Superb essay. Very helpful reminders for those of us arguing against the multitude of ignorant Israel haters. Sadly, including many anti-zionist Jews. All the actually colonialist countries, (e.g. the UK, Spain, Portugal, etc.) have some chutzpah saying Palestinians, as war-like as they are, should have another of their own states, bordering the HEART of Israel. Have they committed troops to sit on the border of the West Bank and Gaza to prevent their folly from turning into a total invasion of Israel? Israel is hated for its thriving success, democracy, freedoms, technology and military successes (at great sacrifice.)
I ask anyone pushing for Israel's unilaterally ending the war, whether they truly believe the Arabs surrounding Israel really want to live in peaceful coexistence? Ask Israeli Arab citizens if they would feel safe? It is clear that Hamas and all their bedfellows will never give up their goal of killing all Israelis. How can the world ignore that? And where is the hue and cry against real colonialism, like China's taking over Tibet?
Well put together! As a non-Jew (my kids call me an ‘honorary MOTT) Of Swiss origin, my family is proudly Jewish. My life partner is beautifully Jewish. I’m continually stunned at the absolute hatred and vitriol aimed at Zionists even, as you point out, coming from some Jews themselves. Israel shines as a TINY beacon of light-an example of what is possible- in a sea of chaotic, war-driven Arab states. I’ve visited Israel a few times now. It should become the blueprint for anti-colonialism, coexistence, acceptance of all and rule of law. Your article will help me to defend this ‘little Swiss’ oasis. Thank you.
I have Jewish ancestry and I fully agree with the Jews‘ right to a State of their own and its right to defend itself but I don‘t understand why you‘re saying “Jews bought *much* of the land from absentee landlords under Ottoman and British rule thereafter“. My own research doesn‘t reveal it was that many percent. What are your sources for saying Jews bought “much of the land“? Just how many percent of the current area of Israel was actually bought by Jews in the time period in question? Thank you in advance for your kind reply.
By 1947, Jews owned 463,000 acres of land in Palestine, of which 45,000 acres was bought from the mandatory government, 30,000 acres from churches, and 387,500 from Arab landowners. The rest was former Ottoman state land.
"Jews bought much of the land from absentee landlords under Ottoman and British rule thereafter."
Quite true. My great-uncle Haim Kadmon was responsible for purchasing much of the land in and around Jerusalem both before and after the establishment of the State. In Jerusalem at least, the primary land-owners were foreign governments and churches.
"The Jews, of course, never left entirely. Even after the Roman destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, Jewish communities lived on "
It goes further back than that. In 538 BCE, some 42,360 exiles led by Zerubbabel returned to Israel. The prophets Zechariah and Haggai returned to Jerusalem to prophesy to those who had returned and to encourage them to rebuild the Second Temple.
"Zionism as a modern movement arose in the 19th century"
Zionism has actually existed since God promised the land to Abraham. The modern movement is actually one form of it. More accurately in its present iteration it should be called politico-national zionism‚ the intent to establish a modern Jewish European style state on the unceded territory of the ancestral Jewish homeland. How the society should look, how it should be governed, has been hotly debated from the early 19th century until this very day.
"It is embedded in . . . Muslim scripture."
Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:21), Moses tells his people, "O my people, enter the holy land which Allah has prescribed for you, and do not turn your backs, lest you become losers".
"‘The Jews stole the land from Palestinians."
How can you steal your own indigenous, unceded, historical lands?
Final question? how can you be an alien, enemy conqueror, settler, occupier of your own indigenous ancestral territory according to the same criteria used to establish First Nations' territorial claims?
Great article - the only major point you didn't address that I hear quite often is that the Zionists are just white colonizers because they are just white people coming from Russia and eastern Europe, not semites.
I admire the democratic norms of Israel. Any movement seeking the betterment of their peoples must be supported by profound and broad scholarship to inform our ethics and values. No matter how difficult, it pays to listen to the criticism of honest friends, and Haaretz is home to the loyal opposition. It publishes articles based on scholarship critical of Zionism by men such as Avi Schlaim and Ilan Pappé. I am pretty sure that these scholars would be critical of the failures in policy in the American experience with the Native Americans—perhaps, even arguing that the USA is also illegitimate!
In these battles of worldviews, the more cosmic, humane, and moral the worldview is, the more modern and intelligent it is. And purchasing land from natives for building houses is mirrored in the American experience. Which leads to the story of Roger Williams and his respectful relationship with the American Indians.
