If a few microscopic enclaves of ‘Jewish’ landowners managed to steal the bulk of modern Israel, then God must indeed be an ‘estate agent’! History tells a different tale then the four long-ago-debunked maps presented by Reno Calleja (God is not an estate agent).
When the British took over Palestine, they assumed ownership of prior government lands. More than 90% of the land at the time was owned by the government – not by any individuals, Jew or Arab. Calleja’s ‘maps’ dishonestly label these government lands as “Palestinian”. Here is a true history, as shown in real maps, not fantasy ones:
All of Mandate Palestine had been designated as a Jewish homeland. This was no divine revelation – it simply recognised an over 3,000 year history connecting that land to the Jewish people. “Palestinians” back then meant “Jews”. But in 1921-22, the British agreed to slice off 75% of this Mandate to create an Arab state where Jews were barred from settling – Jordan. In the process, many Jews were driven from Jordan.
Thus began a trend which continues to this day. In Arab states, it is illegal for Jews to own land, yet in Israel, Arabs can be full citizens, have political parties, and members of Knesset – the Israeli parliament. In Gaza and the West Bank it’s a capital offence to sell your land to a Jew! Many Arabs have been executed by their fellow ‘Palestinians’ simply for selling their property at market value.
In 1947, the UN had attempted to further partition the Mandate. The Jews accepted this plan, but the Arabs rejected it and refused to negotiate. Israel declared its independence, and the next day was attacked by seven Arab states.
After the War of Independence, the borders of Israel were drawn relatively as they would remain until 1967, when Arab states again attacked Israel. At the end of six days, Israel controlled the Sinai, Gaza, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights. No private land was seized, only government land – from Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. In 1973, Egypt and Syria attacked again, and Israel pushed them back across the Suez Canal, and to within 30km of Damascus. Israel eventually gave the entire Sinai back to Egypt – including its many lucrative oil fields - as part of a negotiated peace.
Egypt was offered Gaza and the Arab population there, but wanted nothing to do with them. In 2005, Israel decided it didn’t either, and unilaterally withdrew from Gaza. Instead of using the opportunity to better their lives, Abbas’ regime grew more and more corrupt, and eventually, Hamas was elected, and later through a bloody civil war assumed full control.
So much for the great land-grab of Reno Calleja’s imagination. Government owned lands can not be used to artificially inflate supposed ‘Palestinian lands’. Israel has repeatedly given up land for peace, yet no such deal will placate Hamas, short of all the land and the removal of Israel altogether – their very charter says so.
Many, like Reno, urge dialogue with Hamas and recognition as elected representatives of the people in Gaza. Hitler was elected also. He was appointed Chancellor in 1933, and his Nazi party received 44% of the vote just over a month later. In 1934, 85% of Germans voted to retain him as both Chancellor and Führer. He too was the “will of the people”, and whilst one can certainly argue rampant abuse (just as there was in Gaza), it remains the democratic process which was utilised by Hitler and then sanctioned by the voters.
Democracy is not perfect – but it beats the alternatives. The challenge facing Israel (and the world) is what to do when democracy runs amok. Do you legitimise an illegitimate terrorist organisation through recognition, or do you isolate it? The world made the former mistake with Hitler, but fortunately has chosen the latter course with Hamas.
It is undeniable that civilians in Gaza are suffering, just as many Germans suffered when their ‘democratic’ government decided to become an aggressor. Israel though continues to refrain from intentionally targeting the civilians who voted for Hamas, unlike the fate of their German comparatives at the hands of the Allies.
For example, Israel never shelled a UN school in Gaza, contrary to what has been widely reported. John Ging, director of the UNRWA in Gaza confirmed in the Toronto Globe & Mail that the school was never hit – that the casualties happened outside, in the street. Yet the incident was astutely spun in the media as if Israel was firing on children and refugees.
In war, there are always civilian casualties. Of those killed recently in Gaza, it is widely estimated that up to half were civilians. As tragic as this is, it could have all been avoided by simply not firing thousands of rockets into a neighbouring country. Yet, in the mind of Hamas, this is a religious war to eradicate Israel - with no other solution being acceptable. They have no qualms about civilian deaths.
Until the domination-theology of Islam changes, there can be no lasting peace in the Middle East. Ironically, I get called a “religious fanatic” for writing the truth of history that a ‘Palestinian’ people are a myth, yet it is Jewish religion (and modern Christianity) which respects the right of other religions to co-exist. Israel is not perfect, but it is the most advanced democracy in the region, offering full rights to its citizens – Jew or Arab - Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, or even atheist. All it wants is to live in peace. Unfortunately, the Radical Islam of Iran, Syria, and their puppet Hamas, has other plans – and innocents all too often pay the price for them.
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