Yes we can, Obama! History of Zionism and British Mandate of Palestine
Jews living in the Diaspora have long aspired to return to Zion and the Land of Israel. That hope and yearning was articulated in the Bible, and is a central theme in the Jewish prayer book. Beginning in the 12th century, Catholic persecution of Jews led to a steady stream leaving Europe to settle in the Holy Land, increasing in numbers after Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492. During the 16th century large communities struck roots in the Four Holy Cities, and in the second half of the 18th century, entire Hasidic communities from eastern Europe settled in the Holy Land.

The first large wave of modern immigration, known as the First Aliyah, began in 1881, as Jews fled pogroms in Eastern Europe. While the Zionist movement already existed in theory, Theodor Herzl is credited with founding political Zionism, a movement which sought to establish a Jewish state in the Land of Israel, by elevating the Jewish Question to the international plane.

In 1896, Herzl published Der Judenstaat (The Jewish State), offering his vision of a future state; the following year he presided over the first World Zionist Congress.

The Second Aliyah (1904–1914), began after the Kishinev pogrom. Some 40,000 Jews settled in Palestine. Both the first and second waves of migrants were mainly Orthodox Jews, but those in the Second Aliyah included socialist pioneers who established the kibbutz movement. During World War I, British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour issued what became known as the Balfour Declaration, which "view[ed] with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people." The Jewish Legion, a group of battalions composed primarily of Zionist volunteers, assisted in the British conquest of Palestine. Arab opposition to the plan led to the 1920 Palestine riots and the formation of the Jewish organization known as the Haganah (meaning "The Defense" in Hebrew), from which the Irgun and Lehi split off.

In 1922, the League of Nations granted the United Kingdom a mandate over Palestine for the express purpose of "placing the country under such political, administrative and economic conditions as will secure the establishment of the Jewish national home". The population of the area at this time was predominantly Muslim Arab, while the largest urban area in the region, Jerusalem, was predominantly Jewish.

Jewish immigration continued with the Third Aliyah (1919–1923) and Fourth Aliyah (1924–1929), which together brought 100,000 Jews to Palestine. In the wake of the Jaffa riots in the early days of the Mandate, the British restricted Jewish immigration and territory slated for the Jewish state was allocated to Transjordan. The rise of Nazism in the 1930s led to the Fifth Aliyah, with an influx of a quarter of a million Jews. This influx resulted in the Arab revolt of 1936–1939 and led the British to cap immigration with the White Paper of 1939. With countries around the world turning away Jewish refugees fleeing the Holocaust, a clandestine movement known as Aliyah Bet was organized to bring Jews to Palestine. By the end of World War II, Jews accounted for 33% of the population of Palestine, up from 11% in 1922.

1948 Palestine war and Declaration of Independence (Israel)
After 1945 the United Kingdom became embroiled in an increasingly violent conflict with the Jews. In 1947, the British government withdrew from commitment to the Mandate of Palestine, stating it was unable to arrive at a solution acceptable to both Arabs and Jews. The newly created United Nations approved the UN Partition Plan (United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181) on November 29, 1947, dividing the country into two states, one Arab and one Jewish. Jerusalem was to be designated an international city – a corpus separatum – administered by the UN to avoid conflict over its status. The Jewish community accepted the plan, but the Arab League and Arab Higher Committee rejected it.

Regardless, the State of Israel was proclaimed on May 14, 1948, one day before the expiry of the British Mandate for Palestine. Not long after, five Arab countries – Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq – attacked Israel, launching the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, although conflict between the Jews and Arabs of Palestine started earlier.

After a year of fighting, a ceasefire was declared and temporary borders, known as the Green Line, were established. Jordan annexed what became known as the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and Egypt took control of the Gaza Strip. Israel was admitted as a member of the United Nations on May 11, 1949. During the war 711,000 Arabs, according to UN estimates, or about 80% of the previous Arab population, fled the country. The fate of the Palestinian refugees today is a major point of contention in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In the early years of the state, the Labor Zionist movement led by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion dominated Israeli politics. These years were marked by mass immigration of Holocaust survivors and an influx of Jews persecuted in Arab lands. The population of Israel rose from 800,000 to two million between 1948 and 1958. Most arrived as refugees with no possessions and were housed in temporary camps known as ma'abarot. By 1952, over 200,000 immigrants were living in these tent cities. The need to solve the crisis led Ben-Gurion to sign a reparations agreement with West Germany that triggered mass protests by Jews angered at the idea of Israel "doing business" with Germany.

