An Accurate History of Palestine, Israel, and the "Palestinians"

After reading many articles that claim to know the history of the Middle East, but are incorrect, I have decided to put together a very accurate history for you to use as a reference. It requires much research, but I have no problem doing the legwork for my readers. This will come in parts (so that it's not too long) - please feel free to use it as a reference.

PART I

The Name "Palestine"
The definite origins of the word "Palestine" are unclear, but it is believed that the name is derived from the Hebrew word "peleshet." It is roughly translated as "rolling" or "migratory," the term was used to describe the inhabitants of the land to the northeast of Egypt, the Philistines. The Philistines were an Aegean people, more closely related to the Greeks and with no connection ethnically, linguistically, or historically with Arabia.

A derivative of the name first appears in Greek literature in the 5th Century B.C.E. (Before the Common Era) when Herodotus called the area "Palaistine." In the 2nd Century C.E. (Common Era), the Romans crushed the revolt of Shimon bar Kochba (132 C.E.), during which Jerusalem and Judea were regained, the Romans renamed the area Palaestina in an attempt to minimize Jewish identification with the land of Israel.

Under the Ottoman Empire (1517-1917), the term Palestine was used loosely as a term to describe the land south of Syria. Many Ottomans and Arabs instead used the term "Souther Syria" rather than "Palestine."

After WWI, the name was applied to the land that was under the British Mandate (present day Israel and present day Jordan). Prior to 1948, it was customary to use the term "Palestinian" to the Jews that lived in the area. Only years after Israel's independence did the Arabs living in the Gaza Strip and West Bank (of the Jordan) call themselves Palestinians. They themselves pronounce it "Filastin," a term which does not appear in the Qu'ran.

The Birth of Israel
On September 3, 1947, the UNSCOP (United Nations Special Committee on Palestine) submitted its report to the UN General Assembly declaring its majority recommendation that Palestine be divided into separate Jewish and Arab states. The Arab Higher Committee rejected the issuance of the Report, issuing a statement on September 29th, saying that the "Zionists are conducting an invasion of that country [Palestine]" and claiming that they advocate freedom and independence for an Arab state in the whole of Palestine which would respect human rights, fundamental freedoms and equality of all persons before the law, and would protect the legitimate rights and interests of all minorities whilst guaranteeing freedom of worship and access to the Holy Places. Not once did the Arab Higher Committee use the term "Palestinian," instead only using the term "Arabs of Palestine."

On November 29, 1947, the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 181 (33 votes in favor, 13 votes against, 10 abstentions). Resolution 181 was a recommendation that the partition plan be implemented and requested that the Security Council take up the matter from there.

More discussions took place and on February 6, 1948, the Arab Higher Committee again objected to the Jews getting a state of their own, declaring, "The Arabs of Palestine will never recognize the validity of the extorted partition recommendations or the authority of the United Nations to make them." They continued, saying that they would consider "that any attempt by the Jews or any power or group of powers to establish a Jewish state in Arab territory is an act of aggression which will be resisted in self-defense by force" (emphasis added). The Arabs of Palestine also stated,

"It is very unwise and fruitless to ask any commission to proceed to Palestine because not a single Arab will cooperate with the said commission ... The only way to establish partition is first to wipe them out -- man woman and child." Id.

Further, it wasn't just the Arabs within Palestine. According to the First Special Report, "powerful Arab interests, both inside and outside Palestine, are defying the resolution ... and are engaged in a deliberate effort to alter by force the settlement envisaged herein." Guerrilla groups from numerous adjacent Arab states were recorded as coming in to assist in attacking the Jews of Palestine, civilian and security personnel alike. Id.

The argument raged on for months since the UN was afraid of causing increased violence in the Mideast (borne of Arab dissatisfaction). The US (along with other countries) tried to find a solution. Mindful of the worsening situation, and wishing to avoid further debate, the US proposed another draft resolution calling for a truce between Jewish and Arab groups. It was adopted as Resolution 43 on April 1, 1948. Several more resolutions were passed to calm everything down, but after nothing but violence and hopeful ideas continued, on May 14, 1948, the Zionist leadership declared the existence of the State of Israel, citing Resolution 181 as constituting "recognition by the United Nations of the right of the Jewish people to establish their state."

Palestine, which had not been in existence for very long, was no more. It was divided into Israel -- for the Jewish people of Palestine (between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River) and Trans-Jordan, which became Jordan -- for the Arabs of Palestine (the land east of the Jordan River).

[Note: Prior to this time, the term "Palestinian" referred to both Jews and Arabs, though the Arabs who lived in the area were generally from other, surrounding Arab countries.]

