Palestine: History, People & the Land
Dispelling the Myths Primer on History Key Issues Life in Palestine Now
Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 2
Myth #1: Palestine and Palestinians Never Existed
“There was no such thing as Palestinians”
Former Israeli PM Golda MeirPalestinians
are “Two-legged vermin” Former Israeli PM
Menachem Begin
We need to keep Palestinians like
“drugged roaches in a bottle”
Palestinians are “grasshoppers”
Former Israeli PM Yitzhak Shamir
Former IDF Chief Rafael Eitan
Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 3
Reality Blanket dehumanization of a people used as
propaganda tactic Israel has devoted enormous energy to:
– Expel Palestinians from their homes – Strip away Palestinians identity– Deny Palestinian’s existence
Maps, books, photos reference Palestine– Baedecker's famous guidebook (1876) was
entitled Palestine – Syria
Of course Palestine and Palestinians Existed!
Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 4
Population: 1870-1946
1870
1893
1912
1920
1925
1930
1935
1940
1946
JewsArabs
0200,000400,000600,000800,000
1,000,0001,200,0001,400,0001,600,0001,800,0002,000,000
367,224
7,000
1,237,000
608,000
Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 5
Population %: 1870-1946
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 120%
1870
1893
1912
1920
1925
1930
1935
1940
1946
Arabs Jews
35% 65%
2% 98%
Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 6
Question it!
If Palestinians never existed, why do Israeli leaders refer to the Palestinians in their derogatory, racist statements?
If Palestine / Palestinians never existed, why are there resources (Pre-1948) referencing Palestine and it’s people?
If Palestinians never existed, what people lived there when European Jews arrived?
Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 7
Myth #2: Palestinians Chose to Leave their Land in 1948 Myth: Palestinians left at their own will Myth: Encouraged to leave by Arab leaders Myth: 68% of Palestinians left without ever
seeing an Israeli soldier But on the other hand….
– Myth: It was a war and they lost, so it goes– Myth: “Population Exchange” - Palestinian refugee
losses balanced by claims resulting from “comparable” exodus of Jews from Arab world
Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 8
Reality Palestinians largely defenseless in 1948 Exodus was involuntary and enforced Never relinquished their rights of home & land Significant proportion terrorized into leaving
– News of massacres, rape, plunder instilled fear
"In our country there is room only for the Jews. We shall say to the Arabs: Get out! If they don't agree,
if they resist, we shall drive them out by force."Professor Ben-Zion Dinur Israel's First Minister of Education, 1954
from History of the Haganah http://www.birzeit.edu/crdps/village.html
Palestinians were forced to leave their land
Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 9
That’s about 4 villages destroyed per week!
419 Arab villages demolished and
depopulated between 1947-1949
Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 10
Question it!
Why would people want to leave their homes at their own will? Homes that have been in their families for generations!– “Oh, okay new-person-not-from-this-land, here’s the key
to my house. Take it, it’s yours! I’ll just live in a tent.” What causes masses to leave their land? Would nearly 1 million people living peacefully
on a land for hundreds and hundreds of years suddenly decide to pick up and leave because they felt like it? Where were they going?
Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 11
Myth #3: A religious war that has lasted thousands of years Myth: This is a religious war that has been
going on for thousands of years mainly between Jews and Muslims
Myth: Since it has been going on for so long, there’s no chance for it to end in a short time period
Myth: There has never been peace in the Middle East
Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 12
Reality Christian, Jews, Muslims have been living
together peacefully for hundreds of years Difficulties have only started with an exclusive,
religiously pure apartheid system Israel loves saying it because
– Longer it goes on, more time to build illegal settlements and humiliate Palestinians
– Implies Jews have been there long time Makes Americans feel that there’s no hope
– “Why put pressure on Israel to change? It’s been going on for so long.”
It’s not about religion, it’s about land AND it just began in the 1900’s!
Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 13
Question It!
Why has there been relative calm before the colonist / Zionists arrived?
If it’s a religious war, how come we rarely hear about the Palestinian Christians? Where do they fit in?
