Many have resorted to simply blaming one side or the other.

But if we take the time to understand the history and correct our misconceptions a potential

path forward for the Palestinians begins to emerge.

So let's start by trying to get the story straight - and clear up 10 of the biggest

misconceptions out there Misconception #1 - Israel illegally stole

land from the Palestinians - In 1947, the UN voted to give land to both the Jews and

the Palestinians. The Jews accepted their partition and legally formed the state of

Israel. The Palestinians rejected their partition and attacked. Even after losing the war, the

Arabs still had most of the land from the UN ruling. Which leads us to...

Misconception #2 - The surrounding Arab nations actually want to create a Palestinian State

- So after the war the West Bank and Gaza were controlled by Jordan and Egypt...for

19 years! During that span, those governments never established a Palestinian state. Instead--

they kept the land for their own use. Misconception #3 The Arab nations want to

solve the refugee crisis - Palestinians have settled in Arab nations throughout the Middle

East. These nations could solve the crisis immediately by granting refugees equal rights,

but instead they refuse to let them vote, own land, or even study in public schools.

Ironically, The only country to grant them full citizenship rights is Israel which absorbed

156,000 Arabs after the 1948 war and even today Arabs hold seats in the Israeli government

and Supreme Court.

"Misconception #4 UN efforts are helping to solve the refugee crisis - The UN did step

in to provide assistance to the Palestinian refugees. But instead of using their existing

agency that helps resettle refugee populations around the world the UN created UNWRA which

labels every Palestinian as a refugee until a Palestinian state is formed within the borders

of Israel. This makes it more difficult for Palestinians to thrive in their host countries

and locks them into perpetual refugee status passing it on to their children, grand-children

and great-grandchildren swelling the refugee population from 500,000 in 1949 to nearly

5 million today. As conditions worsened-- the international aid started to pour in--

which incidentally is

Misconception #5 - The solution is more money - Really? Western nations have given the Palestinians

a ton of aid. Even taking inflation into account, they've been given 25x more money per person

than Europe was given to rebuild after WWII. Where's the stable economy? Where's the improved

infrastructure? That money sure could have helped, but it was given to some leaders who

had a different agenda... Which brings us headlong into...

Misconception #6 - Forming a State is the primary goal of top Palestinian leaders - All

of this international aid did go to help ease one man's suffering - Yasser Arafat. After

his death accountants hired by Arafat's own family discovered secret investments worth

more than 1 billion dollars. That income stream would be threatened if a new state was formed--

which gives leaders like Arafat-- or Mahmoud Abbas for that matter-- a billion plus reasons

to never actually sign a peace treaty. Which leads us to

Misconception #7 - Israel has a true peace partner - in the year 2000 desparate for a

resolution, the Israelis elected Prime Minister EHud Barak with a mandate to make peace with

the Palestinians. Barak offered Yasser Arafat 94% of the land he demanded, except Jerusalem.

Arafat flatly refused. President Clinton blamed the failure of the best chance at peace in

60 years squarely on Yasser Arafat. Which brings up perhaps the most common misconception

of all... #8 - Israel just needs to give up land for

peace - The last time Israel tried this was in 2005. They forced thousands of Jewish settlers

out of Gaza and in exchange the Palestinian leaders promised peace. But when the Israelis

moved out, the Palestinians voted Hamas in. Yep- they elected a terrorist organization

who -- since taking power-- has fired more than 10,000 rockets into Israel. Surprised?

Then you've probably bought into-- Misconception #9 - Most Palestinians want

a lasting peace with Israel. Some Palestinians do, but they are a minority. For 60 years

Palestinian educational leaders have fed their children a steady diet of hate. Idolizing

suicide bombers and celebrating death, right in the classroom. And finally...

Misconception #10 - Giving the Palestinians a state now is the only solution to their

suffering. This has been the only approach tried for the last 60 years. But these are

people we're talking about, and waiting until they have a state to give them equal rights

has only made things worse. Currently, Israel is the only nation to grant full rights to

the Palestinians within their borders, but by granting them equal rights in every nation

where they live, we could immediately increase the quality of life for every Palestinian.

Let's be honest. These Misconceptions have concealed potential solutions. When we take

time to clear up confusion and face reality, we begin to uncover the truth and that's

when real progress towards justice can begin.