That may be true, but I was speaking more specifically about the period between 1848 and 1948. There were always
some people living there, Arab, Jew, Christians, Druze, Turks etc... But not many, not even 1/10th of the numbers that live there today. It was mostly just desert, with the exception of some fertile areas around Jersualem and the north/west regions where there was water.
Jewish immigration was encouraged by European leaders and European Jewish groups between 1900-1940. As Jews came in they developed irrigation systems, electrical grid, created farms and industry, and Arabs came to work the land and factories and build their own too. My main point, however, is that it is not "stolen" land, the Palestinians are not 2000+ year old people. They came to the land from different places and from different tribes in the Arab world just like the Jews came from the UK and Poland and Germany etc - and most of them roughly from the same period of time.
I was reviewing a Wall Street Journal article about the Sinai border between Egypt and Gaza and various Western opinion about Egypt’s unwillingness to allow Palestinian refugees to cross the heavily controlled border.
For those who do not know the deep background, the Western media context looks troublesome {GO DEEP}. However, I rise in defense of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, because we have tracked and discussed the issues for a long time. Egypt is in a very difficult position right now, and with Obama/Biden in the White House – the challenge is made even worse. First the WSJ framing of the issue:
TEL AVIV— A diplomatic effort to evacuate U.S. citizens from Gaza faltered after Egyptian officials said they would only allow foreigners to cross the border if aid could pass in the opposite direction.
Egypt’s refusal on Saturday, confirmed by three officials and in an announcement on state television, thwarted the latest U.S. push to evacuate any of the 500 or more Americans in Gaza wishing to leave through the enclave’s southern border with Egypt.
Israel—which has sealed off Gaza’s northern border with a ground invasion by Israeli forces believed imminent—said Saturday that it would give a few hours of safe passage for people in northern Gaza to move southward. A doctor in Gaza said corpses were piling up in the main hospital’s morgue and under rubble from Israeli airstrikes launched in response to Hamas militants’ lightning strike into Israel last Saturday.
[…] Egypt is apprehensive about the prospect of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees being displaced into Egypt, or of getting drawn deeper into the conflict. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, an ardent enemy of Hamas, has also warned that a mass displacement from the enclave could mean an end to the aspirations of a Palestinian state.
Egypt told the U.S. that it has too many evacuation requests to accommodate U.S. nationals and that it can’t grant passage to one country over others, according to two Egyptian officials, who also cited security concerns related to a lack of screening of individuals. On the Palestinian side, damage from an Israeli missile has hindered access to the Rafah crossing.
Yet, Sisi earlier this week ordered tents to be pitched in the Egyptian towns of Sheikh Zuweid and Rafah, in preparation for potentially having to accept refugees from Gaza. He also ordered the creation of a 8.5-mile wide, 500-meter deep buffer zone in Rafah.
Israel’s military said Gazans could safely travel along two major routes south for six hours before 4 p.m. local time, as its forces prepare for an expected ground invasion aimed at routing Hamas. (read more)
Western media never discuss the extreme lengths al-Sisi had to go through in 2014 through 2017 to clear out the radical Islamists from Egypt. After Sisi kicked out the Muslim Brotherhood (Hamas, al-Qaeda, al-Nusra, ISIS, enablers), he became the mortal enemy of tribal terrorism. The various terrorist elements put a fatwah on the head of Sisi and commanded all members of the Islamic Jihad to target Egypt.
It was President al-Sisi who destroyed all the Hamas tunnels from the Sinai into Gaza, and there were hundreds of them. It took years and was painfully difficult for the Egyptian military to remove the extremist elements, culminating in a heavily fortified border between Gaza and Egypt. For Sisi now to look at the potential of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian sympathizers to Hamas setting up camp in his country, he must have very serious concerns.
The Sinai region is a tenuous challenge already for Sisi, and that was highlighted by the horrific terrorist attack that took place in 2017 in retaliation against Egypt for the border security measures.
Against the backdrop of the first border opening between Egypt’s northern Sinai and Gaza, and against the ongoing efforts by the al-Sisi led coalition to move toward peace between Arabs and Israelis, the extremists strike back in 2017 with a horrific terrorist attack against the Al Rawdah mosque in Bir al-Abed, west of El Arish, the main city in North Sinai. 235 people were killed and hundreds more wounded {link}
It took President al-Sisi years to secure Egypt from the extremist elements and protect the Egyptian people. The fact that Sisi is a singular and respected figure, who came from the Egyptian army to stop the Islamic jihad and the implementation of Sharia Law represented by the Muslim Brotherhood, has always been a problem. With Sisi there is peace and strength; but like Donald Trump President Sisi is one man.
By an overwhelming majority, the nation of Egypt wants Sisi to remain as President, because quite frankly he is irreplaceable. The delicate balance of peace in Egypt rests on his shoulders. Think about it. On his Western border he has Libya in a state of crisis with extreme jihadist elements. On his Eastern border he has Hamas, and now everyone expects Sisi to import a faction of an entire population quite comfortable with Islamic extremism. This is not a good position to be in.
