“Tonight I put the kids to sleep in our bedroom,” tweeted Eman Basher, a Palestinian mother of 3 in Gaza on May 14, 2021. “So that when we die, we die together and no one would live to mourn the loss of one another."
Israeli-Palestinian tensions were higher than ever during the past month, with Hamas (a Palestinian militant organisation in Gaza) firing rockets into Israel, and Israel retaliating by repeatedly bombing the Gaza Strip, killing more than 200 civilians. But how did this particular conflict begin? How is it linked to the centuries-long conflict between the states of Israel and Palestine? While a ceasefire has solved the current situation, is there a solution to the broader crisis in the near future? And until such a solution is found, which side of the conflict should you take?Let’s begin with a complete, truthful and unbiased history of Israel’s creation.
The Beginnings of Zionism
The idea of a “Jewish State” was first established by Theodore Herzl, an Austro-Hungarian Jewish writer, in 1895. Herzl, upon witnessing the public humiliation of Alfred Dreyfus, a Jew artillery officer falsely convicted of treason against the French army, realised that the Jews who were being persecuted across Europe would never truly be safe unless they had a nation of their own. This prompted him to write a 100 page pamphlet titled Der Judenstaat, or “The Jewish State”, which soon became extremely popular among Zionists (those who support the creation and protection of a Jewish nation) in Eastern Europe.
This wasn’t all Herzl did for Zionism, however. Two years after the publication of his pamphlet, he hosted the first World Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland. During this convention, the Zionists created a Jewish National Fund and a land bank to begin buying land in the area in which they hoped to form their state - Palestine. This region had been their home almost two thousand years before, until 70 CE (when the Romans sacked Jerusalem), and they sought to reclaim it. They also started to campaign with various powers for a nation of their own. For the next few decades, the Zionists began migrating to Palestine, which was then under Ottoman rule. The people of Palestine, including Muslims, Christians and Jews, allowed them to settle there without complaint.
The idea of a “Jewish State” was first established by Theodore Herzl, an Austro-Hungarian Jewish writer, in 1895. Herzl, upon witnessing the public humiliation of Alfred Dreyfus, a Jew artillery officer falsely convicted of treason against the French army, realised that the Jews who were being persecuted across Europe would never truly be safe unless they had a nation of their own. This prompted him to write a 100 page pamphlet titled Der Judenstaat, or “The Jewish State”, which soon became extremely popular among Zionists (those who support the creation and protection of a Jewish nation) in Eastern Europe.
This wasn’t all Herzl did for Zionism, however. Two years after the publication of his pamphlet, he hosted the first World Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland. During this convention, the Zionists created a Jewish National Fund and a land bank to begin buying land in the area in which they hoped to form their state - Palestine. This region had been their home almost two thousand years before, until 70 CE (when the Romans sacked Jerusalem), and they sought to reclaim it. They also started to campaign with various powers for a nation of their own. For the next few decades, the Zionists began migrating to Palestine, which was then under Ottoman rule. The people of Palestine, including Muslims, Christians and Jews, allowed them to settle there without complaint.
World War I
Soon, World War I began, and the Ottomans allied themselves with the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria), and against the Allies (Great Britain, France and Russia). In a bid to win the support of Jews worldwide, British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour released a public statement on November 2nd, 1917, announcing that "His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country." This declaration was a major Zionist victory, and the first step towards making the dream of The Jewish State a reality.
When the Allies defeated the Central Powers, the League of Nations awarded Britain the mandate to rule Palestine. Within this area, Zionists continued to lobby for a nation of their own, while Palestinian Arabs began to feel threatened by the possible usurpation of their home. Zionist migration to Palestine became more systematic, and by 1931, there were 175,000 Jews in Palestine, relative to 760,000 Muslim Arabs. The Jews still comprised less than 33% of Palestine’s population, but their desperation and determination for a homeland meant they were far more skilled, powerful, and wealthy than the surrounding Arabs. In fact, Jewish investments into Palestine were greater than the British budget for the entire region.
During World War II, the Jews’ need for a country of their own was highlighted by the Holocaust. When the war ended in 1945, Britain was unable to solve the issue, and so it was taken up by the United Nations. Two years later, the UN voted to divide the region into Palestine (an Arab state) and Israel (a Jewish state). It was decided that the Jews would occupy 57% of former Palestine, despite being only 33% of the region’s population. The city of Jerusalem, meanwhile, was to be governed separately by the UN. The Jews, who benefited from the partition, readily agreed to it, and formed the independent state of Israel. The Palestinians, however, were angered by the loss of so much land, and refused to accept the UN’s plan.
Soon, World War I began, and the Ottomans allied themselves with the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria), and against the Allies (Great Britain, France and Russia). In a bid to win the support of Jews worldwide, British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour released a public statement on November 2nd, 1917, announcing that "His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country." This declaration was a major Zionist victory, and the first step towards making the dream of The Jewish State a reality.
When the Allies defeated the Central Powers, the League of Nations awarded Britain the mandate to rule Palestine. Within this area, Zionists continued to lobby for a nation of their own, while Palestinian Arabs began to feel threatened by the possible usurpation of their home. Zionist migration to Palestine became more systematic, and by 1931, there were 175,000 Jews in Palestine, relative to 760,000 Muslim Arabs. The Jews still comprised less than 33% of Palestine’s population, but their desperation and determination for a homeland meant they were far more skilled, powerful, and wealthy than the surrounding Arabs. In fact, Jewish investments into Palestine were greater than the British budget for the entire region.
Image from bbc.com
World War II
During World War II, the Jews’ need for a country of their own was highlighted by the Holocaust. When the war ended in 1945, Britain was unable to solve the issue, and so it was taken up by the United Nations. Two years later, the UN voted to divide the region into Palestine (an Arab state) and Israel (a Jewish state). It was decided that the Jews would occupy 57% of former Palestine, despite being only 33% of the region’s population. The city of Jerusalem, meanwhile, was to be governed separately by the UN. The Jews, who benefited from the partition, readily agreed to it, and formed the independent state of Israel. The Palestinians, however, were angered by the loss of so much land, and refused to accept the UN’s plan.
Image from bbc.com
Arab-Israeli Wars
Thus, in 1948, when the British withdrew from the region, war broke out. Forces from Egypt, Transjordan (now known as Jordan), Syria, Lebanon and Iraq invaded the area. After almost 10 months of fighting, Israel emerged victorious and the land of Palestine was divided into three main parts, none of which belonged to the Palestinians anymore. Jordan won the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Egypt won Gaza, and Israel controlled all the land that the UN’s partition plan had granted it, as well as a large amount of the land meant for the Palestinians. But despite this triumph, Israel grieved the loss of East Jerusalem, a holy city containing three sacred religious monuments - the Al Aqsa Mosque, the Church of Holy Sepulchre, and most crucial to the Jews, the Wailing Wall. The “country” of Palestine, meanwhile, was fundamentally wiped off the map. As a result, 700,000 Palestinians lost their homes and sought refuge in parts of the West Bank, Gaza and other Arab nations nearby (mainly Jordan). They remembered the day as “al Nakba”, or “The Catastrophe”.
