History of Israel
Reader comment on item: Palestinians Who Helped Create Israel

Submitted by Infidel (Canada), Mar 30, 2009 at 14:00

On March 31, 1977, Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee member Zahir Muhsein made the following statement: The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct "Palestinian people" to oppose Zionism. The only claim that Islam can have on Israel is based on a statement made by Muhammad: "You should know that the earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle, and I want to exile you from this land, so whoever among you owns some property, can sell it, otherwise you should know that the Earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle." Over the last twenty centuries, the Land of Israel was ruled by Romans, Byzantines, Persians, Arabs, Crusaders, Mongols, Turks, and the British. The period of Arab rule was relatively short (633AD-750AD).

In the middle of 19th century, Israel was a God-forsaken, uninhabitable, least significant part of Turkish Empire. The only thing it was rich in is history. A German encyclopedia published in 1827 described Israel as the land "desolate and roamed through by Arab bands of robbers". Mark Twain, who visited Israel in late 1860s, wrote: "Stirring scenes occur in the valley (Jezreel) no more. There is not a solitary village throughout its whole extent - not for forty miles in either direction. There are two or three small clusters of Bedouin tents, but not a single permanent habitation. One may ride ten miles hereabouts and not see ten human beings"

The Jews did not invade Israel or Palestine, as their forefathers have lived there continuously from time immemorial. Beginning in 1890 AD, many Jews began returning to Israel, based on a promise that they could have their own home land, but they never displaced anyone. In fact the Muslims followed them because Jews began settling in barren unpopulated Israel, on land purchased from absent Arab land owners, and began creating industry, agriculture and economic opportunities. In 1917 the League of Nations agreed to create a homeland for the Jews. This intention was confirmed by the Balfour Declaration in December 1917. The land set aside by the League of Nations and transferred to the administration of Britain included the present land of Israel and the land now known as Jordan. The League of Nations and Britain did not confiscate land inhabited by Arabs and designate it for the Jews. Furthermore Britain mishandled their mandate and allocated the area of Jordan to the Arabs contrary to the intent of the League of Nations.

Today, the Jews occupy less than 10% of the land that was originally set aside for them by the League of Nations.

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