Israel Must Exist
The original poster is an acquaintance of mine. A Muslim woman from the Chicagoland area, and a talented artist whose work I admire. Normally, I would not engage in a dialogue on this topic with a friend because it is just too fraught with landmines. But after reading all the comments about “dirty Zionist Jews”, I felt compelled to say a few words in defense of Israel. I believe I was the only Jew on the thread. In my comments, I tried to be very precise in my use of words, taking extra precaution not to disparage anyone or any faith. But the vitriol quickly turned from Zionists and Jews generally, to me personally. I was called a “dog”, a “Nazi”, a “killer” “inhuman” and a “mongrel”. Some posters expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler and regret that he didn’t finish the job. One explained that Jews were responsible for the 9/11 terrorists attacks, and that Hamas is run by the CIA. I asked repeatedly if any of the hundreds of people on the thread were willing to reject the Hamas charter calling for the destruction of Israel. Not one came forward.
I am not an observant Jew. I practice no religion. I am an atheist. I am neither an expert on Judaism and Jewish history, nor well-versed in Islam, Islamic culture or the plight of the Palestinian people. I have many Jewish friends, many Christian friends and a lesser number of Muslim friends. I have defended Jews against radical anti-Semites and have often stood up for Muslims against the onslaught of bigotry so frequently exhibited right here in America. But I feel I must take a stand. And I mean no offense and harbor no ill-will towards those of different faiths or no faith.
Israel must exist. As a nation and a homeland for the Jewish people. The history of the Jewish people exists is entirely in Israel. Every Jewish holy site is in Israel. The holiest of them all (the Western Wall at the Temple Mount) is in Jerusalem – the holiest city in Judaism – dating back nearly 3,000 years. The one city in the world Jews are commanded to visit is Jerusalem, in Israel.
The history of Islam is spread throughout the world. The two holiest sites in Islam (Mecca and Medina) are in Saudi Arabia. The third (the Al-Aqsa Mosque) is in Jerusalem, dating back roughly 800 years – or 2,200 years after the Jewish Temple. The fourth and fifth holiest sites in Islam (the Imam Ali Mosque and the Imam Husayn Shrine) are in Iraq. The one city in the world Muslims are commanded to visit is Mecca, in Saudi Arabia. Not in Israel. Not in Palestine.
Jews have never conducted “Crusades”, “Holy Wars”, or imperialistic incursions designed to build an empire and produce mass conversions to Judaism. They have always wanted just a homeland in Israel, as proscribed in the Bible. Conversely, Islamic crusades have been waged from the time of Mohammed, through the rise of the Arab caliphates; the Byzantine-era conquests of Persia and Mesopotamia and North Africa; the incursions into India and the Ottoman Empire in South Asia, as well as into Northern, Southern and Western Europe; and right up to the present day’s Jihads against all those who do not believe in Allah, or who are perceived be enemies of Islam. Islamic imperialism is one of the main reasons there are so many more Muslims today than Jews. Again, this is not to disparage Islam. It is just a statement of fact.
Today, there are roughly only 14 million Jews left in the world. Jews make up .2% of the world’s population. 44% (about 6 million) of the world’s Jews live in Israel, where Jews make up 75% of the population. There is no other country on earth where Jews make up the majority of the population. There is only one other country in the world (the United States) where there are more than 1 million Jews. Jews can be found in approximately 100 countries in the world, but roughly half of these countries are home to fewer than 1,000 Jews.
Today, there are approximately 1.6 billion Muslims in the world. Muslims make up 23% of the world’s population. .0008% (1.4 million) of the world’s Muslims live in Israel. Another .003% (4.2 million) live in the Palestinian territory of the West Bank and Gaza. There are more Muslims (15 million) in the small African nation of Niger than there are Jews in the entire world. There are 24 countries in the world with populations greater than 10 million that are predominantly Muslim; another 6 with a population greater than 100 million that are predominantly Muslim. There are also many predominantly Christian, Buddhist and Hindu countries in Asia, Europe and Africa with a significant Muslim population of 5 million people or more. All told, there are over 250 nations where Muslims can be found – two and a half times the number where Jews can be found. Even in the United States, Muslims outnumber Jews by nearly 3-to-1.
