Gaza Truth

I recently read a post by a Facebook friend where she writes about how since 2005 the Israeli government had tried to live alongside "innocent civilian residents" of Gaza and had tried to ease restrictions on them. 

So as a historian, and as a person who was very politically involved with many of the “makers and sayers”, and as someone who was actually involved in many of the aspect’s vis-vis Gaza the “Innocent Civilians of Gaza”.

I edited / rewote here what she wrote to reflect all the facts

Years ago, and I refer to the 1970's, we in Israel-the IDF- saw the hardships in the "Disputed Territories".

We at the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) allowed for the increase in the importation of construction materials for the construction of a fishing seaport, grey water purification, desalination plant, sewage -flood water system and expanded and revitalized electricity plant.

Additionally we decided to provide more work permits inside Israel so that the poorer residents specifically of the lower class could improve their and their families lives. 

As we were the Military government in control of the disputed territories prior to a negotiated peace. We strove to improve the lives of those lower class and "dirt poor" landless refugees -the UNWRA receipients- who had been settled by the  Jordanians as well as the Egyptians in squalid "Refugee Camps" .

As such we initiated the construction of proper water "clean water" as well as a proper sewage -and grey water- systems. 

We also built on and improved the hospital facilities as well as clinics. in ALL the "Disputed Areas"

Regretfully with the return of Arafat in the failed "Oslo Accords" and the murderous suicide attacks by the "Shebab" during the "Intifada" and accession of Hamas to power in 2007.  The dream of a "Just and Lasting Peace" a bubble of Western imposed "Kumbayaism" burst!

The threat of waves of murderous suicide attacks from Arab residents of the "Palestinian Areas" of Judaea and Shomron were thankfully curbed by the construction of the "Separation Wall" and increased checkpoints. 

Israel has faced "micro wars" every few years begun by "indiscriminant shelling and rocket fire" by not only Hamas but by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad as well.

In these  Hamas inspired "Micro Wars" the volume of indiscriminant shelling and rocket fire “on the "Gaza Envelope", Israeli towns and cities became more frequent and deadlier, as Chinese and Iranian munitions were smuggled in. 

From the ascension to power of the Jihadist fundamentalist Hamas, associated with the Muslim Brotherhood under Sheikh Ahmed Yasin, the true purpose of the Hamas leadership, was the planning, orchestrating and launching terror attacks to "expel and murder Jews". 

In the beginning we were terribly mistakenly mislead by Shiekh Yasmin's acts to improve the lives of the downtrodden lower clases and had once supported him before his true intentions were known to us.

It was Sheikh Yassin who personally gave his approval for the launching of Qassam rockets against Israeli cities, as well as for the numerous Hamas terrorist bombings and suicide operations. 

In his public appearances and interviews, Yassin called repeatedly for a continuation of the 'armed struggle' against Israel, and for an intensification of the terrorist campaign against its citizens.

During the period 2007-2025 military advisers, members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) began to train and develop plans for a major assault on Israel just as they were doing with the members of Hezbollah in Lebanon. 

These plans based on "Asymmetric Warfare" inspired the network of underground terror tunnels and installations in both Lebanon and Gaza. The plans and preparations that resulted in the infamous butchery and slaughter of October 7th, 2023, were carried out in a secretive and complex manner just as the plans of the Yom Kippur War were made.

During this current "War", Prime Minister Netanyahu has often been accused of supporting the "Innocent civilian residents of Gaza". The rationale behind this, was that the "Innocent civilian residents of Gaza". who have systematically been abused as "cannon fodder /human shields" in the vain attempt to regain what they "lost" have been told for too long to direct their pain and anger at Israel and NOT towards their overly corrupt leadership. This pain and their loss is due to the fact that they have been brainwashed for way too long with the "False Narrative"

There are way to few in the world who have the moral dignity to see that in the past we Israelis have made numerous efforts for a "Just and Lasting Peace" such as the ill-fated 1995 Oslo Accords to "Win" the  "Hearts and minds" not only of the "Innocent civilian residents of Gaza" but those of Judaea and Shomron to end this murderous cycle of death and destruction.

We know that when Israel "disengaged" from Gaza in 2005 we left behind substantial infrastructure for a successful future for Gazans. We literally provided the "Innocent civilian residents of Gaza" several "hot house' complexes with intricate watering systems that produced millions of dollars’ worth of exports and 15% of Israel’s fruit and vegetable production. 

