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| Boy bitten by a Lizard by Caravaggio |
“Would
you care for some tea?” I
am asked. Tea is served…
Last week, Yom Ha’atzmaut (Independence Day) was celebrated in a great country and in
communities around the world. Notwithstanding one nation mourned it: Palestine.
Palestine: deriving from the Egyptian and Hebrew word Peleshet (meaning: migratory or invading)
used to describe the Philistines who were closely related to the Greeks and
with no ethnic, linguistic or historical connection whatsoever with Arabia. The
Philistine People, in the 12th century BC, conquered what is now
Gaza (and some parts of Israel); an area that was called by the Greeks Palaistiné. In the 2nd century CE, the Romans regained
Judaea and renamed it Palaestina as
an endeavour to obliterate the Jewish identity from that area.
To
obliterate the Jewish identity from that area…this sentence swims around my mind as I contemplate
the sea and sip my tea. If Palaistiné had
nothing to do with the Arabs, then it is most interesting how they (after the Ottoman period) chose to call themselves Palestinians. It is even more
interesting how the British, after the WWI, decided to call that region Palestine
as well.
Maxiavellian Theory
Arabs (before the 14th of May, 1948) used to call that area “Southern Syrian” and therefore they call themselves the Southern Syrians. But upon the realisation that their religious and political manipulation had failed; that the Israelis were actually returning to their Land, which was being internationally recognised as a sovereign State, they decided to label themselves as “Palestinians” – perhaps as a euphemism of their wish to obliterate the Jewish identity from Israel.
The British
Mandate for Palestine eyed the “(…) creation
of two distinct British protectorates - Palestine, as a national home for the
Jewish people under direct British rule, and Transjordan, an Emirate governed
semi-autonomously from Britain under the rule of the Hashemite family.” –
the British are known for their love of history (among other things, I admit)
so it is rather interesting that although they acknowledged that particular region
as the national home for the Jewish people, they used a symbol of the
destruction of the Jewish identity in that land to classify the Jewish Home. This intriguing choice of
term is surely a tacit confession of the British ambition: to confine the
European Jews in one place - there would not be Israel (a sovereign Jewish
State) but Palestine (a British protectorate with subdued Jews).
Rome
started the delegitimisation process of Israel. Saudi Arabia (and her lackey Fatah), Syria, Jordan and
Egypt gave continuance to the project. Iran and her lackeys (Hamas and
Hezbollah) make no effort to conceal their ambitions. But what is really
curious is that the most powerful nations in the Western World, while claiming to be an ally of the Jewish State,
unconsciously (?)
do the same…
“Would you care for some more tea?” the waves come and go “Yes, please; I would!”
Comments
Post a Comment
Dissecting Society™ welcomes all sorts of comments, as we are strong advocates of freedom of speech; however, we reserve the right to delete Troll Activity; libellous and offensive comments (e.g. racist and anti-Semitic) plus those with excessive foul language. This blog does not view vulgarity as being protected by the right to free speech. Cheers
Exactly! There are so many ways in which the "allies" of Israel delegitimise her, that what you speak of is only the beginning. When will the West admit the obvious?
ReplyDeleteI only know one thing: Palestinians are occupying Judea and Samaria, period. They want to call themselves Palestinians, fine; then stick to Gaza! Thanks, Max for being so direct!
Hi Ana :D!
Delete"There are so many ways in which the "allies" of Israel delegitimise her, that what you speak of is only the beginning. When will the West admit the obvious?"
True. And, in your opinion, what is the obvious that the west should admit to?
"I only know one thing: Palestinians are occupying Judea and Samaria, period."
I agree.
"They want to call themselves Palestinians, fine; then stick to Gaza! Thanks, Max for being so direct!"
Historically speaking it would make sense, wouldn't it? You are most welcome, darling *bowing*.
Ana, thank you ever so much for your input :D.
Cheers
" True. And, in your opinion, what is the obvious that the west should admit to? "
DeleteThat deep down it wants Israel to go down. Do you have a different point of view?
Am Yisrael Chai! And this is something that kills palestinians, arabs, and the whole world really. Delegitimization campaigns wont last forever. Palestinians want peace? Then stop stalling and make peace. Give palestinians a home once and for all!