In short, Palestinians have options. Jews do not.
I know there are disputes. About this territory and that territory. About these borders and those borders. About who did what to whom. About 1948, 1967, 2005 and 2010. But the fact remains that Israel is, was and always will be the Jewish homeland. There is no other land they have ever called their own, or can call their own. There is no other country where there is a majority Jewish population to welcome and absorb them. There has never been a people who have been subjected to the kind of treatment Jews have faced their entire existence. Put another way, there has never been a proposed “final solution to the Muslim problem.”
No one wants to see the Palestinian people suffer any longer. No one wants to see Islam destroyed, or wiped out of existence. But the people of Israel are not going give up their land. Ever. It is all they have left.
It is time to admit the unspoken truth: that Palestinians and Israelis will never coexist peacefully. There will never be a two-state solution. The differences between the Palestinians and the Israelis are too great. There has been too much pain, too much suffering and the trust is irrevocably broken. The marriage cannot be saved. The time has come to end it.
And so, my friends – my Christian friends, my Hindu friends, my Buddhist friends, my secular friends and especially my Muslim friends – I am asking you, begging you, pleading with you…please find a home for these people. A place where they won’t just survive but thrive; a place where they can live in peace; a place where they can practice their religion amidst others of similar faith. It doesn’t have to be a single country; rather, a consortium of nations, perhaps under the auspices of the UN, the EU and other international organizations; a coalition of the willing who are humane enough to take these refugees in. I may be dead-wrong but it would not surprise me at all if many Palestinians, especially the younger, less-ideologically entrenched, would welcome the opportunity to create a new life in a more hospitable place; a place that holds the promise of a safer, more peaceful and more prosperous future. Just as many Jews do not wish to live in Israel, many Palestinians may not wish to live in Palestine. But they should be welcome to return freely to the land of their ancestral history, just as Jews and Christians do. The people of Israel (Jews, Christians and Muslims) must preserve and maintain the Islamic holy sites, and they must continue to welcome people of all faiths into their land, as they have always done. But Jews also deserve to live in peace. In their homeland. And in their homes.
It may not be what you want, you may not think it’s fair and it most certainly will not be easy, but there are no better options left. It must be so.
I welcome your thoughts. Feel free to disagree with me or with each other, but please keep it civil.
Peace, Shalom and As-Salāmu `Alaykum.
Click here for reuse options!Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: Mark Hersch
Mark Hersch is a Boston-bred, DC-raised liberal now living in Chicago with his liberal wife and two liberal dogs.
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Bunya July 21st, 2014 at 15:16
I see no easy resolution to this dilemma. On the one hand, the Muslims have occupied that land for generations, and in 1948 they were forced out.
On the other hand, Israel has a right to exist. I’m a bit more sympathetic towards the Jews because they’re getting hit from both ends. They’re having their existing problems with the Muslims, and the Christians can’t wait for them to knock down the Al Aqsa Mosque (the third holiest site in Islam) located on the Temple Mount and build the Third Jewish Temple, which is supposedly fortolded in the Christian bible, thus bringing on the second coming. And all Israel has to do to really piss off the Muslims and bring about the end times (literally) is to destroy their Mosque.
Bunya July 21st, 2014 at 15:16
I see no easy resolution to this dilemma. On the one hand, the Muslims have occupied that land for generations, and in 1948 they were forced out.
On the other hand, Israel has a right to exist. I’m a bit more sympathetic towards the Jews because they’re getting hit from both ends. They’re having their existing problems with the Muslims, and the Christians can’t wait for them to knock down the Al Aqsa Mosque (the third holiest site in Islam) located on the Temple Mount and build the Third Jewish Temple, which is supposedly fortolded in the Christian bible, thus bringing on the second coming. And all Israel has to do to really piss off the Muslims and bring about the end times (literally) is to destroy their Mosque.
Ormond Otvos July 21st, 2014 at 19:27
Ah, yes. Insane. Or maybe with a wider view than your little shoehorn factory.
Ormond Otvos July 21st, 2014 at 19:28
Israel’s LEADERS seem to want war forever. It figures, since that’s how they stay in power.
