The British broke their promise to the Jews while they created new Arab countries out of the land of the former Ottoman Empire. In addition, because of Arab revolts and pressure, the British even barred entry to the land of Israel to Jews fleeing the Holocaust. (See Part 64.)
Even when the full scope of the Holocaust was known, and thousands of Holocaust survivors were stranded in refugee camps (DP camps), the British refused to relent.
One of the most egregious of the British actions involved the refugee ship, Exodus, which the Royal Navy intercepted in 1947 in the Mediterranean Sea with 4,500 Jews aboard. The ship was brought into Haifa port under British escort; there the Holocaust survivors were forcibly transferred to another ship and returned back to Germany via France.
Abba Eban, who was then the Jewish liaison to a special UN committee ― called Special Committee On Palestine or UNSCOP ― persuaded four UN representatives to go to Haifa to witness the brutality of the British against the Jews.
Historian Martin Gilbert includes Eban's account of what happened there in Israel: A History (p. 145):
"[In Haifa] the four members watched a 'gruesome operation.' The Jewish refugees had decided 'not to accept banishment with docility. If anyone had wanted to know what Churchill meant by a "squalid war," he would have found out by watching British soldier using rifle butts, hose pipes and tear gas against the survivors of the death camps. Men, women and children were forcibly taken off to prison ships, locked in cages below decks and set out of Palestine waters.'"When the four members of UNSCOP came back to Jerusalem, Eban recalled, 'they were pale with shock. I could see that they were pre-occupied with one point alone: if this was the only way that the British Mandate could continue, it would be better not to continue it at all.'"
UN Partition of Palestine
The British also wanted out of the problem. They had 100,000 soldiers/police trying to maintain control with a total population of about 600,000 Jews and 1.2 million Arabs. (Interestingly, until its independence in 1947, they had the same size force controlling India with a population of over 350 million!)
And so it came to pass that the British turned the matter over to the UN which decided to end the British Mandate over what was left of "Palestine" (after the creation of the country of Jordan) and to divide the remaining land among the Arabs and Jews, based on the demographic reality within the country. (Areas with a majority of Jewish population would go to the Jews while areas with an Arab majority would go to the Arabs). The proposal called for the Jews to get:
- a narrow strip of land along the Mediterranean coast, including Tel Aviv and Haifa
- a piece of land surrounding the Kineret (Sea of Galilee), including the Golan Heights
- a large piece in the south, which was the uninhabitable Negev Desert
The Arabs were to get:
- the Gaza Strip
- a chunk of the north, including the city of Tzfat (Safed) and western Galilee
- the entire central mountain region of Judea and Samaria (today known as the West Bank) till the River.
Jerusalem was to be under international control.
On November 29, 1947, the United Nations voted for this partition plan . Of those voting, 33 nations voted yes, including USA and USSR; 13 mostly-Arab nations voted no; 11 nations abstained.
Hard-hearted to the end, the British did not vote yes; they abstained. They also announced that they would not cooperate in the execution of the partition plan and that they would depart from Palestine by May 15, 1948.
As disappointed as the Jews were with the portion allotted for the Jewish state, they felt that something was better than nothing after all the waiting and the pain.
However, the Arabs, always maximalist in their demands, rejected the UN resolution. The next day Arab rioting began, and two weeks later volunteers from surrounding Arab countries began arriving into Palestine to fight the Jews.
The British, happy to be out of the situation, were packing up to go and turned their backs on what was going on. Writes David Ben Gurion in his Israel: A Personal History (p. 65):
"The British did not lift a finger to stop this military invasion. They also refused to cooperate with the UN committee charged with supervising implementation of the General Assembly resolution. At the same time, the Arabs living in the district destined to become part of the Jewish state began evacuating their homes and moving to the Arab states neighboring Palestine at the orders of the Arab High Committee."
In the midst of confusion, the rioting continued with almost 1,000 Jews murdered by Arabs in the ensuing four months.
One of the worst incidents occurred on April 13, 1948. A convoy of doctors and nurses making their way to Hadassah Hospital on Mount Scopus was ambushed by Arabs. This happened 200 yards of a British police station. After a seven-hour shoot-out, during which the British did almost nothing, virtually all the members of the convoy (77) were killed. Some of the bodies were so badly burned that 24 were never identified.
