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Palestine: History, People & the Land Dispelling the Myths Primer on History Key Issues Life in

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Page 1: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Palestine: History, People & the Land

Dispelling the Myths Primer on History Key Issues Life in Palestine Now

Page 2: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 2

Myth #1: Palestine and Palestinians Never Existed

“There was no such thing as Palestinians”

Former Israeli PM Golda MeirPalestinians

are “Two-legged vermin” Former Israeli PM

Menachem Begin

We need to keep Palestinians like

“drugged roaches in a bottle”

Palestinians are “grasshoppers”

Former Israeli PM Yitzhak Shamir

Former IDF Chief Rafael Eitan

Page 3: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 3

Reality

Blanket dehumanization of a people used as propaganda tactic

Israel has devoted enormous energy to: – Expel Palestinians from their homes – Strip away Palestinians identity– Deny Palestinian’s existence

Maps, books, photos reference Palestine– Baedecker's famous guidebook (1876) was

entitled Palestine – Syria

Of course Palestine and Palestinians Existed!

Page 4: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 4

Population: 1870-1946

1870

1893

1912

1920

1925

1930

1935

1940

1946

Jews

Arabs

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

1,400,000

1,600,000

1,800,000

2,000,000

367,224

7,000

1,237,000

608,000

Page 5: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 5

Population %: 1870-1946

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 120%

1870

1893

1912

1920

1925

1930

1935

1940

1946

Arabs Jews

35%65%

2%98%

Page 6: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 6

Question it!

If Palestinians never existed, why do Israeli leaders refer to the Palestinians in their derogatory, racist statements?

If Palestine / Palestinians never existed, why are there resources (Pre-1948) referencing Palestine and it’s people?

If Palestinians never existed, what people lived there when European Jews arrived?

Page 7: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 7

Myth #2: Palestinians Chose to Leave their Land in 1948

Myth: Palestinians left at their own will Myth: Encouraged to leave by Arab leaders Myth: 68% of Palestinians left without ever

seeing an Israeli soldier But on the other hand….

– Myth: It was a war and they lost, so it goes– Myth: “Population Exchange” - Palestinian refugee

losses balanced by claims resulting from “comparable” exodus of Jews from Arab world

Page 8: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 8

Reality

Palestinians largely defenseless in 1948 Exodus was involuntary and enforced Never relinquished their rights of home & land Significant proportion terrorized into leaving

– News of massacres, rape, plunder instilled fear

"In our country there is room only for the Jews. We shall say to the Arabs: Get out! If they don't agree,

if they resist, we shall drive them out by force."

Professor Ben-Zion Dinur Israel's First Minister of Education, 1954from History of the Haganah http://www.birzeit.edu/crdps/village.html

Palestinians were forced to leave their land

Page 9: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 9

That’s about 4 villages destroyed per week!

419 Arab villages demolished and

depopulated between 1947-1949

Page 10: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 10

Question it!

Why would people want to leave their homes at their own will? Homes that have been in their families for generations!– “Oh, okay new-person-not-from-this-land, here’s the key

to my house. Take it, it’s yours! I’ll just live in a tent.”

What causes masses to leave their land? Would nearly 1 million people living peacefully

on a land for hundreds and hundreds of years suddenly decide to pick up and leave because they felt like it? Where were they going?

Page 11: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 11

Myth #3: A religious war that has lasted thousands of years

Myth: This is a religious war that has been going on for thousands of years mainly between Jews and Muslims

Myth: Since it has been going on for so long, there’s no chance for it to end in a short time period

Myth: There has never been peace in the Middle East

Page 12: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 12

Reality

Christian, Jews, Muslims have been living together peacefully for hundreds of years

Difficulties have only started with an exclusive, religiously pure apartheid system

Israel loves saying it because – Longer it goes on, more time to build illegal

settlements and humiliate Palestinians– Implies Jews have been there long time

Makes Americans feel that there’s no hope– “Why put pressure on Israel to change? It’s

been going on for so long.”

It’s not about religion, it’s about land AND it just began in the 1900’s!

Page 13: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 13

Question It!

Why has there been relative calm before the colonist / Zionists arrived?

If it’s a religious war, how come we rarely hear about the Palestinian Christians? Where do they fit in?

If it’s a religious war, why isn’t it going on in Morocco, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Tunisia, Ethiopia, and many other countries were both Jews and Muslims live?

