Ya Libnan

Gingrich comments provoke strong Palestinian reaction

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Palestinians reacted angrily Saturday to comments by Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich that the Palestinians were “an invented” people.

In the comments, aired Friday on the Jewish Channel cable network, Gingrich said, “I think we have had an invented Palestinian people who are in fact Arabs.”

He also put Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and the militant Islamic group Hamas in the same boat, saying they “both represent an enormous desire to destroy Israel.” Gingrich also described the Israeli-Palestinian peace process as “delusional.”

A map of the first Persian empire ( 558–330 BC) which clearly shows the state of Palestine

Describing Gingrich as ignorant of the region’s history, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad suggested that Gingrich should review history, “because all he seems to know about history is the Ottoman period.”

Gingrich’s statements are a “denial of history, which is not acceptable,” he said.

Palestine Liberation Organization Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi said Gingrich has “lost touch with reality.” His statements show “ignorance and bigotry,” and were “a cheap way to win pro-Israel vote,” she said.

Dimitri Diliani, a leading member of Abbas’ Fatah party, described Gingrich’s remarks as “reflective of the ignorant, provocative and racist nature of Mr. Gingrich.”

He warned that statements like these “jeopardize peace and stability in the region.”

LAT

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65 responses to “Gingrich comments provoke strong Palestinian reaction”

  1. eblashko Avatar
    eblashko

    I don’t quite see how that map “clearly shows the state of Palestine.” There are no states on that map. It’s the map of an ancient empire, and it’s commonly known that the word “Palestine” is derived from the Latin “Palaestina” which is what they renamed Judea after the Bar Kokhba Revolt to add insult to injury (named after the ancient, long extinct Philistines) 400+ years after the date of the map above. In fact, the actual name of the province during the Persian Empire was “Yahud” which is Persian for Judea. The word Palestine didn’t exist yet.  

    The truth is that Newt is absolutely right. There is no difference ethnically or culturally between Sunni Muslim Arabs in Palestine, Syria, or Jordan. Their dialect is the same. Their cuisine is the same. Their culture is the same. In fact, during the mandate period, in the British Mandate of Palestine, the Arabs who lived there (ancestors of today’s “Palestinians”) petitioned to have the Mandate renamed “South Syria.” The British denied the request, in fears of a pan-Arab or pan-Syrian identity that would compete with British and French interests in the region. And until 1922, Jordan (or Transjordan as it was called) was part of the British Mandate of Palestine. 

    This allegedly controversial claim was once understood as irrefutable fact and was even admitted by Arabs, from the Faisal-Weizmann accords, to correspondences between Maronite and Alawites to early Zionist leaders. But in an attempt to sever the historic connection between the Jews and their land, the Arabs, beginning with the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, distorted history and spun it around claiming that it was the Jews, and not the Palestinians that were an invented people, claiming that Jews were descended from Khazars or Slavs (proven totally untrue by modern genetic studies) and that it was they who had no connection to the land. 

    Under the rule of people like Obama, the world was made to believe that 2+2=5. That the Palestinians have been a distinguishable, separate culture since before 1967. But if that were the case, then why was their no Palestinian state between 1948 and 1967? And more importantly, why didn’t the “Palesintians” mind living under Jordanian or Egyptian rule? They certainly didn’t mind not being Palestinian then.

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      Well .. it’s a ‘history map’ … as it says at bottom …I’m sure the Greeks don’t want to be lumped into Palestine. Their economy has enough problems already …

    2. Sebouh80 Avatar
      Sebouh80

      Sir, there is an old book that I recommend reading that talks about the Khazar kingdom. It is called “The Thirteenth Tribe: The Khazar Empire and its Heritage.”

      Written by Arthur Koestler and another recent book that I read called “The invention of Jewish people” by Shlomo Sand that also talks about the Khazar kingdom.

      1. eblashko Avatar
        eblashko

        You’re quite right that those are old books. Books written totally on conjecture by two individuals.

        There are some scientific genetic studies I recommend reading. You could try any of the following:

        -Hammer MF, Redd AJ, Wood ET, et al.(June 2000). “Jewish and Middle Eastern non-Jewish populations share a common pool of Y-chromosome biallelic haplotypes”. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 97(12): 6769–6774.

        -Nebel A, Filon D, Weiss DA, et al. (December 2000). “High-resolution Y chromosome haplotypes of Israeli and Palestinian Arabs reveal geographic substructure and substantial overlap with haplotypes of Jews”. Human Genetics 107 (6): 630–641.

        -Almut Nebel, Dvora Filon, Bernd Brinkmann, Partha P. Majumder, Marina Faerman, Ariella Oppenheim. “The Y Chromosome Pool of Jews as Part of the Genetic Landscape of the Middle East”, The American Journal of Human Genetics (2001), Volume 69, number 5. pp. 1095–112

        -Behar DM, Garrigan D, Kaplan ME, Mobasher Z, Rosengarten D, Karafet TM, Quintana-Murci L, Ostrer H, Skorecki K, Hammer MF. (2004). “Contrasting patterns of Y chromosome variation in Ashkenazi Jewish and host non-Jewish European populations”. Hum Genet 114 (4): 354–365.

        These are probably a bit more decisive than Koestler or Sand, whose validity is considered laughable by anyone outside the most Anti-Zionist of circles. 

        But your reliance on pseudoscience rather than proven fact reminds me a bit of Orwellian language.

        Though I will concede that based on most studies, Ashkenazi Jews (which form about 1/2 of modern Israel’s population) are about 15% Khazar in origin. Hardly enough to refute our claim to the land, at least in my opinion. Especially when you consider that Yaser Arafat, the hero of the Palestinian cause, was 25% Egyptian.

        1. Sebouh80 Avatar
          Sebouh80

          So in Israel today Jews as I understand are divided into three different races.

          Ashkenazi Are mainly from in northern Europe and Russia
          Sephardic Are those inhabitants of Southern Europe, Turkey and South America.