Jerusalem Under Siege
In all of this, the British quietly encouraged the King of Jordan, Abdullah, to invade and annex the Arab sections to his kingdom. To Abdullah this was not enough. He wanted Jerusalem too.
As a result Jerusalem came under siege.
The focus of the struggle during April and May 1948 was the road to Jerusalem which passes through the mountains. The vehicles on that road are completely exposed to gunmen up above. It was on this road that all supplies to the Jews of the city had to come. But they could not get through. steel plates were welded on to trucks in attempt to create primitive armored cars that could withstand the constant ambushes. The narrow, winding road and the overweight vehicles made easy targets. Many were destroyed and the conveys of badly needed food and other supplies weren't making it to Jerusalem,
Hunger reigned. The residents of the Jewish Quarter of the Old City were completely cut off.
The most intense fighting for control of the road to Jerusalem took place at the Kastel in the mountains to west of Jerusalem. The Kastel was the site of an ancient fortress and the Arab forces used the position as the staging area for attacks on the convoys. On April 5, 1948 Haganah forced launched an attack on the Arab positions above the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway and the Kastel. The fighting was fierce and the position changed hands several times. And then an amazing incident happened. A young Yemenite Jew, who was not known for his shooting skills, killed Abdul Khader el-Husseini the leader of the Arab forces. Demoralized, the Arab forces called off their counter attack and by the next day they had abandoned their positions to attend his funeral.
As a result a huge convoy of 250 trucks of food was able to re-supply the city and several more convoys soon followed. Writes Berel Wein in Triumph of Survival (p. 397):
[On Shabbat, April 17, 1948] Jews left their synagogues and, with their prayer shawls still draping their shoulders, helped unload the convoy. The siege of Jerusalem was broken for the moment. The Arabs, however, mounted a strong counter-attack, and by the end of April once again cut the Jerusalem road... for the next seven weeks Jewish Jerusalem was isolated.
A New State Is Born
The official date given by the United Nations in their partition vote for the creation of the two new entities was May 15th, 1948.
Thus, May 14th was to be the last day of the British Mandate. At 4 p.m., the British lowered their flag and immediately the Jews raised their own.
It was a flag designed in 1897 by the First Zionist Congress. It was white (the color of newness and purity), and it had two blue stripes (the color of heaven) like the stripes of a tallit, the prayer shawl, which symbolized the transmission of Jewish tradition. In its center was the Star of David.
Thus on May 14, 1948 at 4:00 p.m., the 5th of Iyar, despite immense international pressure not to declare independence, Israel declared itself a state.
After 2,000 years, the land of Israel was once more in the hands of the Jews.
David Ben Gurion read the Declaration of Independence over the radio:
"The Land of Israel was the birthplace of the Jewish people. Here the spiritual, religious and national identity was formed. Here they achieved independence and created a culture of national and universal significance. Here they wrote and gave the Bible to the world...
"Exiled from Palestine, the Jewish people remained faithful to it in all the countries of the dispersion, never ceasing to pray and hope for their return and restoration of their national freedom.
"Accordingly we, the members of the National Council met together in solemn assembly today and by virtue of the natural and historic right of the Jewish people and with the support of the resolution of the General of the United Nations, hereby proclaim the establishment of the Jewish state in Palestine to be called Israel...
"We offer peace and amity to all neighboring states and their peoples and invite them to cooperate with the independent Jewish nation for the common good of all...
"With trust in the Rock of Israel, we set our hands to this declaration at this session of the Provisional State Council in the city of Tel Aviv on Sabbath Eve, 5th Iyar 5708, 14th day of May 1948."
(Note that the Declaration of Independence of Israel ― unlike the American Declaration of Independence ― does not mention God. This is because the hard-line secularists that dominated the Jewish Agency opposed any such thing. "Rock of Israel" –which could be understood either as God or the Israeli Defense Force – became a compromise.)
