to debate with you because it would be fruitless. I would like to but would we ever agree on anything? Have you found anyone who agrees with you?

The Federal Green Party adopted a motion to support BDS at one of it's conventions, but this gave themselves an anti Israel reputation and their leader, Elizabeth May, somehow got the party to agree to some kind of backtracking or modification of the motion. I am not sure what their position is now. I think BDS is basically an anti Israel organization. Most of the UN motions concerning the Israel-Palestinian conflict have been against Israel. I don't see any way this issue being settled until the Palestinians all recognize Israel's right to exist.

You have to admit you are quite predictable yourself. If I gave you a rational opinion about Israel, I am sure you would not accept a word of it, sigh.......which makes it next to impossible to discuss with you as much as I would like to. It's a shame really. If you could give a basis for your beliefs and why you think the way you do, maybe we could have a discussion, but you won't even do that much.

Glad you found it helpful. Always like to be informative.

A lot of people think man-made global warming is fake including a lot of scientists. People like Trudeau committed 2.65 billion dollars of Canadian taxpayer money to third world countries to help them deal with climate change, without asking Canadians. Not to mention the vast amounts of money he gives away to other countries for various causes dear to his heart. At least Trump is standing up for the people, unlike Trudeau.

The BDS movement is defined on this link. https://bdsmovement.net/what-is-bds Basically it is an anti Israel Palestinian organization that tries to use boycotts against Israel.

Makes one wonder if this is a systemic problem in the airline industry or just an isolated individual. I have flown occassionaly on provincial routes in Canada, but have never seen any bad behaviour by flight attendants.

Argentina is having demonstrations now as well. Governments that seize companies and intervene in the economy in a drastic way seem to have more trouble than others that let the free market run freely. I think it said on the news that Venezuela has at least 25% unemployment. Marxism, socialism (state intervention in the economy) has proven to be a failure where ever it is attempted. I see the problem as boiling down to respect for private ownership of property and private investment. Governments that do not respect this principle seem to create chaos and social unrest. The marxist revolution in Cuba 57 years ago may have had a temporary effect of spreading the poverty around to everyone. But the lasting effect has been a much lower standard of living and loss of freedom and repression of tens of thousands of people. Only lately have things improved marginally because the government is allowing people to have small businesses and operate some free enterprise. This all comes down to biblical principles of respect for private property, respect for individuals efforts and respect for individual rights. Once government tramples on those rights, people lose hope and despair sets in, distrust of government because they see those in authority lining their own pockets at the expense of the general population.

These demonstrations ostensibly in support of "science", taking place today, Apr. 22, seem to have a strong political overtone. Most of it seems to be anti-Trump protests with various liberal or leftist causes thrown in such as climate change, anti Trump cutting budget in certain areas. I would say they are not much more than anti-Trump or anti-Trump agenda protests, which is nothing new.

There are estimated between 50,000 and over 100,000 illegals in Canada. How is it that people who came in and stayed in Canada without papers, or without any legal status are not committing an illegal act? Is this illegal occupation of Canada being encouraged by cities in Canada that declare themselves as sanctuary cities? Is it being encouraged by Trudeau who openly invited migrants to come in?

Altai, the Pope is a very influential political figure. The Vatican is actually a tiny country inside Rome and is completely independent. But because the Vatican has hundreds of millions of Roman Catholics around the world in many countries, it has a lot of influence and political power. It is also one of the richest organizations in the world with billions of dollars in wealth (real estate and money).

It seems like the "open" political types are losing ground in northern Europe. The subject of Muslim immigration and terrorism has become a hot issue in France right now and the election is tomorrow. After years of liberals and leftists having their way a sizeable portion of the population seems to be waking up and reacting. We saw this in the U.S. election and the Brexit vote in the UK. There seems to be a populist movement of nationalism spreading across northern Europe. Marine le Pen seems to be in strong position in the election in France. She wants to stop or reduce immigration and pull France out of the European Union. This could be the end of the EU as we know it since France and Germany are the major members keeping it going. Not sure how the election will turn out but we may find out tomorrow evening. What is puzzling is why ISIS would conduct terrorist attacks during the election campaign and stir up more anti Muslim sentiment in France. Why would ISIS and Islamic radicals seem to want to help a right wing nationalist party and leader like Marine Le Pen to win?

Isn't it odd that in a country like Canada which covers a vast geographic area with a very low population per square kilometer yet has a housing crisis in the major cities. House price are really through the roof. What average Canadian can afford to buy a home for a million dollars? In B.C. part of the problem is most of the province is very mountainous and there are limited valleys where people can live because of the need for employment. The Fraser Valley where greater Vancouver is situated has some good farmland that is constantly under pressure to be turned into some form of development or industry. I feel sorry for young people in the lower mainland to need to find a home and need to work somewhere in the lower mainland. The government has neglected this looming crisis for decades. We also don't have much choice in the coming election. We have the Liberals which mean more of the same but they favour the Trans Mountain Pipeline which I think is a good thing. The NDP I think is a poor choice because of their anti resource development ideology. They oppose the Trans Mountain Pipeline into Burnaby. I think this will cost them the election again. At least the Liberals are pro development and industry which means lots of jobs for B.C. workers even if they can't solve the high cost of homes in the lower mainland.

Seems to me it would be a good thing to include the right to own private property in the Constitution. Without that right, it makes it easier for the government to take away someone's property or maybe for a native band to claim it in court and have a judge take away someone's property.

God did talk to Abraham and perhaps was testing his faith. Many of the writers of the Bible died as martyrs for what they saw and believed. Nobody would die if it was phony or a lie.