Story combined history lesson, military tale

Here is a military quip and a history lesson combined into one.

During World War II, Jewish people were gassed to death in the millions along with undesirables, priests, gypsies,  criminals, etc.

They were also shunned by European countries. Starting in 1910, some Jewish people recognized this and went to what we now know as the Palestine area. But the Arabs in this area didn't want them either.

Both the Arabs and the Jewish people demanded the right to this British-controlled territory. The native Palestinian people didn't want the Jews there and wanted the immigration curtailed.

Then in 1929, outright fighting occurred. In an attempt to quell the small war, Britain then tried to limit Jewish immigration, but during World War II because of the Holocaust and the killing of Jewish people, they kept coming.

At that time, radical Jewish groups engaged in terrorism against British forces. At the end of the war, the United States agreed with the Jewish stand, but with Britain, the U.S. could not reach a solution.

Consequently, the problem was referred to the United Nations, which then voted to have Palestine divided into two states, Palestine and Israel despite firm opposition from the Arabs.

Sadly, the war between Palestine and Israel continues to this day.

Roger Gregory is a Vietnam veteran and business owner in Priest River.