During the 1950s, Israel was frequently attacked by Palestinian fedayeen, mainly from the Egyptian-occupied Gaza Strip. In 1956, Israel joined a secret alliance with The United Kingdom and France aimed at recapturing the Suez Canal, which the Egyptians had nationalized (see the Suez Crisis). Despite capturing the Sinai Peninsula, Israel was forced to retreat due to pressure from the United States and the Soviet Union in return for guarantees of Israeli shipping rights in the Red Sea and the Canal.
At the start of the following decade, Israel captured Adolf Eichmann, an architect of the Final Solution hiding in Argentina, and brought him to trial. The trial had a major impact on public awareness of the Holocaust, and to date Eichmann remains the only person sentenced to death by Israeli courts.


So where did they come from? none of them was from the holy land

David Ben-Gurion - 1st Prime Minister of Israel
Born 16 October 1886 - Płońsk, Poland Russian Empire
Died 1 December 1973 Israel

Moshe Sharett - 2nd Prime Minister of Israel
Born 15 October 1894 - Kherson, Ukraine
Died 7 July 1965 - 7 July 1965 Israel

Levi Eshkol - 3rd Prime Minister of Israel
Born 25 October 1895 - Oratov, Ukraine
Died 26 February 1969 - Jerusalem, Israel

Golda Meir - 4th Prime Minister of Israel
Born: 3 May 1898 Kiev, Russian Empire
Died: 8 December 1978/ Jerusalem, Israel

For further information also view http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NwWLL4LB58

Yes we can, Obama! Re: #47
Rashid_s
Those who don't know when, how & why Israel was created as well as those who make such statements as "allah himself (since he doesn't exist)", Na'aoozo billah; what do they know, one can only pray to Allah SWT to guide those who are misguided and astray.
It requires an altogether different level of intellect to understand and have faith in the unseen, while today such people are discussing matters such as the founding or existence of Israel without slightest knowledge as to who, how, when and why about it although such facts are well documented hundreds of thousands of times.

The Way Out Re: # 2
The Arabic you fail to understand makes you and us different, Pakistan ka Matlab haye La Illaha Ill'lal'laah, there is no god but Allah SWT and this is the dividing line which required the creation of a homeland for those who believe in the above.
Why don't you stick some cotton in your ears and stop listening to our shouting and get busy with your own chores instead of interfering with every thing a Pakistani wishes to discuss amongst themselves?
Most certainly that proves you are interested beyond reasonable cause, and, the issue of Pakistan and it's issues bears a great deal of importance for your kind.
If Pakistan is not all that important then you would be engaged in something more useful, however it is beyond your approach so shut up and get busy improving the needs of Hindustan.

The Way Out Re: # 13
What is important is the theme and if JFK felt that it fits the occasion and conveyed these powerful words, regardless of the speechwriter these become the proprietorship of JFK.
If someone knows who the speechwriter is/was, what difference that makes, it is the spirit that counts.
I don't waste my time to pay attention to speechwriters since they are already paid for their services which they are hired for.
However, if finding and locating the author of given speech is your concern you may wish to acquire & read through:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0805072136/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link

Yes we can, Obama! Re: # 27
I don't really care who says what but at the least what one says should be in context with an ongoing discussion thread or else it is a lost cause.
Chowkidars should be bright enough to know who to ban for what I don't set their rules nor do I recommend anyone to be banned, out of place comments only reflect upon the forum and the one who posts those, even hatred should be inflicted where it belongs.
Feel free to exercise your privilege.

Yes we can, Obama! Re: # 18
Why in the whatever Hinduism or any other faith requires to be discussed irrelevantly in this thread?
Obama is not Hindu nor is Rahm!

Yes we can, Obama! Re: # 20
He volunteered in the Israeli forces during the Gulf Storm not to fight for or on behalf of USA

Yes we can, Obama! Re: # 5
Eyecontact sb
True and as I mention in # 23 anyone would perform better than Bush the cattle auctioneer and Cheney the aspiring Americana believer, and, of course Obama will most definitely will be a lot better leader in the white house compared to these two.

Yes we can, Obama! Anyone would do better than the tail wagging Bush & Chenney

Yes we can, Obama! Re: # 3
Regardless of what we think or speculate, there are certain limitations a US president can maneuver within prescribed parameters. The "national" policies are prescribed in long term plans of action and no president deviates from those plans for the so-called national interest.