In John M. Barry’s book, “Roger Williams and the Creation of the American Soul,” he explores the story of Roger Williams’ search for religious freedom, which guided the principles of the colony he received a royal charter for—Rhode Island. “Williams was easily the most fluent Englishman in America in the Algonquin language. He believed that Indians had the same property rights as Englishmen, and the only legal claim to Indian land came when an Englishman bought the land from the Indians.”
“He concluded that there were no real differences between Indians and Englishmen as men. There were only cultural and religious differences. He believed what he wrote: “Boast not proud English, of they birth & blood, Thy brother Indian is by birth as Good. Of one blood God made him, and thee, & all.””
“When Massachusetts Christians were putting intense pressure on the Narragansett to convert, threatening them with armed action if they did not, he actually convinced Cromwell’s government to tell Massachusetts to back off, to guarantee that the Narragansett had the right to worship as they chose, which is really kind of extraordinary.”
“The Indians burned Providence and burned Williams’ own house down, which meant that he spent his last years in poverty. Nonetheless, right up to the very end of his life, he still considered Indians his friends. I think he saw the war not as this racial Armageddon but as bad policy, a terrible mistake.”
Most of us agree that any nation has the right to defend itself against aggressors, and that Jews need a homeland, especially after the Holocaust. We need only guard against bad policy, or making mistakes worse by attributing time and circumstance to divine will. No matter how late the hour, as long as there is life, it is never too late to make a good decision.
Garrity, L. (2012, January 1). “The founder of Rhode Island often helped out the early colonists in their dealings with Native Americans.” Smithsonian Magazine. https://tinyurl.com/52ba9j7f
"Juden sind ein altes Volk – das Jahr 5876 im jüdischen Kalender hat gerade erst begonnen..." Das Jahr ist falsch. Wir sind im Jahr 5786. Es handelt sich wohl um einen Zahlendreher.
Thank you so much Nachum Kaplan for your brilliant/educational essay !!!!!!!......If only could be read by ALL who idiotically believe the lies, disortion of history .......should be so great if it would put some common sense in their " brains " .........
Superb essay. Very helpful reminders for those of us arguing against the multitude of ignorant Israel haters. Sadly, including many anti-zionist Jews. All the actually colonialist countries, (e.g. the UK, Spain, Portugal, etc.) have some chutzpah saying Palestinians, as war-like as they are, should have another of their own states, bordering the HEART of Israel. Have they committed troops to sit on the border of the West Bank and Gaza to prevent their folly from turning into a total invasion of Israel? Israel is hated for its thriving success, democracy, freedoms, technology and military successes (at great sacrifice.)
I ask anyone pushing for Israel's unilaterally ending the war, whether they truly believe the Arabs surrounding Israel really want to live in peaceful coexistence? Ask Israeli Arab citizens if they would feel safe? It is clear that Hamas and all their bedfellows will never give up their goal of killing all Israelis. How can the world ignore that? And where is the hue and cry against real colonialism, like China's taking over Tibet?
Well put together! As a non-Jew (my kids call me an ‘honorary MOTT) Of Swiss origin, my family is proudly Jewish. My life partner is beautifully Jewish. I’m continually stunned at the absolute hatred and vitriol aimed at Zionists even, as you point out, coming from some Jews themselves. Israel shines as a TINY beacon of light-an example of what is possible- in a sea of chaotic, war-driven Arab states. I’ve visited Israel a few times now. It should become the blueprint for anti-colonialism, coexistence, acceptance of all and rule of law. Your article will help me to defend this ‘little Swiss’ oasis. Thank you.
I’ll be rereading this for some time.
Thanks for the history and the relevance to today.
I have Jewish ancestry and I fully agree with the Jews‘ right to a State of their own and its right to defend itself but I don‘t understand why you‘re saying “Jews bought *much* of the land from absentee landlords under Ottoman and British rule thereafter“. My own research doesn‘t reveal it was that many percent. What are your sources for saying Jews bought “much of the land“? Just how many percent of the current area of Israel was actually bought by Jews in the time period in question? Thank you in advance for your kind reply.
By 1947, Jews owned 463,000 acres of land in Palestine, of which 45,000 acres was bought from the mandatory government, 30,000 acres from churches, and 387,500 from Arab landowners. The rest was former Ottoman state land.
Thank you very much for your reply. What are the sources for the numbers you gave?
Grannot A, The Land System of Palestine (London, Eyre & Spottiswoode), 1958.
Thank you very much, Nachum Kaplan!
Amazing, knowledgeable, beautifully written article.