Thus, in 1948, when the British withdrew from the region, war broke out. Forces from Egypt, Transjordan (now known as Jordan), Syria, Lebanon and Iraq invaded the area. After almost 10 months of fighting, Israel emerged victorious and the land of Palestine was divided into three main parts, none of which belonged to the Palestinians anymore. Jordan won the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Egypt won Gaza, and Israel controlled all the land that the UN’s partition plan had granted it, as well as a large amount of the land meant for the Palestinians. But despite this triumph, Israel grieved the loss of East Jerusalem, a holy city containing three sacred religious monuments - the Al Aqsa Mosque, the Church of Holy Sepulchre, and most crucial to the Jews, the Wailing Wall. The “country” of Palestine, meanwhile, was fundamentally wiped off the map. As a result, 700,000 Palestinians lost their homes and sought refuge in parts of the West Bank, Gaza and other Arab nations nearby (mainly Jordan). They remembered the day as “al Nakba”, or “The Catastrophe”.
Image from bbc.com
The next significant conflict was the Six-Day War, which began on the 5th of June in 1967. This war, too, was won by the Israelis. When it ended, all of historic Palestine (Palestine before the UN Partition), including Jerusalem, had been annexed by Israel.
The Yom Kipur war was waged between a coalition of Arab states and Israel. This confrontation began on 6th October, 1973, and endedbin a stalemate 18 days later. This was the last of the major Arab-Israeli wars.
This supposed solution, unfortunately, created a new problem. Area C was made up of Israeli settlements scattered across the West Bank, which meant that the Palestinians didn’t have a contiguous piece of land to call their own. Area C also consisted of most of West Bank’s resources, including water and agricultural land. Thus, the Palestinians in West Bank could only secure basic amenities through Israel. These crippling limitations upset the Palestinians, who then staged the second intifada. In retaliation, Israel began building walls around Palestinian territory and restricted transport in and out of the area. What do these enclosed areas remind us of? Ghettos, maybe? The same kind of ghettos that the Jews were forced to live in during the Holocaust? There's some food for thought!
Moving on, in 2005, Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip at last. However, it imposed a blockade restricting all movement in and out of the Strip by land, air, or sea. Essentially, the Palestinians in both West Bank and Gaza were at the complete mercy of Israel.
Image from bbc.com
The Yom Kipur war was waged between a coalition of Arab states and Israel. This confrontation began on 6th October, 1973, and endedbin a stalemate 18 days later. This was the last of the major Arab-Israeli wars.
The Oslo Accords
Within what was now Israel, tensions had begun to simmer down. However, this peace was shattered when Israelis began moving to and settling in Israeli-controlled, Palestinian-occupied territory in West Bank and the Gaza Strip. As a result, the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, which aimed to free Palestine from Israeli control, was formed. Unfortunately, despite the PLO’s efforts, Israelis continued to illegally settle in Palestinians’ homes. This led to an intifada, or an uprising, that began in the December of 1987, and ended in September 1993, with the signing of the first Oslo Accords by the PLO, Israel, and the USA. This agreement, while seeming promising at first, soon failed. Subsequently, another set of Oslo Accords (commonly known as Oslo II) were signed in Taba, Egypt in 1995. These Accords divided West Bank into three main sections:
Area A: Under full Palestinian control
Area B: Under joint Israeli and Palestinian control
Area C: Under full Israeli control
Area A: Under full Palestinian control
Area B: Under joint Israeli and Palestinian control
Area C: Under full Israeli control
This supposed solution, unfortunately, created a new problem. Area C was made up of Israeli settlements scattered across the West Bank, which meant that the Palestinians didn’t have a contiguous piece of land to call their own. Area C also consisted of most of West Bank’s resources, including water and agricultural land. Thus, the Palestinians in West Bank could only secure basic amenities through Israel. These crippling limitations upset the Palestinians, who then staged the second intifada. In retaliation, Israel began building walls around Palestinian territory and restricted transport in and out of the area. What do these enclosed areas remind us of? Ghettos, maybe? The same kind of ghettos that the Jews were forced to live in during the Holocaust? There's some food for thought!
Moving on, in 2005, Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip at last. However, it imposed a blockade restricting all movement in and out of the Strip by land, air, or sea. Essentially, the Palestinians in both West Bank and Gaza were at the complete mercy of Israel.
Image from bbc.com
Until recently, this was the situation of Israel and Palestine. Now, it’s time to understand and analyse last month’s clash.
Current Conflict
Palestinians had felt oppressed by Israel for decades, but it all came to a head in the second week of May, when 13 Palestinian families residing in Sheikh Jarrah (a street in East Jerusalem) faced eviction from their homes. This was because of a court case waged by Israeli settlers, who believed they had a right to the land based on an Israeli law that permits Jews to recover property abandoned during the war in 1948. (There is no such law for Palestinians to reclaim land they abandoned, or were forced to leave, during the war.)
Simultaneously, Israeli forces had been restricting Palestinian access to Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa mosque during the holy month of Ramadan. Both these events triggered Palestinian protests, which were then brutally quashed by Israeli police. This violence caused Hamas, the militant organisation that rules Gaza, to fire rockets into Israel from 10th to 18th May. More than 90 percent of these rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome (an advanced anti-missile shield surrounding Israel), and the ones that weren’t either landed in open fields, or fell short and hit Gaza itself. After the launch of about 4,000 rockets, only 10 Israelis were killed. Meanwhile, Israel, with its superior military power, launched a series of savage air strikes against Gaza, killing approximately 254 people, including 66 children. Israeli police also stormed the Al Aqsa mosque - Islam’s third holiest site - using tear gas and rubber bullets, and injured several innocent worshippers.
Now that a ceasefire has been declared, most of us will forget the issue and go back to lamenting the COVID crisis instead. But before you do that, I implore you to consider what a ceasefire truly means. A ceasefire is merely a temporary suspension of the fighting between Israel and Palestine. A ceasefire does not mean that Palestinians in Gaza and West Bank are free, or even safe. No, they will continue to be colonised, oppressed, and terrorised by Israel. And no one will come to their aid, as Israel is backed by the USA, a powerful country in which Jews control a significant portion of media and finance. Take our own country, for example! Despite preaching peace and tolerance, India is Israel’s largest buyer of arms, and has condemned Hamas’ actions, but not Israel’s. Even wealthy Arab countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar no longer care about Palestine’s plight, as they have their own problems to focus on. At this point in time, it is impossible for the Palestinians to escape their devastating reality.
When we think of Israel, we remember the daring Entebbe raid, the intelligence of the Mossad (Israel’s secret service), and the country’s technological prowess. But look at it from this angle instead. Isn’t Arabs being driven out of their homes eerily similar to the ethnic cleansing of Jews during the Holocaust? 2 million Palestinians permanently blockaded in an 11 kilometre by 40 kilometre strip - what is this if not a Nazi-like ghetto? And what is raining missiles onto trapped civilians in this strip, if not a new kind of gas chamber?
