Re: Mahmoud Ahmedi Nejad - President of Islamic Republic
The difference is that Pakistan would still be overwhelmingly Muslim majority even if the Hindu & Sikh populations had not moved - indeed, there is no evidence to suggest that the population transfers of 1947 were what our founding father wanted; rather , it was the unintended consequence of hatred unwittingly released.
Indeed, all the Hindus who left Pakistan in 1947 and their descendents could return to Pakistan, and the Muslim character of the state would still not be affected because only those areas that were overwhelmingly Muslim to start with became Pakistan.
Israel is a different case. The areas that were overwhelmingly Jewish were small isolated pockets and a thin strip along the coast. To create a viable Jewish state required large areas of land to be purified of the native arab population - and preventing them from returning once the conflict they fled from was over was the ideal form of ethnic cleansing.
Then please explain why Israel expanded from the coastal areas to the negev desert, northern areas ?
Because 5 countries attacked it.
Its like Pakistan is created and India and 4 other countries attack it to destroy it. Pakistan fights back and takes over large chunks of India and the hindus and sikhs who live there flee.....
At what point should the Gaza Strip and West bank, and surrounding Arab countres stop providing refuge to the refugees?
Well Jordan already did that. How many Palestinians from Jordan want to return to Israel?
In 1949, all arab countries decided not to integrate the palestinians into their population and thus keep the conflict with Israel going.
Why should refugees from a conflict continue to be provided shelter when that conflict is over and peace and stibaility is restored to the places they fled from?
Because their return will negate the entire concept of Israel