          Mizrahi Are Arabian, Persian, Armenia, and central Asia.

          In Israel today the most prominent Jews are the Ashkenazi Jews from Theodore Herzl, Albet Einstein  to most politicians today are descended from Ashkenazi race.

          I have also heard that those who belong to the Ashkenazi race demand much higher income and better treatment then their other fellow Jewish compatriot races.

          Sadly if one looks in a clear objective way then racism is not only found between an Israeli and Arab, but also against their fellow Jewish people.

        2. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
          Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

          ‘Race’ is an outdated term. In terms of genetic ancestry Sebouh, apart from Ethiopian Jews and Bnei Manasseh, the rest share 50 – 80% of their genetic origin in common.

        3. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
          Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

          ‘Race’ is an outdated term. In terms of genetic ancestry Sebouh, apart from Ethiopian Jews and Bnei Manasseh, the rest share 50 – 80% of their genetic origin in common.

      2. eblashko Avatar
        eblashko

        “Sadly if one looks in a clear objective way then racism is not only found between an Israeli and Arab, but also against their fellow Jewish people.”

        You’re absolutely right. It is a travesty and a black stain on our history. Especially considering, as those genetic studies show, that these “races” are just invented constructs based more on liturgical culture and pronunciation of Hebrew rather than actual genetic race, and that in actuality, we’re all more similar to each other than we are to anyone else. 

        But the discrimination is more an issue of my grandparents’ and parents’ generation. For example, today, there is only one, standard Israeli Hebrew that all Jews speak, and I heard that something like 70% of marriages are “mixed” between Ashkenzim and Sephardim/Mizrahim. I myself am the product of such a union (I’m 1/4 Morocco, 1/4 Poland, 1/2 Hungary). But I hate those old distinctions. I hate “racist” old guard Ashkenazim just as much as indignant Moroccans who always complain whine about injustice. One of the central tenets of Zionism is the negation of the diaspora. We are not Moroccan or European but Israelis – Hebrews. We should leave the 2,000 years of shameful exile behind us whether we’re from Iran, Morocco, Russia, or Yemen.

        1. Sebouh80 Avatar
          Sebouh80

          As matter of fact my country of origin is Lebanon. I’m Lebanese Armenian.

          Nice talking with you.

        2. Sebouh80 Avatar
          Sebouh80

          As matter of fact my country of origin is Lebanon. I’m Lebanese Armenian.

          Nice talking with you.

      3. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
        Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

        All DNA tests have debunked the Khazar origin theory.

  2. Avatar
    Anonymous

    I don’t quite see how that map “clearly shows the state of Palestine.” There are no states on that map. It’s the map of an ancient empire, and it’s commonly known that the word “Palestine” is derived from the Latin “Palaestina” which is what they renamed Judea after the Bar Kokhba Revolt to add insult to injury (named after the ancient, long extinct Philistines) 400+ years after the date of the map above. In fact, the actual name of the province during the Persian Empire was “Yahud” which is Persian for Judea. The world Palestine didn’t exist yet.  

    The truth is that Newt is absolutely right. There is no difference culturally between Arabs in Palestine, Syria, or Jordan. Their dialect is the same. Their cuisine is the same. Their culture is the same. In fact, during the mandate period, in the British Mandate of Palestine, the Arabs who lived there (ancestors of today’s “Palestinians”) petitioned to have the Mandate renamed “South Syria.” The British denied the request, in fears of a pan-Arab or pan-Syrian identity that would compete with British and French interests in the region. And until 1922, Jordan (or Transjordan as it was called) was part of the British Mandate of Palestine. 

    This allegedly controversial claim was once understood and when even Arabs admitted it, from the Faisal-Weizmann accords, to correspondences between Maronite and Alawites to early Zionist leaders. But in an attempt to sever the historic connection between the Jews and their land, the Arabs, beginning with the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, distorted history and spun it around claiming that it was the Jews, and not the Palestinians that were an invented people, claiming that Jews were descended from Khazars or Slavs (proven totally untrue by modern genetic studies) and that it was they who had no connection to the land. 

    Under the rule of people like Obama, the world was made to believe that 2+2=5. That the Palestinians have been a distinguishable, separate culture since before 1967. But if that were the case, then why was their no Palestinian state between 1948 and 1967? And more importantly, why didn’t the “Palesintians” mind living under Jordanian or Egyptian rule? They certainly didn’t mind not being Palestinian then. 

    1. Avatar
      Anonymous

      Well .. it’s a ‘history map’ … as it says at bottom …I’m sure the Greeks don’t want to be lumped into Palestine. Their economy has enough problems already …

    2. Avatar
      Anonymous

      Well .. it’s a ‘history map’ … as it says at bottom …I’m sure the Greeks don’t want to be lumped into Palestine. Their economy has enough problems already …

    3. Avatar
      Anonymous

      Sir, there is an old book that I recommend reading that talks about the Khazar kingdom. It is called “The Thirteenth Tribe: The Khazar Empire and its Heritage.”

      Written by Arthur Koestler and another recent book that I read called “The invention of Jewish people” by Shlomo Sand that also talks about the Khazar kingdom.

      1. Avatar
        Anonymous

        You’re quite right that those are old books. Books written totally on conjecture by two individuals.

        There are some scientific genetic studies I recommend reading. You could try any of the following:

        -Hammer MF, Redd AJ, Wood ET, et al.(June 2000). “Jewish and Middle Eastern non-Jewish populations share a common pool of Y-chromosome biallelic haplotypes”. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 97(12): 6769–6774.Nebel A, Filon D, Weiss DA, et al. (December 2000). “High-resolution Y chromosome haplotypes of Israeli and Palestinian Arabs reveal geographic substructure and substantial overlap with haplotypes of Jews”. Human Genetics 107 (6): 630–641.-Almut Nebel, Dvora Filon, Bernd Brinkmann, Partha P. Majumder, Marina Faerman, Ariella Oppenheim. “The Y Chromosome Pool of Jews as Part of the Genetic Landscape of the Middle East”, The American Journal of Human Genetics (2001), Volume 69, number 5. pp. 1095–112-Behar DM, Garrigan D, Kaplan ME, Mobasher Z, Rosengarten D, Karafet TM, Quintana-Murci L, Ostrer H, Skorecki K, Hammer MF. (2004). “Contrasting patterns of Y chromosome variation in Ashkenazi Jewish and host non-Jewish European populations”. Hum Genet 114 (4): 354–365.

