Is the movement to boycott Israel ethically justified, and why does Israel se...NECIP_Canada
The document discusses the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel and why Israel is worried about it. It originated in 2005 from a call by Palestinian civil society for boycotts, divestment and sanctions. The BDS movement has three demands: ending Israel's occupation, recognizing Palestinian rights in Israel, and respecting the right of return for refugees. While initially derided, the BDS movement has grown and led some companies and organizations to withdraw support from Israel. Israel has passed laws against boycotts and lobbies other countries to do the same, showing that BDS is effectively pressuring Israel.
This document discusses the concept and tactics of "pinkwashing". Pinkwashing refers to Israel's strategy of portraying itself as LGBTQ-friendly in order to deflect from criticism of its violations of Palestinian human rights. Some key points made in the document include:
- Pinkwashing is a well-funded public relations campaign used by Israel and pro-Israel groups to rebrand Israel and obscure its human rights abuses.
- It inappropriately co-opts LGBTQ issues and voices to make Israel appear progressive while ignoring the oppression faced by queer Palestinians.
- Tactics include vilifying surrounding countries, promoting gay tourism in Israel, spotlighting Israeli gay culture internationally, and appropriating terms like
How Israeli PR uses the language of gay rights to appeal to western liberals, and "pinkwash" over the state's ongoing human rights abuses in Palestine.
This document discusses the issue of Palestinian refugees and makes several arguments:
1) Israel did not solely create the Palestinian refugee problem - many Palestinians fled or were encouraged to flee by Arab leaders promising a short return after Israel's defeat.
2) Arab nations perpetuated the refugee issue by refusing to resettle Palestinians and explicitly seeking to use them as a weapon against Israel.
3) There is a disincentive for resettling Palestinian refugees, as their official status extends to descendants indefinitely, and some claim refugee status only to continue receiving UN aid despite not living in camps.
4) Israel provides a model of how it absorbed and created a homeland for Jewish refugees from Arab lands following 1948.
This document discusses reasons for boycotting Israel, including that Israel is an apartheid and colonial state. It occupies Palestinian land and restricts Palestinian movement and rights. The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement is described as urging punitive non-violent measures against Israel until it complies with international law by ending occupation, ensuring full equality for Arab citizens, and recognizing Palestinian refugees' right of return. Specific companies like L'Oreal, Nestle, Coca-Cola, Danone, and others are mentioned as targets due to their operations in Israeli settlements or profits from violations of Palestinian rights.
The BDS (Boycotts, Divestment, & Sanctions) Movement against Israel is much more than a desire to fix social injustices. Take a look at this presentation for the truth about this movement.
Article in The Times of Israel by Andy Blumenthal: The Jewish people are full of paradoxes, and this translates into the life and times of the State of Israel.
The document discusses the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. It provides background on the 2005 call from Palestinian civil society for BDS in response to Israel denying Palestinians their rights. The movement calls for boycotts of Israeli products and divestment from companies involved in the occupation until Israel meets its obligations under international law. The document outlines tactics of boycott, divestment, and calls for sanctions against Israel by other nations and groups.
Is the movement to boycott Israel ethically justified, and why does Israel se...NECIP_Canada
The document discusses the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel and why Israel is worried about it. It originated in 2005 from a call by Palestinian civil society for boycotts, divestment and sanctions. The BDS movement has three demands: ending Israel's occupation, recognizing Palestinian rights in Israel, and respecting the right of return for refugees. While initially derided, the BDS movement has grown and led some companies and organizations to withdraw support from Israel. Israel has passed laws against boycotts and lobbies other countries to do the same, showing that BDS is effectively pressuring Israel.
This document discusses the concept and tactics of "pinkwashing". Pinkwashing refers to Israel's strategy of portraying itself as LGBTQ-friendly in order to deflect from criticism of its violations of Palestinian human rights. Some key points made in the document include:
- Pinkwashing is a well-funded public relations campaign used by Israel and pro-Israel groups to rebrand Israel and obscure its human rights abuses.
- It inappropriately co-opts LGBTQ issues and voices to make Israel appear progressive while ignoring the oppression faced by queer Palestinians.
- Tactics include vilifying surrounding countries, promoting gay tourism in Israel, spotlighting Israeli gay culture internationally, and appropriating terms like
How Israeli PR uses the language of gay rights to appeal to western liberals, and "pinkwash" over the state's ongoing human rights abuses in Palestine.
This document discusses the issue of Palestinian refugees and makes several arguments:
1) Israel did not solely create the Palestinian refugee problem - many Palestinians fled or were encouraged to flee by Arab leaders promising a short return after Israel's defeat.
2) Arab nations perpetuated the refugee issue by refusing to resettle Palestinians and explicitly seeking to use them as a weapon against Israel.
3) There is a disincentive for resettling Palestinian refugees, as their official status extends to descendants indefinitely, and some claim refugee status only to continue receiving UN aid despite not living in camps.
4) Israel provides a model of how it absorbed and created a homeland for Jewish refugees from Arab lands following 1948.
This document discusses reasons for boycotting Israel, including that Israel is an apartheid and colonial state. It occupies Palestinian land and restricts Palestinian movement and rights. The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement is described as urging punitive non-violent measures against Israel until it complies with international law by ending occupation, ensuring full equality for Arab citizens, and recognizing Palestinian refugees' right of return. Specific companies like L'Oreal, Nestle, Coca-Cola, Danone, and others are mentioned as targets due to their operations in Israeli settlements or profits from violations of Palestinian rights.
The BDS (Boycotts, Divestment, & Sanctions) Movement against Israel is much more than a desire to fix social injustices. Take a look at this presentation for the truth about this movement.
Article in The Times of Israel by Andy Blumenthal: The Jewish people are full of paradoxes, and this translates into the life and times of the State of Israel.
The document discusses the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. It provides background on the 2005 call from Palestinian civil society for BDS in response to Israel denying Palestinians their rights. The movement calls for boycotts of Israeli products and divestment from companies involved in the occupation until Israel meets its obligations under international law. The document outlines tactics of boycott, divestment, and calls for sanctions against Israel by other nations and groups.
The document discusses how Israel uses propaganda tactics known as "pinkwashing" to portray itself as progressive and supportive of LGBTQ rights, in order to distract from its violations of Palestinian human rights under the apartheid system. It provides examples of how Israeli government organizations and non-profits promote Israel's LGBTQ-friendly image abroad, without acknowledging the oppression of Palestinians. It also highlights Palestinian LGBTQ groups advocating for boycotts against Israel to oppose the apartheid policies.
This document discusses and responds to common arguments made against Israel regarding apartheid, occupation of Palestinian territories, and treatment of Palestinians. It is organized into four sections addressing the civil/legal issues, economic issues, religious issues, and security/settlement issues. Each section examines claims related to that topic and provides counterarguments and context in response.
The document summarizes key aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and proposals for a two-state solution, including:
1) It outlines the histories, narratives and current situations of Israel and Palestine, highlighting economic, military and demographic disparities between the two sides.
2) It discusses peace proposals like the Arab Peace Initiative, Roadmap for Peace, and grassroots initiatives that support a two-state solution with Israel and Palestine based on 1967 borders.
3) International and domestic public opinion polls show majority support for a two-state solution among Israelis and Palestinians, though challenges to the solution remain.
This presentation was delivered by year three Te Whiuwhiu o te hau Maaori Counselling Student Michael Frew.
He plays two characters in the video.
> The first is the narrator of the Idle No More Movement wearing no jacket.
> The Second is a coloniser- wearing a jacket
Palestine: Arab-Israeli Conflict and Occupation kaliharper
The UN Partition Plan in 1948 allocated 55% of historic Palestine to a Jewish state, though Jews comprised only 1/3 of the population at the time. After the 1948 war, Israel took control of 78% of the land, displacing over 750,000 Palestinians. Today, there are over 4.7 million Palestinian refugees in camps across the region who have been denied their right to return. The occupation of the West Bank and construction of the separation barrier on Palestinian land has severely restricted Palestinians' freedom of movement and access to resources.
The document discusses the socio-political context surrounding the 1959 British film Sapphire and how understanding this context is important for analyzing representations of black British collective identity in the film. It describes the post-WWII mass migration of West Indians and Asians to Britain to fill labor shortages. This led to racial tensions like the 1958 Notting Hill riots and fueled racist political discourse portraying immigrants as threats. Legislation like the 1962 Commonwealth Immigrants Act restricted immigration and institutionalized notions of immigration equating to black/Asian people, establishing a basis for increasingly racist British immigration laws.
Eleven Years to the Arab Peace InitiativeIlai Alon
The document discusses Israel potentially recognizing the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative as a basis for negotiations. It argues that while Israel has hesitated to endorse the initiative due to security concerns, the changing dynamics in the Middle East make engagement more important. Specifically, negotiations could help address threats to Israel by removing problematic actors, and recognizing the initiative may strengthen US standing in the region and reduce the risk of a bi-national state if accompanied by Israeli-Palestinian progress. However, mere recognition would not be enough and must be paired with negotiations toward an agreement establishing two states.
