re: #658 Walter L. Newton

One thing to add.

Israel is secular, but it also defines itself as a Jewish state. And Judaism is a religion and ethnicity all in one. The land itself has religious significance.

It makes no sense to deny these basic facts.

As an example, certain land has so much historic and religious significance, that biblical ideas do count. I refer specifically to the Temple Mount, and what would happen to worldwide Jewry if the Kotel were destroyed, or if it were given up.

Biblical ideas are, in short, not insignificant when it comes to Israel - and should not be treated as insignificant.