        These are probably a bit more decisive than Koestler or Sand, whose validity is considered laughable by anyone outside the most Anti-Zionist of circles. 

        But your reliance on pseudoscience rather than proven fact reminds me a bit of Orwellian language. 

        1. Avatar
          Anonymous

          So in Israel today Jews as I understand are divided into three different races.

          Ashkenazi Are mainly from in northern Europe and Russia
          Sephardic Are those inhabitants of Southern Europe, Turkey and South America.

          Mizrahi Are Arabian, Persian, Armenia, and central Asia.

          In Israel today the most prominent Jews are the Ashkenazi Jews from Theodore Herzl, Albet Einstein  to most politicians today are descended from Ashkenazi race.

          I have also heard that those who belong to the Ashkenazi race demand much higher income and better treatment then their other fellow Jewish compatriot races.

          Sadly if one looks in a clear objective way then racism is not only found between an Israeli and Arab, but also against their fellow Jewish people.

        2. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
          Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

          ‘Race’ is an outdated term. In terms of genetic ancestry Sebouh, apart from Ethiopian Jews and Bnei Manasseh, the rest share 50 – 80% of their genetic origin in common.

      2. Avatar
        Anonymous

        “Sadly if one looks in a clear objective way then racism is not only found between an Israeli and Arab, but also against their fellow Jewish people.”

        You’re absolutely right. It is a travesty and a black stain on our history. Especially considering, as those genetic studies show, that these “races” are just invented constructs based more on liturgical culture and pronunciation of Hebrew rather than actual genetic race, and that in actuality, we’re all more similar to each other than we are to anyone else. 

        But the discrimination is more an issue of my grandparents’ and parents’ generation. For example, today, there is only one, standard Israeli Hebrew that all Jews speak, and I heard that something like 70% of marriages are “mixed” between Ashkenzim and Sephardim/Mizrahim. I myself am the product of such a union (I’m 1/4 Morocco, 1/4 Poland, 1/2 Hungary). But I hate those old distinctions. I hate “racist” old guard Ashkenazim just as much as indignant Moroccans who always complain whine about injustice. One of the central tenets of Zionism is the negation of the diaspora. We are not Moroccan or European but Israelis – Hebrews. We should leave the 2,000 years of shameful exile behind us whether we’re from Iran, Morocco, Russia, or Yemen.

        1. Avatar
          Anonymous

          As matter of fact my country of origin is Lebanon. I’m Lebanese Armenian.

          Nice talking with you.

        2. Avatar
          Anonymous

          As matter of fact my country of origin is Lebanon. I’m Lebanese Armenian.

          Nice talking with you.

      3. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
        Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

        All DNA tests have debunked the Khazar origin theory.

  3. American Infidels Avatar
    American Infidels

    The truth always hurts…
    The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian
    state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of
    Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference
    between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for
    political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a
    Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit
    the existence of a distinct “Palestinian people” to oppose Zionism.
    It
    was in “Arab national interest” – to leave the invented “Pals”
    stateless so they could DEMAND a state. They are nothing more than
    ordinary Jordanians, Syrians and Lebanese posing as a distinct people.
    The
    Arab fraternity invented them as a people and kept them in limbo for
    decades and entrenched the deception and hatred for generations. The
    Arabs are just plain GREEDY. The UN and US were collaborators who
    accepted their fraudulent narrative, sought to provide them with the
    state they demanded and funneled billions in aid to them instead of
    confronting them with their lies and demanding and insisting that the
    Arab creators solve the problem they created
    The “Palestinians” only first saw the light of day in 1964 when the PLO Charter was promulgated and Article 1 declared:
    Palestine is the homeland of the Arab Palestinian people; it is an
    indivisible part of the Arab homeland, and the Palestinian people are an
    integral part of the Arab nation.Article 5 went on to declare:
    The Palestinians are those Arab nationals who, until 1947, normally
    resided in Palestine regardless of whether they were evicted from it or
    have stayed there. Anyone born, after that date, of a Palestinian father
    – whether inside Palestine or outside it – is also a Palestinian.
    No
    recognition was given to the fact that groups other than Arabs had
    lived in Palestine from time immemorial – long before the Arabs had ever
    conquered and occupied the area.
    Ten years later – on 13
    November 1974 the leader of this newly created entity – Yasser Arafat –
    told the United Nations General Assembly:
    The PLO has
    earned its legitimacy because of the sacrifice inherent in its
    pioneering role, and also because of its dedicated leadership of the
    struggle. It has also been granted this legitimacy by the Palestinian
    masses, which in harmony with it have chosen it to lead the struggle
    according to its directives. The PLO has also gained its legitimacy by
    representing every faction, union or group as well as every Palestinian
    talent, either in the National Council or in people’s institutions. This
    legitimacy was further strengthened by the support of the entire Arab
    nation, and it was consecrated during the last Arab Summit Conference,
    which reiterated the right of the PLO, in its capacity as the sole
    representative of the Palestinian people, to establish an independent
    national State on all liberated Palestinian territory.
    In
    2011 the legitimacy of the PLO leadership role is in tatters. A new boy
    on the block- Hamas – has emerged to challenge the PLO’s claim and
    reconciliation between these two competing power bases is still not in
    prospect after six years of bitter internecine conflict.
    The
    effort to reach a resolution of the 130 years old Arab-Jewish conflict
    has been stymied by the refusal of the PLO to sit down in direct face to
    face negotiations with Israel – but even if this were to occur tomorrow
    the prospects of any successful outcome would be extremely unlikely to
    eventuate.
    Jordan sits on the sideline having abandoned any
    claim to Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) and East Jerusalem in 1988.
    Jordan shows no interest in attempting to try and restore – as far as is
    now possible – the status quo existing in these areas at 4 June 1967.
    Israel’s attempts to “end the occupation” of these areas in 2000/2001 and 2008 were rebuffed by the PLO.
    Perhaps
    it is time for a new slogan – “Right the Wrongs” – to enter into the
    lexicon of international diplomacy in the Middle East.
    The wrongs involve the failure of the United Nations to acknowledge the following incontrovertible facts:
    that the provisions of Article 80 of the United Nations Charter
    reserve to the Jewish people the right to reconstitute the Jewish
    National Home in Judea, Samaria and East Jerusalem in accordance with
    the provisions laid down in article 6 of the Mandate for Palestine and
    that Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 remain the only
    internationally accepted basis for resolving the conflict in former
    Palestine
    The failure of the United Nations to insist on these
    basic tenets of international law being implemented, respected and
    observed has proved to be the main stumbling block to resolving the
    Jewish-Arab conflict.