However, upon our "Disengagement" the "Innocent civilian residents of Gaza" rushed in, in a frenzy of hatred and destroyed it all! 

Their utter frenzy of hatred was so intense that they even ripped out of the ground the entire underground water and sewage system of pipelines we had made and turned over! These same pipes were cut up and made into homemade Qassem rockets to murder Israelis by Hamas!

I have heard Arab voices talk about Gazans needing aspirations, needing to see what other Arabs achieve and live in Peace in order to want that. This, they say, could be a way to deradicalize. Give them hope for the future. 

But this is exactly what many of the fanatical residents adherents of the false narrative and Hamas do not want. 

It could all have been so different, no war, lives lived well, in peaceful collaboration with Israel. 

But that would have meant accepting the truth and Israel’s existence. For these extremists that is never going to happen.

Most of those who support the "Arabs of the Mandated Areas" still cling to the belief and do not accept that they -those who turned down the UNR181 Partition and lost in 1948, to those "Jews /Zionists" whom they see as subservient "Dhimmis". 

For them to accept Israel would mean a loss of "Arab Machismo”, the view that male chauvinism, male dominance and supremacy which is so overwhelmingly pervasive in many Arab societies.

So, it is no surprise that as much as everyone wants the hostage’s home as a priority, leaving Hamas in power means Israel will never have a "true peace". 

Even if the overwhelmingly vile vulgar eruption of Jew hatred, a byproduct of this war and continuation of that age old antisemitism will continue. 

Pressure must be put on other Arab nations to try to bring peace to Gaza by ousting Hamas. 

The Arab states have been muted in their response to Gaza, but now, for a real change to actually happen, they must get involved, if we are ever going to move forward. 

So, can it happen?

Or will something happen among those in the Arab world to cause them to wake up and realize the commercial and financial gain to be made by  intervening  tostop this senseless deadlock. 

We hear talk about those willing to join the “Abrahamic Accords” and that the “heartbreaking” situation with the "Innocent civilian residents of Gaza" must be finally resolved.

For this to finally happen, the Arab states will have to get their hands dirty. Not military, but realistically and diplomatically.

They need to comprehend that they-specifically those who were the members of the Arab League that participated in the Nachbah and collectively bear responsibility for this sad saga. They above all others need to awaken to the potential of prosperity for all those alongside Israel. 

To do that, they - the Arabs- have to become involved in the resolution of the situation "Gaza". 

So, the real burning question now is, "Which of any of our Arab neighbors be the first in the region step up?". 

• Will we see Trump pressure Qatar?
• Will the UAE have enough influence or Saudi Arabia?

We can only hope that at some point it will serve Arab countries enough to stop ignoring this situation and work to solve it.

Palestine? The Llinguistic origin of "Filastin" in Arabic

So "Who choose the "Term Palestine" for the area assigned Great Britain by the League of Nations as a Mandate? 

There are many historians who have stated that it was Sir Mark Sykes, who was an expert on the Middle East and familiar with its traditional nomenclature, that had played a highly significant role in the initial planning for the post-Ottoman Middle East and was an expert on the Middle East and familiar with its traditional nomenclature. 

Many historians have stated that Sykes was instrumental in the choosing of the term "Palestine" for the area assigned Great Britain by the League of Nations as a Mandate. But he wasn't solely responsible for  naming it "Palestine" in the context of the Mandate. 

Sykes certainly would have used the term "Palestine" informally, as it was the common geographical name in Western diplomatic and historical circles. 

Additionally, while the Balfour Declaration (1917) promised British support for a "national home for the Jewish people in Palestine," and Zionist organizations strongly advocated for "Eretz Yisrael" (Land of Israel), the British opted for "Palestine" as the official name of the Mandate. This was likely an attempt, at least on the surface, to maintain a degree of neutrality and not immediately endorse one group's national claim over another in the official designation of the administrative entity.

 However, the British did acknowledge Jewish wishes by agreeing that in Hebrew official documents, the word "Palestine" (פָּלֶשְׂטִינָה) would be followed by the initials Aleph-Yod (א״י), standing for "Eretz Yisrael" (ארץ ישראל).

In essence, the choice of "Palestine" was a blend of historical convention, practical administrative considerations, and an attempt to navigate the complex and conflicting promises made to both Arab and Jewish communities regarding the future of the land.

