RE: ‘the Palestinians considered themselves to be descended not only from Arab conquerors of the seventh century but also from indigenous peoples who had lived in the country since time immemorial.
Let’s parse that:
1) Arab conquerors of the seventh century
That does not go far back enough. Jerusalem is mentioned as the capital of Israel and Jews over 600 times in the Hebrew Bible LONG before the 7th century.
By the 7th century, I believe they are talking about the time when the Muslims started to conquer the Middle East. Well, Jerusalem is not even mentioned once in the Koran.
2) Also from indigenous peoples who had lived in the country since time immemorial.
The Jews are indigeneous people who lived there since time immemorial too.
Here’s the difference — The Jews are willing to share Jerusalem with the Palestinians ( AKA Arabs), the feeling is not reciprocated.
There will never be peace as long as they harbor this attitude.
There were people living there in all ages, including just before the Moslem conquest.
The Muslim men had their way with the infidel women of the conquered inhabitants.
Even if every Palestinian could be proven to have come from elsewhere 100% it would not justify their displacement from their now-long established homeland.
“After the Dome of the Rock (690) the first wooden Al-Aqsa Mosque was constructed by the Umayyads, completed in 710.”
http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/jerusalem