David, Israel's great king established a large independent state, with its capital at Jerusalem. Under David's son and successor, Solomon, Israel enjoyed peace and prosperity, but at his death in 922 BC the kingdom was divided into Israel in the north and Judah in the south. When the nearby empires resumed their expansion, Israel fell to Assyria. Judah was conquered by Babylonia, which destroyed Jerusalem and exiled most of the Jews living there. Nebuchadnezzar entered Jerusalem. The Temple was sacked and set fire to, and razed to the ground. The Israelites laminated as they were carried off in chains to Babylon. "By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept when we remembered Zion" words from the Book of Psalms, were fervently uttered by the Israelites after their exile, and have been ever since.

Over the next 13 centuries, the Jewish people enjoyed periods of monarchy, independence and autonomy in the Land, interspersed with eras of foreign domination. Following the destruction of the Second Temple and their expulsion by the Romans in 70 CE, the majority of the Jews were dispersed throughout the world. According to Jewish biblical tradition, God gave the Land of Israel to Abraham and his descendants for all time. The believing Jew, therefore, sees the Land as part of the religious/national heritage of the Jewish people, and attaches special merit to living there. During almost 20 centuries of exile that followed, Jews prayed three times a day for return to their ancestral homeland. This longing to return to the Land of Israel also became a major topic in Jewish literature and thought. Central to Zionist thought is the concept of the Land of Israel as the historical birthplace of the Jewish people and the belief that Jewish life elsewhere is a life of exile. The hope of returning to their homeland was first held by Jews exiled to Babylon some 2,500 years ago - a hope which subsequently became a reality.

Over the centuries, Jews were expelled from almost every European country - Germany and France, Portugal and Spain, England and Wales - a cumulative experience which had a profound impact, especially in the 19th century when Jews had abandoned hope of fundamental change in their lives. [They were also expelled from all Arab-Islamic theocratic nations in the mid 1900s.]  The national liberation movement of the Jewish people, emerged in the 19th century within the context of the liberal nationalism then sweeping through Europe. Thus political Zionism, which coalesced in the 19th century, invented neither the concept nor the practice of return. Rather, it appropriated an ancient idea and an ongoing active movement, and adapted them to meet the needs and spirit of the times. The Jewish national idea, however, was never abandoned, nor was the longing to return to their homeland. Throughout the centuries, Jews have maintained a presence in the Land, in greater or lesser numbers, and uninterrupted contact with Jews abroad has enriched the cultural, spiritual and intellectual life of both communities.

The Zionist movement aimed to solve the "Jewish problem," the problem of a perennial minority, a people subjected to repeated pogroms and persecution, a homeless community whose alienness was underscored by discrimination wherever Jews settled. Zionism synthesized the two goals of liberal nationalism, liberation and unity, by aiming to free the Jews from hostile and oppressive alien rule and to reestablish Jewish unity by gathering Jewish exiles from the four corners of the world to the Jewish homeland. Zionism aspired to deal with this situation by affecting a return to the historical homeland of the Jews - the Land of Israel. The history of aliya, much of which was in direct response to acts of murder and discrimination against Jews, provides strong proof for the Zionist argument that a Jewish state in the Land of Israel, with a Jewish majority, is the only solution to the "Jewish problem."

“If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand wither away; Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth If I do not remember you, If I do not set Jerusalem Above my highest joy.” Some 2,500 years ago, David wrote, "By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept when we remembered Zion." Psalms 137:1).

Israel is not a country that merely bluffs bully countries, such as Iran, when their survival is on the line. The history of Israel is a testimony to its iron-firm constitution for survival.

Middle East Arab regimes share one main aim - to survive. The regimes deny the Holocaust facts, instead spread accusations of Jews of using non-Jewish infants' blood in their rites, and of utilizing and sucking the blood of Arabs. The Palestine Times wrote of "God's lying people" who are "the Holocaust worshippers...the lie of extermination". Muslim clerics call upon the worshippers in the mosques to "have no mercy on the Jews, no matter where they are, in any country...wherever you meet them, kill them”.

The Israel Foreign Ministry spokesman has communicated that Israel welcomes the resolution that was adopted on 3 March 2008, by the United Nations Security Council. Israel "s Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni, said “that the third Security Council resolution is an additional necessary step that expresses the understanding that the international community must neither give up nor stand aside in the face of Iran"s attempts to attain a nuclear capability. This important resolution is an unequivocal message that the international community cannot countenance Iran's nuclear program. Iran, whose policies undermine global peace and stability, and whose leaders openly threaten Israel, continues to ignore the demands of the international community and persists in violating previous UN Security Council resolutions. The international community has no confidence in Iranian declarations that its nuclear program is designed for peaceful purposes, and rightly so. Therefore, the United Nations Security Council has adopted a resolution that constitutes another stage in pressing Iran to retreat from its intention to attain nuclear weapons.”

Shaul Mofaz, the Israel Transport Minister and former army chief, told the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper on June 7, 2008 “If Iran continues with its programs for developing nuclear weapons, we will attack it. The sanctions are ineffective. Attacking Iran, in order to stop its nuclear plans, will be unavoidable.” A spokesman for the Prime Minister did not address Mr Mofaz's comments directly but said that “all options must remain on the table and that more could be done to pressure Iran.”

It was the most explicit threat yet against Iran from a member of the Olmert Government. Mofaz, who is designated as a deputy prime minister, is a former Defense Minister who remains privy to Israeli defense planning. He is a member of Olmert's security Cabinet and leads regular strategic coordination talks with the US State Department.

The Israel "Mahal," the Hebrew acronym meaning "volunteers from outside the country" is probably the world's greatest intelligent fighting unit. When the Nation of Israel was formed, and fighting for its very existence, close to 3,500 volunteers answered the call to come to its defense. These young men and women, both Jews and non-Jews, arrived from 37 different countries. Most of the foreign volunteers were veterans of World War II, and thus had amassed extensive military experience. Israel combat fighter pilots, and ground crews have honed their craft primarily in English-speaking countries - Canada, Great Britain, South Africa, and the United States. Even prior to the declaration of the state on May 14, 1948, foreign volunteers joined the ranks of the Haganah, the Palmach, and the underground organizations. Mahal soldiers were imbued with a tremendously fierce sense of duty and pride, and have performed numerous acts of bravery worthy of recognition. They stand ready and waiting to defend their country whenever necessary.

Israel has anticipated nuclear war since at least 2002. The Israel military and citizens are taught to be prepared for war at any time. Israel will not be defeated without a fight! This can be testified to by my active duty Air Force husband. As he flew back from Germany in 2002, he was quite nervous as he glanced around the seats occupied by numerous Middle Eastern looking gentlemen. He attentively watched the interactions of the gentlemen, until he finally recognized the men were speaking Hebrew. After he took a relaxing breath, he started a conversation with the Israel gentleman next to him. All these facts were confirmed during their conversation.

Arab/Islamic anti-Semitism.

It is a difficult determination to conclude as to where the United States would stand against Iran. The United States is currently divided by two distinct groups of people. One group has chosen Barack Obama as their leader; the other group has chosen John McCain as their leader. Each leader has an entirely different perspective on where the United States should stand against Iran.