In this nation-building process, it's quantity, not quality that counts - conversion to Judaism which is normally a long and detailed process, has been flat-packed to accommodate the Zionist colonial process of getting as many 'Jews' onto the land as possible. A remarkable feat of ethnic cleansing by stealth. It was the documented strategy of David Ben Gurion and the Zionist m! ainstream of the post war period to militarily conquer the Arabs of Palestine until the finally surrendered to Israeli rule, or fled the country (Avi Schlaim 'The Iron Wall'). For those who are 'lucky' enough to get visas, they are faced with the paradoxical dilemma of wanting to remain in their own country but also wanting a 'life' for their family. If Palestinians stay out of the country for a continuous five year period, they cannot come back, even for a visit. So the Zionist rationale is to make life so difficult for them that they will 'voluntarily relocate'.

Of the 20% or so settlers who come to the occupied territories for religious/political reasons, (mostly from the United States) many of them are what can only be described as religious nutters. It was with these types of fundamentalists that we had a frightening encouter a couple of weeks ago.