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous :D!
Delete"Am Yisrael Chai!"
You know it!
"Palestinians want peace? Then stop stalling and make peace. Give palestinians a home once and for all!"
Their politicians claim to want peace, but I don't see their political good will to achieve it. Hear, hear!
Anonymous, thank you so so much for your input :D.
Cheers
It's all well and good that millenniums ago the distant ancestors of modern-day Israelis lived on that land, but it's no longer relevant. The Jews that live in Israel today are the descendants of Europeans; Europe is where their heritage lies. The Palestinians have a much more recent (and thus more concrete) claim to the land; there are Palestinians alive today who were damaged by the founding of Israel, whereas there are no Israelis today who were ever damaged by anything the Ancient Romans ever did.
ReplyDeleteVid, you are obviously very ignorant about Israel and her history. You should read more about before issuing an opinion. Have you ever heard of mizrachi Jews? They never left the middle east. Jews are were forced into exile and many have European nationalities not ancestry because of that. Palestinians are arabs originally coming from Syria and others arab nations, they have no right to claim the Israeli Land.
DeleteRead more!
Vid, are you American? Because if you are I will not be so shocked at your ignorance. Your reasoning is ridiculous: when Palestinians that were alive in 1948 die, then all Palestinians will cease to have the right to claim the land, n'est-ce pas?
DeleteOn a final note: there is no such thing as a modern day Israeli or a ancient Israeli. There is an Israeli, the son of the promise, period.
Mais qu'est-ce que je fais là...Have you even heard of the Bible? Like Ana said: read more!
Hi Vid :D!
Delete"It's all well and good that millenniums ago the distant ancestors of modern-day Israelis lived on that land, but it's no longer relevant."
I would suggest that you re-read this part of your comment and then see how senseless you sound...
"The Jews that live in Israel today are the descendants of Europeans; Europe is where their heritage lies."
You obviously do not know what you are talking about, Vid. Not all Jews living in Israel today are descendants of Europeans (do not go after what Helen Thomas says, cause even she [an accomplished journalist] is ignorant about this issue) mainly because not all Jews are converts (those can be of European descent). A Jew, one whose lineage hasn't been broken, is always of Middle Eastern descent, ok?
"The Palestinians have a much more recent (and thus more concrete) claim to the land; there are Palestinians alive today who were damaged by the founding of Israel, whereas there are no Israelis today who were ever damaged by anything the Ancient Romans ever did."
Let's briefly discuss Kosovo and Serbia. Kosovo was an independent region until the Ottomans conquered it and incorporated it in Serbia. Did the Kosovo people forget their independence? No, they didn't rest until they had their land back (based on their history and traditions); still not all of their land is internationally recognised (a similar situation to that of Judea and Samaria) cause Serbia is accusing them of occupying their land (in this context, Serbia is acting like the Palestinians)...
Vid, it is always a pleasure to hear your feelings on these issues. Thanks for your input, anyway :D.
Cheers
Louis,
Delete"Vid, are you American? Because if you are I will not be so shocked at your ignorance."
Mon pote, tu sais que je t'adore mais...pas de nationalismes ici, ok? Yes, he is a bit ignorant on this matter but let's respect him nevertheless, all right?
"On a final note: there is no such thing as a modern day Israeli or a ancient Israeli. There is an Israeli, the son of the promise, period."
Very well said, man!
"Mon pote, tu sais que je t'adore mais...pas de nationalismes ici, ok?"
DeleteÇa rolle, Max; ne t'en fais pas! Et peut-être je devrais m'excuser...
Louis,
Delete"Ça rolle, Max; ne t'en fais pas! Et peut-être je devrais m'excuser..."
Ok :). LOL ouais, mais tu ne t'excuse pas...ne c'est-ce pas?
Palestine belongs to the Palestinians, period. Israel delegitimizes herself one else does it. History is pointless and useless before the suffering of children and women in palestine.
ReplyDeleteCelia, you are pitiful, seriously!
DeleteHi Celia :D!
Delete"Palestine belongs to the Palestinians, period."
Based on what?
"History is pointless and useless before the suffering of children and women in palestine."
Listen to yourself: you make no sense at all.