Ormond Otvos July 21st, 2014 at 19:31
Wow. 100% truths. Haven’t seen that level of confidence in a while. “Jerusalem has constantly had a Jewish majority or plurality for millennia” “Statehood for Palestinians is absolutely just”
Drink much?
Amie July 21st, 2014 at 20:41
Thank you for this lovely piece! People seem to forget that Jewish history stretches well beyond 1948. People say the Palestinians have been there for generations and therefore somehow have a right to lay claim to all of the places Jewish people find the holiest, preventing us (I say us, because I have Jewish ancestry but am not Jewish myself..my Jewish ancestry is why I live in America after two sets of great-grandparents both had their Hungarian and Lithuanian villages burned to the ground) from accessing them.. Jews have been there for Millenia. Not generations. Millenia. Our holy places are all in Israel, and we have a right to them. Setting aside a Jewish homeland was the right thing to do. When people compare Israeli Jews to American Christians, it’s a red flag that they truly don’t understand what the big deal is. I’m an atheist, and I support Israel because this goes beyond simple religious observance.
Amie July 21st, 2014 at 20:41
Thank you for this lovely piece! People seem to forget that Jewish history stretches well beyond 1948. People say the Palestinians have been there for generations and therefore somehow have a right to lay claim to all of the places Jewish people find the holiest, preventing us (I say us, because I have Jewish ancestry but am not Jewish myself..my Jewish ancestry is why I live in America after two sets of great-grandparents both had their Hungarian and Lithuanian villages burned to the ground) from accessing them.. Jews have been there for Millenia. Not generations. Millenia. Our holy places are all in Israel, and we have a right to them. Setting aside a Jewish homeland was the right thing to do. When people compare Israeli Jews to American Christians, it’s a red flag that they truly don’t understand what the big deal is. I’m an atheist, and I support Israel because this goes beyond simple religious observance.
Glen July 21st, 2014 at 22:03
I assume you’re referring to the poll conducted by The Washington Institute? Here’s the thing about polls – they tend to reflect the current circumstances. Gazans are being kept in what amounts to a cage by Israel, so it shouldn’t surprise you that the idea of sharing their lands with Israel doesn’t appeal to them right now. Those in the West Bank are a little more willing, unsurprisingly, but given the constant encroachment on their lands, further driving out of Palestinians from pieces of land in order to build settlements, it shouldn’t surprise anybody that they, too, aren’t so fond of Israel right now.
That being said, your “kicking out the Jews” part is just plain false. The goal they supported was reclamation of all of Palestinian lands, not the kicking out of Jews.
Furthermore, when asked about violence, the majority were against the use of violent, wanting Hamas to enter a permanent cease-fire with Israel and supporting a unity government under Abbas that renounces the use of violence.
Ultimately, it’s not that I’m pro-war, it’s that you believe that people are incapable of changing their opinion, compromising, or peacefully accepting a solution that grants them the essential rights and freedoms they most desire. But thanks, you’ve clearly thought through the whole point Mark is making at the start of his article, about extreme rhetoric and accusations rather than informed debate.
Note, by the way, that the exact wording of poll questions can skew results. Here in Australia, we had a referendum on the possibility of separating from Britain and becoming a republic, back around the turn of the millennium. The PM at the time was against it, and chose the wording of the referendum, which basically meant that, rather than voting for the idea of a republic, we were voting for a specific model that was unpopular with the people of Australia, and thus the referendum failed – not for lack of support for a republic, but because of wording. Without knowing the wording of the poll, we cannot know how trustworthy the result is.
Glen July 22nd, 2014 at 10:49
You do realise that they always ask it in the form of “which of these do you prefer”, right? Compromise options usually don’t get much support when you ask people which they prefer.
There’s a scene in The West Wing where Joey Lucas makes a point about polls – basically, her point is that polls only tell you what you ask them. “Which do you prefer out of these three” shows that people are polarised, preferring either giving up half of the region to Israel or completely wiping Israel out. On the other hand, asking them whether they support each of the options might result in a different set of numbers.
