Why did the jews choose the middle east to make israel?

Question

Why did the jews choose the middle east to make israel? Isn't it the most anti-semist region in the world, because of the huge arab/muslim population?

Answer 1

was puzzled for a long time about the odd belief which apparently persists in America that Palestine has somehow "always been a Jewish land." Recently an American I talked to cleared up this mystery. He pointed out that the only things most Americans know about Palestine are what they read in the Bible. It was a Jewish land in those days, they reason, and they assume it has always remained so.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. It is absurd to reach so far back into the mists of history to argue about who should have Palestine today, and I apologise for it. Yet the Jews do this, and I must reply to their "historic claim." I wonder if the world has ever seen a stranger sight than a group of people seriously pretending to claim a land because their ancestors lived there some 2,000 years ago!

If you suggest that I am biased, I invite you to read any sound history of the period and verify the facts.

Such fragmentary records as we have indicate that the Jews were wandering nomads from Iraq who moved to southern Turkey, came south to Palestine, stayed there a short time, and then passed to Egypt, where they remained about 400 years. About 1300 BC (according to your calendar) they left Egypt and gradually conquered most—but not all—of the inhabitants of Palestine.

It is significant that the Philistines—not the Jews—gave their name to the country: "Palestine" is merely the Greek form of "Philistia."

Only once, during the empire of David and Solomon, did the Jews ever control nearly—but not all—the land which is today Palestine. This empire lasted only 70 years, ending in 926 BC. Only 250 years later the Kingdom of Judah had shrunk to a small province around Jerusalem, barely a quarter of modern Palestine.

In 63 BC the Jews were conquered by Roman Pompey, and never again had even the vestige of independence. The Roman Emperor Hadrian finally wiped them out about 135 AD. He utterly destroyed Jerusalem, rebuilt under another name, and for hundreds of years no Jew was permitted to enter it. A handful of Jews remained in Palestine but the vast majority were killed or scattered to other countries, in the Diaspora, or the Great Dispersion. From that time Palestine ceased to be a Jewish country, in any conceivable sense.

This was 1,815 years ago, and yet the Jews solemnly pretend they still own Palestine! If such fantasy were allowed, how the map of the world would dance about!

Italians might claim England, which the Romans held so long. England might claim France, "homeland" of the conquering Normans. And the French Normans might claim Norway, where their ancestors originated. And incidentally, we Arabs might claim Spain, which we held for 700 years.

Many Mexicans might claim Spain, "homeland" of their forefathers. They might even claim Texas, which was Mexican until 100 years ago. And suppose the American Indians claimed the "homeland" of which they were the sole, native, and ancient occupants until only some 450 years ago!

I am not being facetious. All these claims are just as valid—or just as fantastic—as the Jewish "historic connection" with Palestine. Most are more valid.

In any event, the great Moslem expansion about 650 AD finally settled things. It dominated Palestine completely. From that day on, Palestine was solidly Arabic in population, language, and religion. When British armies entered the country during the last war, they found 500,000 Arabs and only 65,000 Jews.

If solid, uninterrupted Arab occupation for nearly 1,300 years does not make a country "Arab", what does?

The Jews say, and rightly, that Palestine is the home of their religion. It is likewise the birthplace of Christianity, but would any Christian nation claim it on that account? In passing, let me say that the Christian Arabs—and there are many hundreds of thousands of them in the Arab World—are in absolute agreement with all other Arabs in opposing the Zionist invasion of Palestine.

May I also point out that Jerusalem is, after Mecca and Medina, the holiest place in Islam. In fact, in the early days of our religion, Moslems prayed toward Jerusalem instead of Mecca.

The Jewish "religious claim" to Palestine is as absurd as the "historic claim." The Holy Places, sacred to three great religions, must be open to all, the monopoly of none. Let us not confuse religion and politics.

We are told that we are inhumane and heartless because do not accept with open arms the perhaps 200,000 Jews in Europe who suffered so frightfully under Nazi cruelty, and who even now—almost three years after war’s end—still languish in cold, depressing camps.

Answer 2

Yes, the Middle East isn't the best place for Jews to be seeing as they're surrounded on all sides by people who would love nothing more than to wipe them off the face of the Earth. It might have something to do with the fact that Jews founded Jerusalem and almost all of the cities in the surrounding area. The land of Canaan referred to in the Old Testament, which was given to the Jews by God, is right smack dab in the heart of modern-day Israel. I guess they wanted to get back to their roots...

Answer 3

Yes, they went BACK to ancient Israel. It wasn't a actual choice. The Jewish prayer has been for 20 centuries "Next Year in Jerusalem," NOT "Next Year in Slovenia" or "Next Year in El Paso!"

