In 1914 Jews made up less than 8% of Palestine's population. 75% of those Jews lived in Jerusalem. By 1948 there were 600,000 Jews in Palestine. Approximately a third of the population. However Israel received 55% of the land. While no Jews were displaced, perhaps 800,000 native Palestinians were displaced. Fair? Equitable? Please tell me.
It is pretty easy to separate the argument of the Jews having to much influence in Germany from anti-Semitism. Hitler and his cronies, like most politicians, understood the nature of followers. Most followers think in black and white terminology, they struggle with abstract concepts, they struggle with nuance, and the fact that people are a mix of both good and bad. So the leadership begins the process of demonizing an "other." This process of demonization has the payoff of rallying a group together in a common goal, solidarity, and cohesiveness. No one can doubt that Germany rose to power rather quickly following the defeat of WWI. By focusing on the Jews as the cause of the problems of Germany, it allowed the people not to have to change themselves but rather believe that they were not reason Germany had issues...it was the Jews fault! It is a good trick, it works when the masses are followers and don't think beyond the surface layer, wanting to blame the "other." So anti-Semitism was easy to spread, just like anti-Islam, or anti-American among the Muslim world. I see it as all the same, same techniques, same strategy, charismatic leaders, etc. This blame of all Jews (which of course is irrational) or blame of all Muslims grows like wildfire among those who feel powerless and are looking for a simple explanation...very similar to those who blame Islam for all the problems. Islam has become to many what the Jews were to the Nazis, a complete all or nothing situation, where the only solution is extermination of all Muslims. So now we have a president of this country who says we are good, and they are evil. We are innocent, and they are guilty. We don't have to change a thing, we just have to exterminate them, and let's do this with the twinges of an authoritarian mindset. Let's call anyone who doesn't agree a traitor, let's call them treasonous for not supporting their thinking. What I see, with dddooo as a classic example, and perhaps WAEL012000 on the other side of the coin speaking in "we are 100% innocent and you are to blame" tone. No sense that both sides are part of the problem, both sides have a hand in this conflict. Both sides have a case, but both sides are 100% guilty of extremist thinking and fanaticism.
What does it all have to do with 1914? It's not the fault of the jews that Turkish and British authorities allowed them to immigrate to Palestine and buy land, is it? It's not their fault that local arabs were selling them land, you can't sell property and then start screaming it's mine, can you? In 1947/1948 when Palestine was partitioned Jews made up 33% of the population and they were there 100% legally. They did get 55% of the land, whether it was more than they were "fairly" entitled to I can't say, the quality of the land they got is as important as the square mileage, if I remember correctly a big part of that 55% was a desert (Negev Desert) but I am certainly not an expert. At any rate claiming that they stole the land is unfair and incorrect. Jeez, jews paid for the land and Israel was created by the UN, that's way more than can be said about the US, Canada, Australia, the entire South America and quite a few other countries.
It seems to me that somebody who would use a technique like stirring up anti-semitic sentiments among the populace for political gain is also an anti-semite. Why else would he choose this group unless he himself did not care about them. Once Hitler was in power, what was his reason for continuing with the extermination of the Jewish population? He could have taken everything they had and left them with their lives at the very least.
Stole? We fought hard kicking their asses out. Just glad the savages didn't have Sea Bearing Canoes and automatic rifles before we did or we would all be living in wigwams.
Why does any of this really matter? In the final analysis might makes right in this world. Whether that right is militarily or politically or some combination of the two. Israel owns the land and until the Arabs get enough military and/or political might to change that it is going to always be that way. As a matter of fact military solutions are off the table because if at anytime Israel determines that all is lost THERE WILL BE NO MORE ARABS TO OCCUPY PALESTINE. They will all be evaporated. So all the Arabs are doing by pursuing a military solution is getting people killed unnecessarily. That is unless they feel that they can gain politically through military action which by my estimations is a longshot at best.
I'm positive you're aware that you're oversimplifying, because the refugees were not only created before and during the 1948 war, but also in 1967. What "opportunity" consists of returning to areas controlled by a country that didn't stem massacres and death squads? Ethnic cleansing by Haganah and IDF was what took place, and if you read non-biased history books these stories haven't been left out. The fact that Islam is the fastest growing religion has nothing to do with "rabbits", that's for sure. And could the fact that the world population in general is growing have anything to do with it? Improved standard of living, new developments in medicine, the wealth the oil prices are creating... and so on...
No, they could simply be an opportunist, knowing how the masses will respond. They are mad for power, not really motivated by hatred of the "other" they use to gain and keep power. I am certainly not defending Hitler and his abuse of power, but a study of history shows this technique of making an "other" by which to manipulate the masses by someone who is driving for power, is actually quite common. Stalin killed how many? Also, it wasn't just Jews that Hitler killed, by the way...