Steve: Israel recognized Palestine in 1947 when they ACCEPTED the UN resolution to divide what was left of "Palestine" into two tiny states---Palestine and Israel. It was the ARABS who rejected the deal. Indeed, its been the Arabs who have continued violence against Jews in the area from the 1929 Hebron massacre on. The early Zionists BOUGHT land from willing sellers and settled on that land. All Jewish settlements in the West Bank are forbidden if they displace ONE Palestinian. Jewish settlements on the West Bank (which is actually named Judea and Samaria!!) are only on 4% of the land.

Voice has bought the anti-Israel diatribe hook, line, and sinker. Maybe she should do a little research. Look up 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973 in a history book. See who was trying to genocide whom.

And Steve. Its NOT that the Israelis dont recognize the right of the Palestinian people to exist. If the Palestinians wish to build a national identity and self-determination for themselves in the area, more power to them. But to say they have been "Palestinians" longer than 1964 when the PLO invented them is just a lie.

Prior to 1964, Palestinian Arabs were ARABS. Many were born in Jordan, Syria, Egypt, etc. Arafat was born in Egypt. Edward Said, though born in Jerusalem, was the son of an Egyptian businessman and he grew up in Egypt.

As for a country called "Palestine". THAT had never existed and doesn't now. The name of the country that DOES exist is Israel. The "Palestinian" lands are technically unallocated portions of the British Palestine Mandate land, formerly the Ottoman empire.
They are under Israeli control from UN resolution 181 since 1967.