The Palestinian-Israeli War: Where It Came From, and How to End It

Submitted by Dr. Steve Carol (United States), Mar 23, 2006 at 12:58

Dear Dr. Pipes:

I am in total agreement with your article. However it seems you have fallen into the Arab propaganda trap by referring to the conflict as a "Palestinian – Israel War." The Arab/Muslim world, with encouragement of the then Soviet Union, sought (successfully it seems) to role-reverse the conflict to Israel's disadvantage.

It has been, from the first attacks in the 1880s, an Arab war against the Jewish (later Israeli) presence in the Land of Israel. In that proper context is how it should be referred. By now (especially since the 1970s) calling it a Palestinian-Israel war, places the "poor Palestinians" in the role of " David," armed only with stones, against the military "Goliath" of the IDF.This is the Arab/Muslim attempt make the conflict appear smaller, when in fact it has now grown larger with more non-Arab (e.g. Iran) states aligned against Israel.

We should not perpetuate this Arab sponsored concept. Overwhelmingly the Arab/Muslim world seeks the destruction of Israel, who rightly, has been the "David" all along.

Please continue your excellent work. I thoroughly enjoy your articles and your appearances on television. You may be interested to know that I have complied a list of vocabulary (used by the Arab/Muslim enemies of Israel and those words,which I beleive, should be properly used when writing and speaking about the Arab/Muslim War against Israel. If you like, I can forward a copy to you, if you send me an e-mail link.

Sincerely,

Dr. Steve Carol
Prof. of History (retired)
Official historian- Middle East Radio Forum www.middleeastradioforum.org
Senior Fellow Center for Advanced Middle East Studies

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