The difference between the Palestinians and Native Americans is really in timing. The Native Americans were overrun well before the signing of the Geneva Conventions and the international community recognizes the legitimacy of the United States in our territories. The Geneva Conventions actually ban acts of colonialism and conquest, so if – for some crazy reason – a new continent were discovered, we would not be able to walk all over the indigenous population the way Europe did over the American Indians.

What’s more, the Palestinians had internationally recognized territory that was temporarily administered by the Jordanians and Egyptians prior to 1967. When you look at a map and see the West Bank and Gaza Strip, these are the internationally recognized borders from before the 1967 war. In 1967, Israel invaded these territories, kicked the Egyptians and Jordanians out, and occupies them to this day. Native Americans never had the borders the international community ever really recognized and accepted… perhaps a better analogy in history would be the European Colonization of India and China.

The United States probably signed that same convention right? What if a group of Hopi Indians tried to start forming their own county in Arizona? What if they said they were there first and demanded that the United States move all American citizens out of Arizona?

I realize that “what if’s” aren’t a great way to argue, but if I’m Israel I’m settling as much of King David’s territory as possible … the settlers basically are pioneers living much the same as our own settlers in the old west did when we bought the region but had no ability to control or defend it.