Did the "Palestinians" exist as a people before 1948?

Answer 1

If you don't mind a cut/paste, I'll give you the words of Walid Shoebat, a former PLO member, on who are the Palestinians.

“We did not particularly mind Jordanian rule. The teaching of the destruction of Israel was a definite part of the curriculum, but we considered ourselves Jordanian until the Jews returned to Jerusalem. Then all of the sudden we were Palestinians - they removed the star from the Jordanian flag and all at once we had a Palestinian flag. ... When I finally realized the lies and myths I was taught, it is my duty as a righteous person to speak out”.

Jordan, you will recall, was created out of 3/4 of the British Mandate in 1921. It was then called Transjordan.

There is no Palestinian state, archaeology, history.

Edit: Paperback - Please share it. It's a really revealing quote.

Answer 2

The term 'Palestinian' refers to the Jews, Christians and Muslims living in Palestine. There have been Jews living there for 3000 years - continuously.

But the Muslims that today you call 'Palestinians' were all originally from neighbouring Arab countries: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon. They moved, many of them, to Palestine when the Jews began irrigating the land and transforming it from marsh and desert into a lovely place to live.

This was all back in the 1920s. Jews and Muslims lived peacefully until in Jerusalem and Hebron, Muslim gangs went on the rampage and murdered all the Jews living there. In Jerusalem, Arab gangs destroyed synagogues; they set one on fire while the Jews were still inside it.

There is no ancient, historical 'Palestinian people' though, if that's what you mean. The area was always known as Judea, until the Romans took over and changed the name to Palestine, in a bid to sever the link between the Jews and the land.

EDIT TO CMW

That's so interesting. Would you mind if I 'borrowed' that example you give and post it in the Israel section? :)

Answer 3

Yes. They were all Jews living in the land. Before 1948, there was no talk of a state for the Palestinians. If one walked on the streets of West Jerusalem in those days and asked a random person where the closest Palestinian place of worship was, he would be pointed to a synagogue. Today’s main English Israeli Newspaper, the Jerusalem Post, was then known as the Palestine Post; the Palestinian Philharmonic was comprised of Jews, as was the Palestinian unit in the British army that fought in the Second World War. That’s because the term “Palestine” referred not to a national or ethnic identity, but simply to an area of territory. The 1922 League of Nations’ Mandate for Palestine refers to those who inhabited the country as either “Jews” or as “…non-Jewish communities in Palestine.”

There is no such thing as a Palestinian people. This has become a moniker for displaced Arab people that were threatened by the surrounding countries to flee the coming invasion of the newly formed Israel. When they lost the 6 day war, the Jews requested the ousted Arabs to return to their homes (they remembered Poland), but the surrounding countries threatened to kill them if they did. For fear, they became refugees without work or food. Later, Arafat used them as political pawns to put millions in aid to line his pockets. He died a millionaire surrounded by poor and starving refugees.

Answer 4

cmw is to be commended for including the quote from Walid.

When you have a "Palestinian" denying that there are true Palestinians, it deserves a listen. Walid is a true fountain of knowledge concerning Islam and the Palestinian people.

Answer 5

Ofcourse they did. Even after over 60 years of Zionist crimes backed by uncle $am, they are still there fighting and will not fade into the night. We will be victorious!!!

Answer 6

Interestingly enough, the word Palestine comes from the ancient name Philistine.....

Answer 7

Yes. Before 1948, Israel was known as Palestine. Personally, I think Israel is a better name.

Answer 8

Try the history section.

Answer 9

sure did! they existed 3000 years ago!

Answer 10

no...