Israelis often remind us of how cruelly they were persecuted during the Holocaust, but today, is what they are doing to the Palestinians any less barbaric?
Palestinians had felt oppressed by Israel for decades, but it all came to a head in the second week of May, when 13 Palestinian families residing in Sheikh Jarrah (a street in East Jerusalem) faced eviction from their homes. This was because of a court case waged by Israeli settlers, who believed they had a right to the land based on an Israeli law that permits Jews to recover property abandoned during the war in 1948. (There is no such law for Palestinians to reclaim land they abandoned, or were forced to leave, during the war.)
Simultaneously, Israeli forces had been restricting Palestinian access to Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa mosque during the holy month of Ramadan. Both these events triggered Palestinian protests, which were then brutally quashed by Israeli police. This violence caused Hamas, the militant organisation that rules Gaza, to fire rockets into Israel from 10th to 18th May. More than 90 percent of these rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome (an advanced anti-missile shield surrounding Israel), and the ones that weren’t either landed in open fields, or fell short and hit Gaza itself. After the launch of about 4,000 rockets, only 10 Israelis were killed. Meanwhile, Israel, with its superior military power, launched a series of savage air strikes against Gaza, killing approximately 254 people, including 66 children. Israeli police also stormed the Al Aqsa mosque - Islam’s third holiest site - using tear gas and rubber bullets, and injured several innocent worshippers.
Conclusion
Now that a ceasefire has been declared, most of us will forget the issue and go back to lamenting the COVID crisis instead. But before you do that, I implore you to consider what a ceasefire truly means. A ceasefire is merely a temporary suspension of the fighting between Israel and Palestine. A ceasefire does not mean that Palestinians in Gaza and West Bank are free, or even safe. No, they will continue to be colonised, oppressed, and terrorised by Israel. And no one will come to their aid, as Israel is backed by the USA, a powerful country in which Jews control a significant portion of media and finance. Take our own country, for example! Despite preaching peace and tolerance, India is Israel’s largest buyer of arms, and has condemned Hamas’ actions, but not Israel’s. Even wealthy Arab countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar no longer care about Palestine’s plight, as they have their own problems to focus on. At this point in time, it is impossible for the Palestinians to escape their devastating reality.
When we think of Israel, we remember the daring Entebbe raid, the intelligence of the Mossad (Israel’s secret service), and the country’s technological prowess. But look at it from this angle instead. Isn’t Arabs being driven out of their homes eerily similar to the ethnic cleansing of Jews during the Holocaust? 2 million Palestinians permanently blockaded in an 11 kilometre by 40 kilometre strip - what is this if not a Nazi-like ghetto? And what is raining missiles onto trapped civilians in this strip, if not a new kind of gas chamber?
Israelis often remind us of how cruelly they were persecuted during the Holocaust, but today, is what they are doing to the Palestinians any less barbaric?
Excellent research Netra. Despite my keen interest, I wasn't aware of Jew origins in Palestine, thank you for making me more aware of the history.
ReplyDeleteThe situation is complex on the back of decades of deep rooted mistrust. It has similarities to other disputed regions in the world.
Hi, Prabh Uncle! Thanks for your comment - I'm glad this article helped you understand the conflict better. You're right, it is extremely complex, which is why I chose to explain it first.
DeleteExtremely thorough and well researched- it has certainly altered my view on Israel. Most Indians admire Israel for their tech and military achievements - but we forget that have gone too far in a land they have essentially usurped by force. Question - what is the new US President’s position? I know that Trump was very pro Israel, does the new US President Biden bring some hope for influencing change? The US is the strongest Israel ally in the region...
ReplyDeleteThank you for your compliments! As for your question, no, Biden is firmly pro-Israel. In fact, he has publicly stated that "if there weren't an Israel, the United States of America would have to invent an Israel to protect her interests in the region". So unfortunately, there is no hope to be found there either.
DeleteA very complicated and troubled region of the World. Well researched and very well written!
DeletePlease read this opinion piece published in the New York times. The liberal wing of the Democratic party is trying to change the mindset in the US.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/opinion/bernie-sanders-israel-palestine-gaza.html
Hi, Priya Aunty! I seem to have missed your comment before, sorry about that. Thanks for sharing this article - I completely agree with its points, and I wish I'd seen it before I wrote my blog!
DeleteGlad you read Bernie Sanders' article!
DeleteNetra, with every article I read ,I am amazed at your writing prowess. I have looked for literature recording the beginning of the conflict during the last two weeks but I hadn't found one as detailed and simplified as yours. For that alone, kudos.
ReplyDeleteSecondly,I will share this with friends and family who are still unaware of the magnitude of injustice being meted out to the Palestinian people and who are in any doubt about Israel's role of oppression in the area.
The tweet that you have quoted in the beginning of the article is extremely painful to read and the fact that a parent has to make such a call in today's day is heartbreaking and speaks of the evil at work. No parent should have to feel like that, in an ideal world. But we don't live in an ideal world. Might rules. And the victor also writes history. But this article of yours will always stay out there, reminding/informing people about what actually happened and is still continuing to happen while the world looks the other way. More power to you and to your pen! Bravo!
Thank you very much for your kind praise, Manisha Aunty. I agree that the situation in Palestine is heartbreaking - Eman Basher's tweet particularly. And I'm so glad you brought up the point that this article will always be out there for people who want to hear the truth, because that was my precise motivation for writing it. I will be extremely grateful if you share this with others and spread awareness. Thank you, again!
DeleteVery informative article, Netra. I learnt many new facts and also a new perspective - indeed the oppression has begun to look extreme. And with the loss of civilian life in Gaza in the recent raids, it does seem that Israel maybe is losing perspective on basic humanity - much like the Nazis lost in early 20th century. I hope that rising voices like yours will travel far and wide through the powers of the internet, and initiate dialogues & actions in high places which focus on re-balancing the power equation in the region. Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteBy Varun
DeleteThanks, Varun Uncle! I'm glad you learnt something new from my work, and agree that the Israelis'actions seem inhumane.
DeleteWell written Netra. It is evident that you've spent a lot of time researching and penning down this piece. Way to go!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Abishek Uncle!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteVery well researched, very well written and analysed Netra! A precocious comprehension of a very complex and emotional issue and an extremely mature take on it!
ReplyDeleteSo proud of you Netra!
Shobana
Thank you, Shobana Aunty! I'm pleased you liked my take on the issue!
DeleteYour article has changed my whole idea of the issue.All countries support Israel because everyone has an axe to grind.So it is difficult to think of Dharma or fairness because of selfish motives.Your views are true and fair.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you my child.
Thatha
Thanks, Thatha! Yup, every country has got its own concerns, but I believe that at some point, we need to care about others' plight as well as our own.
DeleteWow. Very thorough research! Well done Netra 👍👍
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rajesh Uncle!
