The Origin of the Palestine-Israel Conflict

www.cactus48.com ^ | 2000 | Jews for Justice

[ExiledInTaiwan]

Click here for the book: Origin of Conflict

[Lent]

It is for you, certainly, and others like you who buy into so many of the myths you've recited here: the Zionists bought the land, the Arabs left their homes willingly or because of Arab demands, the Israelis are only defending themselves, the Arab Israelis are treated just like Jewish Israelis, etc. None of this is true.

What part of the below history is myth?

Other instances of purchased land by the Jews in the Mandate. Arab money lenders foreclosing on fellaheen. Jews purchased the land and paid the debts of the fellaheen (Arieh L. Avneri, The Claim of Dispossession (1984), p. 207):

  The fellaheen of Taiyibe, Tira, Tamra and Na'ura had mortaged their lands to money lenders, mostly the family of Abd el-Hadi. Gradually the mortagagees acquired title to large portions of the land. The situation became critical. The fellaheen were unable to repay their loans and there was an immediate danger that they would lose all their land. In order to get free of the oppressive moneylenders they sought to sell part of their holding, a tract of 50,000 dunam.
They turned to Hankin and offered to sell the land to the Jewish National Fund, if it would undertake to pay their debts. The Jewish National Fund bought these lands during the years 1936-39. The fellaheen escaped the embrace of the moneylenders...

Many of the landowners in the Mandate who sold land to the Jews were not even "Palestinians". Ex: (Avneri, p. 201)

Most of the land in the Hills of Naftali was the property of absentee owners, residents of Syria and Lebanon. In March 1940 Nahmani made a survey of the holdings of landowners who were not Palestinian citizens. He found they owned a total of 83,467 dunam in the Districts of Safed and Tiberias, 26,000 dunam in the Safed District and 7,000 dunam in the Tiberias District were owned by Circassians, Druse, Iranians and Germans. None of these landowners were citizens of Palestine. .....Ahmed Mardini, a Kurd from Damascus, owned 2,200 dunam; Hassan Farah, a Christian from Marj Iyun, owned 2,000 dunam; and 520 dunam were owned by Abdullah Khuri and the heirs of Shahadrin Khuri, all of whom were from Lebanon...The village of Malkiya, comprising 765 dunam, was owned by the heirs of Hussein Sulayman Buza, Moslem Kurds living in Damascus, and was sold to the Jewish National Fund....[etc.]

Avneri gives one example of the benefit the Jews brought to the land in purchasing these tracts of land (p. 207-08)

The P.I.C.A. [Jewish Agency involved in land puchases] owned 2,354 dunam in the village of Tira. It had bought the land many years previously, but had never extablished a Jewish settlement there, and it was being worked by tenant farmers. In 1946 the Jewish National Fund bought the land and undertook to indemnify the tenant farmers. It paid them LP. 6,097 as a compensation and also bought their houses and adjoining gardens for an additional LP. 9,548. The fellaheen who remained in Tira as neighbors to the Jewish settlers gained a further major benefit when malaria was eradicated from the area. Two years before the land was bought in Tira, Dr. Sliternik, the head of the Jewish Agency's Health Department, visited the village with a view to planning for the eradication of the disease. He found that..."almost all the villagers suffered from malaria....The danger is redoubled because of the many swamps in the area, over which we have no control or supervision...." Once the tract was bought the swamps were drained, and the Jewish and Arab settlements were freed from the disease.
 The fellaheen of the above-mentioned villages had lived on the land for many generations and had struck roots in the villages. Not so with the fellaheen of the Mugrabi villages. Half their lands were owned by emirs, descendants of exiles who had accompanied Abd el-Kader, who for the most part were living in Syria.