Obama is Better for Jinnah\'s Pakistan Re: # 174
Tahir sahib
Importing wont do any good, this will have to come from within; there is no shortage of intellect in-house, it is the sincerity and loyalty with a high level of nationalistic spirits that will only provide for the nation.
Regardless of the type and level of adversarial relationship with our neighbor, I can't withhold the appreciation I have for their nationalist attitude and sincerity to their homeland and it's development.
Of course corruption of various sorts prevails in every corner of the world yet only the nations that demonstrate the nationalistic spirits like India and few others can get ahead.

Obama is Better for Jinnah\'s Pakistan What in the heavens anyone expects Obama to be better for and that too Pakistan, a country that has not produced one single citizen that is better for itself, they have a track record of proving to be better for themselves only.
Obama is for USA and if he is expected to be better it is principally for his nation, it is the foolish most thing to expect him to be good for this country or that country.
In the course of business otherwise also known as "national interest of USA" if he finds necessary to have a soft and friendly approach towards another country that is all one should expect.

The Way Out
"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
J.F. Kennedy January 20, 1961. In his inaugural address
He also asked the nations of the world to join together to fight what he called the "common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself." In closing, he expanded on his desire for greater internationalism: "Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you."

Balochistan Quake Survivors Await Relief Re: # 9
nkg
Talk about yourself, how much are you willing to contribute?

Balochistan Quake Survivors Await Relief [3 Posted by BJ2 on November 2, 2008 3:04:30 pm
[I wonder why overseas Pakistanis haven't opened their wallets yet]

The reality is those wallets can not go very far -- assuming the donations do not get siphoned off in the middle anyway. As with most catastrophes, the victims end up doing most for themselves. That's the sad, cruel, reality of living in a part of the world where life comes rather cheap.
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#2 Posted by Kamath on November 2, 2008 2:08:06 pm
I wonder why overseas Pakistanis haven't opened their wallets yet for earthquake relief. Could it be a relief fatigue?- too few people have died?
Kamath ]

Aid & workers are on the ground and pockets have been open from the minute the news broke, but it is not enough, should anyone wish to make a commitment please contact the websites listed here and RabiaWasti's post below.
This is the time to act and not finger pointing, so if you are willing to contribute in the name of humanity take your first step, since people can't wait too long for govt's assistance to be gathered and used.

Aid arrives in Pakistan earthquake zone
31 October 2008

Aid is beginning to arrive in the devastated Ziyarat and Pishin region of North West Pakistan hit by a 6.4 earthquake in the small hours of yesterday morning.

IR aid workers are on the ground coordinating a response to assist the survivors of the disaster. An estimated 233 people lost their lives and over 200 people were injured during the earthquake that struck at 4am on Wednesday morning close to Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan.

IR is assisting 300 families, around 2,400 people, by providing food items, blankets and kitchen utensils and is working on logistics to deliver aid to the worst affected areas. Some roads remain cut off and remote villages are inaccessible due to falling debris blocking paths and roads caused by landslides. The region has suffered a number of aftershocks, which has created panic and sent thousands of people onto the streets in fear for their lives.

Aid agencies are prioritising the purchase of heavy winterised tents as temperatures in the earthquake zone plummet to minus 2 degrees with even harsher weather and snowfall expected in the coming weeks.

"Our emergency response team is on the ground piecing together the information we need to coordinate a full response to this disaster. Already we are receiving reports of desperate people who have lost their loved ones and homes to this disaster. The immediate priority is to ensure that people are given shelter as the bitter winter sets in” said Muhammed Niyaz, an IR aid worker in Pakistan.

IR has launched an appeal to assist earthquake survivors. For more information on the appeal or IR’s response to the disaster visit: www.islamic-relief.com

Balochistan Quake Survivors Await Relief It may account for an speculation however I don't think Govt. at this time is either able to handle the catastrophe financially or professionally.
People have suffered enough at the hands of govt. while NGO's are observed to perform much more efficiently and effectively.
Govt. should have by now mobilized all it's arms and should have progressed to a point where no one is left unattended by now.
Four days have went by while the news from the ground zero is not very positive in terms of aid to victims.
Every thing that the govt and the armed forces have the people of Pakistan when suffering from such national disaster in cold months have the first right to any supplies and rations.
Children are known to be suffering from pneumonia in large numbers, there is shortage of food and utensils as well as the victims need the source for heat in cold weather.
The defunct govt. appears to be an absolute failure in this regard and it would be best to allow the NGO's to carry out the necessary aid work while the govt can wake up from its deep sleep as and when it finds necessary to depart from the bureaucratic bulletins appealing for aid which that they have just began to issue.