Often, Israel is portrayed on a map with no scale and the “Palestinian” areas are shown – a contrast to foster the false image of the “Palestinians” as “David” and “immense” Israel as a “Goliath.”
NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. Below is a map of the Arab/Muslim world that is arrayed against Israel. There is no question which nation is the David and which mass is the Goliath. Have no doubt that the conflict is NOT one of borders, territories, “settlements,” or “refugees.” Simply put, and backed by history, is the fact that the Arab/Muslim world will not recognize the sovereignty of any minority religious or ethnic group – Jewish, Christian, Kurd, Ba’hai, Coptic as equals in what they (the Arab/Muslim world) perceive as “their region” – i.e. Dar al-Islam.
It's tiny Israel (just about the size of New Jersey, one of the smallest of the 50 U.S. states), trying to exist as a normal country like any other, with its citizens just going about their lives like everyone else – working, raising families, studying, listening to music, playing sports, etc. – while some of its most creative minds try to make the world a better place for all.
It's ALSO the nation that has been dubbed an “illegal occupier”, the stumbling block to peace and a threat to its neighbors in the Middle East, throughout decades of baseless, hate-filled propaganda. In actuality, it is surrounded by neighbors who are constantly inciting hatred and violence against it and working towards its destruction, while much of the rest of the world, including politicians and the media, tries to cut it in half and make it even more vulnerable!
You should study the above map carefully and remember where the world’s only Jewish State is located...in the near future it may not be visible with the naked eye -- or even with glasses!
Dr. Steven Carol
Prof. of History (retired)
Official Historian and
Associate Producer of
Middle East Radio Forum