Page 14: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 14

Myth #4: Israel’s “Generous” Offer

Myth: Palestinians get 95% of land Myth: Administrative control over some

Palestinian neighborhoods around Jerusalem

Myth: Administrative & civil control over Palestinians living in West Bank & Gaza

Page 15: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 15

Reality

It’s like a prison Continued building of bypass roads Checkpoints every few miles No real sovereign control over borders No control over water or air space Non-contiguous land

And there’s more….

No FreedomNo Independence

Page 16: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 16

Reality

Continued Israeli military control over large segments of the West Bank, including almost all of Jordan Valley

Codified right of Israeli forces to be deployed in Palestinian state at short notice

Continued presence of fortified illegal Israeli settlements and Jewish-only roads in the heart of the Palestinian state

Oh…and one more thing….

No FreedomNo Independence

Page 17: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 17

Reality

Required nearly 4 million Palestinian refugees to relinquish their fundamental human rights in exchange for compensation to be paid not by Israel but by the "international community."

No FreedomNo Independence

Page 18: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 18

Question it!

Why is there no territorial contiguity for the Palestinian state?

Why don’t Palestinians have control of its external borders and water resources?

Why is Israel NOT carrying out a FULL withdrawal as required by international law?

Why is there no Palestinian Right of Return? Why is refugee compensation to be paid by

“international community”? Why do Palestinians need to “compromise” any

more? – Already only left with 22%* of their original land!

Page 19: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 19

Myth #5: Israel’s a democracy

Myth: Claims to be only democratic state in Middle East

Myth: Israel civilized an uncivilized world and made the “desert bloom”

Myth: Israeli Palestinians have equal rights

Page 20: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 20

Reality

Israel’s “Law of Return” gives automatic citizenship to any Jew

No defined borders No constitution; Only series of laws that

establishes Jewish supremacy over non-Jews– Torture is legal– Land confiscation is legal– Indefinite detention without charge

Where’s the Democracy?

Applies only to Palestinian Israeli citizens

Page 21: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 21

Question it!

How can you be democracy and an exclusive state for Jews? That’s blatant racism.

How can you call a country a democracy when it doesn’t even have a constitution or defined borders?

Why does Israel grant citizenship to a Jew from Russia but not to an indigenous Palestinian who was born on that land?

Why does US provide unconditional support to an overtly exclusive, racist state?

Page 22: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 22

Israel is a full democracy only if we are to consider Apartheid South Africa a full democracy

Yes … Israel is a democracy if you’re Jewish

It’s like saying US is a democracy as long as you’re white

Israel is a full democracy only if we are to consider Apartheid South Africa a full democracy

Yes … Israel is a democracy if you’re Jewish

It’s like saying US is a democracy as long as you’re white

Page 23: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 23

Whenever You Hear…

Palestine & Palestinians never existed Palestinians chose to leave their land This is a religious war that has lasted

hundreds of years Israel has made “generous” offers to

Palestinians and they never accept Israel is a democracy

Question it!

Page 24: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

The Key Issues Right to Return

– Violation of International Laws– Refugee Crisis

Illegal Settlements– House Demolitions– Resources

Occupation– Denial of Self Determination– Human Rights Violations

Page 25: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 25

Right To Return: A Critical Topic Often Ignored

Right of Return is right of Palestinians to:– Return to their homeland– Full restitution of all their confiscated and destroyed

property in accordance with Int’l Laws Why it’s not discussed?

– Tied to racist nature of exclusive state– Israeli’s spin it as a “demographic problem”

The Reality– In 20 years population will be 55% Palestinian

Christian and Muslim and 45% Jewish– Israel is afraid if right to return is implemented, the

special state of Jewish character is ruined

Page 26: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 26

Right of Return MUST be Brought to the Forefront

Permanent return desirable for peace to prevail Ignoring it contradicts every link to democracy

– What if everyone in US says we want an exclusive Christian state or exclusive white state? Means no Latinos, Asians, African Americans, etc…allowed

Ignoring it goes against basic American values of openness to diversity, acceptance of people no matter what race, creed, ethnicity

It’s universal basic right!

Page 27: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 27

Universal Declaration of Independence

"(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence

within the borders of each state.

(2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and

to return to his country"

Page 28: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 28

1948: Resolution 194

Paragraph 11: "...the refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace

with their neighbors should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date...

compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return."

Reaffirmed 110 times with universal consensus, except for

Israel & U.S.

Page 29: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 29

1974: UN Resolution 3236

Subsection 2, "the inalienable right of the Palestinians to return to their

homes and property from which they have been displaced and uprooted,

and calls for their return".