Attacks on Israel
Not one of the 22 Arab states were pleased with this and not only did they reject the declaration, but decided they also needed to wipe Israel off the map. Surrounding Arab countries urged the Arabs who lived there to flee, to get out of the way so that they could run the Jews into the sea. Despite being urged to stay by Palestinian Jews (civilians and government), they ran away, abandoning their houses, land, and property, in the hopes that they would be able to return and take the property back tenfold -- after all the Jews were murdered. See There Are No Palestinian Jewish Refugees; There Are No Palestinian Arab Refugees.


to be continued...

Now is the time...

It's been headed in this direction for a while now, but in case you've only just noticed (or haven't yet because you're in denial), World War III has begun.

Here are the more well-known events (I have only included the murdered, not the injured)

• February 26, 1993: WTC bombed (6 murdered)
• December 24, 1994: Air France Flight 8969 hijacked in Algiers (3 murdered)
• June 25, 1996: Khobar Towers bombed (20 murdered)
• October 12, 2000: USS Cole attacked in Aden, Yemen (17 murdered)
• September 11, 2001: WTC bombed (nearly 3,000 murdered)
• August 5, 2003: Marriott Hotel bombing in South Jakarta (12 murdered)
• March 11, 2004: Train bombings in Madrid, Spain (191 murdered)
• September 9, 2004: Bombing at Australian embassy in Jakarta (9 murdered)
• July 7, 2005: Multiple bombings in London underground (53 murdered)
• July 23, 2005: Bomb attacks at Sharm el-Sheikh (64 murdered)
• February 1, 2007: Plot to behead British Muslim soldier (thwarted)
• September 13, 2008: Bombing series in Delhi, India (33 murdered)
• November 26, 2008: Coordinated attacks in Mumbai, India (166 murdered)
• June 18, 2009: Beledweyne bombing in Somalia (35 murdered)
• May 1, 2010: Times Square car bombing attempted (thwarted)
• May 28, 2010: Attacks on mosques (100 murdered)
• December 10, 2010: Stockholm bombing (2 murdered)
• July 18, 2011: Attack in Hotan, China (2 murdered)
• February 23, 2012: Attacks in Baghdad (83 murdered)
• March 20, 2012: Attacks in Baghdad (52 murdered)
• April 15, 2013: Boston Marathon bombing (3 murdered)
• May 22, 2013: Two men with cleavers murder British soldier in Woolwich.
• September 21, 2013: Westgate Shopping Mall attack in Nairobi, Kenya (67 murdered)

For a more detailed list of the 23,450 terror attacks since 9/11, please click here.

World War III is an ideological war and it started years ago. Nobody informed us it was instigated, and the majority of people today still don't know it's going on. It's insidious and quiet. It's widespread and dangerous. The only way to fight it is to educate yourself and others and to be aware.

Only now, after the three boys were kidnapped in Israel and after Hamas started firing rockets (again) at Israeli civilians, did people start to really notice the raging anti-Semitism occurring around the world. Not that it wasn't going on before - it was. But people see what they want, and don't see what they don't.

For years, there has been increasing acts of violence and intimidation against Jews, most notably, France, the UK, and other European countries. A statistical analysis has shown that 150 million people across Europe have serious anti-semitic views or a "demonic view" of Israel. The new anti-Semitism stems from the far right (authoritarianists, anti-communists, nativists, and fascists), the political left, and a growing Muslim population in these countries.

Even in peaceful Canada, there have been riots and violence against Jews and non-Jewish supporters of Israel. In Calgary the other day, hundreds of Muslims and non-Muslim Jew-haters rioted "peacefully" right before they attacked the group of a dozen or so pro-Israel protestors. No police were present and it almost escaped the attention of the media.

There are 1.2 billion Muslims in the world today. It is estimated that 15-25% of those Muslims are radical, according to all intelligence sources around the world. That means, mathematically, that 180-300 MILLION Muslims are radical, dedicated to the destruction of democracy and Western civilization. That's as many people as occupy our United States of America.

Let me repeat this. These 180-300 million people dedicate their lives and deaths to murdering and mutilating YOU, the infidel.

According to the Qu'ran, they believe that men are worth more than women... in inheritance (4:11, 4:176), in court testimony (2:282), purity (5:6), dominion over the body (2:223), wife to husband ratio (4:3), sex slaves (4:24, 33:50), and more. This is supported by the Hadith, the record of the sayings of their prophet Mohammed, which supplements the Qu'ran.

Women are not alone. Muslims also look down upon homosexuals, Christians, hypocrites (those who claim to be Muslim but are not radical enough), and, of course, Jews.

Do not think that you will be spared.

"Oh ye who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are near to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who keep their duty." -Qu'ran, Sura 9:123.

They are encouraged to lay low, to lie to non-believers, to gain in numbers until such a time when they can take over. This is how they work. We can now see that their hard work and patience is paying off. Look at France where synagogues are burned. Look at Chicago where tens of thousands march in support of Hamas and their murderous methods. Look at Ann Arbor - where pro-"Palestinian" rallies and take place and people are afraid to act. 

