Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2002 17:59:28 CDT From: stem0037@tc.umn.edu (Rebecca C Stempfle) Subject: [libs4peace] Re: History and facts To: libs4peace@yahoogroups.com
H. Rearden wrote: > In 1951 Jordan declared the annexation of the West Bank includind
> East Jurusalem and the Arab League placed the Gaza Strip in the
> custody of Egypt. In 1970 Jordan attacked Palestinians killing
> thousands and forcing Palestinians to the West Bank were they became
> refugees. Jordan occupies about 50% of the Palestinian Mandate. If
> the PLO is in conflict with Israel over land then they would treat
> the Jordanians the same or worse. It is evident that their hatred of
> Jews is not about land and they are racist. In 21 of 22 Arab states
> Palestinians can not become citizens. In Israel Arabs are allowed
> citizenship and can vote. There are Arabs in the Parliament of
> Israel. There are no Jews who hold a government office or position in
> any Arab state. If the PLO and other Palestinian terrorist groups
> have the same military power that Israel does they would use it to
> attempt to destroy Israel.
Your history and facts are not very historical and factual.
Jordan annexed the West Bank in 1950, not 1951. Egypt's control over Gaza was recognized by the Israeli-Egyptian armistice agreement of February 1949.
The war in 1970 in Jordan, referred to as Black September by the Palestinians, was the result of an ongoing dispute between the PLO and the Jordan monarchy as well as specific actions taken by the PFLP. The Jordanians did kill thousands of Palestinians, which of course should be condemned. The refugees in the West Bank however are the result of the 1948 war, not the 1970 war in Jordan.
The exact boundaries of Palestine are historically ambiguous, however the British recognized the border of Palestine on the east as the Jordan River and completely separated Transjordan administratively from Palestine in September 1923 and shortly thereafter gave Transjordan autonomy. Jordan occupies no land West of the Jordan River in what was the Palestinian Mandate.
H. Rearden wrote: > In the 1950's Palestinian real estate agents sold land in the West
> Bank to Israelies. In 1948 820,000 Jews were expelled from Arab
> countries. Their land and property were taken from them.
The West Bank was under Jordan control in the 1950's. It wasn't being sold to Israel by Palestinian real estate agents. The land for the Jewish settlements was by and large confiscated from the Palestinians. Indeed many Jews were expelled from Arab countries and this should most definitely be condemned. They should certainly have the right to return if that is what they wish, as should the Palestinian refugees.
> Israel is only 1% of the Middle East. Jews are from the Middle East.
> Many of the Arab countries do not want the Jews to have any land in
> the Middle East eventhough they are from the Middle East.
> Think about that. Jews are from the Middle East. The Middle East in
> part is their land. Is 1% too much? Many North American Indians
> originated from what became and is the U.S. In the 19th century at
> least the U.S. government made Oklahoma Indian territory. The PLO
> and/or so called Palestinian authority and many Arab states don't
> think their should be any land for the Jews in the Middle East.
Many Jews (though not all) most certainly have Middle East ancestry. It is not that fact that Jews live in Israel that is the problem. It is the fact that they established their rights at the expense of the native Palestinians that is the problem. They should both be able to live there with equal legal rights.
H. Rearden wrote: > I believe in Israel Palestinians can become citizens.
The Palestinians within the Green Line (1948 borders) were under martial law until 1966. They were given citizenship then but there are certain rights they do not have (which David Kocot described). Actually then can serve in the army, though most do not. Those that do, serve in special minority divisions (segregation). Arbs are excluded from all intelligence divisions of the army. Palestinians in the occupied territories or refugees elsewhere cannot become citizens. I suppose that if a Palestinian first obtained, say American citizenship, they could then move to Israel and try to obtain Israeli citizenship by the much longer method for non-Jews.
H. Rearden wrote: > You can't find any of the Arab states that exist today on a map that
> was drawn before WWI.
Political nation states is a European concept. Those in African and the Middle East are the result of European colonization. Colonizers and those that had "mandates" don't have the right to determine the final status of the land under their control, that right belongs to the native inhabitants.
Rebecca
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