Page 30: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 30

1997: UN Resolution 52/62

“Reaffirms that the Palestine Arab refugees are entitled to their property and to the income derived therefrom,

in conformity with the principles of justice and equity."

Page 31: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 31

1948…1974 … 1997 ….

UN Resolutions reaffirmed over and over and over with

universal consensus …

… except for Israel & U.S.

Question it!

Page 32: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 32

Right to Return:Who Can Become An Israeli Citizen

If you’re Jewish…– Arrive at airport– Go to “Qlitat Aliyah” (Jewish Immigrant

Reception)– Say “I’m Jewish”– Congratulations, You’re a citizen!

Palestinians are not allowed the same

methods as Jews to become a citizen

If you’re a Palestinian…–Sorry, no chance.

Page 33: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 33

Refugee Crisis

About 5½ million Palestinian Refugees Oldest & largest refugee problem in the world Not a single refugee allowed to return

– Onto fourth generation of refugees– Some made refugees multiple times 1948 & 1967

Ways of dispossession– Home demolitions….displaced again– Israeli Laws

Page 34: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 34

Right of Return IS Possible

A study on the demography of Israel shows that 78% of Israelis

are living in 14% of Israel and that the remaining 86% of the

land in Israel is mostly land that belongs to the refugees on which

22% of the Israelis live.

A study on the demography of Israel shows that 78% of Israelis

are living in 14% of Israel and that the remaining 86% of the

land in Israel is mostly land that belongs to the refugees on which

22% of the Israelis live.

Page 35: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 35

Illegal Settlements

Large housing projects/cities built illegally by Israel on land confiscated from Palestinians within West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza Strip

Began as a means of controlling & annexing Palestinian land occupied during “1967 War”

Serves Israel’s strategic, military, economic interests– Impedes peace process; creates “facts on ground”

Constant reminder and humiliation to Palestinians in an Apartheid system

Page 36: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 36

Settlers & Settlements

1,500

109,784

213,672

6,900

141,000170,400

17,0000

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

West Bank &Gaza

East Jersualem Golan Heights

1972 1992 2001

Of 400,000+ Settlers, 70%+ Americans (e.g. Brooklyn); Others Russian & European

130 / 16190 Illegal

Settlements

SOURCE: Foundation for

Middle East Peace

http://www.fmep.org/reports/2002/sr0203.html#5

11 33

Page 37: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 37

Water

80% water aquifers in West Bank Illegal settlements strategically placed

on top of water aquifers & mountains Illegal settlements get priority access

– As illegal settlements are built or expand, water taken away from Palestinians

Page 38: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 38

This Really Happens

When supplies run low during summer, Israeli water company

shuts off valves that supply Palestinian towns. So settlers get full swimming pools while

Palestinian villages a few miles away run out of drinking water.

Settlers attack Palestinians' water supply, severing pipes and switching off valves. They dump untreated sewage on Palestinian land, polluting wells and aquifers.

Israeli army has routinely

destroyed water supplies, an

activity defined as a war crime.

SOURCE: http://www.miftah.org/Display.cfm?DocId=744&CategoryId=4

Page 39: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 39

Palestinian Olive Trees

Sole source of income for many Palestinian farmers– Each tree yields approximately 5 gallons of oil sold

at markets for equivalent of about $75 (U.S.) Olive Trees passed down through

generations of Palestinian families– Takes decades to mature fully

More than 11,000 olive trees have been uprooted and destroyed

Under attack by Settlers

Page 40: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 40

House Demolitions

Classic colonial practice – attacking or eliminating habitat of indigenous population – Carry out collective punishment either in retaliation

for, or as deterrence against, acts of resistance Violations of International Law

– Demolish villages and create policies refusing to grant them building permits

– Encouraging and subsidizing construction of illegal Israeli settlements

Creating nation of homeless & dispossessed (becoming a refugee yet again)

Page 41: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 41

Occupation

Loss of control over natural resources Imposition of suffocating closures and

curfews Destruction of Palestinian land and

property Suppression of free statement Systematic destruction of the

Palestinian economy

Page 42: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 42

Occupation

International law considers agreements between an occupier and any body in occupied areas to

be null and void if they deprive civilians of recognized human rights including the rights to repatriation and restitution.

International law considers agreements between an occupier and any body in occupied areas to

be null and void if they deprive civilians of recognized human rights including the rights to repatriation and restitution.

Page 43: Palestine: History, People & the Land  Dispelling the Myths  Primer on History  Key Issues  Life in Palestine Now

Al-Awda and American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-SF)June 2002 43