Many moderate Arabs (finally silenced after the Mufti led Islamic riots of 1936-39) sold the land to the Jews despite the hypocritical threats of other pan-Arab nationalists. Ex.: (Avneri, p. 209):

The Fahum family of Nazareth sold the  Fund [Jewish Nationalist Fund] a 3,000-dunam tract of land "in fee simple and free of tenant farmers." The head of the family, Yussuf Fahum, who was mayor of Nazareth for a time, sold his land despite terrorist threats. According to the Jewish National Fund functionaries who dealt with him, he was a proud man and he despised the hypocritical Arab public figures who sold land to Jews in secret and then gave vent to extreme nationalist utterances. He effected the sale openly and publicly without resorting to intermediaries or fictive owners.

 

[monkeyshine]

No, you are exactly right. Deir Yassin was a military event. It wasn't an intentional slaughter of civilians, it was a reaction to the ambush. Yes, civilians died, but it is unknown to what extent each of those who died participated in the trickery and ambush of the soldiers. Some likely deserved to die in the firefight they started.

The Hebron Massacre on the other hand was a deliberate, non-wartime massacre of civilians for no purpose other than to cause death. It does not compare at all to Deir Yassin, which does not compare to Hama in any way shape or form.

[SJackson]

There was no INFORMATION in that piece...

LOL. From the mouth of a master.

[Lent]

Sounds like you are the one who has turned this to name calling and caricaturing. If you will not admit that the Arabs in the British Mandate were led by a Nazi and that guys such as Nasser were Nazis then you're the blinded one and oblivious to history. Let's take a look at the Grand Mufti, the one you presume to support by your advocating for the Arab Islamic take on history in this region:

The Arab/Muslim Nazi Connection
Turning the West Bank into another "Bosnia" (Photo Album)

As things are going, if Netanyahu 
succeeds...  The area will be like Bosnia.
-- Palestinian Authority Minister of
Justice Freih Abu Meddien

"The era of interim agreements," said Ben-Ami, 
"is dead. It only exists in the imagination.  The Palestinians 
have absolutely no faith in interim agreements, for their 
reasons. We are also opposed to them. They have only
given birth to terror and to a Bosnia-like situation 
(in the territories)."
-- Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami

Although there was ample proof to arrest him 
[Hajj Amin al Husseini] as a war criminal after 
the war, the Allies made no effort to do so... Yugoslavia, 
asked for his extradition... but the Arab League and the
Egyptian government succeeded in having the 
demand tabled
-- Encyclopedia of the Holocaust

Bosnian Moslems recruited by the 
Grand Mufti Hajj Amin al Husseini (Arafat's 'Uncle'¹) to serve in the ranks of the German Waffen-SS.

The following pictures take place in Bosnia, two years after the Grand Mufti Hajj Amin al Husseini (blood relative of both the current Temple Mount Mufti and Yasser Arafat) launched an unsuccessful pro-Nazi coup in Iraq. In that coup, an Iranian - Khayrallah Tulfah - was jailed for four years for his pro-Nazi activities.  He wrote a booklet called  "Three Whom God Should Not Have Created: Iranians, Jews, and Flies.", which was later distributed by the Ministry of Education of Iraq.  In 1947, Khayrallah Tulfah gave a home to his sister's ten year old son, an orphan.  His name was Saddam Hussein.

In the 1990's. the Christian Serbs later sought retribution for what they claimed were "massive war crimes" by the Islamic Bosnians during World War II, during the Bosnian-Croatian war in former Yugoslavia.

 

