Hamas War

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Jordan Isn't Palestine, sic

Jordan isn't Palestine, sic.  Sorry if it puts me in opposition to many of the people I otherwise respect and agree with.  I consider articles like Yoel Meltzer's to be very dangerous.  I consider the "Jordan is Palestine" sic movement-ideology to be very dangerous.

That's because it's based on the premise that there is a "Palestinian people," history, land etc. which must be recognized and compensated for the existence of the Jewish State of Israel.


There never was a country called Palestine.  The name was chosen by European diplomats to bring back to life the long gone Biblical enemies of the Jewish People, the Philistines who lived on the Mediterranean coast thousands of years ago.

If you take a good look at this map, you'll see that post-World War One, most of the Middle-east was divided into "mandated" areas under British and French administrations.  Today's countries and borders are modern, Twentieth Century, not based on ancient history.  That's one of the reasons the area is so volatile.

Only the Jewish State of Israel developed from national self-determination and has an ancient history which is directly connected to the modern one.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't agree with you. Jordan's population is at least 70% Palestinian. Fine, the Palestinians were never a real ''people'' an ethnic group with an identity other than ''Arab'' but, today, they exist, they self-identify as Palestinian. From our point of view, however, the question is why should we pay for their state when such a state already exists?

Batya said...

a, what "Jordan is" is between the more veteran residents and the Hashemites. But "Palestine" doesn't exist and never did.

Hadassa said...

Shalom!
Jordan, defined by its current borders, is a country carved out by the British and has no long-standing tradition in the Arab world. The name is derived from the Yarden, which is 100% Hebrew. Read here: http://www.campsci.com/iguide/yarden_river.htm

For the true meaning of Palestine read here: http://www.palestinefacts.org/pf_early_palestine_name_origin.php

Batya said...

Hadassa, thanks.
I think it extremely important not to legitamize the name Palestine at all.