It will only increase. Keep your eyes open and do not blind yourself to what is happening. The war has begun. Jewish, not Jewish. White, Black, Yellow, Purple. Heterosexual, homosexual. If you aren't a radical Muslim, YOU are the infidel. YOU are their enemy. Be prepared to fight.

Freedom of Speech: Your First Amendment

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." -Bill of Rights, 1st Amendment

The First Amendment to the Constitution was adopted on December 15, 1791, and it applies to laws enacted by Congress as well as the fifty states through the 14th Amendment. It does NOT apply from one individual to another or one individual to a company/employer.

Here's a very brief understanding of your 'freedom of speech' rights:

• Political speech is protected: "...freedom to think as you will and to speak as you think are means indispensable to the discovery and spread of political truth; that without free speech and assembly discussion would be futile; that with them, discussion affords ordinarily adequate protection against the dissemination of noxious doctrine; that the greatest menace to freedom is an inert people; that public discussion is a political duty; and that this should be a fundamental principle of the American government." --Justice Brandeis (minority opinion) 
• Desecration of the flag: You can burn the American flag (though in my personal opinion, you shouldn't): "...if there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea offensive or disagreeable." --Justice Brennan, Jr., Texas v. Johnson. 
• Commercial speech (speech done on behalf of a company or individual for the purpose of making a profit) doesn't get full protection under the First Amendment. It is more interested in avoiding fraud than anything else. 
• School speech: Students in school have certain speech rights as well. A school cannot restrict symbolic speech that does not "materially and substantially" interrupt school activities, according to Justice Fortas. "[S]chools may not be enclaves of totalitarianism. School officials do not possess absolute authority over their students. Students ... are possessed of fundamental rights which the State must respect, just as they themselves must respect their obligations to the State." --Tinker v. Des Moines.
• Obscenity and pornography is a completely different issue, and their definitions have changed over time. That's a fun topic for another blog. 
• Defamation (slander/libel): Consists of actionable words that are false, articulated to a third person (whether by writing or in speech), not subject to legal protection, and motivated by malice. The malice standard differs for public figures in that it requires actual malice (knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard of whether it was false or not).

In the recent uproar over Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson's comments and his employer A&E, people have claimed that his first amendment rights have been curtailed. This could not be further from the truth. If you are unfamiliar with the facts, here's a brief recap:

Phil Robertson, in a GQ interview, expressed his biblical views on homosexuals, sin, and morality. I can't imagine that anyone was surprised that he held these views. He's a very old-fashioned, redneck Southerner, familiar with the Bible. He is not ignorant; he has a Master's Degree in Education. He quoted the New Testament's views on homosexuality and sin. Anyone familiar with the New Testament, again, shouldn't be surprised.

As a result of his comments and pressure from gay rights organizations, his employer, A&E has put him on permanent suspension. Critics are claiming that Robertson's freedom of speech rights are being crushed by A&E, but they are ignorant of the law. And while Robertson's comments were made on his own time and quoted the New Testament, he still represents A&E, and it is their choice to react (or not react) to his behavior.

Let me be clear: I have never watched Duck Dynasty. It's not my idea of entertainment. I'm coming at this from a purely ignorant point of view, so to speak. 

But if someone is going to form an opinion on what should or should not be done in this particular (or similar situation), they should do so with knowledge and fairness. 

Facts:

1. Phil Robertson made his remarks on his own personal time.
2. In some respect, Robertson represents A&E (as employees represent their employers).
3. Phil Robertson was closely quoting the New Testament.
4. Laws do not protect our feelings.
5. Employers are allowed to do whatever they want when employees behave in a certain way (provided it's not illegal).
6. This is not a 1st Amendment issue; it's an employment issue.

In truth, this could have gone either way... Either the way it went OR A&E could have chosen to view Robertson's statements as what they were, his personal religious views (to which people are entitled) and to support his right to hold those opinions. They could have rejected the pressure from outside groups and stood up for each individual's right to possess a personal belief. If they were truly worried about public opinion, they simply could have released a statement saying that Robertson's views do not represent the views of the station, but that they support an individual's right to a personal belief. Done.

Everyone on this planet is different. That's what makes our society an interesting place! As long as someone's belief and opinion does not infringe on another's rights or safety, that belief and opinion shouldn't be restricted. I shouldn't have to fear or be ashamed of my beliefs. 

With that in mind, A&E retains the right to do what it wants in response to Robertson's actions, but it shouldn't have been pressured to act one way or another. I understand that perhaps the point of the pressure was to promote tolerance, but instead of doing that, this has instead been a forced silencing of personal opinion and differences to which we are, and should be, entitled. 

Whether or not each of us agrees with Robertson and the New Testament is irrelevant. 