Israeli Minister, Zeev Sharef described the scene:
…Rabbi Y.L. Fishman delivered the benediction of "Who hath kept and sustained and brought us to this day," which the aged rabbi did in a trembling voice choked with emotion…Suddenly the full impact of what had been done came home. The significance of the creation of the state… As the signing of the document ended, Hatikvah was struck up by the orchestra; and it seemed as if the heavens had opened and were pouring out a song of joy on the rebirth of a nation. The audience stood motionless, transfixed… "The State of Israel is established! This meeting is ended!" It had taken 32 minutes in all to proclaim the independence of a people who, for 1,887 years, had been under the servitude of other nations… People embraced…tears of rejoicing streamed; yet there was grief for sons who had fallen and sons whose fate was in the womb of the future-grief and dread locked the innermost recesses of the heart. Outside thousands had gathered….The streets of Tel Aviv were filled with crowds…
People were dancing in the streets. But not for long.
Almost immediately five Arab countries declared war and Egypt bombed Tel Aviv.
[1] There can be little doubt that one of the primary reasons for U.N. support for a Jewish States came out of European guilt for the Holocaust. The death of millions of Jews "bought" enough sympathy to allow for the creation of a Jewish State. Sadly, since the partition vote of 1947, the U.N. voting record on Israel has gotten progressively worse: In 1975 the U.N. voted to declare Zionism as a racist ideology (resolution 3379) and since 1990 fully two thirds of ALL U.N. resolutions have condemned Israel. For more on this topic see: Dore Gold, Tower of Babble-How the United Nations Has Fueled Global Chaos. New York: Crown Forum, 2004. and Eric Shawn, The U.N. Exposed-How the United nations Sabotages America's Security. New York: Sentinel, 2006.
[2] While armies from surrounding Arab countries had to wait until the British departed to officially invade, the actual fighting began immediately after the U.N. partition vote and the British did little or nothing to stop it.
[3] Larry Collins & Dominique Lapierre, O Jerusalem,(Pocket Books, 1972), p. 327.
[4] In May 1948, once the war of Independence had officially begun, Arab forces were able to close the road off once again by firing from the British police station at Latrun. The Haganah (fledgling Israeli army) tried several times to take Latrun but failed. Just as Jerusalem was about to fall an alternative road (nick named the "Burma Road") was quickly cut through the rocky hills allowing badly needed supplies to arrive and prevent the fall of Jerusalem to the Arabs.
[5] Benjamin Blech, Eyewitness to Jewish History. (New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2004), p.267.
(24) Menashe Kaltmann, April 6, 2008 7:25 AM
British Rule was Very Cruel!
I feel I must in response to Mr Marc Milton-Talbot's unbelievable answer:
- The rule of The British in Mandate Palestine was especially cruel with British civil servants and military officers favouring the Arabs over the Jews. If you don't believe me let me elaborate just some of the facts;
-Consider how the British didn't honour The Balfour Declaration.
-Consider also the comments of Colonel Ernest Richmond who championed the appointment of The notorious Mufti of Jerusalem who hated the Jews and constantly called for violence against the Jews.
-Consider also the heartless White Papers that banned Jewish immigration to The Holy Land before World War 2 during the rise of Nazism cutting off any escape route.
-Consider the decrepit naval vessel the Struma in December 1941 packed with Jewish refugees fleeing Europe and The British in Palestine refusing to allow the ship to enter Palestine. The ship subsequently sank with the loss of over 700 Jewish lives about 70 of which were children.
-Also consider the heartless British Navy that intercepted boats even after The Holocaust and interred the many survivors of The Holocaust in Cyprus.
-Consider how the British in Palestine would not allow the Jews to ready themselves for the upcoming 1948 War of Independence confiscating arms and giving some of the key police stations and forts up to the Arabs.
The list goes on and on; British self interest and anti semitism helped to forge this immoral policy.
(Regarding what happened in India under Colonial rule and some of the injustices ; the list is huge of all the injustices done to the many people in India during Colonial rule. The massacre of Jallianwala Bagh near Golden Temple in Amritsar is just one example.
Also in Australia the inaction of the British colonial government prevented the killing of the Tasmanian Aborigine.
To whitewash all these events is total nonsense.
(23) Mike Lampard, March 27, 2008 1:42 PM
I am ashamed of my country
Britain has continued in gradual and progressive decline since 1947, and who can be surprised after the way we betrayed the Jews, even withour knowledge of the holocaust. many of us as individuals have repented, but unless we as a nation repent, the decline will continue right into oblivion. We have ourselves to blame.