If you were to ask the typical American voter whether they would prefer Hillary Clinton or Joe Biden as the Democratic candidate for 2016, you’d get some percentage choosing Hillary, some choosing Biden, some saying “neither”, and some unsure. In such a poll, you might get 40% supporting Clinton and 20% supporting Biden, with 30% saying neither and 10% being unsure. However, if you were to ask them which candidate they would consider voting for for president between Hillary, Biden, and an unnamed Republican, you might find that Hillary would get 35%, Biden might get 50%, and the unnamed Republican might get 40%. And yes, that adds up to more than 100%, because it didn’t pit them against each other.
It’s entirely possible that only 10% of Palestinians would prefer a one state solution over a two state solution or the destruction of Israel, but that 90% of Palestinians would support a one state solution.
In short, you say that the poll says 90% reject the one state solution… but it doesn’t ask them which ones they’d reject, only which ones they preferred.
Ormond Otvos July 22nd, 2014 at 16:42
You two should get married.
Glen July 23rd, 2014 at 01:04
You’re arguing the finer details, when the overall concept is exactly the same. They don’t offer broader “goals” that permit multiple results, like “peace in greater Palestine”. They have to choose one option out of four (the fourth being “not sure”). This doesn’t allow them to express support for multiple “goals”, and thus the poll cannot possibly capture support for multiple “goals”.
I write a lot because I like to be complete and to construct an extensive argument. You write very little because you think you’re being succinct, but you’re actually being offensively dismissive, failing to address most of what I say so that you can just parrot your belief as thought it is fact.
I could write my argument in two sentences. But that wouldn’t be convincing, nor would it capture all of my argument – it would give no more than an overview. Which is kind of the same as the problem with that poll – it doesn’t capture the entire viewpoint of the people. Basically, it offers a false trichotomy.
Daniel September 25th, 2014 at 13:51
Many people think the UN
created Israel. This is not true. The historical League of Nations document
“Mandate for Palestine” 1922, gave the Jewish people the legal right
under international law to settle anywhere in western Palestine, the area
between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. This is still international
law today. Fifty-one countries, the entire League of Nations, unanimously voted
in favor of this document on July 24, 1922.
“Whereas recognition has been given to the
historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine and to the grounds
for reconstituting their national home in that country.”
THIS IS THE LAW.
Article 80 of the UN Charter, sometimes referred to as the Jewish People’s clause, preserves intact all the rights of the Jewish people granted under the The League of Nations “Mandate for Palestine” 1922, even after the Mandate ceased to exist in May of 1948. Under international law the Charter is an international treaty, Jewish rights to Palestine, now known as Israel cannot be altered in any way unless under Chapter 12 of the UN Charter there had been a trusteeship agreement between the states or parties concerned, which would have converted the Mandate into a trusteeship or trust territory, but the only time such an agreement could have been concluded was during the three-year period from 1945 when the UN Charter was ratified, and May, 1948, when the Jewish State of Israel declared their independence from the British. Since no such agreement was made during this three-year period, all rights that had existed under the Mandate remain in full force and the UN has to comply with Article 80 and is prohibited from altering it.
Daniel September 25th, 2014 at 13:51
Many people think the UN
created Israel. This is not true. The historical League of Nations document
“Mandate for Palestine” 1922, gave the Jewish people the legal right
under international law to settle anywhere in western Palestine, the area
between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. This is still international
law today. Fifty-one countries, the entire League of Nations, unanimously voted
in favor of this document on July 24, 1922.
“Whereas recognition has been given to the
historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine and to the grounds
for reconstituting their national home in that country.”
THIS IS THE LAW.
Article 80 of the UN Charter, sometimes referred to as the Jewish People’s clause, preserves intact all the rights of the Jewish people granted under the The League of Nations “Mandate for Palestine” 1922, even after the Mandate ceased to exist in May of 1948. Under international law the Charter is an international treaty, Jewish rights to Palestine, now known as Israel cannot be altered in any way unless under Chapter 12 of the UN Charter there had been a trusteeship agreement between the states or parties concerned, which would have converted the Mandate into a trusteeship or trust territory, but the only time such an agreement could have been concluded was during the three-year period from 1945 when the UN Charter was ratified, and May, 1948, when the Jewish State of Israel declared their independence from the British. Since no such agreement was made during this three-year period, all rights that had existed under the Mandate remain in full force and the UN has to comply with Article 80 and is prohibited from altering it.