This document provides an overview of apartheid in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. It describes how apartheid institutionalized racism and segregation through laws that controlled where people could live, work, and access public services based on their race. It imposed passbooks to restrict the movement of black South Africans and denied them voting rights. The document outlines how the government justified apartheid through claims about separate development and interpretations of the Bible. It also discusses the negative impacts of apartheid on health, education, and community life for black South Africans.
Stephen Biko was a prominent anti-apartheid activist in South Africa who opposed racial segregation policies. He was detained by police multiple times for his activism before dying in police custody in 1977 at the age of 30. His death sparked international outrage and drew widespread attention to the brutality of apartheid. After his death, resistance to apartheid increased and international pressure mounted, ultimately leading to the end of the apartheid system in 1994.
This presentation was delivered in the Indigenous Liberation Studies class by Lynette Smith. The presentation examined the history of the Native American First Nations. It discusses how the “Red Power” movement was born as a result of hundreds of tribal groups across the globe protested colonial domination.
Ellen Fairclough became Canada's first female cabinet minister in 1957 as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. During her tenure, she worked to reduce discrimination in Canada's immigration policies. In 1962, Fairclough introduced regulations that ended racial discrimination in immigration selection. This made Canada the first of the major immigrant receiving countries to abolish a "white Canada" policy. However, Fairclough's reforms to make immigration more merit-based faced opposition from those who felt it replaced one form of discrimination with another.
The document provides background information on the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. It discusses 11 key facts: 1) Gaza is separate from the West Bank; 2) Gaza City is densely populated; 3) Israel used to occupy Gaza; 4) Hamas seeks to replace Israel; 5) Hamas was democratically elected; 6) Other militant groups in Gaza fire rockets; 7) Israel's blockade creates a humanitarian crisis; 8) Israel and Hamas have fought multiple wars; 9) Hamas receives rockets from Iran; 10) Tunnels are important for smuggling; 11) Egypt controls the sole above-ground crossing. The conflict was triggered by Hamas firing rockets and Israel launching airstrikes in response.
The newsletter summarizes recent activities of the Galilee Society, an organization that supports the Arab population in Northern Israel. It discusses how Arab communities suffered during a recent war with Lebanon due to a lack of bomb shelters and services. It also describes the Galilee Society setting up a crisis center to provide services to Arabs affected by the war. Additionally, it outlines the Galilee Society touring the US to promote its work and recruit new members.
A letter to the senior diplomat in the State Department on behalf of a family facing persecution in Iraq. The Halabi family has served, and still serves, both the Government or Iraq and the United States Government in teaching, athletics training and refugee support.
The document summarizes Israel's policy of demolishing Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem to make way for Israeli settlements and control land and resources. It provides statistics on the number of homes demolished by Israel since 1967 in violation of international law. It also describes the obstacles Palestinians face in obtaining permits to build homes and the impact of the Israeli separation wall and restricted access on Palestinian communities.
The document discusses the agenda of the United Nations Security Council meeting regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict from the perspective of Bangladesh. It provides background on the historical origins of the conflict over land between Arab and Jewish peoples in Palestine and Israel. It notes Bangladesh does not recognize Israel and forbids travel to Israel in solidarity with Palestinian statehood. Bangladesh condemns Israeli attacks in Palestine and views an independent Palestinian state as the only solution to the long-standing conflict.
1. The document discusses Israel's northern borders with Lebanon and Syria, and the threats posed by Hezbollah and Iran. Hezbollah maintains guerrilla positions in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border in violation of UN resolutions. Iran is the primary supporter of Hezbollah, providing weapons, funding, and training. Hezbollah has built up its arsenal to over 50,000 rockets that threaten all of Israel.
With the ongoing conflicts going on between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas, and the repeat invasion of Gaza, this presentation presents some historical context as well as areas to explore for a lasting peace.
1) In the late 19th century, the population of Palestine was predominantly Arab Muslim and Christian at around 96.8%, while Jews made up only 3.2% of the population. Jewish immigration increased this percentage to 11% by 1922 and 16.9% by 1931.
2) The UN partition plan of 1947 gave 43% of the land to Arabs despite making up over two-thirds of the population, and 56% to Jews who comprised around one-third. Israel declared statehood in 1948 amid mass displacement and expulsion of Palestinians.
3) From 2000-2007, over 4,000 Palestinians were killed by Israelis including 816 children, while 1,021 Israelis were killed by Palestinians including 119 children,
The document discusses how Israel uses propaganda tactics known as "pinkwashing" to portray itself as progressive and supportive of LGBTQ rights, in order to distract from its violations of Palestinian human rights under the apartheid system. It provides examples of how Israeli government organizations and non-profits promote Israel's LGBTQ-friendly image abroad, without acknowledging the oppression of Palestinians. It also highlights Palestinian LGBTQ groups advocating for boycotts against Israel to oppose the apartheid policies.
This document discusses and responds to common arguments made against Israel regarding apartheid, occupation of Palestinian territories, and treatment of Palestinians. It is organized into four sections addressing the civil/legal issues, economic issues, religious issues, and security/settlement issues. Each section examines claims related to that topic and provides counterarguments and context in response.
The document summarizes key aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and proposals for a two-state solution, including:
1) It outlines the histories, narratives and current situations of Israel and Palestine, highlighting economic, military and demographic disparities between the two sides.
2) It discusses peace proposals like the Arab Peace Initiative, Roadmap for Peace, and grassroots initiatives that support a two-state solution with Israel and Palestine based on 1967 borders.
3) International and domestic public opinion polls show majority support for a two-state solution among Israelis and Palestinians, though challenges to the solution remain.
This presentation was delivered by year three Te Whiuwhiu o te hau Maaori Counselling Student Michael Frew.
He plays two characters in the video.
> The first is the narrator of the Idle No More Movement wearing no jacket.
> The Second is a coloniser- wearing a jacket
Palestine: Arab-Israeli Conflict and Occupation kaliharper
The UN Partition Plan in 1948 allocated 55% of historic Palestine to a Jewish state, though Jews comprised only 1/3 of the population at the time. After the 1948 war, Israel took control of 78% of the land, displacing over 750,000 Palestinians. Today, there are over 4.7 million Palestinian refugees in camps across the region who have been denied their right to return. The occupation of the West Bank and construction of the separation barrier on Palestinian land has severely restricted Palestinians' freedom of movement and access to resources.
The document discusses the socio-political context surrounding the 1959 British film Sapphire and how understanding this context is important for analyzing representations of black British collective identity in the film. It describes the post-WWII mass migration of West Indians and Asians to Britain to fill labor shortages. This led to racial tensions like the 1958 Notting Hill riots and fueled racist political discourse portraying immigrants as threats. Legislation like the 1962 Commonwealth Immigrants Act restricted immigration and institutionalized notions of immigration equating to black/Asian people, establishing a basis for increasingly racist British immigration laws.
Eleven Years to the Arab Peace InitiativeIlai Alon
The document discusses Israel potentially recognizing the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative as a basis for negotiations. It argues that while Israel has hesitated to endorse the initiative due to security concerns, the changing dynamics in the Middle East make engagement more important. Specifically, negotiations could help address threats to Israel by removing problematic actors, and recognizing the initiative may strengthen US standing in the region and reduce the risk of a bi-national state if accompanied by Israeli-Palestinian progress. However, mere recognition would not be enough and must be paired with negotiations toward an agreement establishing two states.
This document provides an overview of apartheid in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. It describes how apartheid institutionalized racism and segregation through laws that controlled where people could live, work, and access public services based on their race. It imposed passbooks to restrict the movement of black South Africans and denied them voting rights. The document outlines how the government justified apartheid through claims about separate development and interpretations of the Bible. It also discusses the negative impacts of apartheid on health, education, and community life for black South Africans.
Stephen Biko was a prominent anti-apartheid activist in South Africa who opposed racial segregation policies. He was detained by police multiple times for his activism before dying in police custody in 1977 at the age of 30. His death sparked international outrage and drew widespread attention to the brutality of apartheid. After his death, resistance to apartheid increased and international pressure mounted, ultimately leading to the end of the apartheid system in 1994.
This presentation was delivered in the Indigenous Liberation Studies class by Lynette Smith. The presentation examined the history of the Native American First Nations. It discusses how the “Red Power” movement was born as a result of hundreds of tribal groups across the globe protested colonial domination.
Ellen Fairclough became Canada's first female cabinet minister in 1957 as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. During her tenure, she worked to reduce discrimination in Canada's immigration policies. In 1962, Fairclough introduced regulations that ended racial discrimination in immigration selection. This made Canada the first of the major immigrant receiving countries to abolish a "white Canada" policy. However, Fairclough's reforms to make immigration more merit-based faced opposition from those who felt it replaced one form of discrimination with another.
