(Photo credit goes to artstruck)
Over 2,500 years ago, the Jews escaped enslavement in Israel and moved to their Promised Land, conquering the pre-Arab tribes there who worshiped idols and establishing the Kingdom of Israel, which would eventually be split into Judah and Israel before its dismantling hundreds of years later. Although Muslims did come to the territory, this would be far into the future, and making up breaks from the Egyptian or Syrian ethnic groups which are more dominant even today.
As time went on, the Promised Land would be governed by Muslim Caliphates (not Palestinians), the Romans, Crusading legions from the Church, and finally, after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire following the First World War, the British. Under the Mandate of Palestine as it was titled, the British transferred numbers of Jews to the region to supplant the standing population, and eventually forged a two state solution, establishing Transjordan to the east, Syria and Lebanon to the north, and Israel to the south.
Furious about the prospects of sharing land with the Jewish People, the Arab nations banded together and forced Palestinians under Israeli protection to leave the land while distributing propaganda which accused the Jews of doing so. Though pummeled into submission four times during the 20th Century by Israel, the Arabs refuse to give up their pursuit of Israel's destruction, instead favoring a gradual process of elimination through terror strikes and concessions. As Zahir Muhsein once told a reporter "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. For tactical reasons, Jordan, which is a sovereign state with defined borders, cannot raise claims to Haifa and Jaffa, while as a Palestinian, I can undoubtedly demand Haifa, Jaffa, Beer-Sheva and Jerusalem. However, the moment we reclaim our right to all of Palestine, we will not wait even a minute to unite Palestine and Jordan."
Muhsein's quote essentially proves what many pro-Zionists already suspect or know; that the Arabs want Israel destroyed, not simply sectioned off into a smaller portion of the map. To Muslims, it is an insult to be near a Jew or live on the territory of a Jewish State, thus complicating the issue. What is not acceptable however is the Arab refusal to allow the Jews control of Jerusalem, historically more important to the Christians and Jews than to the Muslims. While some may dispute this due to the presence of the Dome of Rock in Jerusalem, we should be sure all facts are considered. Adamant as they are on this impasse, would Muslims agree to a Christian or Jewish nation controlling Mecca? History suggests no.
Peace is something which must be accomplished in the Middle East, yet not without some reasonable preconditions. One, Israel must include Jerusalem and be allowed to exist without unnecessary threats to its security. Two, the PLO should disassociate itself from Hamas and Hizbollah, with policies to promote democracy rather than authoritarianism. Only then can Israel let its guard up and sue for peace in the Holy Land.
Michael Veramendi
National Alliance Vice President for Foreign Issues