Thank you
"Jews bought much of the land from absentee landlords under Ottoman and British rule thereafter."
Quite true. My great-uncle Haim Kadmon was responsible for purchasing much of the land in and around Jerusalem both before and after the establishment of the State. In Jerusalem at least, the primary land-owners were foreign governments and churches.
"The Jews, of course, never left entirely. Even after the Roman destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, Jewish communities lived on "
It goes further back than that. In 538 BCE, some 42,360 exiles led by Zerubbabel returned to Israel. The prophets Zechariah and Haggai returned to Jerusalem to prophesy to those who had returned and to encourage them to rebuild the Second Temple.
"Zionism as a modern movement arose in the 19th century"
Zionism has actually existed since God promised the land to Abraham. The modern movement is actually one form of it. More accurately in its present iteration it should be called politico-national zionism‚ the intent to establish a modern Jewish European style state on the unceded territory of the ancestral Jewish homeland. How the society should look, how it should be governed, has been hotly debated from the early 19th century until this very day.
"It is embedded in . . . Muslim scripture."
Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:21), Moses tells his people, "O my people, enter the holy land which Allah has prescribed for you, and do not turn your backs, lest you become losers".
"‘The Jews stole the land from Palestinians."
How can you steal your own indigenous, unceded, historical lands?
Final question? how can you be an alien, enemy conqueror, settler, occupier of your own indigenous ancestral territory according to the same criteria used to establish First Nations' territorial claims?
Great article - the only major point you didn't address that I hear quite often is that the Zionists are just white colonizers because they are just white people coming from Russia and eastern Europe, not semites.
I admire the democratic norms of Israel. Any movement seeking the betterment of their peoples must be supported by profound and broad scholarship to inform our ethics and values. No matter how difficult, it pays to listen to the criticism of honest friends, and Haaretz is home to the loyal opposition. It publishes articles based on scholarship critical of Zionism by men such as Avi Schlaim and Ilan Pappé. I am pretty sure that these scholars would be critical of the failures in policy in the American experience with the Native Americans—perhaps, even arguing that the USA is also illegitimate!
In these battles of worldviews, the more cosmic, humane, and moral the worldview is, the more modern and intelligent it is. And purchasing land from natives for building houses is mirrored in the American experience. Which leads to the story of Roger Williams and his respectful relationship with the American Indians.
In John M. Barry’s book, “Roger Williams and the Creation of the American Soul,” he explores the story of Roger Williams’ search for religious freedom, which guided the principles of the colony he received a royal charter for—Rhode Island. “Williams was easily the most fluent Englishman in America in the Algonquin language. He believed that Indians had the same property rights as Englishmen, and the only legal claim to Indian land came when an Englishman bought the land from the Indians.”
“He concluded that there were no real differences between Indians and Englishmen as men. There were only cultural and religious differences. He believed what he wrote: “Boast not proud English, of they birth & blood, Thy brother Indian is by birth as Good. Of one blood God made him, and thee, & all.””
“When Massachusetts Christians were putting intense pressure on the Narragansett to convert, threatening them with armed action if they did not, he actually convinced Cromwell’s government to tell Massachusetts to back off, to guarantee that the Narragansett had the right to worship as they chose, which is really kind of extraordinary.”
“The Indians burned Providence and burned Williams’ own house down, which meant that he spent his last years in poverty. Nonetheless, right up to the very end of his life, he still considered Indians his friends. I think he saw the war not as this racial Armageddon but as bad policy, a terrible mistake.”
Most of us agree that any nation has the right to defend itself against aggressors, and that Jews need a homeland, especially after the Holocaust. We need only guard against bad policy, or making mistakes worse by attributing time and circumstance to divine will. No matter how late the hour, as long as there is life, it is never too late to make a good decision.
Garrity, L. (2012, January 1). “The founder of Rhode Island often helped out the early colonists in their dealings with Native Americans.” Smithsonian Magazine. https://tinyurl.com/52ba9j7f
"Juden sind ein altes Volk – das Jahr 5876 im jüdischen Kalender hat gerade erst begonnen..." Das Jahr ist falsch. Wir sind im Jahr 5786. Es handelt sich wohl um einen Zahlendreher.
Thank you so much Nachum Kaplan for your brilliant/educational essay !!!!!!!......If only could be read by ALL who idiotically believe the lies, disortion of history .......should be so great if it would put some common sense in their " brains " .........
Maybe the Jews could call it homesteading. You know, tweak the brand. Heck, your opponents are so ignorant you might get away with it.
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱
Love this. Wears home. Goosebumps.