Regarding the status of the former Ottoman Turkish area of the Holyland called by cartographers as "Palestine" under Ottoman rule, one must emphasize its fragmented nature rather than a unified "Palestine" province. This point is indeed crucial for understanding the historical context leading up to the British Mandate.

First: The name the "Holyland", was the biblical name taken from the Hebrew term "Eretz HaKodesh" (Land of the Holy) and "indigeneity of the Jews":

"Eretz HaKodesh" (and also "Eretz Yisrael," Land of Israel) represents the geographical area correctly linked to the Jewish People Its deep significance as well as its historical and religious connection to the land, is fundamental to the  concept of Jewish indigeneity.

"The Land of Zion" is not just a geographical location but a powerful symbol that embodies the historical, religious, national, and eschatological aspirations tied to Jerusalem and the entire Land of Israel, particularly for the Jewish people. to the land of Zion. It is the very basis of "Zionism".

For generations for Jews in diaspora throughout history, "Zion" has been the ultimate symbol of their lost homeland and the hope for return. This deep historical and spiritual connection is central to understanding the Jewish people's relationship with the land.

This contrasts with the later, externally applied name "Palestine" used by Christian Cartographers where it became a common designation in Western (including Christian) cartography and discourse, solidifying its use in Europe over centuries. This was often divorced from the specific administrative realities on the ground under Ottoman rule.

Throughout the FOUR hundred year history of the Ottoman Empire (1516-1917), there NEVER WAS a single, unified Ottoman province named "Palestine".

While "Filastin" is the Arabic word for "Palestine," it is undeniable that the term "Palestine" (Palaestina) was famously applied to the province of Judea by the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century CE, likely as a punitive measure after the defeat of the expulsion and enslavement of the Jews in the Bar Kochba revolt in 135CE as a means to sever the Jewish connection to the land.

Its journey into Arabic is not directly from the Latin New Testament:

• Ancient Roots: The name's roots are much older than the Latin New Testament.
• It traces back to ancient Egyptian records ("Peleset") and Hebrew ("Plishtim"), referring to the Philistines, a "Sea People" who settled the coastal region.
• The Ancient Greeks were the ones who truly popularized "Palaistínē" (Παλαιστίνη) in their writings (e.g., Herodotus in the 5th century BCE) to refer to the broader coastal land.
• Roman Solidification: The Romans solidified "Syria Palaestina" as an administrative name in the 2nd century CE. This Latin form is where the modern English "Palestine" directly comes from.

Arabic Adoption ("Filastin"): When Muslim armies conquered the region in the 7th century CE, they encountered a region already known by its Greek/Roman designation, "Palaestina." The Arabic word "Filastin" (فلسطين) is an Arabized form of the Greek/Roman "Palaestina." Arabic, like many Semitic languages, doesn't have the "P" sound, so it's typically rendered with an "F" sound (ف).

Early medieval Arab geographers and historians commonly used "Filastin" to refer to one of the districts (jund) of Bilad al-Sham (Greater Syria) during the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates. Its usage was largely administrative and geographical.

The name "Palestine" referred to the geographical area name used by locals and outsiders. 

So why is the term "Palestine" not taken from Latin New Testament"?

Well mainly because the New Testament itself (originally written in Greek, later translated into Latin) does not use "Palestine" to refer to the entire region in the same administrative or geographical sense that the Romans later imposed. It uses terms like Judea, Galilee, Samaria, etc.

The term "Palaestina" was a post Bar Kochba revolt Roman administrative designation, which was then inherited and transliterated into Arabic. It wasn't specifically a term from the Latin New Testament.

There NEVER was a pre-existing "Palestinian State", no "state of Palestine" or a single "Palestinian" administrative entity in the modern sense under Ottoman rule. 

The administrative divisions were based on Ottoman imperial logic, not on a pre-existing national identity.

In the aftermath of the "rise of nationalism" a sense of regional identity emerged among the "Western educated"  Arabs the administrative fragmentation meant that a unified "Palestinian" national consciousness, distinct from broader "Southern Syria" or Arab identities, developed more significantly in the late Ottoman period and especially under the British Mandate, in response to Zionist immigration and later, the prospect of an independent Jewish state.

Complex Boundaries: 

When the British Mandate for Palestine was drawn up after WWI, its boundaries encompassed areas that had previously been under different Ottoman administrative units. This was a new political construct, drawing lines that did not perfectly align with pre-existing Ottoman internal divisions.