The document provides background information on the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. It discusses 11 key facts: 1) Gaza is separate from the West Bank; 2) Gaza City is densely populated; 3) Israel used to occupy Gaza; 4) Hamas seeks to replace Israel; 5) Hamas was democratically elected; 6) Other militant groups in Gaza fire rockets; 7) Israel's blockade creates a humanitarian crisis; 8) Israel and Hamas have fought multiple wars; 9) Hamas receives rockets from Iran; 10) Tunnels are important for smuggling; 11) Egypt controls the sole above-ground crossing. The conflict was triggered by Hamas firing rockets and Israel launching airstrikes in response.
The newsletter summarizes recent activities of the Galilee Society, an organization that supports the Arab population in Northern Israel. It discusses how Arab communities suffered during a recent war with Lebanon due to a lack of bomb shelters and services. It also describes the Galilee Society setting up a crisis center to provide services to Arabs affected by the war. Additionally, it outlines the Galilee Society touring the US to promote its work and recruit new members.
A letter to the senior diplomat in the State Department on behalf of a family facing persecution in Iraq. The Halabi family has served, and still serves, both the Government or Iraq and the United States Government in teaching, athletics training and refugee support.
The document summarizes Israel's policy of demolishing Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem to make way for Israeli settlements and control land and resources. It provides statistics on the number of homes demolished by Israel since 1967 in violation of international law. It also describes the obstacles Palestinians face in obtaining permits to build homes and the impact of the Israeli separation wall and restricted access on Palestinian communities.
The document discusses the agenda of the United Nations Security Council meeting regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict from the perspective of Bangladesh. It provides background on the historical origins of the conflict over land between Arab and Jewish peoples in Palestine and Israel. It notes Bangladesh does not recognize Israel and forbids travel to Israel in solidarity with Palestinian statehood. Bangladesh condemns Israeli attacks in Palestine and views an independent Palestinian state as the only solution to the long-standing conflict.
1. The document discusses Israel's northern borders with Lebanon and Syria, and the threats posed by Hezbollah and Iran. Hezbollah maintains guerrilla positions in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border in violation of UN resolutions. Iran is the primary supporter of Hezbollah, providing weapons, funding, and training. Hezbollah has built up its arsenal to over 50,000 rockets that threaten all of Israel.
With the ongoing conflicts going on between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas, and the repeat invasion of Gaza, this presentation presents some historical context as well as areas to explore for a lasting peace.
1) In the late 19th century, the population of Palestine was predominantly Arab Muslim and Christian at around 96.8%, while Jews made up only 3.2% of the population. Jewish immigration increased this percentage to 11% by 1922 and 16.9% by 1931.
2) The UN partition plan of 1947 gave 43% of the land to Arabs despite making up over two-thirds of the population, and 56% to Jews who comprised around one-third. Israel declared statehood in 1948 amid mass displacement and expulsion of Palestinians.
3) From 2000-2007, over 4,000 Palestinians were killed by Israelis including 816 children, while 1,021 Israelis were killed by Palestinians including 119 children,
1) In the late 19th century, the population of Palestine was overwhelmingly Arab, with Jews making up only about 3% of the population. British policies in the early 20th century increased Jewish immigration and settlement in Palestine.
2) The UN partition plan of 1947 gave 56% of the land to Jews despite them comprising only one third of the population, fueling Arab opposition. Israel declared statehood in 1948 through superior military organization and the expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
3) From 1967 onward, Israel occupied the West Bank and Gaza, displacing hundreds of thousands more Palestinians and imposing restrictions on the Palestinian population. Peace efforts since the 1990s have failed to establish a viable Palestinian state.
Who are the Palestinians, why are they frustrated and what do they want?NECIP_Canada
The document discusses the Palestinians, who they are, why they are unhappy, and what they want. It describes the Palestinians as an Arab people who have historically lived in the area known as Palestine for 2000 years. They became unhappy when many were forced from their land in 1948 and not allowed to return. Today, Palestinians live dispersed across Gaza, the West Bank, other countries in the region, Israel, and globally. Overall, Palestinians want the same things as others - a country, land, homes, and economic opportunities for themselves and future generations. The document provides historical and demographic context on Palestinians and outlines the issues they face in different areas today.
The document summarizes the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. It provides background on the Jewish and Palestinian narratives surrounding claims to the land. On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched over 5,000 rockets into Israel, killed 1,200 civilians, and took 239 hostages in Gaza. Israel responded by bombing Hamas and invading Gaza to remove Hamas and rescue the hostages. There are calls for a ceasefire, but Hamas has vowed to continue attacking Israel until it no longer exists. The future of the conflict and governance of Gaza remain uncertain.
Why does Israel see Gaza as an “existential threat”?NECIP_Canada
In the wake of Operation Protective Edge, in which more than 2000 Palestinians were killed by Israel, a basic question is addressed “Why is Gaza such a problem for Israel?”
The document provides an overview of Israel, including its demographics, socio-cultural aspects, legal/bureaucratic environment, and economic climate. It notes that Israel has a population of over 6 million Jews and over 1.5 million Arabs. Culturally, Israel contains a diverse, multi-ethnic society with Jews and Arabs maintaining their unique identities. Israel has a parliamentary legal system based on western principles with courts that oversee civil, criminal, military, and religious matters. Economically, Israel is a leader in new technologies and partnerships with countries like India.
The document analyzes demographic changes in Jerusalem during the British Mandate period from 1922-1948 and discusses the border issues related to Jerusalem. It provides population statistics from censuses that show a large increase in the Jewish population compared to Arab populations in Jerusalem during this period. It discusses Zionist strategies to increase the Jewish population, including through immigration. The document also examines the reactions to the 1947 UN partition plan and 1949 Armistice Agreements that divided Jerusalem.
This document provides a historical overview of the Israel-Palestine conflict from the 19th century to present day. It describes how Jewish immigration to Palestine increased in the late 1800s due to antisemitism in Europe. After World War 1, Britain agreed to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine, contradicting the wishes of the indigenous Palestinian population. Violence increased throughout the 1920s-1940s as Palestinians resisted Zionist settlement and control over their land. The UN partition of 1947 led to war and the mass displacement of Palestinians known as the Nakba. Ongoing issues include illegal Israeli settlements, the blockade of Gaza, and denial of Palestinian rights and self-determination.
This document provides a historical overview of the Israel-Palestine conflict from the 19th century to present day. It describes how Jewish immigration to Palestine increased in the late 1800s due to antisemitism in Europe. After World War 1, Britain agreed to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine, contradicting the wishes of the indigenous Palestinian population. Violence increased throughout the 1920s-1940s as Palestinians resisted Zionist settlement and control over their land. The UN partition of 1947 led to war and the mass displacement of Palestinians known as the Nakba. Ongoing occupation and Palestinian resistance movements like the Intifadas are also summarized.
The document discusses the Israeli-Arab conflict from the late 1800s to the establishment of Israel in 1948. It describes how the Ottoman Empire controlled the region, then Britain gained control after World War 1. Zionist movements promoted a Jewish homeland in the region, while local Arabs opposed it. This led to tensions between Jewish and Arab populations. The UN eventually partitioned the land in 1947, leading to Israel declaring independence and the first Arab-Israeli war.
Israeli palestina conflict progressive z perspective Maurice Harris
This document provides an overview of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from a progressive Zionist perspective. It outlines the guiding values of progressive Zionism, which include national liberation for Jews, human rights, justice, peace, democracy, and balancing Jewish and Palestinian rights. The document then discusses topics related to the conflict such as the occupation, anti-Semitism, the impacts of the Holocaust, denial of identities, and propaganda from both sides. It provides historical context starting from early Jewish settlements in the land of Israel to the British Mandate period and war of independence, addressing the perspectives of Israelis, Palestinians and British.
Israel is located in the Middle East between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. It was established in 1948 as a homeland for the Jewish people after centuries of exile. Since then, Israel has fought several wars with its Arab neighbors and continues to face security threats while also achieving significant economic and technological success. The history and modern state of Israel provide evidence that God keeps his promises and maintains his plans as described in the Bible.
Israel became a nation in 1948 after being under British control. A 1931 British census found the population to be between 700,000-1,000,000 Jews, Arabs, Bedouins and others. Gaza is located in the lower left of Israel and is where many original Palestinian homes and farms were located. It is now jointly ruled by Palestinians including Hamas and Hezbollah. Many Palestinians immigrated to the US after the establishment of Israel and wars, with over 750,000 leaving from a population of 1.3 million from 1948-1966. Both Israelis and Palestinians continue to face challenges around ongoing conflict over land and politics.
This document provides a historical summary of Palestine before the creation of Israel:
- Canaanite civilization occupied the land from 3000-1100 BC, and those who remained became a mix of peoples including descendants of ancient Canaanites.
