Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Where is Palestine?

Camie Davis at American Thinker quotes Geert Wilders recent statement that Palestine already exists in the state created at the same time as Israel, namely Jordan. When Israel was created out of the old Syrian province of the Turkish Empire (who only had it by conquest), 90% of "Palestine" ended up in the hands of Arabs - including land that is part of Biblical Israel and should never have been given to the Arabs.

But Israel accepted the UN boundaries. Five Arab nations did not and wanted 100% because 90% was not good enough as long as there were any Jews or any Jewish nation. Israel won the war and they won again in 1967 and 1972. They have fought for their existence for 62 years against hostile, hate-filled enemies who practice terrorism and declare their genocidal intentions. And yet the world - for the most part - only blames Israel and calls on Israel to cede more territory, allow their enemies to arm themselves to the teeth on their doorstop and negotiate everything - even her own existence.

Davis writes:
Wilders, who leads the right-wing political party in Holland, said he believed Jordan's name should be changed to Palestine. He stated, "There has been an independent Palestinian state since 1946, and it is the kingdom of Jordan. Changing its name to Palestine will end the conflict in the Middle East and provide the Palestinians with an alternate homeland." Brilliant! Place the problem child right back in the lap of the nation who threw it under the bus.

Just in case that wasn't enough to rile the Arab world, Wilders also said, "If Jerusalem falls into the hands of the Muslims, Athens and Rome will be next. Thus, Jerusalem is the main front protecting the West. It is not a conflict over territory but rather an ideological battle, between the mentality of the liberated West and the ideology of Islamic barbarism."

On a roll, Wilders also called on the Dutch government to refer to Jordan as Palestine and to move its embassy to Jerusalem.

As you probably guessed, Arab leaders were a bit miffed at Wilders and "summoned" him to give an explanation. Jordan's minister for media affairs and communications, Nabil Al Sharif, asked for clarification.

Well Mr. Sharif, since Wilders is busy fighting the Islamization of his country, I've got a better idea. Ask your own king to explain. Wilders is simply letting out the genie that revisionist historians and politicians have tried to keep bottled. Jordanians, for decades, were avid proponents of the "Jordan is Palestine" position. They used that position as justification for the annexation of the West Bank, arguing that Palestine was one single, indivisible unit, and that Jordan was the legitimate governing body of Palestine. Your government, Mr. Sharif, including your king's father and grandfather, espoused the "Jordan is Palestine" claim that you are now so enraged by:

"We are the government of Palestine, the army of Palestine and the refugees of Palestine." Prime Minister of Jordan, Hazza' al-Majali, 23 August 1959

"Palestine and Transjordan are one." King Abdullah, Arab League meeting in Cairo, 12 April 1948

"Palestine is Jordan and Jordan is Palestine; there is one people and one land, with one history and one and the same fate." Prince Hassan, brother of King Hussein, addressing the Jordanian National Assembly, 2 February 1970

"Jordan is not just another Arab state with regard to Palestine, but rather, Jordan is Palestine and Palestine is Jordan in terms of territory, national identity, sufferings, hopes and aspirations." Jordanian Minister of Agriculture, 24 September 1980

"The truth is that Jordan is Palestine and Palestine is Jordan." King Hussein 1981.
Read it all here.

This issue is not about Biblical prophecy or any other kind of religious arguments. It is about simple fairness and the historic claim of Jews to a homeland on their own, ancestral land that was taken from them unjustly by invaders - invaders who lost it just as they had gained it by conquest. It is about the Muslim nations of the Middle East giving up their Jew-hatred and learning to live in peace with people who are different from them and do not wish to convert to Islam.

If the Muslim nations cannot live peacefully with a people who do not wish to convert to Islam in Israel, they cannot live with a West that refuses to convert either.

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