Mutasarrifate of Jerusalem's Significance: 

The  "Mutasarrifate of Jerusalem" (also known as the Sanjak of Jerusalem or "Kudüs-i Şerif Mutasarrıflığı"): This was a special independent district directly reporting to Constantinople (Istanbul), the Ottoman capital. It covered Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron, Jaffa, and Gaza. Its special status was due to the unique religious importance (to Islam, Christianity, and Judaism) in the Ottoman Empire's eyes, distinguishing it from other areas that fell under broader provincial administrations like Beirut or Damascus.

Another critical aspect of the history of the former Ottoman Turkish area of the "Holyland", is that  the area was  not a single, unified administrative province under the name "Palestine." Instead, it also included the several administrative units:     

• From the "Vilayet of Beirut" (including the Sanjaks of Acre and Nablus). This covered much of the Galilee and the northern West Bank.
• And a smaller part of the "Vilayet of Syria" (Damascus).

While "Palestine" (or "Filastin" in Arabic) was not an official administrative province, it was a widely recognized geographical term in the region, particularly among Arabs and Europeans. 

Cartographers, travelers, and local populations used it to refer to the area roughly encompassing the Holy Land. Ottoman maps themselves sometimes used "Filastin" to label areas, particularly the Mutasarrifate of Jerusalem.

Towards the end of the 19th century, among the educated Arab classes in the Mutasarrifate of Jerusalem, there was a growing sense that "Palestine" or the Mutasarrifate of Jerusalem formed a distinct political entity, contributing to the later development of a Palestinian national identity.

Judeo-Bolshevism

The idea of "Jewish communism" or "Judeo-Bolshevism" is an antisemitic conspiracy theory that distorts this historical reality for nefarious purposes.

Though it is a historical fact that in the late 19th and early 20th centuries a notable number of Jews were involved in communist movements, it's crucial to approach this topic with nuance, avoiding generalizations and recognizing the complexities involved.

So why were there Jews consistently invovled in communism?

It's a historical fact that a notable number of Jewish individuals were involved in communist movements, particularly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 

It is also crucial to approach this topic with nuance, by recognizing that many Jews were consistently involved in social and liberal causes which can be attributed to a combination of deeply rooted religious values, historical experiences, and intellectual traditions.

One should also take into consideration the complexities and history of Jewish marginalization and condemnation by Christianity.

The idea of drawing special attention to the Jews by the terms "Jewish communism" or "Judeo-Bolshevism" is a vile antisemitic conspiracy theory that distorts historical reality for nefarious purposes.

Here are some of the key reasons and factors that contributed to Jewish involvement in communism:

1. The Historical Context of Oppression and Marginalization: 

In Eastern Europe, particularly the Russian Empire, Jews faced severe state-sponsored persecution, including violent pogroms, legal discrimination, forced settlement in "the Pale of Settlement" and by economic hardship. Communism, with its promise of a classless society free from oppression, appealed to many who saw it as a path to liberation from this systemic antisemitism.

Jews were often excluded from traditional mainstream society, professions, and land ownership. This pushed many into intellectual pursuits or urban trades, where radical ideas found fertile ground.

The rapid social and economic changes of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, combined with centuries of marginalization, many who had survived extreme predjudice, pogroms felt dislocated. Many Jews sought a new, universalistic identity that transcended ethnic or religious boundaries and they believed Communism offered such a vision.

2. Appeal of Communism's Ideals:

As Communism preached a powerful message of a vision of a world where all people, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or class, would be equal. As a people that had long suffered discrimination Jews welcomed the message.

Many aspects of communist ideology resonated with the Jewish prophetic tradition of social justice, advocating for the poor less fortunate, the oppressed, and the workers. 

The Tikkun Olam (repair of the world) concept, with its emphasis on creating a more just society, could be interpreted as aligning with revolutionary aims by some.

For many Jews who lived under oppressive tsarist regimes or in societies rife with antisemitism. The revolutionary goals of communism offered hope for dismantling the very structures that persecuted them. The Bolshevik Revolution, in particular, was initially seen by many as ending the official antisemitism of the tsarist era.

3. Involvement in Labor Movements: 

Many Jewish immigrants from Europe to America during the later part of the 19th Century were as all lower classes,  concentrated in industrial centers. These new immigrants of the lower classes worked in difficult conditions in industries, like the garment trades. 

This led to significant to the involvement of Jews in labor unions and socialist movements, which often had communist wings or evolved into communist parties.