	Bosnian Moslems wearing fezzes with Nazi insignia Under the initiative of the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem-a powerful Moslem leader exiled in Berlin-Bosnian Moslems volunteered to serve in the ranks of the German Waffen-SS. Their special uniform combined Nazi with Moslem elements Date: 1943
	The Grand Mufti inspects Moslem SS units Under Husseini's initiative and supervision, Yugoslavian Moslem volunteer units-called "Handjar" (Sword)-joined the German Waffen-SS. They fought Yugoslav partisans in Bosnia and massacred Bosnians and Croatian Jews. Date: 1943 Era: During WWII
	Bosnian Moslems who volunteered to the German army Thousands of Bosnian Moslems responded to the Mufti's call and volunteered to serve in the German army. The volunteers wore special uniforms; the Nazi insignia decorated their fezzes (typical moslem hat). Date: 1943
	Nazis review Bosnian Moslem volunteers to the Waffen-SS In the spring of 1943, Bosnian Moslems, responding to their Mufti's call, volunteered to serve in the German army. They formed their own battalions within the ranks of the Waffen-SS. The Germans publicized the Moslem-German collaboration. Date: 1943
	Bosnian Moslem soldiers in the German army, at prayer Hajj Amin al Husseini, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, allied himself with Nazi Germany. While exiled in Berlin and sponsored by Nazi agencies, he brought to the creation of Moslem battalions within the German Waffen-SS. Date: 1943
	Hajj Amin al-Husseini with Bosnian Moslem fighters Husseini flew from Berlin to Sarajevo to bless the Moslem army inspect its arms and observe its exercises. Husseini's army in Croatia was comprised of some 20,000 Bosnian Moslems, all of whom volunteered to serve in the German Waffen-SS.
	Bosnian Moslems who volunteered to the German army Moslems living in Bosnia, Yugoslavia, responded to the call of the exiled grand Mufti of Jerusalem and enlisted as volunteers in the German army. Seen here are uniformed volunteers holding a propaganda brochure: "Islam and Judaism." Date: 1943
	Bosnian Moslems as volunteers in the German army Hajj Amin al Husseini-the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem exiled in Berlin-planned to create a strong Arabic army and to put it at the disposal of the Axis powers. Eventually, he succeeded in forming Moslem units within the German Waffen-SS. Date: 1943
	Close-up of Nazi officers reviewing Moslem volunteers Closeup of "Responding to the initiative of the exiled Grand Mufti of Jerusalem", the Germans created separate Moslem battalions within the Waffen-SS. Here, unidentified Nazi dignitaries review the new recruits. Date: 1943
	Bosnian Moslem soldiers in the German army during prayer During the spring of 1943, some 20,000 Moslem Bosnians responded to the Mufti's call to join the German Waffen-SS. The Moslem volunteers, who served in separate units named "Handjar" (Sword), actively participated in war operations. Date: 1943