Egypt doesn’t want the refugees, not because Egypt is heartless to their plight, but factually because inside that population of refugees is a radical element that could reignite the Sinai region all over again…. And, if the worst does happen, no one will be there to help President al-Sisi except an already pressured Egyptian military.
Jordan is full of refugees already, and King Abdullah manages his own tinderbox. Syria is a hot mess of factional/tribal extremism, and if Egypt is not careful the Syrian model, or even the Libyan situation could easily be the fate for Egypt.
Hamas hates al-Sisi for disrupting their ability to smuggle weapons across the border. Topping this off, the Obama/Biden administration undermines Egypt at every opportunity. It has always been visible just below the surface that the U.S. supports the Muslim Brotherhood and Qatar; the Obama/Biden alignment against Egypt is just one part of this dynamic.
From the State Dept/CIA perspective, they would enjoy the Palestinian/Hamas sentiment triggering renewed jihadist chaos in Egypt. Again, President Sisi is in a tough place.
I’m not sure how this is going to end, but I find myself very sympathetic to the dynamic that President Sisi is facing. What right do Western leaders have to demand Egypt open their borders to known terrorists?
I have two suggestions for where refugees can go. 1.) Ukraine. 2.) The Kerguelen Islands. The latter will require French permission, but it seems to be a nearly ideal destination. I am completely serious.
To get completely serious, perhaps some history may be helpful.
https://youtu.be/JN4mnVLP0rU?si=pZvBAaFqom5DOPnT
Why the Middle East’s Borders Guarantee Forever Wars Youtube
37 minutes
The Ottoman Empire, an Islamic caliphate, had ruled the Palestinian area since 1517.
1916 SYKES-PICOT (Britain-France) SECRET AGREEMENT
https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/sykes.asp
Plotting to carve up the Ottoman Empire in 1916.
The Sykes-Picot Agreement: 1916 It is accordingly understood between the French and British governments:
That France and Great Britain are prepared to recognize and protect an independent Arab states or a confederation of Arab states (a) and (b) marked on the annexed map, under the suzerainty of an Arab chief. That in area (a) France, and in area (b) Great Britain, shall have priority of right of enterprise and local loans. That in area (a) France, and in area (b) Great Britain, shall alone supply advisers or foreign functionaries at the request of the Arab state or confederation of Arab states.
That in the blue area France, and in the red area Great Britain, shall be allowed to establish such direct or indirect administration or control as they desire and as they may think fit to arrange with the Arab state or confederation of Arab states.
That in the brown area there shall be established an international administration, the form of which is to be decided upon after consultation with Russia, and subsequently in consultation with the other allies, and the representatives of the Shereef of Mecca.
That Great Britain be accorded (1) the ports of Haifa and Acre, (2) guarantee of a given supply of water from the Tigres and Euphrates in area (a) for area (b). His Majesty's government, on their part, undertake that they will at no time enter into negotiations for the cession of Cyprus to any third power without the previous consent of the French government.
That Alexandretta shall be a free port as regards the trade of the British empire, and that there shall be no discrimination in port charges or facilities as regards British shipping and British goods; that there shall be freedom of transit for British goods through Alexandretta and by railway through the blue area, or (b) area, or area (a); and there shall be no discrimination, direct or indirect, against British goods on any railway or against British goods or ships at any port serving the areas mentioned.
That Haifa shall be a free port as regards the trade of France, her dominions and protectorates, and there shall be no discrimination in port charges or facilities as regards French shipping and French goods. There shall be freedom of transit for French goods through Haifa and by the British railway through the brown area, whether those goods are intended for or originate in the blue area, area (a), or area (b), and there shall be no discrimination, direct or indirect, against French goods on any railway, or against French goods or ships at any port serving the areas mentioned.
That in area (a) the Baghdad railway shall not be extended southwards beyond Mosul, and in area (b) northwards beyond Samarra, until a railway connecting Baghdad and Aleppo via the Euphrates valley has been completed, and then only with the concurrence of the two governments.
That Great Britain has the right to build, administer, and be sole owner of a railway connecting Haifa with area (b), and shall have a perpetual right to transport troops along such a line at all times. It is to be understood by both governments that this railway is to facilitate the connection of Baghdad with Haifa by rail, and it is further understood that, if the engineering difficulties and expense entailed by keeping this connecting line in the brown area only make the project unfeasible, that the French government shall be prepared to consider that the line in question may also traverse the Polgon Banias Keis Marib Salkhad tell Otsda Mesmie before reaching area (b).
For a period of twenty years the existing Turkish customs tariff shall remain in force throughout the whole of the blue and red areas, as well as in areas (a) and (b), and no increase in the rates of duty or conversions from ad valorem to specific rates shall be made except by agreement between the two powers.
There shall be no interior customs barriers between any of the above mentioned areas. The customs duties leviable on goods destined for the interior shall be collected at the port of entry and handed over to the administration of the area of destination.