DeleteNetra,
ReplyDeleteI have been to Israel and the West Bank. The contrast is enormous. Palestinians have to live every day as 2nd (or 3rd) class citizens.
I have for years believed that Israel , despite its democratic roots, has a fascist approach when it comes to ‘protecting’ itself from the Palestinians exercising even their minimal rights. They are of course ‘helped’ by the extreme approach and the consequent , but relatively ineffective’ bursts of violence from Hamas.
In the end, Israel has a ‘protector’ in the US who believes Israel is a cost effective proxy - and we have to admit Might is Right.
As Palestinians grow weaker, the need for peace suedes, so we will probably end up with a single sate solution - Israel, with some form of apartheid... Unless the US develops a conscience.
Very well researched and written
Thank you for your inputs! It's very interesting that you have witnessed the Palestinians' troubles firsthand, and I'm glad it's helped you form such a sensible view of the situation. Unfortunately, I can't see the US developing a conscience anytime soon, so Israel will most likely end up controlling all of erstwhile Palestine.
DeleteIt’s very sad, and the violence from both sides doesn’t help. Hamas targets `Israeli civilians which is a inexcusable terror tactic, Israel targets Hamas but civilian casualties follow. A vicious circle - no one wins in the short run, each justifying their response on the others attacks. No one wants to address the fundamental issues
DeleteYes, I completely agree - Hamas and Israel have committed several wrongs, and the brunt of their mistakes falls upon innocent Palestinian civilians.
DeleteVery well written and well researched Netra. You’ve provided the right historical context to view this situation. I always look forward to what you have to right.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much! It's great to hear that the historical context I provided was useful.
DeleteNeed for peace ceases
ReplyDeleteWell done Netrus... My thoughts, Even though we can't justify the killings of Jews by Hitler, a little research on Hitler's young age and life in Germany before Hitler will give us different take on Hitler. Palestine doesn't hold any form of control over Gaza which is ruled by warlords and militants. Israel takes Gaza as a reason & advantage to eradicate Palestinians. With support from US, India, China etc... Israel is becoming more powerful everyday. Apart from Israel world doesn't want to speak about Ethnic cleansing in China, Myanmar, Sudan, Syria, Iraq and Sri Lanka which is happening as we speak.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your insight! I agree that Israel uses Hamas' radicalism as an excuse for ethnic cleansing, with support from other world powers. Unfortunately, there is no way for India to help the situation without sacrificing her own interests...
DeleteFantastic and very well researched article. Gave me an unbiased and clean insight. Keep up the good work Netra👍
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind comment!
DeleteNetra excellent analysis of the difficult subject
ReplyDeleteI learnt a lot
Kudos to you for choosing difficult topics and make it simple for old bandicoots like me
Thank you, I'm glad you learnt something from my writing! :D
DeleteLovely work Netra ! Well researched and humane ! Kudos !
ReplyDeleteThanks very much!
DeleteHi. This changes my perception about the conflict in the area. Lots of effort in gathering information and presenting it so well makes this article special. The least that the countries empathising with Palestine can do is to stop trade with Israel.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Captain Venkat! I'm delighted that my writing was persuasive enough to change your perspective on the topic! Unfortunately, it is far easier said than done for our country to cease trade with a country as wealthy and powerful as Israel.
DeleteWell written Nethra, it would be a good practice to give references to the sources used in your research.
ReplyDeleteThe jews have been a persecuted lot for 2 millenia, persecuted by the people of 2 other religions Judaism itself gave birth to, Christanity and Mohammedanism. The viscéral hatred these two have shown towards jews and the obsession to exterminate them escapes comprehension. When the jews finally got a patch of land by a UN mandate (research the Great Game and events afterwards) Israel's intolerant neighbours waged 4 wars against it and lost all. But they wont give up. PLO is a terrorist organisation, as is Hamas today. Israël has no option but to make itself a fortress, and punish every agression against it. Now Hamas unprovokedly fires a thousand rockets (to celebrate Eid ?) and hides behind women, children and lately, journalists.
Why can't Palestinians shun violence and terrorism? Why can't the fellow Arab nations take them in and leave the tiny patch of land to Israël (less than 1% of area of surrounding Arab countries) and leaves them in peace? Why is Israel's success seen with so much envy and hatred by the muslim world instead of trying to emulate their success in science and technology (over 200 Nobel prize winners are jews) and follow their example of relegious modernism in terms of treatment of women and gender equality?
Ordinary Palestinians and jews are targets of todays mindless hatred and violent culture of extremist and terrorist outfits who have perfected thé art of aggression first and victimhood next. Making lasting peace with Israël is the litmus test for an Arab, and by extension Muslim world, that is truly respectful of other faiths and gives some credibility to their claim of being a religion of peace.
Hope this counterpoint helps you deepen your understanding of this subject.
Amar
First, I'd like to thank you for reading and providing your insight on this situation. Now, in a (hopefully) polite manner, I am going to refute your argument.
DeletePoint 1: While I absolutely agree that the persecution of Jews across the globe was unacceptable, I believe that the Israeli persecution of Palestinians is just as horrendous. One does not justify the other - Jews have been persecuted for millenia, but that doesn't justify their persecuting another race as soon as they gain power!
Point 2: What exactly entitles Jews to the land they have annexed in Palestine? Tomorrow, if a homeless person who has been shunned everywhere enters your home and tries to drive you out, will you take it lying down? No. Then why should the Palestinians? Why should the surrounding Arabs leave "the tiny patch of land" that was taken by force in peace? You have asked why Palestinians can't shun violence and terrorism. Well, why not ask why Israel doesn't shun violence and terrorism? By their colonisation and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the area, the Israelis have only proven that the Arabs were right to consider them a threat.
Point 3: While Israeli propaganda portrays Hamas and the PLO as terrorists, they see themselves as freedom fighters trying to gain independence from people who have stolen their homes, limited their resources, and trapped them in ghettos. Also, Hamas' recent firing of rockets into Israel was understandable (still not justifiable), because as I mentioned, Israelis provoked them first by trying to evict families from Sheikh Jarrah and limiting access to a place of worship during the religion's most prominent festival.
Point 4: Please do not bring up Islam's treatment of women and gender equality. That is a completely different issue, and not one which we are discussing here.
To conclude, Palestine has every reason to continue fighting, until it is truly liberated.
Jewish people coexisted with Arab Muslims and Christians since for ever in this part of middle east, relative population sizes flucuating over time. Jews have been attacked by arabs first in every case that became a wave of violence in 1921, 1930, 1936-39 which laid the foundation for militia and armes force development by jews which never happened before. Arabs never accepted or respected the UN mandate. They always rejected all proposals for separate jewish and palestenian states. Their only aim is the end of Israël. They attacked again and again but got defeated. They lay dubious claims to Jérusalem which was never an important place for Muslims. Local land conflicts are extremely contentious and israéli policies have been bad I agree. Palestinians instigate violence, israelis reposte and impose restrictions - this has been an endless cycle. Both sides are to be blamed.
