Contd.:
Don't know about dead since 1948 except to say Stalin killed 55 million, Pol Pot an other 40 or 50 million and on and on. Fact is those killed over the wars surrounding Israel since 1948 have been vastly in the minority. However, this ties in with you last quoted question...You would have to ask your own government and the Balfour Commission in particular.
The history is interesting though and completes the Ezekiel "Dry bones" prophecy through a series of very unlikely events beginning at or near the end of WW1: "During WW1, a British scientist, Dr. Chaim Weitzmann, developed a synthetic acetone and showed how it could be used to create a new kind of smokeless gun powder called "cordite". This helped the British significantly shortened the war. In gratitude, the British government offered to grant Weitzmann a "boon". Weitzmann, a Zionist leader, asked for a homeland for his people. The problem was turned over to Lord Arthur Balfour. Balfour saw several advantages for Britain in acceding to Weitzmann's request.
First, he needed the support of the wealthy Jews inside Britain, especially Lord Lionel Rothschild, a wealthy Jew and prominent banker. Secondly, it would be in Britain's interests to have a state friendly to Britain in the eastern Mediterranean region. Thirdly, largely as a result of the growing sympathy for a Jewish state brought on thanks to Darby and the rising tide of evangelical Christianity, there was public support for the concept in Parliament. Lord Balfour then sent his famous letter, known to history as "The Balfour Declaration," that promised a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
His request resulted in the issuance of the Balfour Declaration, which in part said: "His majesty's government view with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object."
England proposed several "2 nation, 1 state" solutions to the "jewish" problem just before the start of WWII, but all were rejected by the Arab countries though all were accepted by Isreali leaders.
Finally, "...The UN Partition Plan of 1947 offered by the UN gave a tiny portion of the land to Israel, the remainder to the Arabs, and declared Jerusalem an open city. This too, was rejected by the Arabs. The first time any partition plan ever offered by anyone was even looked at seriously by the Arab side was in 1968. That was after they had lost the West Bank and city of Jerusalem to Israel following their most recent attempt to wipe the Jewish State off the face of the earth..."
"...The Jews of Europe became the Israelis of Palestine. Tough, disciplined and courageous in the face of overwhelming odds. They fought against British immigration restrictions to sneak themselves into Palestine by any means. They fought against a hostile Muslim population that was being flooded with new Muslim residents from all over the Muslim world. When the British disarmed them and heavily armed the Muslims, they smuggled weapons in with incredible cunning and audacity. They organized freedom fighting cell groups that gave the British more than they could handle.
The British withdrew, and Israel claimed the land of Palestine to be the Jewish homeland on May 14, 1948. They proclaimed a new State and providentially named it Israel. The next day, they were invaded on all sides by the combined might of the Muslim world. Humanly speaking, there is no way to explain how the Israelis defeated the well-trained, heavily armed Muslim army that outnumbered them 10 to 1..." We, of course, know the outcome of that conflict. (Source: historyof Israel.org)
Again, thanks for the interaction... what's the old saying, "Steel sharpens steel"?