    Yasser Arafat himself declared before the United Nations on 13 December 1988:
    Our people do not want any right to which they are not entitled and
    which is not compatible with international legality and laws. They are
    not seeking any freedom that encroaches upon the freedom of others or
    any destiny that negates the destiny of another people
    Bowing
    to extreme pressure from the Arab League and the Organization of the
    Islamic Conference – the United Nations has succumbed to a myriad of
    General Assembly resolutions since then that have virtually buried such
    “international legality and laws”.
    It is time for international
    law to be resurrected, debated and enforced as the only basis for ending
    the conflict in former Palestine.
    The sooner this process is begun – the sooner some sanity will return to the Middle East.

    1. master09 Avatar
      master09

      The Dutch newspaper Trouw published an interview with Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee member Zahir Muhsein. Here’s what he said: The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct “Palestinian people” to oppose Zionism. For tactical reasons, Jordan, which is a sovereign state with defined borders, cannot raise claims to Haifa and Jaffa, while as a Palestinian, I can undoubtedly demand Haifa, Jaffa, Beer-Sheva and Jerusalem. However, the moment we reclaim our right to all of Palestine, we will not wait even a minute to unite Palestine and Jordan.

      At this time, the area was ruled by the British and both Arabs and Jews appeared to live together in some form of harmony in the sense that both tolerated then existence of the other.

      Remember the word ARABS not Palestinians. and both Jews and Arabs lived in this land called Palestine for a long long time.
      So the best way for peace and freedom for both people is to sit, talk and work for the people be it Jews or Arabs to make a two state deal with freedom for both sides.

    2. master09 Avatar
      master09

      The Dutch newspaper Trouw published an interview with Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee member Zahir Muhsein. Here’s what he said: The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct “Palestinian people” to oppose Zionism. For tactical reasons, Jordan, which is a sovereign state with defined borders, cannot raise claims to Haifa and Jaffa, while as a Palestinian, I can undoubtedly demand Haifa, Jaffa, Beer-Sheva and Jerusalem. However, the moment we reclaim our right to all of Palestine, we will not wait even a minute to unite Palestine and Jordan.

      At this time, the area was ruled by the British and both Arabs and Jews appeared to live together in some form of harmony in the sense that both tolerated then existence of the other.

      Remember the word ARABS not Palestinians. and both Jews and Arabs lived in this land called Palestine for a long long time.
      So the best way for peace and freedom for both people is to sit, talk and work for the people be it Jews or Arabs to make a two state deal with freedom for both sides.

  4. Iran Aware Avatar
    Iran Aware

    The truth always hurts…
    The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian
    state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of
    Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference
    between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for
    political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a
    Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit
    the existence of a distinct “Palestinian people” to oppose Zionism.
    It
    was in “Arab national interest” – to leave the invented “Pals”
    stateless so they could DEMAND a state. They are nothing more than
    ordinary Jordanians, Syrians and Lebanese posing as a distinct people.
    The
    Arab fraternity invented them as a people and kept them in limbo for
    decades and entrenched the deception and hatred for generations. The
    Arabs are just plain GREEDY. The UN and US were collaborators who
    accepted their fraudulent narrative, sought to provide them with the
    state they demanded and funneled billions in aid to them instead of
    confronting them with their lies and demanding and insisting that the
    Arab creators solve the problem they created
    The “Palestinians” only first saw the light of day in 1964 when the PLO Charter was promulgated and Article 1 declared:
    Palestine is the homeland of the Arab Palestinian people; it is an
    indivisible part of the Arab homeland, and the Palestinian people are an
    integral part of the Arab nation.Article 5 went on to declare:
    The Palestinians are those Arab nationals who, until 1947, normally
    resided in Palestine regardless of whether they were evicted from it or
    have stayed there. Anyone born, after that date, of a Palestinian father
    – whether inside Palestine or outside it – is also a Palestinian.
    No
    recognition was given to the fact that groups other than Arabs had
    lived in Palestine from time immemorial – long before the Arabs had ever
    conquered and occupied the area.
    Ten years later – on 13
    November 1974 the leader of this newly created entity – Yasser Arafat –
    told the United Nations General Assembly:
    The PLO has
    earned its legitimacy because of the sacrifice inherent in its
    pioneering role, and also because of its dedicated leadership of the
    struggle. It has also been granted this legitimacy by the Palestinian
    masses, which in harmony with it have chosen it to lead the struggle
    according to its directives. The PLO has also gained its legitimacy by
    representing every faction, union or group as well as every Palestinian
    talent, either in the National Council or in people’s institutions. This
    legitimacy was further strengthened by the support of the entire Arab
    nation, and it was consecrated during the last Arab Summit Conference,
    which reiterated the right of the PLO, in its capacity as the sole
    representative of the Palestinian people, to establish an independent
    national State on all liberated Palestinian territory.
    In
    2011 the legitimacy of the PLO leadership role is in tatters. A new boy
    on the block- Hamas – has emerged to challenge the PLO’s claim and
    reconciliation between these two competing power bases is still not in
    prospect after six years of bitter internecine conflict.
    The
    effort to reach a resolution of the 130 years old Arab-Jewish conflict
    has been stymied by the refusal of the PLO to sit down in direct face to
    face negotiations with Israel – but even if this were to occur tomorrow
    the prospects of any successful outcome would be extremely unlikely to
    eventuate.
    Jordan sits on the sideline having abandoned any
    claim to Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) and East Jerusalem in 1988.
    Jordan shows no interest in attempting to try and restore – as far as is
    now possible – the status quo existing in these areas at 4 June 1967.
    Israel’s attempts to “end the occupation” of these areas in 2000/2001 and 2008 were rebuffed by the PLO.
    Perhaps
    it is time for a new slogan – “Right the Wrongs” – to enter into the
    lexicon of international diplomacy in the Middle East.
    The wrongs involve the failure of the United Nations to acknowledge the following incontrovertible facts:
    that the provisions of Article 80 of the United Nations Charter
    reserve to the Jewish people the right to reconstitute the Jewish
    National Home in Judea, Samaria and East Jerusalem in accordance with
    the provisions laid down in article 6 of the Mandate for Palestine and
    that Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 remain the only
    internationally accepted basis for resolving the conflict in former
    Palestine
    The failure of the United Nations to insist on these
    basic tenets of international law being implemented, respected and
    observed has proved to be the main stumbling block to resolving the
    Jewish-Arab conflict.

