There certainly was unrest in the land of “Palestine” before the declaration of Israeli independence. I did say relatively peaceful, since that period of time was not as violent and bloody as both of the more recent intefadas which is what I referring to.

Thank-you for the input.

Of course not. Because there was no such thing as a “Palestinian” in the sense that you’re using the term. But there were Palestinian Jews and Palestinian Arabs. And there was indeed a conflict between them.

Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the Arabs of Palestine rioted and massacred hundreds of Jews, thanks in large part to the incitement of their leader, Haj Amin al-Husseini (Arafat’s uncle), a devotee of Adolf Hitler. In one day in 1929, 67 Jews were brutally massacred by Arabs in Hebron. And let’s not forget about the “Great Arab Revolt” of 1936-1939.

The conflict most certainly did not start in 1948 with Israel’s declaration of independence. The Arabs — who celebrated yesterday the 60th anniversary of their “nakba” (catastrophe — what they consider Israel’s founding to be — with more rioting) — have been committed to wiping out Israel long before the state was established. British-controlled Palestine was definitely not quiet. And 60 years later Israel still faces the same enemies who seek its destruction. Only now some of them sit in the Knesset (e.g. Ahmed Tibi).