If Robertson isn't allowed to have and express his opinion on his own time, what's to stop another group/company/government organization from suppressing our personal belief and opinion (popular or unpopular as they may be)?

A joyous birthday to America's Navy: A Global Force for Good

“It follows then as certain as that night succeeds the day, that without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definite, and with it, everything honorable and glorious.” – George Washington

October 13^th commemorates the birthday of the United States Navy, 238 years ago today. It was founded in 1775, before the official birth of our country.

The US Navy traces it origins to the Continental Navy, which the Continental Congress established on this day over 200 years ago, by authorizing the procurements, fitting out, manning, and dispatch of two (yes, two) armed vessels to cruise around in search of munitions ships supplying the British Army in America. The legislation also established a Naval Committee to supervise the work. Over the course of the Revolution, the Continental Navy numbered about 50 ships, with approximately 20 warships active at its maximum strength. It was disbanded at the end of the war.

The Constitution, ratified in 1789, empowered Congress “to provide and maintain a navy.” Acting on this authority, Congress ordered the construction and manning of six frigates in 1794 and the War Department administered naval affairs from that year until Congress established the Department of the Navy on April 30, 1798.

Today, the US Navy has exceeded its modest roots by now being larger than the next thirteen largest navies (combined in terms of battle fleet tonnage). It also has the world’s largest carrier fleet, with ten in service, one under construction (two planned), and two in reserve. The service has over 317,000 personnel on active duty and over 100,000 in the Navy Reserve. It operates 285 ships in active service and more than 3,700 aircraft.

The US Navy is a blue-water navy (a maritime force capable of operating across the deep waters of open oceans) able to project force onto the littoral regions of the world, engage in forward areas during peacetime, and rapidly respond to regional crises, making it an active player in US foreign and defense policy.

“The mission of the United States Navy is to protect and defend the right of the United States and our allies to move freely on the oceans and to protect our country against her enemies.” – New Recruits Handbook

The Navy’s three primary areas of responsibility are: 

1. The preparation of naval forces necessary for the effective prosecution of war;
2. The maintenance of naval aviation, including land-based naval aviation, air transport essential for naval operations and all air weapons and air techniques involved in the operations and activities of the Navy; and
3. The development of aircraft, weapons, tactics, technique, organization, and equipment of naval combat and service elements.

 In 2007, the US Navy joined with the US Marine Corps and US Coast Guard to adopt a new maritime strategy called A Cooperative Strategy for21st Century Seapower that raises the notion of prevention of war to the same philosophical level as the conduct of war. The new strategy charts a course for the Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps to work collectively with each other and international partners to prevent crises (man made or natural) from occurring or reacting quickly should one occur to prevent negative impacts on the United States.

 There is so much history to our US Navy, and so many positive things that it provides (and can provide to its soldiers)... Check out the official website for more information, and if you're interested in signing up, just click here! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, UNITED STATES NAVY.

Happy Birthday, United States Air Force!

Today, in 1947, our United States Air Force (USAF) was created (through the National Security Act of 1947).

The USAF is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States military and one of the seven American branches of armed forces. It is the youngest branch, but also one of the most technologically advanced in the world.

The Air Force is a military service within the Department of the Air Force, one of three departments within the Department of Defense. The USAF is headed by a civilian Secretary of the Air Force, who is appointed by the President and approved by the Senate.

In general the United States Air Force shall include aviation forces both combat and service not otherwise assigned. It shall be organized, trained, and equipped primarily for prompt and sustained offensive and defensive air operations. The Air Force shall be responsible for the preparation of the air forces necessary for the effective prosecution of war except as otherwise assigned and, in accordance with integrated joint mobilization plans, for the expansion of the peacetime components of the Air Force to meet the needs of war. -National Security Act, 1947.

The purpose of the USAF is to preserve the peace and security, and provide for the defense, of the United States, the Territories, Commonwealths, and possessions, and any areas occupied by the United States; to support national policy; to implement national objectives; to overcome any nations responsible for aggressive acts that imperil the peace and security of the United States. -§8062 of Title 10 U.S. Code

The stated mission of the USAF today is to "fly, fight, and win in air, space, and cyberspace." That's right, cyberspace as well.

The USAF takes great pride in its creativity, air shows, technology and engineering, science, and holds events regularly around the country.

One of the USAF's most exciting and coolest interests is its science! It works with lasers, micro air vehicles, g-forces, remotely piloted aircraft, GPS and satellites, supersonic and other forces in flights, and more. In addition, the Air Force Research Laboratory is constantly discovering and developing new war-fighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace forces.

The USAF doesn't also work for our great country; it also serves mankind. It helps assist in humanitarian crises via air deliveries, fire response, goodwill, and more.

The United States Air Force may be less than 70 years old, but it has accomplished quite a bit in its time.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AIR FORCE!