Celia, thanks for your visit, girl :D.
Cheers
One of those themes, huh? Where to start?
ReplyDeleteThe Romans wanted to obliterate the Jewish connection to the Jewish Land (which utterly failed, because the connection remained despite the forced exile). The arabs knew this very well but they never saw the Jews coming, they underestimated the organisational abilities of Zionists and most of all they underestimated the amount of love the Jews have for Zion and for Jerusalem.
I agree with you on the British: they did want to rule a "Palestine" filled with subdued Jews; but what did they intend to do with the arabs? Push them all to Jordan?
Hi Louis :D!
Delete"The Romans wanted to obliterate the Jewish connection to the Jewish Land (which utterly failed, because the connection remained despite the forced exile)."
True.
"The arabs knew this very well but they never saw the Jews coming, they underestimated the organisational abilities of Zionists and most of all they underestimated the amount of love the Jews have for Zion and for Jerusalem."
You know it, brother!
"I agree with you on the British: they did want to rule a "Palestine" filled with subdued Jews; but what did they intend to do with the arabs? Push them all to Jordan?"
That is a great question...but only they can answer that one.
Louis, thank you ever so much for a great comment :D.
Cheers
I did not know this! Then what rights do the palestinians/arabs have to that land? Many people should read this post cause for sure they are pro-palestinian without knowing all the facts...or they use the cause to voice their anti semitism, dunno.
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous :D!
Delete"I did not know this!"
Apparently you are not alone, so don't worry :).
"Then what rights do the palestinians/arabs have to that land? Many people should read this post cause for sure they are pro-palestinian without knowing all the facts...or they use the cause to voice their anti semitism, dunno."
Well, history says they have none but politics says something else. You may very well be right on that one...and it is a bit sad, isn't it?
Anonymous, thank you so much for your input and for your honesty :D.
Cheers
Devious guys the Brits! Look at what they did to my glorious land. First, they partitioned it into two based on religion, and then they looked the other way when the break away split again into two, and now wring their hands when the last unit is faced with a break up. In this, they were all the time supported by the West, which now wishes that they had not encouraged that, because you have a rogue state with nuclear weapons and good deliver systems. I am glad that my life is almost over!
ReplyDeleteHi Rummy :D!
Delete"Devious guys the Brits!"
I feel you...they messed up pretty badly throughout history.
"Look at what they did to my glorious land. First, they partitioned it into two based on religion, and then they looked the other way when the break away split again into two, and now wring their hands when the last unit is faced with a break up."
Right? And they seem to have always made the same mistake - this is what happens when the ones ruling are megalomaniac-bigoted-politicians.
"In this, they were all the time supported by the West, which now wishes that they had not encouraged that, because you have a rogue state with nuclear weapons and good deliver systems."
*nodding in agreement*...
"I am glad that my life is almost over!"
Oh come on, old chap: don't say that! Although I grasp what you mean...
Rummy, outstanding comment for which I thank you a million times :D.
Cheers
It sounds pretty hopeless to me. I'm with Rummy. It's not all that bad being a short timer.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I understand what you mean by
Delete"But what is really curious is that the most powerful nations in the Western World, while claiming to be an ally of the Jewish State, unconsciously (?) do the same…"
Is that because they don't agree that Israel should have all of the ancient homeland? That it was given to the Jews by God?
Hi Jean :D!
Delete"It sounds pretty hopeless to me. I'm with Rummy. It's not all that bad being a short timer."
Nothing is hopeless; but politics sometimes makes it sound like it. lol...it is always good to disincarnate (since we are going back home) but life on earth is also spectacular despite all things...don't get me started, Jean; otherwise I will start philosophising here ;).
My dear Jean, thank you for your comment :D.
Cheers
Jean,
Delete"["But what is really curious is that the most powerful nations in the Western World, while claiming to be an ally of the Jewish State, unconsciously (?) do the same…"] Is that because they don't agree that Israel should have all of the ancient homeland?"
If I were a Revisionist Zionist I'd answer yes (the ancient homeland includes Jordan); but since I am not the answer is no. The West does the same by using the term "Palestine" that is a symbol of the "obliteration of the Jewish Identity" in Judea and Samaria; it further delegitmises Israel by not recognising that Judea and Samaria are Jewish territories and by not acknowledging Jerusalem as the Jewish capital - that's all (for now).