    Yasser Arafat himself declared before the United Nations on 13 December 1988:
    Our people do not want any right to which they are not entitled and
    which is not compatible with international legality and laws. They are
    not seeking any freedom that encroaches upon the freedom of others or
    any destiny that negates the destiny of another people
    Bowing
    to extreme pressure from the Arab League and the Organization of the
    Islamic Conference – the United Nations has succumbed to a myriad of
    General Assembly resolutions since then that have virtually buried such
    “international legality and laws”.
    It is time for international
    law to be resurrected, debated and enforced as the only basis for ending
    the conflict in former Palestine.
    The sooner this process is begun – the sooner some sanity will return to the Middle East.

    1. Avatar
      Anonymous

      The Dutch newspaper Trouw published an interview with Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee member Zahir Muhsein. Here’s what he said: The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct “Palestinian people” to oppose Zionism. For tactical reasons, Jordan, which is a sovereign state with defined borders, cannot raise claims to Haifa and Jaffa, while as a Palestinian, I can undoubtedly demand Haifa, Jaffa, Beer-Sheva and Jerusalem. However, the moment we reclaim our right to all of Palestine, we will not wait even a minute to unite Palestine and Jordan.

      At this time, the area was ruled by the British and both Arabs and Jews appeared to live together in some form of harmony in the sense that both tolerated then existence of the other.

      Remember the word ARABS not Palestinians. and both Jews and Arabs lived in this land called Palestine for a long long time.

  5. Iran Aware Avatar
    Iran Aware

    The truth always hurts…
    The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian
    state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of
    Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference
    between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for
    political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a
    Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit
    the existence of a distinct “Palestinian people” to oppose Zionism.
    It
    was in “Arab national interest” – to leave the invented “Pals”
    stateless so they could DEMAND a state. They are nothing more than
    ordinary Jordanians, Syrians and Lebanese posing as a distinct people.
    The
    Arab fraternity invented them as a people and kept them in limbo for
    decades and entrenched the deception and hatred for generations. The
    Arabs are just plain GREEDY. The UN and US were collaborators who
    accepted their fraudulent narrative, sought to provide them with the
    state they demanded and funneled billions in aid to them instead of
    confronting them with their lies and demanding and insisting that the
    Arab creators solve the problem they created
    The “Palestinians” only first saw the light of day in 1964 when the PLO Charter was promulgated and Article 1 declared:
    Palestine is the homeland of the Arab Palestinian people; it is an
    indivisible part of the Arab homeland, and the Palestinian people are an
    integral part of the Arab nation.Article 5 went on to declare:
    The Palestinians are those Arab nationals who, until 1947, normally
    resided in Palestine regardless of whether they were evicted from it or
    have stayed there. Anyone born, after that date, of a Palestinian father
    – whether inside Palestine or outside it – is also a Palestinian.
    No
    recognition was given to the fact that groups other than Arabs had
    lived in Palestine from time immemorial – long before the Arabs had ever
    conquered and occupied the area.
    Ten years later – on 13
    November 1974 the leader of this newly created entity – Yasser Arafat –
    told the United Nations General Assembly:
    The PLO has
    earned its legitimacy because of the sacrifice inherent in its
    pioneering role, and also because of its dedicated leadership of the
    struggle. It has also been granted this legitimacy by the Palestinian
    masses, which in harmony with it have chosen it to lead the struggle
    according to its directives. The PLO has also gained its legitimacy by
    representing every faction, union or group as well as every Palestinian
    talent, either in the National Council or in people’s institutions. This
    legitimacy was further strengthened by the support of the entire Arab
    nation, and it was consecrated during the last Arab Summit Conference,
    which reiterated the right of the PLO, in its capacity as the sole
    representative of the Palestinian people, to establish an independent
    national State on all liberated Palestinian territory.
    In
    2011 the legitimacy of the PLO leadership role is in tatters. A new boy
    on the block- Hamas – has emerged to challenge the PLO’s claim and
    reconciliation between these two competing power bases is still not in
    prospect after six years of bitter internecine conflict.
    The
    effort to reach a resolution of the 130 years old Arab-Jewish conflict
    has been stymied by the refusal of the PLO to sit down in direct face to
    face negotiations with Israel – but even if this were to occur tomorrow
    the prospects of any successful outcome would be extremely unlikely to
    eventuate.
    Jordan sits on the sideline having abandoned any
    claim to Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) and East Jerusalem in 1988.
    Jordan shows no interest in attempting to try and restore – as far as is
    now possible – the status quo existing in these areas at 4 June 1967.
    Israel’s attempts to “end the occupation” of these areas in 2000/2001 and 2008 were rebuffed by the PLO.
    Perhaps
    it is time for a new slogan – “Right the Wrongs” – to enter into the
    lexicon of international diplomacy in the Middle East.
    The wrongs involve the failure of the United Nations to acknowledge the following incontrovertible facts:
    that the provisions of Article 80 of the United Nations Charter
    reserve to the Jewish people the right to reconstitute the Jewish
    National Home in Judea, Samaria and East Jerusalem in accordance with
    the provisions laid down in article 6 of the Mandate for Palestine and
    that Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 remain the only
    internationally accepted basis for resolving the conflict in former
    Palestine
    The failure of the United Nations to insist on these
    basic tenets of international law being implemented, respected and
    observed has proved to be the main stumbling block to resolving the
    Jewish-Arab conflict.

