ernational city, such as the Vatican, or Palestine to those who
had inhabited it for centuries.

The Arab nations (excepting Egypt and Jordan), which had continually
used the Palestinian question as an excuse for violence and religious
hatred, yet had not loved their orphaned brothers enough to take them
permanently into their own lands---either Earth nations, or the settled
colonies of Space. Ironically, bitterly, the Palestinians had become
the 'wandering Jews' of the post-modern era, living here and there in
scattered clumps, always vowing vengeance, always being promised future
acts of restoration: of home, family, and self-respect.

Finally, in the year 2167, the United Commonwealth had felt a pang of
conscience (or fashion, or something), and decided to do these poor
unfortunates a long overdue, and much deserved kind turn. So a small,
tillable planet was given to them, along with transports, to bring
together in this new life all those who wished to go. The Egyptians
had then contributed materials for building, the Japanese had added
factories and technicians, and the British and Australians, teachers
and universities to bring the less educated up to date. The Free
French had provided defense systems, and the French Elite a modest
fleet (later to be supplemented by the more sophisticated weapons of
Soviet Space, never far in the background at the birth of a nation they
hoped to seduce). All in all, the contributing powers had looked upon
the venture as a success, and the Salvation Army humor of the
Commonwealth was much restored.

But now, forty years later, the numbers of the Palestinians had grown
great enough, and their force of arms respectable enough, to raise the
hopes of the embittered and illusioned one last time. Bolstered yet
again by the warlike teachings of the prophet Mohammad, which state
that to die in a Holy War is to ensure the soul's salvation, the
stubborn and simple among them had seized power from the more educated
and enlightened moderates, and prepared, in secret, a last attempt at
true retribution.

To accomplish their aims, the radicals (supported by most within the
country, strongly challenged by none), would have to violate all the
sanctions of the civilized world, including the Green Earth Pact, and
the unspoken, though severely understood, international policy of
non-violence upon the Earth itself. But what of that? GOD was with
them.

For they did not intend merely to