DeleteYou have used the term ethnic cleansing very casually. I'd suggest more caution in using it.
Every terrorist calls him/herself as a freedom fighter. That only erodes sympathy to their cause.
The recent conflict started with Ramzan prayer meetings crowds stone pelting security forces. (Sounds familiar like in our J&K? They borrowed the concept from Palestine, it also has islamic religious significance as in stoning the devil/thief/adulterer etc. and therefore considered as a good deed). Thats why restrictions were imposed. Then Hamas fired rockets on israéli civilians. But for irondome who knows how many would have died? Hamas operates from residential areas, schools, hospitals, hôtel buildings underground tunnels to make it hard for israelis to target. They locate rocket launchers in residential areas. Israël does what it can to avoid civilians casualties but will not let Hamas go unpunished. Its a sad regrettable situation, but in my view palestinien people are hostages of Hamas than of Israël.
Yes, religion is the driving force behind this continued conflict. From the conservative/extremist Arab point of view its unacceptable to have jews live in their midst with a completely different set of values and conduct, lest their own people become corrupted and start demanding equal rights. Painting jews as evil devils allows them to justify their own barbaric practices. No one thinks in a compartmentalised manner, everything is linked.
This is a topic with complicated history with wrongs on all sides. But Might is not always wrong, and the underdog is sometimes a cunning jackal. In my view this is one of those situations. We can duscuss/argue further if you wish :) , but its a bit tedious to type here from my phone.
You argue well, keep it up!
Hi Amar Uncle - thank you for following up! I'm going to share some of my closing thoughts now, and then let this argument rest.
DeleteI'll begin by saying that I don't believe that all of Israel's actions are wrong, or even that everything Palestine has done is right. Hamas' methods, I believe, are certainly condemnable. The Palestinian terrorists killing Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics, for example, is abhorrent. But so was the Israeli forces' slaughter of at least 107 Palestinian Arabs, including women and children, in Deir Yassin in 1948. However, Israel, being the victor in this situation, has dictated its global narrative. Thus, while almost everyone has heard of the former, very few have heard of the latter. The point of this article was to bring the Palestinians' story to light.
It's true that Jews coexisted peacefully in the region around 1900, when they were less than 4% of the population. At this point, they had been persecuted by various European nations like France and Spain for centuries (see: the decision of the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215 which required Jews to wear a distinguishing mark) but the few of them in Palestine were allowed to live in relative peace by the Arabs around them. Even in the initial years of Zionist migration, the Palestinians allowed them to settle in harmony. It was only when their population began multiplying (reducing Palestinian resources) that the Palestinians felt threatened and clashes started.
Now, instead of focusing on centuries of history, let's talk solutions. Like I replied to another reader, why can't Israel just give the Palestinians autonomy in West Bank and Gaza? Or at the very least, one contiguous piece of land in West Bank, so that the two million Palestinians who now live in a tiny strip of land can live a safe and free life there?
Anyway, I realise that whatever we say, neither of us is going to convince the other. As much as I've enjoyed this debate, why don't we close it here? Let's agree to disagree!
“Until the lion have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter." - Chinua Achebe
DeleteLot of effort has gone in. Written in simple style too. Well done Nethra!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kumar Mama!
DeleteAdded: If Hamas doesnt hide behind civilians there wont be civilians deaths. Hamas wants it so that they can play victim card in war they always provoke and knowing fully well they can never win. Thats why Arab countries are fed up with them. Only Iran and syria support them (where do those rockets come from when Palestiniens can't even produce toothbrushes?), paragons of virtue each, for their own nefarious ends.
ReplyDeleteWhats happening in Israël has profound lessons for India, we have the same type of intolerant and trouble making neighbours who will be quick to adopt any tactics that work for Hamas.
Granted, Hamas' actions are not all justifiable, but the crux of the issue is Israel's colonisation and expansion within a region they have taken by force. When Israel's violence stops, so will Hamas'.
DeletePlease do not compare India to Israel. India is a peace-loving nation that has never attacked another state without provocation. Israel is a coloniser. In fact, in this scenario, India is equivalent to the Palestinians. The Israelis are treating them worse than the British once treated us. Thank you.
Your own article mentions UN mandates, the 4 Wars you mention - none of them was started by Israël. Whats the basis for saying "they have taken the 'region' by force"?
DeleteI'm comparing our neighbours, not India with Israël. Reducing Israël to a coloniser belies the research you have put into the topic. History and the present events are way more complex to be doing reductive labelling.
Very well researched Netra and at the same time very painful to read about Palestinians, I was always in favour of Israelis but you changed my perception with this article..hope the conflict gets resolved and everybody can live in peace..kudos to you Netra for your insights on this conflict at a very tender age.keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much! I'm glad my writing convinced you to change your stance!
DeleteBrilliant piece of work Netra! Very well researched and explained. Looking forward to more of these!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteHi Netra very impressive work.Done a huge amount of research I guess.Hope the Palestinians get their rights.Truth and Facts are always not accepted in this world.Good work .All the good wishes.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Achi! Yes, it took heaps of research, but it was worth it. :)
DeleteNice Article Netra !!! And nice perspective also 👍!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!
DeleteNetra, your approach to research a topic and go deep is truly exceptional and so is your ability to narrate the findings in an interesting and informed manner! So happy to read this...more so as I came up to speed on many aspects of this conflict. Thank you so much for educating me about it. God bless you Netra!
ReplyDeleteHi, Liril Aunty! Thank you for your compliments. I also received your additional feedback on WhatsApp, and will keep it in mind!
DeleteSuperb Netra - very well written. It covers both sides well but i guess this situation would continue for sometime to come.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much! Yes, it doesn't look like this situation will be rectified in the near future. :(
DeleteHi Netra
ReplyDeleteYou have the unique ability to research a wide range of topics, present the facts cogently and then come up with an independent view, and that too in such an engaging style. Fantastic work..
A little poser for you, and a penny for your thoughts
How does one determine who were the original inhabitants of the land, and how far should one go back in time? There is a long history of human conflict in that region with multiple invasions, and one could argue that the Jews could trace their history back to this land over a longer period of time than the Arabs.The moot point is that selectively using timelines to establish ‘original inhabitants would lead to a change in the entire world order as we know it today. Therefore ‘status quo ante’ was generally accepted world-over post World War 2 — we are where we are and let’s move forward from here. I guess both sides need to come to terms with this.
Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts. Your point about the difficulty of determining a land's original inhabitants is extremely interesting - and you know what? I agree with you. Let's, for a moment, go back to the status quo ante after World War II. According to the UN's plan at that point, the Palestinian Arabs were meant to control approximately 43% of erstwhile Palestine, which consisted mainly of West Bank, Gaza and another piece of land in the north(see the map of the UN's plan). So why can't Israel just give them complete autonomy in these three regions? Or at least West Bank and Gaza? Or at the very least, one contiguous piece of land in West Bank, so that the two million Palestinians who now live in a tiny strip of land can live a better life there, with the basic human right to freedom?