    Yasser Arafat himself declared before the United Nations on 13 December 1988:
    Our people do not want any right to which they are not entitled and
    which is not compatible with international legality and laws. They are
    not seeking any freedom that encroaches upon the freedom of others or
    any destiny that negates the destiny of another people
    Bowing
    to extreme pressure from the Arab League and the Organization of the
    Islamic Conference – the United Nations has succumbed to a myriad of
    General Assembly resolutions since then that have virtually buried such
    “international legality and laws”.
    It is time for international
    law to be resurrected, debated and enforced as the only basis for ending
    the conflict in former Palestine.
    The sooner this process is begun – the sooner some sanity will return to the Middle East.

  6. Sebouh80 Avatar
    Sebouh80

    Newt Gingrich is a “Right Wing extremist”

     May I remind Gingrich that, America was also an invented artificial state and who gave him the right to judge and degrade the Palestinian people. 

    Having said that, no American politician has used “Orwellian techniques” more then the disgraced Gingrich to communicate to the American people so that they would let him do what he thinks.

    For those of the viewers who are unfamiliar with Orwellian language. It is an attitude and a policy of control by propaganda, surveillance, misinformation, denial of truth, and manipulation of the past, including the “unperson” whose past existence is expunged from the public record and memory, practiced by modern repressive governments.

    1. eblashko Avatar
      eblashko

      Would the Muslim World’s demonization of Israel and Jews count as Orwellian language in your opinion?

      1. Sebouh80 Avatar
        Sebouh80

        Of course, it is served both ways. Yes, the attitude of Muslim’s Word’s demonization of Jews and Israel could also be counted as part of the Orwellian language.

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          In 1984, Orwell showed us a future of twisted thinking and propaganisation of all rational human feelings. ‘Big Brother’ may as well have been a computer, but everyone had to do as ‘he’ said – to the exclusion even of human natural interaction and love. Love itself was demonised … and fear used against all to make sure the machine functioned as it should.
          Animal Farm showed the twisting of thought and words.
          Orwell, having experienced the depravity of humans at war, was a prophet.

  7. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Newt Gingrich is a “Right Wing extremist”

     May I remind Gingrich that, America was also an invented artificial state and who gave him the right to judge and degrade the Palestinian people. 

    Having said that, no American politician has used “Orwellian techniques” more then the disgraced Gingrich to communicate to the American people so that they would let him do what he thinks.

    For those of the viewers who are unfamiliar with Orwellian language. It is an attitude and a policy of control by propaganda, surveillance, misinformation, denial of truth, and manipulation of the past, including the “unperson” whose past existence is expunged from the public record and memory, practiced by modern repressive governments.

    1. Avatar
      Anonymous

      Would the Muslim World’s demonization of Israel and Jews count as Orwellian language in your opinion?

      1. Avatar
        Anonymous

        Of course, it is served both ways. Yes, the attitude of Muslim’s Word’s demonization of Jews and Israel could also be counted as part of the Orwellian language.

        1. Avatar
          Anonymous

          In 1984, Orwell showed us a future of twisted thinking and propaganisation of all rational human feelings. ‘Big Brother’ may as well have been a computer, but everyone had to do as ‘he’ said – to the exclusion even of human natural interaction and love. Love itself was demonised … and fear used against all to make sure the machine functioned as it should.
          Animal farm showed the twisting of thought and words.
          Orwell, having experienced the depravity of humans at war, was a prophet.

      2. Avatar
        Anonymous

        Of course, it is served both ways. Yes, the attitude of Muslim’s Word’s demonization of Jews and Israel could also be counted as part of the Orwellian language.

    2. Avatar
      Anonymous

      Would the Muslim World’s demonization of Israel and Jews count as Orwellian language in your opinion?

  8. antar2011 Avatar
    antar2011

     Gingrich’s remarks is “reflective of the ignorant, provocative and racist nature of Mr. Gingrich.”

    the racist pig!

  9. Avatar
    Anonymous

     Gingrich’s remarks is “reflective of the ignorant, provocative and racist nature of Mr. Gingrich.”

    the racist pig!

  10. Thomas Mc Avatar
    Thomas Mc

    I’m an American voter, and I do NOT vote for Zionist puppets!

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      Sorry to say, it doesn’t seem you have much to vote for these days. Where are the true leaders? Or people with brains? Has the job and the ‘press’ it draws become so twisted and horrible that no-one good really wants it? After all, it only took 3 months for people to start dumping on Obama-rama. But who can see a viable alternative?? And those ‘debates’ were only a show of stupidity.
      And it seems lobbyists and fear-mongers are running the place.

      Oh. Wait. Does that sound like Lebanon? A little?

  11. Thomas Mc Avatar
    Thomas Mc

    I’m an American voter, and I do NOT vote for Zionist puppets!

  12. Thomas Mc Avatar
    Thomas Mc

    I’m an American voter, and I do NOT vote for Zionist puppets!

