[curmudgeonII]

For that reason it’s important to have a closer look at the statement, “I’m Phoenician,” for it triggers several problems. First of all, it somehow implies the existence of a nation-state called Phoenicia. Fact is, however, that there never was such a thing. The Phoenicians lived in a loosely connected network of city states, which often ­ but not always ­ cooperated and which at times were autonomous, but more often paid tribute to the dominant empires in Mesopotamia and Egypt.

Using this argument you wouldn't be able to call the Athenians and Spartans of classical times Greek for the same reasons.

[Destro]

It just indicates a split personality among nationalists that want to idenfify themselves as "Arabs" over those semetic peoples that don't like belonging or be identified to the culture. Sort of like Bulgarian Slavs calling themselves "Macedonian" or Albanians calling themselves "Illyrians".