- Beginning in the 7th century AD, Palestine became predominantly Arab and Islamic.
- While Jewish kingdoms briefly ruled parts of the land from 1000-586 BC, they were only one of many groups to control the area over thousands of years, and the extended kingdoms only lasted around 73 years.
- By the 16th century, Palestine was firmly established as a predominantly Arab and Islamic province under Ottoman rule, though small Jewish immigration began in the late 19th century.
Analysis of U.S.-backed Israeli genocide with comparison to the conditions of Indigenous, Mexican and African people in the U.S. This presentation was developed by Penny Hess, Chairwoman of the African People's Solidarity Committee (APSC), white people organizing solidarity with the African liberation movement. APSC works under the leadership of the Uhuru Movement, led by the African People's Socialist Party. For more information, visit http://www.apscuhuru.org or http://www.uhurunews.com.
Peter Larson visited Israel and Palestine in October-November 2009 to see the situation on the ground and determine if Israel could be considered an apartheid state. He met with over 30 organizations and individuals, and visited Jerusalem, the West Bank, Israel, and Bedouin villages in the Negev desert. In Jerusalem, he observed Israeli settlements, the separation barrier, disparities in services between east and west Jerusalem, and the demolition of Palestinian homes. In the West Bank, he saw refugee camps, Israeli control of land and resources, and Jewish settlements. Inside Israel, he noted the struggles of Palestinian citizens and Bedouin communities. His main conclusion was that Palestine continues to disappear as Israel's decades-long campaign to take over the
The document provides historical background on Israel from antiquity to modern Zionism and the establishment of Israel in 1948. It discusses the Zionist movement, the Arab-Jewish conflict, underground armies in Mandate Palestine, the UN partition plan, Israel's war of independence and founding as a state in 1948. It also covers the creation of Palestinian refugees, responses to Israel's founding, refugee definitions, and debates around the topic. The document suggests that anti-Israel sentiment is rising due to some providing only a partial picture of the complex issues in the Arab-Israeli conflict.
'Israel-Palestine Conflict' is an ongoing conflict since the mid-20th century which has still not attained any settlement between the parties involved, it is also the conflict which has attracted lots of public opinions around the world with celebrities taking sides, public protesting around the world showing their support, foreign governments sending aids and condolences for the losses suffered, while the U.N and U.S trying to broker peace agreement between the masses which has seemed to fail each and every time! So I would like to highlight this never-ending conflict and come up with a resolution to this problem through this presentation.
Contents :
- Introduction
- Conflict Mapping
- Timeline of Conflict
- Statistics
- Understanding the Conflict
- Resolution
Subscribe on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnSp_MjvR1ihLcSFDCfCbOg
Follow on Instagram - https://instagram.com/masroorbaig/
Catch up on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MasroorBaig1996
This document provides an overview of Judaism and key topics related to Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from a Jewish perspective. It discusses Jewish beliefs about Israel, important historical figures and events, the religious and political justifications for war in Judaism, challenges to a two-state solution, and public opinion polls showing support among Israelis and Palestinians for a two-state agreement. It aims to concisely summarize the key people, places, events, challenges and potential resolutions related to the conflict from a Jewish and religious viewpoint.
Similar to What does a "Jewish State" really mean? (20)
The document discusses Canada's commitment to a two-state solution to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict. It outlines the key parameters of the 2000 Clinton peace plan, which proposed two independent states based on 1967 borders with land swaps. It notes the large number of Palestinian refugees in surrounding countries and their poor living conditions. It also highlights the socioeconomic inequalities faced by Arab citizens of Israel compared to Jewish Israelis. In conclusion, it provides population statistics on where Israelis and Palestinians currently live.
The Forgotten Palestinians who live inside Israel. The Palestinians who live inside Israel are almost invisible. But they form 20% of the Israeli population and they are struggling for equality.
Youngest c m in India- Pema Khandu BiographyVoterMood
Pema Khandu, born on August 21, 1979, is an Indian politician and the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh. He is the son of former Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Dorjee Khandu. Pema Khandu assumed office as the Chief Minister in July 2016, making him one of the youngest Chief Ministers in India at that time.
13062024_First India Newspaper Jaipur.pdfFIRST INDIA
Find Latest India News and Breaking News these days from India on Politics, Business, Entertainment, Technology, Sports, Lifestyle and Coronavirus News in India and the world over that you can't miss. For real time update Visit our social media handle. Read First India NewsPaper in your morning replace. Visit First India.
CLICK:- https://firstindia.co.in/
#First_India_NewsPaper
Here is Gabe Whitley's response to my defamation lawsuit for him calling me a rapist and perjurer in court documents.
You have to read it to believe it, but after you read it, you won't believe it. And I included eight examples of defamatory statements/
Essential Tools for Modern PR Business .pptxPragencyuk
Discover the essential tools and strategies for modern PR business success. Learn how to craft compelling news releases, leverage press release sites and news wires, stay updated with PR news, and integrate effective PR practices to enhance your brand's visibility and credibility. Elevate your PR efforts with our comprehensive guide.
3. A little
geography
reminder….. Haifa
Acre
Presentation Outline
European Anti-Semitism and
the Zionist idea
The creation of Israel
Modern Israel
Palestinian Israelis (or Israeli
Arabs)
Citizenship rights vs. national
rights
Consequences:
Land
Education
Employment
Conclusions
6. Evolution of the Zionist idea
•1895 Theodor Herzl proposes the idea
of a Jewish State as the only way to
protect Jews
•1914 – WWI – opposes Britain/France
against Germany/Ottoman empire
•1917 Britain promises to create a
“homeland” for Jews in Palestine “Balfour
declaration”
•1921 – League of Nations gives Britain a
“mandate” for Palestine
8. Jewish immigration into
“mandate Palestine”
• Population of Palestine (1914)*
• 657,000 Muslim
• 81,000 Christian
• 59,000 Jews
_____________
TOTAL 800,000
* est. J. McCarthy
•Population 1931
•760,000 Muslim
•91,000 Christian
•174,610 Jews
•____________
•1,026,000
•* British Census, 1931
9. 1937 – ‘45 The holocaust
‘38 – ‘47 Massive immigration of European Jews
‘31 -48” Jewish population triples (to estimated 650,000)
Nov. ‘47 – UN vote to partition Palestine
the “Nakba” – expulsion of 750,000 Palestinians
May 15 1948 - Israel Declaration of Independence
May 1949 – Israel admitted to UN
10. The “Naqba” (Dec. ‘47 – Dec. ‘48)
Starting immediately after UN vote, in
December ‘47, Jewish militias move to
“liberate” Israel
by May 15th
, 400,000 Palestinians
expelled
the operation continues another 6
months - in total about 750,000 flee
Resulting in a Jewish majority
12. But the “Judaisation” was not complete
• Jewish troops only got 78% of former Mandate Palestine
• they couldn’t get West Bank or Gaza
• About 100,000 Palestinians remained inside Israel
Why?
Jewish militias limited – too many
Palestinians
After May 15th
Arab countries intervened
Hesitations of western powers
Nazareth an interesting special case
In the end:
They became citizens of Israel
For 20 years lived under military rule
(1948 – 1967)
13. Where are the
Palestinians today?
1. Refugee Camps
(Lebanon,
Jordan, Syria)* 3.7 M
2. West Bank 2.4 M
3. Gaza 1.8 M
4. Israel 1.5 M
5. Diaspora 2.0 M
Total 11.4 M
* - there are also refugee camps
in Gaza and the WB
Israel 1.4 M
Gaza 1.8 M
West Bank 2.4 M
14. Israel
• a booming, high
tech, modern,
European-type
country
• “start up nation”
• GDP/capita $32K
15. Palestinian Israelis
(or Arab Israelis)
• About 20% of Israeli
population (1.4 million)
• 90% Muslim, 10% Christian
• Citizens of Israel
• Passport
• Right to vote
• Represented in Knesset
• State supplied education
• Elect own mayors of
towns and villages
• Eligible for Supreme Court
• Arabic officially recognized
• Religious freedom
• Surveys show they prefer to
live in Israel > OPT or Egypt Israeli Knesset – 13 of 120 Knesset
members are Arab Israelis
16. Furthermore:
• Palestinian Israelis can:
travel wherever they want inside Israel
shop at the same stores,
go to the same beaches,
eat in the same restaurants as Jewish
Israelis
go to the same universities
17. But Israel is a “Jewish State”
•i.e. the State of Jews around the world, NOT the State of its Citizens
Implications:
any Jew anywhere in the world can immigrate to Israel and
automatically gain citizenship
Most of the land of Israel (97%) is held “in perpetuity’ for Jews
Israel makes great efforts to
recruit Jews
No possibility for the refugees to
return to their homes
While Israel actively recruits Jews
18. Laws supporting “the Jewish State of Israel”
• Laws explicitly based on race/religion
• Laws that permit official discrimination on the basis of
race/religion
• Administrative practices based on race/religion
House building permits
Employment
Education
Government services, etc.