    1. Avatar
      Anonymous

      Sorry to say, it doesn’t seem you have much to vote for these days. Where are the true leaders? Or people with brains? Has the job and the ‘press’ it draws become so twisted and horrible that no-one good really wants it? After all, it only took 3 months for people to start dumping on Obama-rama. But who can see a viable alternative?? And those ‘debates’ were only a show of stupidity.

  13. Hannibal Avatar
    Hannibal

    Not another Bush…

  14. Hannibal Avatar
    Hannibal

    Not another Bush…

  15. Hannibal Avatar
    Hannibal

    Not another Bush…

  16. Hannibal Avatar
    Hannibal

    Not another Bush…

  17. MeYosemite Avatar
    MeYosemite

    I think the question is similar to the America being also invented couple of centuries ago.

    But also Biblically, in the example David and Goliathvand others, both the philistines and Jews are mentioned in a quarrel over land. I doubt if culturally Philistine and Palestine is the same. But I would presume the Jews have little cultural/religeous change, a heritage perhaps.

    But one should acknowledge the land has some folks living in it and wasn’t barren. It can’t be Arab, as that word was also invited by TE Lawrence in WWI.

    The land should absorb the rights of the native.

  18. Avatar
    Anonymous

    I think the question is similar to the America being also invented couple of centuries ago.

    But also Biblically, in the example David and Goliathvand others, both the philistines and Jews are mentioned in a quarrel over land. I doubt if culturally Philistine and Palestine is the same. But I would presume the Jews have little cultural/religeous change, a heritage perhaps.

    But one should acknowledge the land has some folks living in it and wasn’t barren. It can’t be Arab, as that word was also invited by TE Lawrence in WWI.

    The land should absorb the rights of the native.

  19. Avatar
    Anonymous

    I think the question is similar to the America being also invented couple of centuries ago.

    But also Biblically, in the example David and Goliathvand others, both the philistines and Jews are mentioned in a quarrel over land. I doubt if culturally Philistine and Palestine is the same. But I would presume the Jews have little cultural/religeous change, a heritage perhaps.

    But one should acknowledge the land has some folks living in it and wasn’t barren. It can’t be Arab, as that word was also invited by TE Lawrence in WWI.

    The land should absorb the rights of the native.

  20. prophettt Avatar
    prophettt

    It’s a desperate attempt by Gingrich to lure in the Jewish vote in the republican primary in  New York state. This man is known to be a loose cannon who can never stay on message. His comments and statements are known to be hawkish,and He is willing to say anything in order to get his numbers up in the republican primary.
     Recently, he told a  Jewish gathering  that He would appoint John  Bolton(M14’S FAVORITE FRIEND) as his secretary of state, if elected president, and  that He would immediately move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
    He is full of hot smoke,but no where to go. He had his golden days in the nineties, and there is no way He can recapture those days. 
    It is so sad that American politicians would try to climbing on the backs of the weakest people on earth, in order to win an election when They have plenty of issues to attack Obama on.Instead of telling Americans how they intent  to restore the economy, they promise them more wrong on Palestinians.
    I think Americans want some one who is capable of assuring them of their own jobs and future ,rather than some one who denies the rights of Palestinians.
    People want jobs,and health care,not hatred for Palestinians.

  21. Avatar
    Anonymous

    It’s a desperate attempt by Gingrich to lure in the Jewish vote in the republican primary in  New York state. This man is known to be a loose cannon who can never stay on message. His comments and statements are known to be hawkish,and He is willing to say anything in order to get his numbers up in the republican primary.
     Recently, he told a  Jewish gathering  that He would appoint John  Bolton(M14’S FAVORITE FRIEND) as his secretary of state, if elected president, and  that He would immediately move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
    He is full of hot smoke,but no where to go. He had his golden days in the nineties, and there is no way He can recapture those days. 
    It is so sad that American politicians would try to climbing on the backs of the weakest people on earth, in order to win an election when They have plenty of issues to attack Obama on.Instead of telling Americans how they intent  to restore the economy, they promise them more wrong on Palestinians.
    I think Americans want some one who is capable of assuring them of their own jobs and future ,rather than some one who denies the rights of Palestinians.
    People want jobs,and health care,not hatred for Palestinians.

  22. guss043 Avatar
    guss043

    Don’t expect much from the USA Education system when it comes to grammar or geography (regardless that every potential president in USA need to kiss the asses of the Jewish lobbyist ) for grammar we all recall the vice president Dan Quayle  how he spelled the potato wrongly in a classroom as potatoe ,so you imagine for the fatso Newt ( the saint who cheat on his wife day and night) to know geography. Back few years ago the USA government  passed a quiz to high schools all over USA and asked the students to locate the state(s) that border the state they live in , over 90 % failed to do so.
    The funny thing that Republican in general and presidential candidate claim to be so religious, and they know their bible up side down , especially the old testament , well here you go Newt , the old testament name the Philistine tribes all over, so they were resident of what country in that time ? and yourself Newt are a fourth or fifth generation of the white outlaws and criminals who arrived from Europe and raped this land called now USA and massacred the Red Indians as the Nazis did to the Jews and others or more  actually than the Nazis , as the red Indian are considered extinct,only 200,000 exist currently that they are pure descendant from mother and father . So much principles for your so civilized  British ancestors who used to take a cloth and dip in  an infected patient who had Chicken Pox disease and wrap a gift and send it to the Indian Chief , when it reached the Indian tribe , in  some cases 50,0000 to 100,000 red Indian bands were exterminated by chicken pox or flu, 7 years after Columbus discovered America 7 million died from massacres and diseases , yet USA have Holiday for Columbus day . Mr Newt your own constitution until now state that 65 % of USA is still owned by the Red Indian but since they are not capable to be responsible to handle their nation the so called white nation has to oversee see their affairs.
    I am not shocked with Newt or GW Bush junior when he called the Pakistanis as Pakis,didn’t know it is an insult or when Sarah Palin said that Alaska border Russian border ,she didnt know that you can’t say for example Lebanon border Cyprus , as you need need land to call borders , sea or ocean are not considered borders .The shocking is the weakness of the Palestinian and Arab answer, the First answer to the racist Nazi Newt should be ” You can’t say that Palestinians are all Arabs, first because English and American and Australian are not all English, English is a language not a race , you can say that they are all caucasians, is being caucasin justify that all Caucasian can be anywhere , so then there is no need for borders between USA and Canada and Mexico as they are from Caucasian race , and same applies for the Arab, Arab is not a race it is a language ,and the race of the middle eastern people fall into the Caucasian race same as you Newt or IDIOT NEWT !!! that will be the right answer !!!! from the Palestinain and they should call him Idiot and ignorant without hesitation and politeness at all!!!