If it’s a religious war, why isn’t it going on in Morocco, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Tunisia, Ethiopia, and many other countries were both Jews and Muslims live?
Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 14
Myth #4: Israel’s “Generous” Offer
Myth: Palestinians get 95% of land Myth: Administrative control over some
Palestinian neighborhoods around Jerusalem
Myth: Administrative & civil control over Palestinians living in West Bank & Gaza
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Reality
It’s like a prison Continued building of bypass roads Checkpoints every few miles No real sovereign control over borders No control over water or air space Non-contiguous land
And there’s more….
No FreedomNo Independence
Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 16
Reality Continued Israeli military control over large
segments of the West Bank, including almost all of Jordan Valley
Codified right of Israeli forces to be deployed in Palestinian state at short notice
Continued presence of fortified illegal Israeli settlements and Jewish-only roads in the heart of the Palestinian state
Oh…and one more thing….
No FreedomNo Independence
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Reality
Required nearly 4 million Palestinian refugees to relinquish their fundamental human rights in exchange for compensation to be paid not by Israel but by the "international community."
No FreedomNo Independence
Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 18
Question it!
Why is there no territorial contiguity for the Palestinian state?
Why don’t Palestinians have control of its external borders and water resources?
Why is Israel NOT carrying out a FULL withdrawal as required by international law?
Why is there no Palestinian Right of Return? Why is refugee compensation to be paid by
“international community”? Why do Palestinians need to “compromise” any more?
– Already only left with 22%* of their original land!
Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 19
Myth #5: Israel’s a democracy
Myth: Claims to be only democratic state in Middle East
Myth: Israel civilized an uncivilized world and made the “desert bloom”
Myth: Israeli Palestinians have equal rights
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Reality
Israel’s “Law of Return” gives automatic citizenship to any Jew
No defined borders No constitution; Only series of laws that
establishes Jewish supremacy over non-Jews– Torture is legal– Land confiscation is legal– Indefinite detention without charge
Where’s the Democracy?
Applies only to Palestinian Israeli citizens
Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 21
Question it!
How can you be democracy and an exclusive state for Jews? That’s blatant racism.
How can you call a country a democracy when it doesn’t even have a constitution or defined borders?
Why does Israel grant citizenship to a Jew from Russia but not to an indigenous Palestinian who was born on that land?
Why does US provide unconditional support to an overtly exclusive, racist state?
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Israel is a full democracy only if we are to consider Apartheid South Africa a full democracy
Yes … Israel is a democracy if you’re Jewish
It’s like saying US is a democracy as long as you’re white
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Whenever You Hear…
Palestine & Palestinians never existed Palestinians chose to leave their land This is a religious war that has lasted
hundreds of years Israel has made “generous” offers to
Palestinians and they never accept Israel is a democracy
Question it!
The Key Issues Right to Return
– Violation of International Laws– Refugee Crisis
Illegal Settlements– House Demolitions– Resources
Occupation– Denial of Self Determination– Human Rights Violations
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Right To Return: A Critical Topic Often Ignored Right of Return is right of Palestinians to:
– Return to their homeland– Full restitution of all their confiscated and destroyed
property in accordance with Int’l Laws Why it’s not discussed?
– Tied to racist nature of exclusive state– Israeli’s spin it as a “demographic problem”
The Reality– In 20 years population will be 55% Palestinian Christian
and Muslim and 45% Jewish– Israel is afraid if right to return is implemented, the special
state of Jewish character is ruined
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Right of Return MUST be Brought to the Forefront Permanent return desirable for peace to prevail Ignoring it contradicts every link to democracy
– What if everyone in US says we want an exclusive Christian state or exclusive white state? Means no Latinos, Asians, African Americans, etc…allowed
Ignoring it goes against basic American values of openness to diversity, acceptance of people no matter what race, creed, ethnicity
It’s universal basic right!
Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 27
Universal Declaration of Independence
"(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence
within the borders of each state. (2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and
to return to his country"
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1948: Resolution 194
Paragraph 11: "...the refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace
with their neighbors should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date...
compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return."
