Although Israel's defensive actions in occupying territory are very consistent with numerous historical precedents, I'm really not sure one could talk about legal or moral rights. It's so highly subjective, and both sides in the Israeli-Arab conflict have committed some violations of so-called 'international law' and the various agreements. The Arabs however have gone a lot further to harm and threaten the Jewish state than vice-versa.

Is it wrong for the victors who prevail to seize the spoils of war? Ask the Germans who suddenly found themselves living in a country called Poland in 1945. Or the Poles who suddenly found themselves living in something called the Soviet Union. Don't know if it's right or wrong, but it's happened since the beginning of civilized human history. Don't know why it suddenly became unacceptable in 1967.

And in terms of 'occupied territory' consider the case of Gibraltar. This is a small region that's been disputed by the UK and Spain for 300 years. But do you see young Spanish suicide bombers rushing into Gibraltar nightclubs and blowing up dozens of UK civilians to fight 'the occupation'? Why not, do you suppose? Perhaps because both the Uk and Spain are civilized democracies committed to individual liberties and respecting human rights, and who strive to work peacefully together to resolve their differences. In other words, they have shared modern values, ones sadly lacking in the backwards, despotic Arab dictatorships of the Middle east. If the Arab states were free and democatic, do you really think Israel would not yet have succeeded in securing a complete land-for-peace agreement, and a complete withdrawal from the occupied territory? Israel wouldn't need, nor would desire, buffer zones for safety if her neighbors were civilized and peaceful human beings.

Israel should simply, and unilaterally, pull back from most of the settlements, build a wall, and tell the Palestinians good-bye and good luck.

Maybe in 300 years, like the UK and the Spanish, the Palestinians will have evolved enough to live peacefully side by side with the Israelis.