Thank you naomi, for clarifying my motivation. Although it is you that only views things through the prism of "religion". I note that I did not relate in any of my posts any sort of religious views, but, apparently that's not sufficient in
your view.
You mention 'integrating' with their neighbors... and you don't find it strange that it's not he Israelis that have, as a foundation, total annihilation of the opposing country? The Arab population of Israel is now at about 24%... I find that pretty amazing, integration wise. don't you?
Dr. Flith states Britain abstained from the vote on the Balfour Declaration.... simply stated, what have you been drinking? After aigning the Declaration in 1917, the House of Lords objected by 60/29 to reject the mandate over Palestine, but... but that vote was ignored by the British Government and the Mandate was fully accepted (Source:
Quigley 2005).
Further to naomi's objection, the only truly religious zeal in Israel today can be called the "religion of security". It's a well known fact that Israel is primarily a secular nation today with only a fraction of its population still actively [Zionist[i] in nature. Many of the secularists do observe certain holidays but it's only the ultra-Orthodox one sees (even here in the U.S.) in the long black coats and black hats who insist on Biblical Jewish customs being the norm.
Wharton refers to "thousands" objecting to National service when that's not true either. There is and always has been objection from the ultra-Orthodox at being drafted into service and, up to now they have been expempted, creating more tensions between them and the at-large Secularists... so much so that special considerations have been granted to objectors, incuding a large number of women and the numbers of both have increased.
Additionally, although the Arab Israeli's are exmpted from service in the IDF, many volunteer for duties other than combat.
Again, naomi cites opinions on the "sad" nature of Israel without benefit of example... here's one though: "Israel ranked 14th in the United Nations’ first World Happiness Report. The list is headed by Denmark, Finland, Norway and the Netherlands, the paradises of political correctness, welfare, anti-war, ultra-liberal and anti-nationalistic feelings, beacons which, according to the Global Peace Index, topped the list of the most “peaceful” places in the world." (Source: OCED Better Life Index). (America is ranked 17th, the UK 22th)( Seen here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Happiness_Report ).
Finally, it appears the stuey is suggesting that Great Britain (for hom I hold enormous respect) has never been involved in genocide... if so, why am I, an
American the only one so far, to call him on that historical error of huge proportions?
Read here for one reference:
http://www.opendemocracy.net/martin-shaw/britain-and-genocide ...
In the past few years there have been five Israeli Nobel Prize winners.