Originally Posted by Peter Jones
... the region was NOT initially called Judea and inhabited by Jews - I'm not quite sure when Judeasm started, but it was certainly well post Abraham. Prior to that time, whenever it was, the area had no association with Jews because there were no such people. I don't know when they first settled that area of land, but whenever it was it's irrelevant. It doesn't make it "theirs". Judeasm didn't start there - it started (AFAIK) either in Mesopotamia or near it.

You are correct that the Jewish people were not the first inhabitants of the area - that would be the Cannanites. However, science now demonstrates that the vast majority of present-day Jews are descended from the Canaanites and are all that remain of that culture. Testing has demonstrated that the Jewish people are a remarkably homogenous group genetically, especially when compared to other groups. Irrespective of your take on the religious aspects of biblical history, genetic evidence matches both time and place for Jewish origins and both are supported by archeological evidence as well. Sort of makes your claim that prior to Abraham the area had no association with Jews rather pointless.
The present-day attitudes you complain of appear to be more related to Zionism than to the Jewish culture/race in general. It is unfortunate, though certainly not uncommon, that a bad experience with a single individual has colored your perception of an entire group.

I can never remember which is better . . . safe? . . . or sorry?