Quote:
Originally Posted by driveway
No. The issue, ultimately, is economics. Economics is always the issue. It has been the issue at the root of every conflict in history and will always be the issue at the root of every conflict. Religion, nationalism, etc. are just window-dressing.
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The problem with this viewpoint is it doesn't explain how economic disparities exist between countries and regions that DON'T go to war over them. I may want something you have, but whether or not I actually fight you for it depends on much more than economic factors.
To illustrate, try explaining why - using economic arguments only - WWI started in 1914 between France/Britain/Russia and Germany/Austria-Hungry instead of, say, 1898 between France/Russia and Britain/Germany (when in fact the British and French DID almost go to war over African colonies).
In Israel's case, I agree that the relative poverty of the Palestinians compared to the Israelis is a large part of the problem, but that poverty in itself is rooted in cultural and historical reasons that produced that economic inequality from the 2nd Aliyah (1904-1914) onwards, as the relatively rich and well-educated immigrants from Europe and Russia increasingly controlled the land and industry of Palestine.