For those of the lower classes and immigrants who experienced the harsh realities of the cynical misuse of workers  - firsthand by "industrial capitalism" in the later part of the Industrial Revolution. 

The ideas of socialism and communism offered a radical solution to the economic exploitation and inequality of the "less fortunate".

The involvement of Jews in the Labor movement stemmed from a combination of factors, including their experiences as immigrants facing challenging working conditions and their commitment to social justice and worker rights. 

Some of the prominent figures in the American labor movement,were:

• Samuel Gompers, who was born to Dutch-Jewish parents who became the first president of the American Federation of Labor (AFL). 
• David Dubinsky, who was President of the ILGWU for over three decades, he was a strong advocate for worker rights and social justice. 
• Sidney Hillman who was President of the ACWA, he was also a leader in the JLC and a key figure in the formation of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO). 
• Rose Schneiderman who was a prominent leader in the women's labor movement, she played a key role in advocating for protective labor legislation for women. 

4. Intellectual Traditions: Emphasis on Education and Critical Thought:

Jewish culture has always had a strong tradition of intellectual inquiry and debate. This emphasis on education fostered an environment where complex political theories, including Marxism, could be rigorously discussed and embraced by some.

 Secularization: As some Jews moved away from traditional religious observance, communism offered an alternative secular ideology that provided meaning, community, and a framework for understanding and changing the world.

5. Prominent Figures: 

Though Karl Marx was of he was of Jewish descent, had a complex and at times problematic relationship with his Jewish heritage and he wrote critically about aspects of Judaism. His intellectual legacy formed the basis of communism.

Leon Trotsky, Grigory Zinoviev, Lev Kamenev, all of Jewish origin, were prominent figures in the early Bolshevik leadership. Their high-profile roles, though not representative of all Jews, contributed to the perception (and the antisemitic myth) of disproportionate Jewish influence.

It is highly important to note and crucial to remember, that even at the peak of Jewish involvement, the vast majority of Jews were NOT communists! 

Those Jews, who joined communist parties, represented a minority from within the Jewish population and an even smaller minority within the broader population.

Despite some initial promises, communist regimes, especially under Stalin, became deeply antisemitic. 

Jewish cultural and religious institutions were suppressed, and many Jewish communists themselves became victims of purges (e.g., the Doctors' Plot). This later led to widespread disillusionment among many Jewish communists and former sympathizers.

Many Jewish individuals had joined communist movements for a wide range of reasons, from genuine ideological conviction and a desire for social justice to personal ambition or a belief that it offered the best hope for Jewish survival.

Nazism -antiSemitism and the slander of "Judeo-Bolshevism"

As Germany faced defeat in WWI, widespread unrest and revolutionary fervor led to the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II in November 1918. A new democratic government the Weimar Republic was established and its constitution was drafted in the city of Weimar (hence the name). This marked Germany's first attempt at a constitutional republic.

In post World War I Germany, the economy of Germany collapsed there were several prominent Jewish individuals who played key roles in the German communist movement.  

Kurt Eisner was a Jewish socialist who led the Independent Socialist Party (USPD) and the initial revolutionary government in Bavaria, became Minister-President of the newly proclaimed People's State of Bavaria after the German monarchy's collapse. He was assassinated in February 1919.

Rosa Luxemburg was a Marxist theorist and revolutionary. Luxemburg co-founded the Spartacus League, which later became the Communist Party of Germany (KPD). She was a vocal critic of the war and advocated for socialist revolution. She was murdered in January 1919 during the suppression of the Spartacist uprising. 

Eugen Leviné was a communist leader that played a prominent role in the Bavarian Soviet Republic, serving on its central council. He was executed after the republic's suppression. 

Ernst Thälmann rose to become a leading figure in the Communist Party of Germany (KPD), eventually serving as its chairman. He was allied with the party's left wing and became a member of the politburo in 1924. 

These individuals, among others, contributed to the complex political landscape of post-World War I Germany, where the rise of communism and the legacy of the war fueled intense social and political upheaval.

In conclusion, 

Jewish involvement in communism was a complex historical phenomenon driven by a confluence of socio-economic conditions, the appeal of communist ideals for an oppressed minority, and a shared intellectual and cultural heritage that often valued social justice and radical thought. However, it's vital to distinguish this historical reality from the antisemitic canard of "Jewish communism," which falsely blames Jews for the evils of communist regimes and seeks to perpetuate stereotypes.