DeleteIsrael is far, far, more powerful than the Palestinians will ever be now - so why not show some humanity and give them freedom?
Thank you for your thoughtful response Netra. The problem however is a little more complex. The Palestinian people did not accept the UN solution — there have been multiple wars initiated by them where they received support from others but they lost. Now their view is — give us back what we lost, but we will not give up our right to continue to fight you and take back more of ‘our’ land. This is a ‘heads I win’, ‘tails you lose’ stand and it can’t work.
DeleteAnother poser for you
As you have pointed out, both Jordan and Egypt annexed some of the ‘Palestinian land’ during the earlier wars. How come no one talks about this and what was their right over this land when none of their people ever lived there unlike the Jews who claim some history. What’s is the fate of the Palestinians in those land parcels — have they retained their identity?
Hi there! Thanks for following up!
DeleteTo answer your point about Palestinians not accepting solutions for peace, let's look at the two main 'solutions' that they have been offered.
1) The UN Partition Plan: This plan, based on simple mathematics, was unfair. Jews comprised of much less than half the population, and yet they were given far more than half of the region's land. I think, therefore, that the Palestinians had a good reason not to accept it.
2) Oslo II: These Accords were accepted by the Palestinians. They agreed for the land to be divided into Areas A, B, and C, and this only changed when Israelis began migrating into Palestinian territory, in a way that even the international community deems illegal.
As for your question about Jordan and Egypt annexing Palestinian land, you're absolutely right. As you can see from the maps above, both nations (particularly Jordan) benefited from the 1948 war. However, I think this is slightly offset by the fact that Jordan houses more than 2 million Palestinian refugees, who are treated well and allowed to retain their identities. A significant number of these refugees have been granted Jordanian citizenship, too.
Thanks again for your feedback!
Very good and informative article. Great insight on the Israel and Palestine conflict.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Delete
ReplyDeleteDear Netra,
Remarkable writing from you as always, incredibly (and rightfully) detailed and nuanced, thank you for sharing.
I especially loved the start to this piece - we must not forget what this is really about. It has indeed been heartbreaking to see the images of suffering from Palestine, and has reaffirmed something I picked up from the book Sapiens: we’re the most dangerous, cruelest species to inhabit this Earth. What we are willing to do to each other.
So, I’m a part of this online community of doctors Mums in the U.K., with 20k+ members. I’ve been a silent bystander to arguments erupting between members on this issue recently (invariably been Jewish and Muslim Mums). What struck me was how threatened Jewish Mums felt in these spaces, by the discussions on criticism of Israel’s actions, some of them quit the group citing antisemitism. To my naïve eyes, none of these posts seemed antisemitic...perhaps as a consequence of not having interacted with too many Jewish people. Some members were kind enough to explain this to the rest of us, the gist of which is:
- Criticism of Israeli policy alone - fine
- Questioning the existence of the Israel state - anti-Zionist. Sometimes perceived as a slippery slope to antisemitism. The explanations provided for this were as follows: i. The underlying fear of a second Holocaust. Israel forms a huge part of Jewish belief, people of the faith literally pray to return to Israel everyday. ii. Often, these anti-Zionist comments originate from people holding underlying antisemitic views.
- Insinuating Jewish people control the media, banks etc. is antisemitic. This is a belief held by despicable organisations such as KKK. Saying this about Israel can be a slippery slope as explained above.
I thought I’d share this with you because it has been new learning for me. And relevant in the spate of antisemitic attacks experienced in other areas of the world.
Hi, Minnie Manni! Thank you for your feedback.
DeleteIn response to your point about anti-semitism, I would like to make it abundantly clear that I am not anti-semitic. I have nothing against the religion of Judaism. What I do take issue with is the state of Israel. Israel was created through settler-colonialism, and while that cannot be undone, its policies and practices today are wrong and can be changed (see: my reply to Jayant's comment).
I disagree that anti-Zionism is anti-semitism. While Israelis may fear being massacred again, Palestinians are literally living through it right now (see: my comparisons to the Holocaust in the last paragraph).
I understand why my insinuations that Jews control media, finance, etc, came across as anti-semetic, and I'm grateful that you brought this to my attention. So instead of saying that Jews control media and finance, I'd like to say that Zionists control these fields, and thus Israel remains wealthy and powerful.
Again, I really am grateful for this feedback, and will be careful to avoid crossing the line between anti-Zionism and anti-semitism in the future.
Thanks for replying to my comment very patiently, Netra. As I explained, this perception of antisemitism on the forum was baffling to me at first. I wasn’t getting why, discussions on the basic human rights of the people of Palestine was threatening some women who come across as sensible, women who are not trolls, or your garden-variety bigots you know.
DeleteReading the perspective I shared with you above was useful for me because we should to be able to discuss these issues clearly and sensitively, the way you have. :-)
Hi Mini - responding to your first comment. I can completely understand the Jewish need for their own country and even empathise with them. After all, in a world dominated by two major religions (in terms of geographical presence), the ‘smaller’ religions need their safe space - where would
DeleteHindus go for instance, if India wasn’t our home?
However, I do feel that Israel does control the narrative in the region quite a bit and has justified a lot of their colonist activities by referring to the Holocaust. The Holocaust was definitely one of the blackest periods of history but does not justify what they are doing in Palestine now.
We are now well past the stage of questioning the existence of Israel - maybe all everyone is looking for is a little humanity and dignity of living for the Palestinians
So detailed and yet so simple. You are one hell of a writer Netra... keep it up! Very impressive work.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much!
DeleteGreat research Netra :), and as usual your ability to explain a fairly complex topic is well commended. I only wonder where you can call it ‘The truth about Israel’ as it’s coming from your point of view. The other bit to think about since you’ve researched the history well is how would you proceed to resolve this crisis ? Is there a permanent agreement possible? Will need to get down to the map in detail on who belongs where. Super work !
ReplyDeleteHi, Aunty Su! I titled this blog "The Truth About Israel," because I wrote it to share a perspective on Israel that has been hidden for so many years by the Israelis' propaganda. Every word of this article is based on research and fact, and so it is the truth. Therefore, I think the title is apt.
DeleteAs for your question about a solution, as I replied to Jayant, the Israelis must, at the very least, give Palestine complete autonomy over West Bank and Gaza. This includes control over their resources, movement in and out of the region, etc.
Thanks for your feedback!
I agree with Sunainika that the headline is a little absolute. This is definitely a perspective on the conflict - one based on some outstanding research and well-researched facts, but is it the whole truth? The truth is never absolute - it depends on who is listening to it; it’s very subjective and grey. So would have preferred a different headline as well
DeleteSo for the sake of argument Netra, taking sides & calling one a propaganda and the other a persecution is exactly what it’s called calling sides based on secondary research which could’ve been well marred by what you have chosen to research. Perhaps you could reflect on calling it ‘my truth of Israel’ as indeed your research on a centuries old issue could not have been completely exhaustive & of course beyond a point you do start to pursue one line of ‘truth’ which is why journalism is one of the toughest professions in the world. Something that most journalists today are failing at - just offering the whole truth vs. their truth . :) but again all this is in service of you offering you an alternate perspective & not to dissuade you . Love your belief in yourself & your viewpoint.