Lack of laws that make discrimination on the basis of
race/religion illegal
19.
20. Citizenship vs. ‘Nationality’
By law – every Israeli citizen has both ‘citizenship’ and ‘nationality’
(e.g. ‘Jewish’, Arab, Druze, etc. etc.)’
• some rights come from citizenship
• other rights flow from ‘nationality’
• 75% of the citizens of
Israel have the ‘jewish’
nationality
21. Some citizenship rights:
• legal equality
• the right to vote
• the right to be elected
• the right to be named a judge
• the right to a passport and to travel
• the right to travel anywhere inside Israel
• free education K- 12
Some rights that flow from ‘nationality’
• the right to own property on 97% of the land
• where one can live
• various state subsidies
• Immigration law
• quality of school system
• access to best jobs
22. Israeli basic law defines Israel as "A Jewish
and Democratic State”
“The State of Israel will affirm complete social and political
equality for all its citizens, regardless of religion, race, or
gender."
- Israeli Declaration of Independence
But there is little legal foundation for
equality or human rights.
These two notions are often in
conflict and the High Court often has
to balance them.
23. Three small examples
1. Can an Arab Israeli live in a
‘Jewish Municipality’?
2 Can an Arab Israeli get a
license to produce and sell
eggs?
3 Do Arab citizens have a
right to have a say in
planning?
24. Example 1:
Can an Arab
Israeli live in a
Jewish
municipality?
93% of the
land of Israel
belongs to the
state
Jewish
communities
have
“admissions
committees”
25.
26. September 14, 2014
Yesterday, Israel’s Supreme Court dismissed a petition by Adalah: The
Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel.
According to Adalah, the court’s decision upholding Israel’s Admissions
Committees Law, “entrenches racial segregation; 434 small communities
in Israel, or 43% of all residential areas, will be allowed to close their
doors to Palestinian Arab citizens of the state.”
27. Example 2
Can an Arab Israeli get a licence to produce and sell eggs?
For the first time in history, Arab
farmers hatch official Israel egg license
Six Arab farmers who met the ministry's quality standards have now been chosen;
others complain conditions make it financially not worthwhile.
By Amiram Cohen and Jack Khoury | Dec. 28, 2011 | 1:50 AM
Eggs at a Tel Aviv restaurant, 2010. Photo by Nir Kafri
28. Example 3 – Do Arab Citizens have any right to have a say in
planning?
Court Rules in Favor of Arab Planning Rights
Update:June 13, 2013
The District Court for Administrative Matters ruled in favor of the Arab-Israeli
residents.
Up until now, Arab
citizens of Israel have
not been represented in
the State planning
committees and
divisions that decide
upon planning and
building laws.
- From ACRI website
31. Rosh Haayin is a Jewish municipality in Israel. It could be a gated community in
California with checkpoints at the entrances.
I was surprised to see how segregated Israel is. Apart from a few “mixed” cities, no
Jews live in Arab towns and no Palestinians live in Jewish municipalities
34. Two neighbouring towns compared:
Kefr Qasm vs. Rosh Ha’ayin
• Pop’n: 18,500
• (Cf: 1931 census – 989)
• Founded (Ottoman empire)
• 100% Arab Palestinian
• Area• 9,1 km2
• Av. Income 3663 NIS
• Pop’n 35,500
• Founded 1950’s (on site of
earlier Arab village)
• 99.7% Jewish (many from
Yemen)
• Area• 24,3 km2
• Av. Income 8408 NIS
Figures from Israeli Bureau of Statistics, 2000 census
35. Two neighbouring towns compared:
Kefr Qassm vs. Rosh Ha’ayin
• no
• no
• no
• none
• 70%
• no
• YES
• YES
• YES
• SEVERAL
• 100%
• Yes
• Municipal library
• Swimming pool
• Cultural centre
• Irrigated parks
• % paved roads
• Train station
36. How to explain the striking differences
between the two towns?
Two neighbouring towns compared:
Kefr Qasm vs. Rosh Ha’ayin
• Pop’n: 18,500
• (Cf: 1931 census – 989)
• Founded (Ottoman empire)
• 100% Arab Palestinian
• Area• 9,1 km2
• Pop’n density: 2000/km2
• Av. Income 3663 NIS
• Pop’n 35,500
• Founded 1950’s (on site of
earlier Arab village)
• 99.7% Jewish (mostly from
Yemen)
• Area• 24,3 km2
• Pop’n density: 1440/km2
• Av. Income 8408 NIS
Figures from Israeli Bureau of Statistics, 2000 census
Rosh Ha’Ayin is designated a
“Jewish community”
– Admissions committee
– Subsidies from Israel
– Zoning is in its favour
– Government offices, etc.
38. Socio-Economic Consequences
Jews vs. Arabs inside Israel
Some examples:
Income (average income $/year)
Jewish $31K Arab $21K
Poverty rate (families after transfers)
Jewish 12.3% Arab 44.9%
Education (Qualification for matriculation certificate)
Jewish 75.9% Arab 30.8%
Unemployment (Unemployment rate)
Jewish 6.9% Arab = 10.9%
Civil service employment
Jewish 94% Arab = 6%
All figures from Dirasat (Arab Centre for Law and Policy), ADALAH, and Central
Bureau of Statistics, Israel
39. Education in Israel
• State supplied education K – 12
(“Bagrout”)
• Israel fares very well on international
tests
• But… education is segregated:
• Jewish schools (in Hebrew)
• Arab schools (in Arabic)
40. Education for
the Palestinian minority in Israel
Four major problems:
1.Inadequate funding
2.Poor outcomes
3.Curriculum
4.Barriers to higher
education for Arabs
41. Poor quality education for Arabs…
• Funding 3 to 4 times more
per capita for Jewish
schools
• Poor outcomes - few
graduate
42. Arab Israeli Curriculum
“The primary objective of education is to preserve the Jewish nature of
the state by teaching its history, culture and language”.
– Israeli State Education Law 1953
The Arab Israeli
school system
does not teach
Palestinian
culture and
history – it
teaches Jewish
culture and
history
43. Barriers to higher education
for Arab Israelis
• No Arabic language
university in Israel
• Hebrew and English test
• Few Palestinians on
faculty (<2%)
• Psychometric exam
• Subsidies to those who
have done military service
• Justified on grounds that
Israel is a “Jewish State”
44. • Israel tolerant of
dissent (e.g. occupy
movement) but Arab
Israelis seen as ‘5th
column
• even peaceful Arab
demonstrations often
violently suppressed
• Arab MK’s often
attacked by police in
demonstrations
Peaceful demonstration over Gaza by Israeli Arabs
in Nazareth broken up by Israeli police
Repression of Arab Israeli dissent
45. Objective: to protect the Jewish State of Israel
Provides for:
•military tribunals to try civilians without appeal,
•sweeping searches and seizures,
•prohibiting publication of books and newspapers,
•detaining individuals administratively for an indefinite period,
•sealing off particular territories, and
•imposing curfew, etc., etc.
• First introduced 1949
• Re-voted every year by Knesset.
•Always a potential tool against
Arab Israelis
•Almost never used against Jews
Defense (emergency) regulations (1949)
(= The war measures act)
46. Suppression of traces of Palestinian culture, history and identity
• Above – ruined Palestinian Bedouin
cemetery in downtown Be’ersheva
• Right – Canada Park – built on ruins
of a Palestinian village – all signage
in Hebrew and English
Elimination of traces of
Palestinian culture in Israel
47. Pervasive Racism
• 50% of Israelis think
“Arabs should leave
Israel”
• Petty exclusions
• Professional
limitations
• No legal remedy
because Israel is a
“Jewish state”
48. Palestinian Israelis
(A second look)
• About 20% of Israeli
population (1.4 million)
• Citizens of Israel
Israeli passports
Right to vote
Represented in Knesset
State supplied education
Elect own mayors of towns
and villages
Eligible for Supreme Court
• Arabic an official language
• Religious freedom
• Surveys show prefer to live in
Israel
Store sign: Help wanted
“after military service”
50. • Israel is a European type
country with high level of
socio-economic development
and a developed political
structure and legal
framework.
• It has some aspects of a
liberal democracy
• Its declaration of
independence declares that
there shall be no
discrimination on the basis of
gender, religion, ethnicity, etc.
Conclusion 1
51. Conclusion # 2
• But Israel legally defines itself as a “Jewish State”.
• This allows preferential treatment for Jews - in education,
employment, housing, land ownership and many other areas.
• Commonly (but not always) upheld by the courts
• This is the basic rationale for the proposed “Nation State” law
NOTE: Being Jewish has little to do with religion. Many Israelis are
secular. But you are a “Jew” if your document says so, otherwise …
52. Conclusion #3
• The Palestinian citizens of Israel struggle against a
different form of discrimination than that faced by those
who live in the West Bank.