"That it was given to the Jews by God?"
Oh, the West knows that very well:
"And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him: 'Lift up now your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you sees, I will give it to you, and to your seed for ever." (Genesis 13: 14-15)
"And God spoke unto Moses, and said unto him: 'I am the LORD; and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name YHWH I made Me not known to them. And I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their sojournings, wherein they sojourned." (Exodus 6:2-4)
It knows this fact so well that it acknowledged Israel as the national homeland of the Jewish People (in the beginning of the 20th century). The problem started when the West, knowing what it knows, decided to appease the Arabs...
"Oh, the West knows that very well:"
DeleteYou seem to be assuming that everyone in the West believes in the Bible. I thought Europe was much more secular than religious, and even here in the U.S., which apparently is much more religious, a lot of people are neither Christians or Jews.
Cheerful Monk, secularism is not independent of religion. I have religious beliefs and yet I live a rather secular life. I am not Christian but I read the bible and I believe in it, I am not Muslim but I believe there is some sort of truth behind the koran, I am not Jewish yet I believe that the promise is real. And you are misguided about europe, most european nations are laic but Christian, meaning that we separate state from church while maintaining our religious values- in theory at least cause the church has immense influence in euro politics.
DeleteI believe that "secular" is one of those terms with a constantly morphing definition, but that also has different senses in America than in Europe. It might just be a "secular" setting where Jews and Muslims get together and choose a few areas of agreement that they would like to work in common in spite of a sea of differences. At the opposite extreme, there is the "secular" intellectual who views religions as something to be inspected and managed like frogs in the Calaveras Jumping Frog contest. Religion is tolerable as long as the intellectual is acknowledged as the only true arbitrator between the gods. There is also the secularism that says "all religions are alike". I probably missed a dozen or two definitions in the mix.
DeleteJean,
Delete"You seem to be assuming that everyone in the West believes in the Bible."
Around 78,5% of the US population is Christian; 77% of the population in Canada is Christian; 80% of Europe is Christian and 64% of Australians are Christian; therefore the majority in the West believes in the Bible.
"I thought Europe was much more secular than religious, and even here in the U.S., which apparently is much more religious, a lot of people are neither Christians or Jews."
Europe, due to its religious history, deeply believes in the separation between state and church. But this doesn't mean that the establishment isn't religious or that religion doesn't deeply influence the way things are done in Europe (no matter what leftists will try to convince the world of). Christians and Jews together form 80% of the US, which is a very important figure...
Looney,
Delete"I believe that "secular" is one of those terms with a constantly morphing definition, but that also has different senses in America than in Europe."
True. From what I have observed in Europe, secularism doesn't seem to necessarily be linked to the profane (or to secular humanism) nor does it have to exclude religion. Secularism to many is related to modernity.
"It might just be a "secular" setting where Jews and Muslims get together and choose a few areas of agreement that they would like to work in common in spite of a sea of differences."
It might indeed...
"At the opposite extreme, there is the "secular" intellectual who views religions as something to be inspected and managed like frogs in the Calaveras Jumping Frog contest."
lol you know? It is like secular humanists who view religion as being unreasonable (and seem to utterly reject it), when it is them who sound rather unreasonable and whose theories may push some people toward the intellectual abyss.
"Religion is tolerable as long as the intellectual is acknowledged as the only true arbitrator between the gods."
Like I suggested: their theories may push some people down the abyss.
"There is also the secularism that says "all religions are alike". I probably missed a dozen or two definitions in the mix."
Humans do know how to keep themselves entertained (specially when they try to avoid that which they do not understand nor wish to make an effort to).
Looney, one word for you: spectacular!
Hi European :D!
DeleteWelcome to the MAX experience!
"secularism is not independent of religion. I have religious beliefs and yet I live a rather secular life."
It can be interestingly true. So do I...
"I am not Christian but I read the bible and I believe in it, I am not Muslim but I believe there is some sort of truth behind the koran, I am not Jewish yet I believe that the promise is real."
What kind of truth do you find in the Quran?