DeleteHi Aunty Su! Thanks for following up on this.
DeleteBased on your comment, you seem to believe that this article is mainly an opinion piece, and therefore not the absolute truth. However, everything I have written here is true. Can you name one statement that is false? Even my comparison to ghettos, which shows that I sympathise with the Palestinians, is based on the dictionary definition of the word (a part of a city, especially a slum area, occupied by a minority group or groups). I have studied primary, not secondary, sources, like the text of the original Balfour Declaration. As for the 'absolute' truth, I argue that no one, in any piece of writing, can capture the absolute truth. Something will inevitably be missed out, whether it is an obscure fact or a rarely-seen interview.
All this to say, the truth of my article should be judged based on what it includes, rather than what it has missed. As every word it includes is true, I can confidently state that my article is the truth.
I am truly thankful for your insight, but I have to respectfully disagree with some of your points.
Extremely well thought through and well written blog, you are gifted Netra to be doing such a wonderful job at writing and narrating this whole situation with historical proof points. All I can say is well done 👏👏.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! :)
DeleteWhat an analysis. I am wonderstruck how you are able to analyse and dissect the issues like a surgeon .
ReplyDeleteMy blessings.
Thatha.
Thanks, Thatha!
DeleteThis is a wonderful piece of analysis and writing Netra. Well-researched and true effort has been taken to ensure historical accuracy and base your arguments on facts. It’s a very mature approach not to not get carried away by emotion but build your argument logically. Though I know the amount of passion you have for this topic and the heartbreak reading up in it has caused you!
ReplyDeleteI find your responses to the various arguments even more impressive - again, well argued and reasoned, and respectful.
Opinions on Israel and Palestine aside, it is awe-inspiring to me to see you refuse to accept status quo and challenge everyone to think about which side of history they want to be on. The best writing is based on facts, but tempered with empathy and I think you have achieved that balance well.
I have so much hope for our world when it’s the hands of people like you and your equally sensitive and brilliant peers.
Thank you very much for your compliments! Yes, this topic is very dear to me, and I'm glad you think I was able to separate my emotion from logic.
DeleteAlso, it's interesting that you brought up being on the right side of history, as that is important to me as a person, and one of the main reasons I wrote this article.
It's great to hear that you still have hope for this world - fewer and fewer do these days. XD
Thank you again for your kind words.
Netra... I have witnessed the amount of time and effort that you have put into this article no less to say your emotional outbursts and frustrations!! That is how passionate you are about this subject. It is indeed an eye- opener to many. I for one never knew about the Grey side of Israel. The article has set me thinking a lot about the pathetic plight of the Palestinians. Hoping more and more articles like these gives them their rights soon.
ReplyDeleteWonderfully researched and penned as usual. Congratulations. Overwhelming to see the comments and your responses to them. Super proud of you.
Thank you for your compliments, Patty! I am delighted that this article was an eye-opener for you. If articles like these could give oppressed people their rights, the world would be a far, far better place. If only...
DeleteExcellent analysis. It feels good to know that kids like you will soon be leading the world. Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteIt's a rather good view into the history of the conflict. Quite evidently, you have spent a lot of time studying it. My best wishes
ReplyDeleteHi Netra - This is such a thoroughly researched and a well written article. I really like how you have explained the history first - it gives us so much context into your analysis. The best part is that everything in your article is based on facts which cannot be contested. Very proud of you, keep writing. All the best!
ReplyDeleteStrasbourg, France, 6th June
ReplyDeleteDear Netra,
This is an outstanding piece of research - objective, accurate and more importantly, tremendously relevant for an Indian audience. You put forth the unvarnished truth about the genesis of a conflict that has simmered for more than a century, shed a lot of blood and sadly, seems as intractable as ever. And yet, reading some of the comments below and my own interactions with people back in India, I get the feeling that this conflict is viewed and “explained” through all sorts of simplistic religious and ethnic prisms rather than what it actually is fundamentally: the bloody mess, bloodshed, questionable borders, human rights violations, population transfers subjugation of native populations that European colonisation, de-colonisation and de facto re-colonisation leave in their wake all over the world.
Please allow me to add my colonisation dimension and a few more facts when analysing this deadly conflict.
Your article does an excellent job of explaining the chronology of Jewish migration to the region both in the early 1900s and continuing to this day. Likewise, you correctly point out the seminal role played by Theodore Herzl (1860-1904) and his conviction that Jews needed a separate state to escape European i.e. Christian persecution. Indeed, there were several pogroms in Europe where Jews were targeted and faced violence, discrimination and death, even before the Nazis came to power. As early as 1492, the Catholic Church in Spain was instrumental in getting the Spanish rulers to agree to the Alhambra Declaration expelling all Jews from Spain.
However, contrary to popular perceptions, the location of this state for Jews was not driven by religious considerations at all. Nor was Palestine the most obvious or first choice for Jews fleeing persecution in Europe.
In fact, even during Herzl’s period, other locations were considered:
1: UGANDA: Britain, the colonial power which ruled over E.Africa offered Uganda to European Jews.
2: CANADA, AUSTRALIA etc. The Jewish Territorial Organisation formed by Israel Zangwill (1864-1926) wanted a country for Jews, anywhere in the world. Canada & Australia were also considered but the local populations rejected an influx of Jews. (Ref: bit.ly/2TLNlX7)
3: ARGENTINA: Some 150,000 Jews fled to Argentina in the early 1900s and established a colony in that country.
The fact that Britain was the most powerful colonising power in the world in the early 1900s gave her the wherewithal to play poker with the lives and livelihoods of the native populations of many colonies. Can anyone envisage the consequences of Britain promising Cochin or Bombay to European Jews merely because these Indian cities had significant Jewish populations ? Would the local Maharashtrian or Keralite populations have quietly accepted the diktats of the mandarins in London and gone without a fight from the lands they had tilled ?
Sadly, the conflict in the region is framed as a fight between Jews & Muslims by both the religious groupings today. However, there is also a strong racial aspect to this conflict as the conflict is also framed as a fight between uncivilised, barbaric, Muslim Arabs and civilised Europeans. As Winston Churchill said in 1937 of the Palestinians:
"I do not agree that the dog in a manger has the final right to the manger even though he may have lain there for a very long time. I do not admit that right. I do not admit for instance, that a great wrong has been done to the Red Indians of America or the black people of Australia. I do not admit that a wrong has been done to these people by the fact that a stronger race, a higher-grade race, a more worldly wise race to put it that way, has come in and taken their place." (ref:bit.ly/34QVlbp)
PART 2
ReplyDeleteSuch ideologies led to the colonisation of India and many other parts of the world where local populations were exterminated or regarded as uncivilised and uncouth beings who had to make way for the enlightened European. Indeed, as someone colonised, you didn’t even have the right to the natural resources of your own country. Thus, in 1956, when Pres. Gamal Abdul Nasser of Egypt nationalised the Suez Canal, Israel attacked Egypt and was assisted by Britain & France. A peace was later brokered and Israel, France & Britian were forced to withdraw. But in the Arab world, events such as this lead to Israel being increasingly viewed as a colonising power and a local policeman for European countries and the USA.