It shall be agreed that the French government will at no time enter into any negotiations for the cession of their rights and will not cede such rights in the blue area to any third power, except the Arab state or confederation of Arab states, without the previous agreement of his majesty's government, who, on their part, will give a similar undertaking to the French government regarding the red area.
The British and French government, as the protectors of the Arab state, shall agree that they will not themselves acquire and will not consent to a third power acquiring territorial possessions in the Arabian peninsula, nor consent to a third power installing a naval base either on the east coast, or on the islands, of the red sea. This, however, shall not prevent such adjustment of the Aden frontier as may be necessary in consequence of recent Turkish aggression.
The negotiations with the Arabs as to the boundaries of the Arab states shall be continued through the same channel as heretofore on behalf of the two powers.
It is agreed that measures to control the importation of arms into the Arab territories will be considered by the two governments.
I have further the honor to state that, in order to make the agreement complete, his majesty's government are proposing to the Russian government to exchange notes analogous to those exchanged by the latter and your excellency's government on the 26th April last. Copies of these notes will be communicated to your excellency as soon as exchanged.I would also venture to remind your excellency that the conclusion of the present agreement raises, for practical consideration, the question of claims of Italy to a share in any partition or rearrangement of turkey in Asia, as formulated in article 9 of the agreement of the 26th April, 1915, between Italy and the allies.
His Majesty's government further consider that the Japanese government should be informed of the arrangements now concluded.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balfour_Declaration
The BALFOUR DECLARATION of 1917
Foreign Office
November 2nd, 1917. Dear Lord Rothschild,
I have much pleasure in conveying to you, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations which has been submitted to, and approved by, the Cabinet.
“His Majesty’s Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country”.
I should be grateful if you would bring this declaration to the knowledge of the Zionist Federation.
Yours sincerely,
/s/ Arthur James Balfour
The Balfour Declaration eventually led to the United Nations creation of the Jewish and Palestinian territories under the League of Nations and the United Nations.
1920: TREATY OF SEVRES
https://treaties.fcdo.gov.uk/awweb/pdfopener?md=1&did=63986 100 pp PDF
Carving up the Ottoman Empire
The plan dreamed up by the Europeans to carve up the Ottoman Empire would have reduced Turkey to a rump state, so Turkey went to war. That was finally resolved with the Treaty of Lausanne and the creation of the Turkish Republic.
1923: TREATY OF LAUSSANE
https://www.mfa.gov.tr/lausanne-peace-treaty-part-i_-political-clauses.en.mfa Lausanne Peace Treaty
Part I.
Political Clauses
Article 1
From the coming into force of the present Treaty, the state of peace will be definitely re-established between the British Empire, France, Italy, Japan, Greece, Roumania and the Serb-Croat-Slovene State of the one part, and Turkey of the other part, as well as between their respective nationals.
Official relations will be resumed on both sides and, in the respective territories, diplomatic and consular representatives will receive, without prejudice to such agreements as may be concluded in the future, treatment in accordance with the general principles of international law.
Section I.
1.Tereitorial Clauses
Article 2.
From the Black Sea to the Aegean the frontier of Turkey is laid down as follows (see Map No.1).
[...]
https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-187751/
Future government of Palestine – GA debate – Verbatim record HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FOURTH PLENARY MEETING Held in the General Assembly Hall at Flushing Meadow, New York, on Wednesday,
26 November 1947, at 11 a.m.
President: Mr. O. ARANHA (Brazil)
123. Palestinian question: report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Palestinian Question (document A/516)
[...]
https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-178646/
Palestine question/Future government/Partition plan – Ad Hoc Cttee report, recommendations REPORT OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON THE PALESTINIAN QUESTION
Rapporteur: Mr. Thor THORS (Iceland)
1. The General Assembly, at its ninetieth meeting held on 23 September 1947, established an Ad Hoc Committee on the Palestinian Question, to which it referred the following items:
(a) Question of Palestine: item proposed by the United Kingdom (document A/286);
(b) Report of the Special Committee on Palestine (A/364);
(c) Termination of the Mandate over Palestine and the recognition of its independence as one State: item proposed by Saudi Arabia and by Iraq (A/317 and A/328).
[...]
As far as I can tell...these “PALISTINIANS” HAVE BEEN KICKED OUT OF EGYPT, JORDAN, LEBANON, AND WHO KNOWS WHERE ELSE.
Why should ANY Country take them in?????
THEY ARE NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. JUST LOOK AT THEIR REPRESENTATIVES IN THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, FOR GOD’S SAKE.
Their raison d’etre is to KILL JEWS.
They had every opportunity to form a viable community. They had the land they could have started producing a PRODUCT, they could have started schools, they could have started small businesses...BUT NOOOOOOOOOOO, THEIR BLOOD LUST DEMANDS THAT ISRAEL BE DESTROYED.
That is who they are. I would sooner trust the brave citizens of Iran, who risked death not long ago to try to replace their TORMENTORS.
Those are the people for whom I feel sorry.