European, I hope to see more of you here and I thank you for your input (and precious example) :D.
Cheers
Setting aside for a moment the fact that the situation is utterly hopeless and that anything we do will just make things worse, I would like to see our government put some pressure on Lebanon, Syria and Jordan to assimilate Palestinians who were born in those countries. Soon we will be able to assimilate most of them by limiting citizenship to those whose grandparents were born in, say, a refugee camp in Lebanon. But then again, Lebanon seems to have trouble assimilating Lebanese, as does Syria with Syrians, so I guess we are back where we started.
ReplyDeleteHi Looney :D!
Delete"Setting aside for a moment the fact that the situation is utterly hopeless and that anything we do will just make things worse, I would like to see our government put some pressure on Lebanon, Syria and Jordan to assimilate Palestinians who were born in those countries."
I hear you.
"Soon we will be able to assimilate most of them by limiting citizenship to those whose grandparents were born in, say, a refugee camp in Lebanon. But then again, Lebanon seems to have trouble assimilating Lebanese, as does Syria with Syrians, so I guess we are back where we started."
I don't even think they have troubles assimilating their own; I think they make everything they can to make the political world believe they can't.
Looney, thank you ever so much for this marvellous comment :D.
Cheers
Well to be fair to the British empire, I guess most of the international border and land disputes today originated in most cases after the British regimes or some influence of it. I guess Geography was one subject they completely dozed off, and today a fair part of the world is paying the price for it. And not just Geography, even their vested interests at that time created a lot of these problems including identity crisis. Just see the Indian sub-continent as also other parts of Asia, most of the regional disputes originated from the British and their faulty political mismanagement. I believe the western world especially the US could have had a better management of the world order, for the clout it had (and also continues to have some), but then again, it had its own set of narrow vested interests. Just take its case of doctrines of democracy and the way it treats its Arab stooges. And so these never ending conflicts will just continue as Governments to protect their own interests will never come out for a political solution to this neurotic disorder among human beings, for Governments are more self-content to raise these bogies during election. But alas today's human folk is far smarter than the Rulers think of them.
ReplyDeleteHi Kalyan :D!
Delete"Well to be fair to the British empire, I guess most of the international border and land disputes today originated in most cases after the British regimes or some influence of it."
You know it.
"I guess Geography was one subject they completely dozed off, and today a fair part of the world is paying the price for it. And not just Geography, even their vested interests at that time created a lot of these problems including identity crisis."
So so true. Every time I think about what they did to Kurdistan and even India...*nodding*
"I believe the western world especially the US could have had a better management of the world order, for the clout it had (and also continues to have some), but then again, it had its own set of narrow vested interests."
Sometimes I think it goes beyond their particular national interests and it borders political egotism.
"Just take its case of doctrines of democracy and the way it treats its Arab stooges. And so these never ending conflicts will just continue as Governments to protect their own interests will never come out for a political solution to this neurotic disorder among human beings, for Governments are more self-content to raise these bogies during election."
*nodding in agreement*...
"But alas today's human folk is far smarter than the Rulers think of them."
Agreed.
Kalyan, thank you so so much for your fabulous input :D.
Cheers
Max, if only the US would follow the advice of this US congressman : http://m.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=99268934&cat=3
ReplyDeleteIn order to have peace the two state solution must be buried and forgotten, there is only one state solution: an undivided Israel, period.
Hi Anonymous :D!
ReplyDelete"Max, if only the US would follow the advice of this US [Illinois] congressman"
I had already read that article: I was surprised by it. It is not everyday a US congressman has the nerve to write about such themes...
"In order to have peace the two state solution must be buried and forgotten, there is only one state solution: an undivided Israel, period."
I think the Palestinians should have a state, only not in Israeli land.
Anonymous, thank you so much for sharing this link with us and for your input :D.
Cheers
"In order to have peace the two state solution must be buried and forgotten, there is only one state solution: an undivided Israel, period."
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to know how many people in the U.S. and Europe would agree to that statement. At any rate, if the statement were true it doesn't bode well for peace. As far as I can see other people in the area agree there has to be a one-state solution. But they would get rid of Israel. Sounds a bit hopeless to me. Good luck!