Finally, guess what happened to the Jews who were expelled from Spain after the Alhambra Declaration of 1492?
Well, they were welcomed to Muslim countries and settled down in present day Morocco, Algeria, Egypt etc. and many settled down in Turkey as well. Turkish Sultan Bajazet welcomed them warmly and said:
“How can you call Ferdinand of Aragon a wise king .. the same Ferdinand who impoverished his own land and enriched ours?”
(Ref:bit.ly/2Sdxu379
Netra, given your interest in international relations, I would suggest that you look at the website of my organisation, the Council of Europe at www.coe.int. You will get a human rights perspective to international relations and see how the former is increasingly being factored into relations between countries.
Au revoir !
Suresh
This is fascinating Suresh - especially the points you make about different locations being proposed for Israel. Do you know why Palestine was finally chosen / only because of ties to the Holy Land?
DeleteThe comparison you make: of what India would be like if Cochin was given over to a different nationality makes for a chilling argument. Puts things in perspective. I also believe that it’s very simplistic to see this conflict as a religious one / made even easier by the demonisation worldwide of Islam - rather than seeing it for the colonisation it really is.
Hello! Thank you very much for this detailed, informative response!
DeleteI wholeheartedly agree that the British are responsible for a major part of the mess in Palestine, just as they are for a multitude of conflicts across the globe, such as the India-Pakistan Partition. The fact that Uganda, a British colony, was offered to the Zionists without consideration for the natives of the region is just further proof of that.
However, there is no point in attacking the British today, as they refuse to compensate for, or even acknowledge, the mistakes they have made. Instead, we have to focus on the present day issue and find a solution to it (see: my reply to Jayant).
Thanks for sharing the link to your organisation's website - I will definitely look it up!
Hello Netra
ReplyDeleteThere are 3 more agreements / declarations that need to be mentioned to understand the extent to which imperial Britain would sink to when it comes to treachery, double-crossing and racism when dealing with Palestinians.
Recall that the Ottoman Sultans ruled over much of the present day Middle East and Palestine in the early 1900s. The Turkish Ottomans were resented by the local Arabs and there was simmering discontent over Ottoman rule - something Britain deftly exploited. When World War 1 erupted, it was fairly certain that the Ottomans who were part of the Central Powers you mention were destined to be on the losing side. Additionally, as the costs of waging war grew, an increasingly bankrupt Britain needed funds both to wage war and to rebuild after the war. The other imperial actor was France which made noises and laid claims to many of Ottoman provinces in the Middle-East. And then, prominent Zionists in Britain such as Dr Chaim Wiezmann, the Rothschild banking family and others influenced the British political class that Zionism served the interests of Britain as well.
Against this backdrop, Britain, the colonial power par excellence, entered into 3 agreements that essentially sealed the fate of Palestinians. These were:
1. McMahon-Hussein bin Ali Agreements: In the period 1915-16, Sir Henry McMahon (1862-1949) the British High Commissioner in Egypt entered into a correspondence with Hussein bin Ali (1854-1931), the Sharif of Mecca. (Ref bit.ly/3vWCFDb). Through these agreements, Britain secured Arab support in the fight against the Ottomans. In return, Britain undertook to carve out parts of Ottoman territory for the creation of an independent Arab kingdom and recognise Sharif as its ruler.
2. The Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916: This secret agreement between France and Britain contained a blueprint to divvy up Ottoman provinces between these countries after WW1. Needless to say, not only were Arabs unaware of this deal between France & Britain, but France herself was also unaware of the deal with Hussein bin Ali ! (Ref:bit.ly/2T5F6VA)
3. The Balfour Declaration of 1917: This essentially awards the Palestine to Zionists. You mention it in your article and I will not go into it here.
The betrayal of the Arab population by colonial Britain epitomised perfidy of the purest sort. But what is worse, the European Jews i.e. the Zionists who moved to the region were no less colonial than the British. Theodor Herzl himself described the Jewish homeland as a European rampart against barbarism; Zionists themselves referred to their Jewish settlements as colonies. And then you have Churchill’s famous quote about Arabs where he calls them dogs.
The truly sad thing is that one would not have expected that Jews who have experienced Christian hatred and discrimination through the centuries - culminating in the the horrors of the Holocaust - would now inflict the horrors of colonialism and discrimination on others.
But, as the German philosopher Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831) said:
“We learn from history that we do not learn from history”
Au revoir !
Suresh
Thanks for your insight!
DeleteI had heard of the series of letters between the British and the Palestinian Arabs, but I didn't know about the second agreement (between France and Britain).
I love your point about the Jews, who have been victims for centuries, turning around and victimising others, as that is truly tragic. Thanks for sharing that quote, as well - it definitely applies to this situation.
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DeleteThere was never a palestinian king or kingdom in history whereas Israel has both archeological linguistic scriptural proof of having owned country of Israel. Just because foreign conquerors ruled over them does not make them pariah in thier own land. Palestinian word doesnt mean arabs by the way . The word comes form cultural misappropriation of word philistine which were driven out by Israel 2000 pkus yrs ago.Romans to spite jews called region palestina
ReplyDeleteRemember there is no arab language in Israel then . Arab squatters in Ottoman era have luved there along with hews who were marginalised by muslims and reduced to fraction of their priginal numbers so you cabt same few jes given more land, when factcis arabs who cane from jordan and arabia do not have any historical claim to this land..The arabs wer given choice to be Israeli citizen and sone chose wisely and are now judges politician leader in Israel. Other chose juhad as per islamic fundamentalism. So Israel cobsist of jews arabs druze etc not just jews as ur arricle makes iut to be . Secondly no refugee camp wver blast 200 rockets into civilian territories and abuse their independence give by Israel to gaza and west bank.
Jerusalem is only capital of Israel
Islam cannot claim 1.2.3.4 rtc holiest sites all over the world either ur holy or ur not - cant be 3 holiest etc. Israel has guve temple in control of jordan waqt board. The only democratic country in world. Sad to se false narratuve being pushed based on biased islamist view point.The even Ottoma empire never recognized palestine as country
This was the first of your posts that I read. Truly amazing ability to pull up data and facts. There are many contexts to this 5000 year old story, many lenses you can view this from. The more one reads past the parochial and or romantic histories, more of the complexity is unearthed. So not a lot of people will be happy with a version. And having a majority of people being happy with a version does not make it true. But the ability to clearly describe your feel of the elephant and to do that with maturity, intellectual courage and with such literary skill is such a blessing.
ReplyDelete