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From: davew@shark.UUCP (Dave Williams)
Newsgroups: net.followup
Subject: Re: Terrorism and TWA 847
Message-ID: <1474@shark.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 22-Jul-85 12:44:49 EDT
Article-I.D.: shark.1474
Posted: Mon Jul 22 12:44:49 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 25-Jul-85 04:57:45 EDT
References: <600003@ur-univax> <9700099@uiucdcs> <719@lsuc.UUCP>
Reply-To: davew@shark.UUCP (Dave Williams)
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Graphic Workstations Division
Lines: 50

I thought I would add my two cents worth (or is that shekels worth?)
about the situation in the Middle East. A little history may be in
order.
Turkey had control of the area comprising what is now Israel, Lebanon,
Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia for more than 300 years. After
WWI the French and English were given mandates for several of these
countries. England was given a mandate for Palestine and Trans-Jordan
and the French were given Syria. A portion of Syria was partitioned
off and became Lebanon. Lebanon was to be a haven for Christian
Arabs. The population was about 2/3 Christian at the time of
partition in 1922. The fact that Lebanon was part of Syria explains why
Syria wishes to keep control of the area. Over the years the Christian
majority has been eroded by inward immigration of Muslim Arabs, such as
Palestinians, a higher birth rate among the Muslims and an outward
migration of Christians to other countries, such as the U.S. The French
mandate collapsed in 1941 as a result of WWII.
In order for the British to inlist the aid of the Jewish population in
Palestine during WWI, the British Goverment established the Balfour
Declaration stating a Jewish Homeland should be established in Palestine.
Modern Israel became a country in 1948 when Palestine was partitioned
between Israel and Jordan. Many Arabs fled the area at the urging of their
leaders who promised to drive the Jews out. This diidn't happen and as
a result thousands of Palestinian Arabs were left homeless, living in
refugee camps under deplorable conditions. These people became pawns
used by the Arab leaders who used the Palestinian cause as a
means to keep their own power.
While Lebanon was officially at war with Israel since 1948, its leaders
had little interest in pursuing outright hostilities. When the 1967
war broke out and Syria lost the Golan Heights, the PLO and other
terrorist organizations started using Southern Lebanon as a base of
activities. The PLO also helped subvert the government of Lebanon
so they could use that country as a base of operation.
What is needed is a homeland for the Arab Palestinians. The West Bank
area might provide the best place for this. The problem is that Syria
would probably never agree to let this happen as they want political
instability to continue until their goals are accomplished. Those
goals are the return of the Golan Heights and total domination of
Lebanon as well as the complete distruction of Israel. These goals
are shared by The Soviet Union. If you are a student of Bible
Prophecy you know this will not happen.
-- 


                                    Dave Williams
                                    Tektronix, Inc.
                                    Graphic Workstations Division

    "The 6000 Family"
"The workstations that made
    Wilsonville famous."