From The (Jacksonville) Florida Times-Union - Originally published Wednesday, May 14

The state of Israel was born 60 years ago today — or, more precisely, it was reborn about 2,000 years after its people had been forcibly dispersed by the Roman Empire.
… Most enemy governments have made peace or at least seem to have accepted Israel's right to exist. But terrorists have made life in Israel even more dangerous — and have spawned a movement that preys on the innocent worldwide.
For Palestinians, this 60th anniversary is viewed much differently, as the "nakba," or the catastrophe, the Arabic term used to describe the uprooting of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
… There have been hopeful signs - most notably, the 1978 Camp David Accords. There even was a virtual settlement proposed by unofficial representatives of both sides.
But radicals have derailed peace.
Still, Israeli and Palestinian officials are conferring. There have been peaceful settlements in South Africa and in Northern Ireland in recent years. So there is hope.
… Maybe one day, there will be a legitimate and lasting peace.