Grand Mufti of Jerusalem One of the most prominent Arab leaders in Palestine and the Middle East. Some believe that Husseini's collaboration with the Germans was designed to obtain support for Arab national goals from a power that seemed to have good prospects for winning the war. Others link his sympathy for Nazi Germany to his enthusiasim for its anti-Jewish policies, particularly, the Final Solution. Some even perceive a general ideological affinity between totalitarian Fascist and Nazi theories and Islam, as conceived by Husseini. Pre - War Contacts with the Nazis After he had broken with Britain, Husseini sent two emissaries to Berlin to make concrete proposals for collaboration. This occurred in December 1937 and in May 1939. As a result, Wilhelm Canaris, chief of the Abwehr supported the Arab uprising in Palestine. Husseini's Fate is Linked with the Fascist Powers When World War II broke out, Husseini fled to Iraq, where he contributed to the planning of the pro-Nazi revolt. When the revolt was quelled, he went into exile, first in Italy and then in Germany. From October 1941, Husseini linked his fate with the fascist powers. He also was in touch with the Japanese. He sought to pursue Arab national political goals and lend his support to the Final Solution. For the former he set three main goals: the issuance of a joint German-Italian declaration recognizing the independence of the Arab nations and their unity in federation; the establishment of a center for Arab sabotage and propaganda, under his control; and the formation of an Arab army to fight on the Axis side. The German foreign minister, Joachim von Ribbentrop did not make the declaration Husseini wanted, but in a private letter said much of what Husseini wanted to hear regarding Arabs states under British auspices. Neither did the mufti create the center he had in mind, but he did link himself with Axis intelligence. To demonstrate their support for the idea, the Germans dropped two Arab parachutists over Jericho and five over Mosul, Iraq. Husseini's plan to form an Arab legion failed to gain much response. As of 1942, a small German-Arab training section was created, with 130 men. In November 1944, the Arab legion was set up, but it existed mostly on paper. A Moslem Leader in the Service of the Nazis Husseini's contribution to the Axis war effort was more successful in his capacity as a Moslem leader. He recruited and organized Bosnian Muslim battalions in 1943, known as the Handjar (Sword), who were put into the Waffen-SS. They fought partisans in Bosnia, participated in the massacre of civilians there, and carried out police and security duties in Hungary. Husseini also helped boost the fighting morale of the Ostbattaillone. Husseini's Support of the Final Solution Husseini's men attended SS training courses and visited Sachsenhausen. At an early stage the mufti was aware of the extermination of the Jews and he tried to persuade the Axis to extend the extermination to North Africa and Palestine. He also repeatedly proprosed the Luftwaffe bomb Tel Aviv. When he found out that efforts were underway to save Jews by means of various barter arrangements, he did all he could to foil them. After the War - Evading Prosecution When the war ended, Husseini was arrested in France, but in June 1946, he escaped and made his way to asylum in Egypt. Although there was ample proof to arrest him as a war criminal after the war, the Allies made no effort to do so. They were deterred by Husseini's prestige in the Arab world. In 1946, Yugoslavia, asked for his extradition, but the Arab League and the Egyptian government succeeded in having the demand tabled. "Encyclopedia of the Holocaust" ©1990 Macmillan Publishing Company New York, NY 10022 Source (both Pictures and Text):     http://motlc.wiesenthal.com/pages/t031/t03148.html     Museum of Tolerance, Multimedia Learning Center Copyright © 1997, The Simon Wiesenthal Center, 1. The Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini was later the notorious Nazi who mixed Nazi propaganda and Islam.  He was wanted for war crimes and the slaughter of Jews in Bosnia by Yugoslavia.  His mix of militant propagandizing Islam was an inspriation for both Yasser Arafat and Saddam Husein: He was also a close relative of Yasser Arafat and grandfather of the current Temple Mount Mufti. "Arafat's actual name was Abd al-Rahman abd al-Bauf Arafat al-Qud al-Husseini. He shortened it to obscure his kinship with the notorious Nazi and ex-Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Muhammed Amin al-Husseini." Howard M. Sachar, A HISTORY OF ISRAEL (New York: Knopf, 1976).  The Bet Agron International Center in Jerusalem interviewed Arafat's brother and sister, who described the Mufti as a cousin (family member) with tremendous influence on young Yassir after the Mufti returned from Berlin to Cairo. Yasser Arafat himself keeps his exact lineage and birthplace secret.  Saddam Hussein was raised in the house of his uncle Khayrallah Tulfah, who was a leader in the Mufti's pro-Nazi coup in Iraq in May 1941. This page was produced by Joseph E. Katz Middle Eastern Political and Religious History Analyst  Brooklyn, New York  E-mail to a friend Portions Copyright © 2001 Joseph Katz All Rights Reserved

 

[Lent]

There was no INFORMATION in that piece. It made some vague claims about a revised view of what happened, but gave no specifics.

HAHAHAHA!!! Take a reading lesson. Disputes numbers, circumstances, claims, etc.

[Lent]

Funny guy isn't he? He can read the NY Times with comprehension though.LOL!

[SJackson]

Some believe that Husseini's collaboration with the Germans was designed to obtain support for Arab national goals from a power that seemed to have good prospects for winning the war.

It was, but Hitler didn't bite. Even a Nazi knew better than to trust the Grand Mufti.

[SJackson]

When it fits. Quote a NY Times article not to his liking and you'll hear a tirade on the Jewish control on the media.

[Texaggie79]

Hard for arabs to argue against Jews when they have had Israel for over 2000 years. Just because they are pushed out, does not remove ownership of God's land to God's people. Palestinians though cannot stand Jews. The ignore the fact that they have Mecca way the hell over in Saudi, and they STILL don't want to let the Jews have their holy shrines. They want to have their cake and eat it too. They will not even except Israel being made a 9 mile wide country, they want it ALL. The Jews shall not leave.