• There are no settler only
roads, settlements or
checkpoints
• But it is a legalized,
institutionalized
discrimination based on
race/ethnicity/religion
53. Conclusion # 4
• Israel’s Jewish majority can continue to “democratically”
vote privileges for itself as long as the refugees are denied
their right to return
54. Conclusion # 5:
Canadian support for the idea of Israel “as a
Jewish state” is very problematic for anyone who
believes in equality and democracy.
55. What does a
“Jewish State”
really mean?
Peter Larson
Chair, Education Committee on
Israel/Palestine
NATIONAL COUNCIL ON
CANADA-ARAB RELATIONS
57. UN Proposal – Nov. 1947
Britain out – Palestine partitioned
• Accepted by Ben Gurion and Zionist
Movement
• Rejected by Palestinians
• Over next 5 months, armed Jewish
groups move to take over the country –
several massacres of civilians, Haifa and
Jaffa shelled with mortars, etc.
• Palestinian civilians begin to flee to the
interior or Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt
• May 14th
, 1948 Ben Gurion declares
State of Israel. Hundreds of thousands
of Palestinians flood into neighbouring
states.
• Neighbouring states armies attack Israeli
forces to defend Palestinians
58. Map Source: Encyclopedia Britannica, 1935
Population of Palestine (1931)
• 734,000 Muslims
• 169,000 Jews
• 85,000 Christians
1931 British Census of Palestine
• Palestinian population mostly
agricultural
• About 20% lived in 3 or 4 major
towns (Haifa, Jaffa, Lud,
Jerusalem)
• The rest lived in hundreds of small
farming villages
61. When the dust settled…
• Israel created -
controlling 78% of former
Mandate Palestine
• 85% of Palestinians
(750,000) are outside
Israel and not allowed to
return
• Israel now has a majority
of Jews (600,000 Jews
vs. 150,000 remaining
Palestinians)
• Israeli Parliament
democratically votes a
series of “basic laws”
including the confiscation
of all the land belonging
to refugees in the name
of Jewish people
62. Abandoned, evacuated and/or
destroyed Palestinian localities
(comparative figures)
Reference Towns Villages Tribes Total
Morris 10 342 17 369
Khalidi 1 400 17 418
Abu Sitta 13 419 99 531
What happened to their villages?
63.
64. Sabra Jews
(born in
Israel)
Jews from
Europe and
America
Jews from
Asia/Africa
Palestinian
Arab
Others
Israel is a complex society of 7.6 million people
– about 76% are Jewish
Editor's Notes
Hello
My name is Peter Larson.
I have called my talk tonight “The Forgotten Palestinians”: the Israeli Arab Search for democracy and equal rights inside today’s Israel.
It seems that Israel and the Palestinians are in the news almost every other day. Most of the talk is about the West Bank, or the Wall, or Gaza. But I would like to talk a bit about the Palestinians who live inside Israel.
Israel prefers to call them “Israeli Arabs”, which they are of course. They are Arabs and they have Israeli citizenship. And when you are talking to them, sometimes they refer to themselves that way.
As you know, in the last few years, Israel has started insisting that it be recognized as a “Jewish State”. In fact, when Prime Minister Stephen Harper met Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu in March, he reiterated that Canada recognizes Israel’s right to exist “as a Jewish State”. Tonight I am going to examine the lives of the 1.4 million Palestinians – mostly Muslim, but also some Christians, who live in the “Jewish state” of Israel.
I know that many of you know quite a bit about the area, but in case you are fuzzy on your geography here is a map of the region today.
The purple area is what is called Israel. Its borders are the ones recognized by the international community – including Canada, the US etc.
Around Israel you have Egypt on the left, a very long border with Jordan on the East, and in the North Lebanon and Syria.
Today Israel controls not only the purple, but also the yellow areas. There are 3 areas – Gaza, the West Bank and the Golan heights. Israel took them over in the 67 war, and has occupied those territories for the last 40 years or so.
By the way the “West Bank” is called the “West Bank” because it is the west bank of the Jordan River which flows from the Sea of Galilea to the Dead Sea.
If you had looked at this map in, say 1935, all of the area in purple and yellow would have been labeled “Palestine”. In fact I have a 1935 Encyclopedia Britannica article which does just that.
But when Israel was created in 1948, Palestine was wiped off the map and most of the Palestinians were forced to leave.
There have been Jews, Muslims and Christians living in Palestine for centuries.
The Jews tended to be concentrated in the cities – especially Jerusalem,
In 1867 an American Missionary reported an estimated population of Jerusalem of about 15,000, of whom 6,000 were Muslims, 5,000 Jews and about 2000 Christians. All were Palestinians. All spoke Arabic.
At the time, of the British Census of 1931, Jews comprised about 20% of the population.
In 1914 Palestine had a population of 657,000 Muslim Arabs, 81,000 Christian Arabs, and 59,000 Jews.
http://lostislamichistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/mandate.jpg
Estimated by US demographer Justin McCarthy
British Census 1931759,717 Muslims, 174,610 Jews, 91,398 Christians,
The Jewish/Israeli takeover of Palestine was not like the German invasion of France, or the Allied conquest of Germany.
In those cases, the conquering power left the local populations in place.
But the Jewish/Israeli forces wanted to take over the land of Palestine and make it into a Jewish state. This was an actual plan – it was called the Plan Dalet. It was approved by Ben Gurion. Any Palestinian village that resisted the Jewish takeover would be destroyed and its population expelled.
An estimated 750,000 Palestinians fled from their homeland. Despite repeated UN resolutions, Israel has never let them return.
Where did they go??
So where are the Palestinians today? Estimates vary. Israeli sources tend to lowball, the Palestinian sources tend to do the opposite. According to Wikipedia there are between 11 and 20 million Palestinians in the world today. I have used the lower number of 11 million. I do not try to defend these numbers exactly. But they are pretty good approximations.
About 2.4 million live in the West Bank. On my first trip to the region I spent most of my time here – in Bethlehem, Hebron, Jericho, the Jordan Valley and East Jerusalem. This is where the fight is over the wall, the settlements, the house demolitions and so on that are so much in the news.
Another 1.6 million live in Gaza. I have never been there, but we do hear quite a bit about the difficult conditions for people in Gaza, especially after the Israeli attack on Gaza in 2009.
According to the UN, there are 4.7 million refugees. Of these about 1.2 million live in refugee camps in Gaza and the West bank, but the rest, about 3.5 million live in Lebanon, Jordan and Syria).
About 1.4 million Palestinians live inside Israel
Finally, there are approximately 2 million Palestinians in the diaspora. This number is the least clear. (e.g. Should a Palestinian who has lived in Canada for 20 years be counted or not??. Should a Palestinian who was in a refugee camp in Jordan, but who became a Jordanian citizen, be included, or not??) . I have taken the smallest number used by any independent sources.)
To understand the Palestinians in Israel (or Israeli Arabs, if you want), you have to understand a bit about Israel.
Israel is a booming, modern, high tech, European-type country.
Its boosters have labelled it “start-up” nation, which alludes to its technological innovation as well as to the fact that it is a “new” country.
As you travel around Israel, it is hard not to be impressed by the modern Ben Gurion airport, its super expressways, its light rail system in Jerusalem (light years apparently ahead of Ottawa), and the high tech business parks that seem to be in many areas.
Israel feels more like the south of France than it does Egypt or Tunisia.
Palestinian Israelis make up 20% of the population, but if you don’t look hard, its rather easy not to notice any Arab presence at all. In fact, I don’t blame tourists who think that the Palestinians are all “over there in the West Bank”. But they aren’t.
On the face of it, Palestinian Israelis seem to be treated rather well.
Certain as well as minorities in many countries of the world.
Here is a view of KQ from Google
Here is KQ.
You can see the empty fields on the north and on the east side
You can also see the industrial park I referred to.
You can also see how KQ is hemmed in by the “Green line” on the east, and a highway on the south and another, important highway running north south on the west.
So KQ is hemmed in on all sides.
Now if you look south of KQ you can see another city. Compared to KQ it looks better planned – the streets are straighter, etc. This is because it is newer. I was created from nothing in 1955 as a new Jewish municipality.
This municipality, called Rosh Ha’Ayin was created in 1955 as a new Jewish municipality. It was created on lands that were confiscated by the State of Israel for “public purposes.”
The boundary between the two cities is not what you would expect. The line has been drawn so that the industrial park – and the tax revenues it generates – belong to the Jewish town of RH and NOT to the Arab town of KQ.
We then drove over to see Rosh Ha’Ayin and Oranit – the two Jewish towns.
As far as we could see, Rosh Ha’Ayin was doing very well.
At least, that is what is indicated on its website.
1948 – Jews owned 7% of land of Palestine. The rest 93% was owned by Arab Palestinians
However, today, the situation is reversed.