(22) Marc Milton-Talbot, March 14, 2008 3:07 AM
Mr Kaltmann should bear in mind that if Britain had not resisted the Nazis, and surrendered like France did,then Israel would never had a chance to establish itself.Regarding the partition of India;it was Jinna who insisted on a separate state for the Muslims.As for the Aborigines,the British government couldn't be blamed for the actions of individual settlers there.
(21) Murray Gorelick, March 11, 2008 6:44 PM
Why has the UN not enforce it sown declarations
If the UN was supposed to be the high Court and it has made a declaration creating a new state why did it not send in their troops to see that it was carried out. I think that I see the light Israsel did not have oil. I wonder if all the technology that has come out of Israel in the last 60 years will make for abetter world as they give it to the world practically free.
The reuse of all kinds of water , the growing of fruit and vegtables in the desert, Planting trees to reclaim the desert, and make it bloom. Every country in the world looks to Israel for the solutions that they have pioneed how to save water,
Medical advances, electronic devices. I wonder if the world would react the same way if all these improvments including the computers and cell phones were denied to them and only Israel would have them what their reaction would be.
I wonder if the search for alternate fuels which Israel has develo0ped and have announced that Next year they will go into production of all electric cars. What would tje Arabx do with therir oil. ell they could take a bathe in it they can pour it in the streets or maybe a Istrali would figure out to make it so it can ve uses as a drink and use it as castor oil.
(20) Therese Kimber, March 11, 2008 11:55 AM
In support of Israel's right to exist . . .
I read the above article with tears in my eyes. As someone of British descent (2nd generation) I can only say I'm ashamed and angry at the way the Jews were treated at the hands of my own people. To just say I'm sorry is too little too late, but I want you to know I absolutely support Israel's right to exist and pray for this scourge of anti-semitism to cease from the face of the earth.
Laine, April 2, 2016 4:55 PM
The British Mandate for Palestine
Therese,don't beat yourself.Unlike some other commentators on this site,I don't think British rule (1917-48) was that terrible for Palestine's Jews.After all,if the Turkish had continued ,would there be a Jewish state today?And in the 30 years of British rule,the Jewish population increased from 50,000 to 650,000.And the Jewish Night Squads organized by Orde Wingate gave the Haganah valuabe experience in fighting Arab terrorists.And the Palmach which spearheaded the 1948 victory was initially established (and trained) by the British in 1941.Besides the British-voluntarily or not-laid part of the infrastructure for the future Jewish state.So yes,the White Paper (1939) was terrible and so was the arming-and in the case of Trans-Jordan actually leading-the Arab armies that attacked Israel in 1948 was horrible.But overall,without the British Mandate there would be no Jewish state today.And we should NOT forget that either.
(19) Menashe Kaltmann, May 14, 2007 5:20 AM
The Injustices of being a colonial power
Again thank you Rabbi Spiro and aish.com for this wonderful series.
I read the account describing thr injustices of the British as a colonial power. You think of all the misery this colonial power has wreaked not just in the Holy Land but in India with the painful partition of the sub continent and in Australia with the terrible treatment of the Aborigines.
(18) stephen, November 6, 2005 12:00 AM
This is a good website, I have found some useful information.
.............
(17) Gary Selikow, May 26, 2005 12:00 AM
No peace until the Rabs realize that the Jews of Israel are there to stay
Richard Blair writes : " am I right in assuming that there was peace for a long, long time before 1948? "
No Mr Blair you are NOT right.
From 1810 onwards Jews in the Land of Israel have been murdered by Arabs. The pious Jews of Safed, who would raise no hand in their own defence, had been robbed and murdered and burned out again and again by Arabs-as the Jews in Jerusalem and Tiberias had been robbed and slain and burned out. Bedouin Arabs passed through Israel at will-and robbed and killed Jews as a profitable thing. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Arab feudal lords in Israel organized pogroms precisely as the Czar had organized pogroms. The Land of Israel was a blighted and empty land until the Zionist Movement returned it to life.
In 1920 , Jews where massacred in Jersualem and in 1921 in Jaffa. In 1929 the entire ages old Jewish community of Hebron was massacred and from 1936 to 1939 , inspired and supported by Hitler's Nazi regime in Germany , pogroms spread across the Land of Israel , taking thousands of Jewish lives.