Actually the Palestinians are the descendents of the original Hebrew Israelis as well. About a third of all Jews were scattered out of Israel 2000 years ago. The rest stayed. Some became Christian, some converted to Islam and some remained Jewish. When the Jewish Zionists reclaimed Israel for the Jews in the 1940s, they accepted the Jewish Palestinians as "Israelis," but rejected the Christian and Muslim Palestinians, and forcibly removed them from the lands they wished to occupy.

Welcome to our nightmare.............

Answer 4

Strictly speaking it wasn't their choice. Although regarded as their spiritual homeland it was at the time ruled by the British. The decision to create to send them there was taken by Britain (in consultation with the Allies) who were taken aback by the sudden influx which led to the first Palestinian troubles which were between armed Jewish groups and the British army. This eventually led to the creation of the state of Israel. At the time Kenya (another British colony) was also considered as an alternative.

Answer 5

That's where their land is. They only have a fraction of the land that really belongs to them. To be against Israel is to be on the side of terrorism. Which I understand is OK with liberals.

Answer 6

What nonsense! You clearly have no knowledge of the bible or history. It's time to hit the books, and READ them this time.

I am amazed at this ignorance!

The Jews have been on the land of Israel centuries before Muhammed wore diapers. It was never even a holy site to Muhammed or his disciples...Mecca is.

The name Palestine was given to the land by the Romans who beat the Israelites and kicked them out of the land. Palestine was used by the Romans as additional spite to Israelites for resisting Roman Rule. The name Palestine derives from the Philistines, a nomadic group that the Israelites have defeated centuries earlier to the Roman victory.

The Israel-Palestinian conflict has never been about a state for the Palestinians. There has never been any biblical, historical, or factual basis for a Palestinian state. Between 1948 and 1967, when Gaza was under Egyptian rule, and Judea and Sumeria (including East Jerusalem) was under Jordanian rule, NEVER ONCE was there an effort to create a Palestinian state. It was only after Israel reunited Jerusalem after winning the war in 1967, that the Arabs were up in arms. All this time they thought that they could crush Israel, and the trouble will be done; they could stop Israel from re-establishing its kingdom (a sovereignty that IS backed by biblical, historical, and factual basis).

In reality, despite continued great odds, Israel has been able to defend itself time and time again.

To the credit of the Palestinian PR/propoganda machine, they have convinced the world to create something out of nothing, with absolutely no basis to do so.

All this time, people in Israel have been naive in believing that the Palestinians genuinely do want peace, and would do anything it can to rid its people of the terrorist element. We clearly see that this is not going to happen. Israel is certainly to blame for sitting on the fence rather than being proactive in its PR to the world.

Those who believe that once a Palestinian state will be created, education of hate by the PA Authority would stop; systematic preaching of hatred of Israel, Israelis, Jews, the Western world and culture would stop; terrorism would stop; suicide bombers would stop; are living a fantasy.

The Palestinians prove it time and time again; they never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. The continued terrorism against Israel is not going to stop; not now; not any time in the next several generations UNTIL systematic change in the Muslim mind and culture would, by miracle (yet to happen), occurs.

Israel wants peace and recognition of its existence. The Muslim extremists, including Syria and Iran regimes want Israel wiped off the face of the earth, and have repeatedly said so. Israel has absolutely no interest in claiming Lebanon, or any other Arab country.

The Muslim world has missed every opportunity to make peace with Israel. When a Muslim country and brave leader did make peace with Israel (the late Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat), he was assassinated by Iranian-backed group.

It's time for Muslims to take accountability for their religion and culture. Stop spinning, and address the fact that the Muslim culture is one of the most oppressive and violent cultures, against its own people, and certainly against other cultures.

For those who believe that the extremist element in Islam is small, the numbers are staggering. There are 1.2 billion Muslims in this world. Lets take a very liberal view that only a very small percentage of Muslims are exterme, while the rest of the Muslim world is very peaceful. So if only 10% of Muslims have extreme point of views, and may be a threat, and must be dealt with, meaning dealing with 120 million Muslims! How about 1%? Then you must deal with 12 million Muslims. How about 1/10 of a percent? Then you must deal with 1.2 million Muslims. The numbers are staggering! How do you propose dealing with even the "very low" figures of 1.2 million Muslim extremists?

Israel must be given the opportunity to continue the work to destroy the terrorist group Hezbollah up to its leader. It would be to the benefit of Lebanon, Israel, the Middle East, and the World to rid of Hezbollah, Hamas, the Syrian and Iranian regime. It must be done to finally have a chance for peace in the region.

Answer 7

Well - at the risk of stating the obvious, it's the location of the biblical Israel.

Answer 8

The are was mandated to Israel in 1948.

You might also want to read up on the history of the area.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holy_Land

Answer 9

See Old Testament

Answer 10

I do not know that they did, but if so, I would imagine that it was the fact God gave that area to them as the promised land....but it was the UN that gave them that land......