93% of all the land is owned by State of Israel and JNF. You can think of it as “crown land”, held in perpetuity for the State of Israel and available only for “Jewish use”.
Most of the change took place through confiscation of Palestinian land through various laws between 1948 – 1964.
As a result, the land available to Palestinian Israelis now approximately 3.5% of former territory.
Much of the confiscated land was leased to new Jewish municipalities. In fact, since 1949, Israel has created 345 new Jewish municipalities. In the same time only 1 new Arab municipality has been created
But there was something that I couldn’t figure out. Why was one place Arab and the other one Jewish? Why are the towns so segregated?
In Canada we have Chinatown, or Greektown, or Little Italy. That is because there are lots of Chinese, or Greeks, or Italians who live there. But in fact, anybody can move there if they want to.
This is not the case in Israel. Arabs are not welcome in Jewish towns. Many Jewish communities in Israel are “gated communities” – with barbed wire fences and guards. And many also have “admission committees” that judge those who would be acceptable. They often set Zionist values and “loyalty to the Zionist vision” as conditions for admission. This keeps out Arabs, of course.
The Israeli supreme court has ruled that it is illegal to discriminate against Arabs. However, it has also ruled that, because Israel is Jewish state, it is permissible for communities to demand that residents be “loyal to the Zionist vision”.
(Haifa, Israel) On 25 January 2012, the Attorney General (AG) submitted the state&apos;s legal response to the Supreme Court of Israel on petitions filed by Adalah and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) demanding the cancellation of the Admissions Committee Law. The law, passed by the Knesset in March 2011, allows small communities in Israel built on &apos;state land&apos; (public land) to reject applicants who &quot;do not suit the lifestyle and social fabric of the community.&quot;
Finallly, our GPS told us to turn off the highway and we arrived in the Arab village of Kafr Qassim!
The contrast with what we had just seen – the high rise buildings, the divided highways, the modernity of Israel was quite stunning.
It was almost as if we had landed in an Indian reserve here in Canada. That is a bit of an exaggeration – we didn’t see any old cars or old refrigerators on the front lawn. But it was definitely ‘different”.
Seems to be some overcrowding. Construction means adding on another storey to existing buildings.
You don’t see it very well, but at the left bottom, you see a Palestinian woman, wearing a Chador driving a 4 x 4.
In this town, most of the adult women were wearing headscarves – but not all.
So lets take a look at these two neighbouring towns inside Israel
They are neighbouring towns – side by side. Less than a km separates the centres of the two towns.
One is Jewish – the other is Palestinian
In 1948 KQ had about 2,000 inhabitants. Today it has about 18,000
In 1948 RH did not exist. But it was created in the ’50’s on land confiscated from KQ and another Arab town that today doesn’t exist any more. Today it has almost 35,000 inhabitants.
And its average income is more than twice as high. This gives it a much better tax base.
I inquired a bit more about the levels of service in the two towns.
The differences are quite striking.
The obvious answer is that one is Jewish and the other is Palestinian.
But how, exactly does that work??
In 1949, KQ had a population of about 2000 people – central square. They farmed the land all around it. At that time, RH did not exist.
How did the land from KQ become the basis for the new Jewish municipality of RH?
Between 1949 and 1965 the Israeli parliament, which had a Jewish majority, voted some 20 laws relating to the ownership of land.
Through these laws Israel “nationalized” almost all the land belonging to Palestinians in Israel.
Today, about 93% of the land of Israel now belongs to the state or to another agency called the “Jewish National Fund”.
As a result, there is virtually no private ownership of land in Israel. You can’t go out and buy a plot of land like you can in Canada or the United States or France. Its kind of like “crown land” here in Canada.
As the owner of the land, the state can determine what to do with it.
So in 1955, the State of Israel created the Municipality of Rosh Ha’Ayin and attributed the land around KQ to the new municipality. It was to be a home for Jews arriving from Yemen.
As a result, of the confiscations, KQ now hemmed in on all sides. Look at where the Industrial Park is. It is legally a part of RH.
There is virtually no land in KQ for new houses or for new businesses to start up.
From our first three days of conversations in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, we began to get a picture of the situation of Palestinian Israelis that was not quite as positive as the one I showed you earlier.
Palestinian Israelis are poorer, have a lower level of education, a higher degree of unemployment, and are way under represented in the public service.
If you go to any website about Education in Israel, you will quickly find that it stacks up pretty well. Israel does well on international tests. It has universal, free education from K- 12. And a very good university system.
Israel has 4 parallel school systems. (Somewhat like we do in Canada for English/French school boards, Catholic, etc.)
Three of the systems are taught in Hebrew, for Jews, one is in Arabic, for the Palestinian population of Israel.
Review the 4.
As a result, the Israeli school system is completely segregated along religious/ethnic lines.
Less than 1% of Israeli schoolchildren to go “bilingual” (i.e. Arab/Hebrew) schools. The overwhelming majority of Jewish students in Israel have never been in class with an Arab, and few would have any Arab friends.
The issues came down to 4 main elements
Funding levels
Outcomes
Curriculum, and
Barriers to higher education.
But to do this I need to take a quick step backward and look at the overall system of Education in Israel.
This man is now retired and lives in Haifa. He was for 30 years a teacher, principal and inspector in the Arab school system. I spent a whole day with him in Haifa, discussing Education for Palestinian Israelis. He also introduced me to some other educators.
Funding – The funding formula is complicated and its hard to get official figures. They are deliberately obscured. School funding is partly done by the municipality and partly by the state.
But the net of it is that Arab school system gets about 1/3 resources per student of Jewish system (= larger classes, fewer facilities, older text books, access issues)
In addition there are a variety of special programs which favour Jewish school systems, e.g.
“schools with high rates of Army enrolment get special budgetary allowances” (= jewish schools,)
Also special allowances for “gifted students’ – these are always Jewish.
Allowances for “academically weak students from disadvantaged backgrounds”. This all went to immigrants – none to Arab schools. Long legal battle to supreme court. Agreed. Schools have to roll out to Arab schools, but get permission to do it gradually. As of 2010 still no Arab schools get Shahar money
Curriculum content strictly controlled by State of Israel. No reference to Palestinian history. Any reference to Naqba, massacres, land confiscation “out”. Interpreted as “incitement” against Jews.
Palestinian students get very little instruction in Palestinian or Arab history, geography, literature or culture. In fact, they spend more time learning the Torah than the Bible (for Christian Palestinians) or the Koran.
In Kufr Quasm, for example, every student knows about the KQ massacre because their parents have talked about it and there is that monument in the centre of town. But no teacher would dare talk about it if he or she wanted to keep his or her job.
What’s even more significant, perhaps is that all teachers in the Arab system have to undergo a security screening by the Israeli secret police for “state security purposes”. Tell story of student who asks about PLO – a few days later the teacher gets called in to an interview by principal and agent of secret police.
Refer to “the primary objective’ Independence day. Recite poems in class.
While Israel has 8 very high quality universities – its extremely hard for Palestinian kids to get in. Here are some of the barriers:
1. the baghrout
2. language requirement Hebrew and English NB (= 3rd language for Arabs),
3. No Arabic language university.
4. Few Palestinian Faculty (less than 2% of full-time faculty)
4. Psychometric exam – like IQ test. Supposed to be predictor of success. Jewish students score on average 100 points more than Arab kids. University entrance based on scores.
And then there are other obstacles. For example:
Engineering, medicine, etc. reserved for students over 20 years of age. In practice this is a discriminatory measure. Most Israeli kids do military service. They can move right into these courses.
Special financial support for students who come out of the military
The net result is that Palestiinian kids are less than half as likely to go to university as jewish kids. This man – a Palestinian Israeli – found it easier to come to Canada to study in English than to get into an Israeli university.
State of emergency extended every year. Implemented hundreds of times. Mostly against Palestinians. To justify land seizure, building demolition, arrest without warrant, etc. etc.
I said earlier in my presentation that a visitor coming to Israel sees very little signs of any previous Palestinian culture or civilization.
This is not an accident. Israel has embarked on a systematic campaign to eliminate signs of Arab life/culture/history in Israel.
For example, the Israeli Department of transport has a program to change all street names from their Arabic names to Hebrew names.
At major tourist sites, including one I visited in Jaffa signage was in English, German, Russian and Hebrew. Not Arabic.
Palestinian history is ignored or suppressed. I already mentioned the KQ massacre. Teachers cannot refer to that in school. I was told that not 1 resident in 10 of the Jewish town next door would have ever heard of it.
This picture at left is from a Muslim cemetery in the centre of Be’ersheba which was the Bedouin Palestinian main centre. Half of the cemetery has been turned into a shopping centre. The other half is dug up and abandoned. There is a high fence around it. Palestinians are forbidden from entering.
I visited Canada Park which was particularly egregious. Not only did Israel bulldoze 3 Palestinan villages and erase any trace of them to make a park. But its signage is only in English and Arabic. The Palestinian villages were just a mirage!!