[Lent]

Again you post something that doesn't address the point I made. Of course the Zionists bought land. No one disputes that. But that doesn't justify their full possession of the land of Palestine as you claim. The purchases by 1948 only amounted to 6% of the whole.

YOU disputed the buying land issue. I posted to you two facts and others have posted facts which you have ignored:

(1) The land purchasing by the Jews

(2) The Partition Resolution which partitioned along Jewish population density. Israel was enforcing and applying a legal right to solidify its borders. Moreover, the Arabs started the war therefore Israel added a little more for good measure but largely stayed within the 181 borders. It was a race to independence and Israel won fair and square.

The problem with you is that you haven't answered a single thing to the posts I have and others have made. Just rhetoric and hyperbole.

[monkeyshine]

I think this is getting ugly. It is sounding more and more racist, as if Arabs in Palestine before '48 were nothing but primitive savages whose human rights need not have been respected.

Those are your words not mine. In no way did I say anything close to what you just said. You have been on this thread all day making implications that are false. This thread started out with you and ExiledinTaiwan and others talking about "Israel firsters" and begging for refutation of the points raised in the link. I resent the "Israeli first" label, if it was intended for me, nevertheless I clearly and concisely refuted the arguments with at least 20 pieces of evidence without crying foul. That is not racism, that is true and proper historical evidence.

Try getting out of your own skins for a change and realize that others besides Jews have rights. And try to see the malice behind your own narrow perspectives.

What malice are you talking about? I have no malice. The facts are the facts. Some people are scumbags, although I concede it is a matter of perspective. Arafat and the Mufti make the list IMHO. All human beings have equal rights. But the right to live in peace only extends as far as your willingness to allow others to live in peace. The organization at the top of this thread is misguided, wrongheaded, historically incorrect and/or incomplete, and offers solutions that, IMHO, unfairly target Israel as the guilty party. The Jews of Israel were the victims not only of Arab aggression in 1948 -- but in fact it was the Arab Palestinian aggressions of the previous 20+ years (Hebron massacre, jerusalem riots, haifi riots, etc) that pushed them into needing independence from the Arabs and British in the first place. Can't you see that?

[Texaggie79]

The funny thing about this book, is that the suggested solution is almost what Barak offered and Arafat turned down. The Palestines will settle for nothing less that FULL control of Jerusalem and the eradication of all Jews in the Middle East. The author is a goof.

[Texaggie79]

The funny thing about this book, is that the suggested solution is almost what Barak offered and Arafat turned down. The Palestines will settle for nothing less that FULL control of Jerusalem and the eradication of all Jews in the Middle East. The author is a goof.

[Elihu Burritt]

It started before then, didn't it?

The truth is that Israel promotes it constantly so as to promote the ethnic cleansing of Arab land, acre by acre, house by house. That's the pump that feeds the cycle now.

[Elihu Burritt]

What inalienable rights do either Israelis or Palestinians have? And who gave them those rights? And where?

Like I said, someone of your viewpoint should allege that they are United States citizens or Christian. If you are neither, it is perhaps an understandable misunderstanding on your part.

[monkeyshine]

Maybe it did. Tell me the first atrocity of the region, prior to the Hebron Massacre of 1929.

[Lent]

The truth is that Israel promotes it constantly so as to promote the ethnic cleansing of Arab land, acre by acre, house by house. That's the pump that feeds the cycle now.

Oh yeah, where's Greater Israel in all this? Israel doesn't control the East Bank and during the Davidic and Solomonic kingdoms it controlled a portion of that. During the Maccabees as well. I don't see Israel controlling that now, seeing that it was the Arabs which got a gift from the British - the Transjordan - which land was supposed to go to the Jews as a National Home. Israel gave up the Sinai to the Egyptians including oil wells Israel developed which would have made her self-sufficient. Israel got out of South Lebanon. In the 67 and 73 wars Israel could have walked to Amman, Damascus and Cairo. She didn't. Barak was going to give the palestinians the baby and bathwater and Arafat spit on the offer. You've got a curious notion of ethnic cleansing.