Reaffirmed 110 times with universal consensus, except for
Israel & U.S.
Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 29
1974: UN Resolution 3236
Subsection 2, "the inalienable right of the Palestinians to return to their
homes and property from which they have been displaced and uprooted,
and calls for their return".
Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 30
1997: UN Resolution 52/62
“Reaffirms that the Palestine Arab refugees are entitled to their property and to the income derived therefrom,
in conformity with the principles of justice and equity."
Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 31
1948…1974 … 1997 ….
UN Resolutions reaffirmed over and over and over with
universal consensus …
… except for Israel & U.S.
Question it!
Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 32
Right to Return:Who Can Become An Israeli Citizen
If you’re Jewish…– Arrive at airport– Go to “Qlitat Aliyah” (Jewish Immigrant
Reception)– Say “I’m Jewish”– Congratulations, You’re a citizen!
Palestinians are not allowed the same
methods as Jews to become a citizen
If you’re a Palestinian…–Sorry, no chance.
Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 33
Refugee Crisis
About 5½ million Palestinian Refugees Oldest & largest refugee problem in the world Not a single refugee allowed to return
– Onto fourth generation of refugees– Some made refugees multiple times 1948 & 1967
Ways of dispossession– Home demolitions….displaced again– Israeli Laws
Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 34
Right of Return IS Possible
A study on the demography of Israel shows that 78% of Israelis
are living in 14% of Israel and that the remaining 86% of the
land in Israel is mostly land that belongs to the refugees on which
22% of the Israelis live.
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Illegal Settlements
Large housing projects/cities built illegally by Israel on land confiscated from Palestinians within West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza Strip
Began as a means of controlling & annexing Palestinian land occupied during “1967 War”
Serves Israel’s strategic, military, economic interests– Impedes peace process; creates “facts on ground”
Constant reminder and humiliation to Palestinians in an Apartheid system
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Settlers & Settlements
1,500
109,784
213,672
6,900
141,000170,400
17,0000
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
West Bank &Gaza
East Jersualem Golan Heights
1972 1992 2001
Of 400,000+ Settlers, 70%+ Americans (e.g. Brooklyn); Others Russian & European
130 / 16190 Illegal Settlements
SOURCE: Foundation for
Middle East Peace
http://www.fmep.org/reports/2002/sr0203.html#5
11 33
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Water
80% water aquifers in West Bank Illegal settlements strategically placed
on top of water aquifers & mountains Illegal settlements get priority access
– As illegal settlements are built or expand, water taken away from Palestinians
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This Really Happens
When supplies run low during summer, Israeli water company
shuts off valves that supply Palestinian towns. So settlers get full swimming pools while
Palestinian villages a few miles away run out of drinking water.
Settlers attack Palestinians' water supply, severing pipes and switching off valves. They dump untreated sewage on Palestinian land, polluting wells and aquifers.
Israeli army has routinely
destroyed water supplies, an
activity defined as a war crime.
SOURCE: http://www.miftah.org/Display.cfm?DocId=744&CategoryId=4
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Palestinian Olive Trees
Sole source of income for many Palestinian farmers– Each tree yields approximately 5 gallons of oil sold
at markets for equivalent of about $75 (U.S.) Olive Trees passed down through
generations of Palestinian families– Takes decades to mature fully
More than 11,000 olive trees have been uprooted and destroyed
Under attack by Settlers
Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 40
House Demolitions Classic colonial practice – attacking or
eliminating habitat of indigenous population – Carry out collective punishment either in retaliation
for, or as deterrence against, acts of resistance Violations of International Law
– Demolish villages and create policies refusing to grant them building permits
– Encouraging and subsidizing construction of illegal Israeli settlements
Creating nation of homeless & dispossessed (becoming a refugee yet again)
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Occupation
Loss of control over natural resources Imposition of suffocating closures and
curfews Destruction of Palestinian land and
property Suppression of free statement Systematic destruction of the
Palestinian economy
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Occupation
International law considers agreements between an occupier and any body in occupied areas to
be null and void if they deprive civilians of recognized human rights including the rights to repatriation and restitution.
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