    Generalizing the Palestinian as all are Arabs means leave them where they are and let them stay in Lebanon and other countries , in that case the answer to Newt should be so have them , pay for them or relocate them and make them a state inside USA as the British created Israel by being paid off by the Jewish lobbyist and still until now !! since you are as the Israeli a rapist of land of others and bunch of bullies !!!!! not better than the Nazis at alllllllllllll  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! by the way there was never a country named Israel ,the current Jews are the tribe that didn’t convert to Christianity and they are the Judea tribe ,all other tribes were dispersed all over the world and the Roman refer to the land as PALESTINE!!!!!

  23. guss043 Avatar
    guss043

    Don’t expect much from USA Education system (regardless that every potential president in USA need to kiss the asses of the Jewish lobbyist ) when it comes to grammar ,with the vice president Dan Quayle  spelled potato wrongly as potatoe ,so you immagine for the fatso Newt to know geography. Back few years ago they government  passed a quiz to high school students to locate the state that border the state they live in , over 90 % failed to do so.
    If it wasn’t to Von Braun and the immigrant USA, Canada they will be still herding cows in a sense. The funny thing that Republican in general and presidential candidate claim to be so religious and they their bible, especially the old testament , well here you go Newt , the old testament name the Philistine tribes all over, so they were resident of who? and yourself Newt are a fourth or fith generation of the whit cowboys that raped this land called USA and massacred Red Indians as the Nazis did to the Jews or more  actually the red Indian are considered extinct . SO much principles for your so civilized  British ancestors who use to take a cloth and dip in  an infected patient who had chicken pox disease and wrapr a gift and send it to the Indian Chief , in  some cases 50,0000 to 100,000 red Indian bands were exterminated by chicken pox or flu. Mr Newt your own constitution until now state the 65 % of USA is still owned by the Red Indian but since they are not capable to be responsible to handle their nation the so called white nation has to oversee see their affairs.
    I am not shocked with Newt or GW Bush junior when he called the Pakistanis as Paki, or when Sarah Palin said that Alask border Russian ,, you can’t say Lebanon border Cyprus and you need land , sea or ocean are considered borders , the shocking is the weakness of the Palestinian and Arab answer, the First answer to the racist Nazi newt should be ” You can’t say that they are all Arabs, first because English and American and Australian are not all English, English is a language not a race , the race is Caucasianl, and same applies for the Arab, Arab is not a race it is a language ,and the race of the middle eastern people fall into the caucasian race same as you, IDIOT NEWT !!! that will be the right answer !!!!
    Generalising the Palestinian as all rabas and can be in all Arab land means leave them where they are and let Lebanon and other have them , in that case , Newt pay for them or relocate them and make them a state inside USA
    as the British created Israel by being paid off by the Jewish lobby and still until now!! since you are as the Israeli rapist of land and bunch of bullies !!!!! not better than the Nazis at alllllllllllll  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  24. C S Avatar
    C S

    I am an American of Lebanese Christian descent, and Gingrich is an asshole. Even some of the Jews in this country are condemning him…..NOT everyone in America is with Israel, although it might seem that way. If anything, the tide AWAY from Israel is growing, and that’s why the Israeli’s are worried. I live in this country, and know what I am talking about. No way in hell Gingrich will be elected. He might get lucky and secure the Republican nomination as this is most likely the weakest group of Republican nominees (even the Republican voters are disgusted with the choices in candidates) in 100 years or more. No matter who wins the Republican side, Obama will beat that candidate, and if it’s Gingrich, it will be HUGE defeat…..even the Republicans hate him….:) Don’t pay any attention to this clown, because 80% of this country, does not….

  25. C S Avatar
    C S

    I am an American of Lebanese Christian descent, and Gingrich is an asshole. Even some of the Jews in this country are condemning him…..NOT everyone in America is with Israel, although it might seem that way. If anything, the tide AWAY from Israel is growing, and that’s why the Israeli’s are worried. I live in this country, and know what I am talking about. No way in hell Gingrich will be elected. He might get lucky and secure the Republican nomination as this is most likely the weakest group of Republican nominees (even the Republican voters are disgusted with the choices in candidates) in 100 years or more. No matter who wins the Republican side, Obama will beat that candidate, and if it’s Gingrich, it will be HUGE defeat…..even the Republicans hate him….:) Don’t pay any attention to this clown, because 80% of this country, does not….

  26. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
    Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

    Gingrich is not a nice man and won’t get elected. Much of what he says may be true but the question of whether the Palestinian Arabs are a people or not depends largely on how one defines a people/nation.

  27. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
    Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

    Gingrich is not a nice man and won’t get elected. Much of what he says may be true but the question of whether the Palestinian Arabs are a people or not depends largely on how one defines a people/nation.

  28. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
    Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

    Furthermore, ‘Palestine’ has often included Damascus in many books. Palestine was usually a vaguely defined, unofficial geographic region that corresponded with Syria, Bilad al Sham or the Levant.

  29. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
    Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

    Furthermore, ‘Palestine’ has often included Damascus in many books. Palestine was usually a vaguely defined, unofficial geographic region that corresponded with Syria, Bilad al Sham or the Levant.

  30. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
    Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

    Furthermore, ‘Palestine’ has often included Damascus in many books. Palestine was usually a vaguely defined, unofficial geographic region that corresponded with Syria, Bilad al Sham or the Levant.

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