I already mentioned the incident at the Avis counter. It was not significant in itself. There are racists in every society. But what surprised us was how easily the young woman, who was a representative of Avis dealing with a customer she didn’t know, said it.
On the issue of daily humiliations – the young man from the family I stayed with wanted to join a gym in the nearby jewish town. When he got there and showed his ID – he was told it was ‘full”. He got his sister who speaks Hebrew with no accent to call and she was told there was lots of room.
I met a brilliant young Palestinian Israeli lawyer who graduated from Hebrew University with high marks. She could not get a job with a Jewish law firm. Her Jewish friends all did. They are ashamed because all of think its racism.
The Israel Democracy Institute 2011 report says that 32 percent of Israeli society doesn’t recognize or admit that there is discrimination against Arab Israelis. They don’t understand what the Arabs are complaining about.
Because Israel is a “Jewish state” they feel its normal that non-Jews be excluded from Jewish towns.
50% of young Israelis don’t think Palestinians should have the right to vote, and an equal number think they should be “encouraged to leave” Israel.
On the face of it, Palestinian Israelis seem to be treated rather well.
Certain as well as minorities in many countries of the world.
Abdel Rahman Zuabi took his seat on March 3, 1999, as the first Arab to sit on the Supreme Court. His term was for 9 months.
There is currently 1 Arab judge out of 14.
Is Arabic truly an official language in Israel?
The CEO of the state-owned Israel Railways has rejected calls for announcements of upcoming train stations to be made in Arabic, in addition to Hebrew and English
The CEO of Israel Railway has chosen to ignore calls for train stations to be announced in Arabic, claiming it would “make the train ride noisy.” Currently, announcements are in Hebrew and sometimes in English.
Israel has many of the qualities of a “democratic” state. It has a free press, universaal suffrage, a very competitive political system, rights and freedoms for various minorities. It has a highly developed legal system, separation of the judiciary etc. etc.
It also has several basic laws that proclaim equality. But those same laws also declare that Israel is a Jewish state. And when arbitrary or discriminatory measures are challenged in court by the Palesitnian minority – they usually fail before the argument that Israel is a Jewish state.
Israel&apos;s practices are far removed from Canadian values as expressed in our Charter of rights and Freedoms. In fact, there is no legal recourse for Palestinians against things like discrmination in housing, or education or employment.
Hello
My name is Peter Larson.
I have called my talk tonight “The Forgotten Palestinians”: the Israeli Arab Search for democracy and equal rights inside today’s Israel.
It seems that Israel and the Palestinians are in the news almost every other day. Most of the talk is about the West Bank, or the Wall, or Gaza. But I would like to talk a bit about the Palestinians who live inside Israel.
Israel prefers to call them “Israeli Arabs”, which they are of course. They are Arabs and they have Israeli citizenship. And when you are talking to them, sometimes they refer to themselves that way.
As you know, in the last few years, Israel has started insisting that it be recognized as a “Jewish State”. In fact, when Prime Minister Stephen Harper met Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu in March, he reiterated that Canada recognizes Israel’s right to exist “as a Jewish State”. Tonight I am going to examine the lives of the 1.4 million Palestinians – mostly Muslim, but also some Christians, who live in the “Jewish state” of Israel.
Hello
My name is Peter Larson.
I have called my talk tonight “The Forgotten Palestinians”: the Israeli Arab Search for democracy and equal rights inside today’s Israel.
It seems that Israel and the Palestinians are in the news almost every other day. Most of the talk is about the West Bank, or the Wall, or Gaza. But I would like to talk a bit about the Palestinians who live inside israel.
Israel prefers to call them “Israeli Arabs”, which they are of course. They are Arabs and they have Israeli citizenship. And when you are talking to them, sometimes they refer to themselves that way.
But they are also Palestinian. The dilemma was best summed up for me by Catholic Archbisop Chacour, of Nazareth, who told me “ I am a contradiction. I am a Christian by religion. I am an Arab by language. I am a Palestinian by culture. And I am a citizen of Israel.” Those 4 elements define who I am.
The land allocated to the Arab state (about 43% of Mandatory Palestine consisted of all of the highlands, except for Jerusalem, plus one third of the coastline. The highlands contain the major aquifers of Palestine, which supplied water to the coastal cities of central Palestine, including Tel Aviv.
The Jewish state was to receive 56% of Mandatory Palestine, a slightly larger area to accommodate the increasing numbers of Jews who would immigrate there. The state included three fertile lowland plains — the Sharon on the coast, the Jezreel Valley and the upper Jordan Valley. Jerusalem was to be under international control. At the time, there were about 100,000 Jews living in Jerusalem or about 60% of the Jerusalem population.
At the time, Jews accounted for about 1/3 of the total population of Palestine.
The Israeli Claim to Jerusalem was that the Holy Temple is the most important religious site in the world. And a significant Jewish population (mostly Sephardic Jews) living in Jerusalem
We were told that the history of KQ and its neighbouring town RH is not an exception.
The story is very common.
In 1931, on the eve of the creation of the state of Israel, of about a million people living in Palestine, about 80% were Arab Muslims or Christians.
A little less than 20% were Jewish.
Most of the Palestinians lived in small agricultural villages like KQ.
A minority of Palestinians lived in a few cities – like Haifa, Jerusalem, Jaffa, etc.
Of course, in 1921 when Britain took over the Palestine mandate, the country was almost all composed of Palestinian Arabs. Some were Muslim, some Christian and some Jewish. There has been continuous Jewish habitation of Palestine for over 3000 years.
But under the British mandate, hundreds of thousands of European Jews started immigrating to Palestine. Many bought up land in the most fertile areas. Many moved to Jerusalem.
They also started agitating to turn Palestine into a Jewish state and to make Jerusalem its capital. By 1947, there were more than 600,000 European Jews in Palestine (5 times as many as in 1931). Jews now constituted about 1/3 of the total population of Palestine.
As their numbers grew, they grew more and more militant – even carrying out a guerilla war against the British authorities in order to get their own state.
Finally, at the end of WWII, Britain could no longer hold on. It turned the matter over to the Un, and announced that it would withdraw its troops in May 1948.
When the dust settled, Israel had the borders that Canada now recognizes. (interestingly, Israel has never declared its own borders)
By then 85% of the Palestinians had fled – about 750,000 in total.
The new State of Israel, now had a majority of Jews (about 600,000 Jews vs. 150,000 Palestinians).
With this overwhelming Jewish majority, the Israeli parliament now voted to confiscate almost all the lands belonging to Palestinians.
One law was the “Absentee Property Law”. It confiscated the land formerly owned by the 750,000 Palestinian refugees who fled during the fighting and were now not allowed to return. If they did try to return they were shot by the “Border Police”.
But it also included those who were not physically on their property when the “census” was taken. Today over 100,000 Israeli citizens are what are called “present absentees”. That is, they live in Israel, but lost their land to the jewish state because they were not there when the census was taken. All of these are Palestinians, of course.
Another law allowed the state to confiscate any lands anywhere for “public” use. For public use means for Jewish use, like the creation of a new Jewish municipality, like RH because Israel is a Jewish state.
By the mid ’90’s, Palestinian Israelis now owned less than 3.5% of the land of Israel in which they were the former owners.
After the Palestinians fled the country, Israel undertook to destroy hundreds of villages. Many were bulldozed. Some were even bombarded by the nascent Israeli air force. The intent was to make it impossible for the refugees to return.
There is some debate about how many villages were destroyed.
Benny Morris, an Israeli historian claims that the number is 369.
Others cite higher numbers.
Not all Palestinian villages were destroyed. The new state of Israel recognized about 150 Arab villages. There were dozens of other “unrecognized villages” – some of which were later recognized by the state. Kufr Qassm was one of these.
Israel is also a complex society sociologically.
About 76% of Israelis are Jewish
About half of the Israeli population is what are called “Sabra” Jews – that means people who were born in Israel. Most of them are Askenazi – which means their parents came from Eastern Europe – Poland, Romania, etc.
Another chunk – about 15% are immigrants from Europe and America. The biggest chunk of these are from the former Soviet Union. They have immigrated to Israel since the end of the cold war and there are more than 1 million so called “Russian” Jews in Israel today. They don’t tend to be very religious, but they are very aggressive.
And then there are also Jews from Asia and Africa. The largest number come from Morocco.
Finally, there are about 20% of the population which is Palestinian Arab.
This is part of a long term project.
One of the reasons that that part of the Negev is the greenest is because Israel takes a huge amount of water from the Sea of Galilee and ships it by underground pipeline down to the northern Negev.
This is called the “National Water Carrier”. Israel is proud to say that it has made the “desert bloom”. Of course it has. But doing so isn’t all that hard if you have water. Israel has taken water from the Palestinians in the Jordan Valley and given it to the settlers of the northern negev.