Violence continues for the same reason it took place in 1920 and before.
The refusal of the Arabs to accept the presence of the Jewish people in their ancient homeland.
And peace will only come when the Arabs and their backers realize once and for all that the Jews of Israel are there to stay.
(16) Moishe Neuer, October 31, 2003 12:00 AM
Rock of Israel
The use of "Tzur Yisrael"(Rock of Israel) has a long history in Judaism as a synonym for God, and is used in in our prayers every day.It was therefore not necessary to criticize its use in the Israeli Declaration.
(15) Anonymous, October 27, 2003 12:00 AM
very informative
I loved this article. We have to also remember that the US was also lacks in support of the Jews during the second war. We also stopped ship loads of Jews from landing here in the states. Israel will always have to fight for its right to exsist until Messiah comes.
It amazes me that a country so small and of so few people has always beat the odds. If that isn't the hand of G-d then I don't know what is. The Jews are still G-ds chosen people and we need to not forget that. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Shalom
(14) G. Weiss, October 27, 2003 12:00 AM
NO mention of god in US Declaration of Independence
Other than the line which refers to the inalienable rights endowed by our Creator...Life, Liberty, etc. , there is no mention of God or any religion in the American Declaration of Independence either. Just that one word, "Creator" and only then to reference every human's fundamental rights.
(13) Anonymous, October 27, 2003 12:00 AM
dear Richard,,
there is a hole in my b ucket, dear Richard, so sang HARRY BELAFONTE... IN THE EARLY 1970-73 timespan i lived and wirked, socialised and dated with my peer group in Jerusalem, and this included Arabs .. they were treated equally in all respects... they had i.d.cards which they had to show more often than we did ours.. because of weekly planting of their terrorist bombs... they enjoyed equal rights in all Jewish institutions, they could sit next to us in Jewih buses...they were given more privileges by the Israelis..than they could recipocrate... but the never stoopped complaining... they had superannuation.. health benefits..promotion etc.. where Iworked.. Iam pretty sure of that... and they were always very polite, helpful,and courteous to me, because they felt secure... your image of maltreated indigenous Israelis is a false one.. their squalid hate filled,hopeless refugee camps were deliberately created by their own brethren.. in orderto make big trouble..Israel provided those who remained with a safe haven...
(12) David Morse, October 27, 2003 12:00 AM
WE MUST ALSO NEVER FORGET
how the State of Israel came into being.
If others can make us think it is a state like any other then we can give away parts of it that were redeemed
through the shedding of holy blood
and that we have no legitimate claim to any of it. These people struggled and died for each other and for us and
we must not cheapen their sacrifice.
(11) Anonymous, July 23, 2002 12:00 AM
"Compromise" on Mentioning G-d
It might be interesting to note on this point the opinion of two great mekubalim alive at the time of the establishment of the state:
1) The daughter of Rav Yehuda Ashlag (Ba'al Hasulam) told: "When my father heard of the arguments over the drafting of the declaration of independence, that many of those assembled didn't want to include the name of G-d in this declaration, he said that with this they caused tremendous damage, because there is no greater blemish than the desire to establish the State of Israel without G-d."
2) The Lubavitcher Rebbe said that 1948 "was a time of opportunity. But the Jewish leaders stood by and debated whether or not to make mention of G-d’s name in the 'Declaration of Independence.' Thus the Redemption was put off by fifty years."
(10) Anonymous, April 3, 2002 12:00 AM
An incredible and invaluable resource for getting to and teaching the facts of the history of Israel.
As a public school teacher in the US, this resource provides me clear, concise facts of the history of Israel. It also provides those facts in a way that can be easily used with students. Primary resource quotes are great, lending validity to the author's position. A treasure when trying to explain the history behind the current situation Israel is involved in.
(9) Anonymous, March 31, 2002 12:00 AM
Very good Article!!
I liked your article very much. Today first time I read your article. From now I will read it regularly.
I had not known about your site. But with yahoo.com I discovered your site.
I am with Israeli People. What is their crime if they are Jews. Muslims all over the world hate Jews and Israel because it is written in their Holy Book Kuran that, you Never Make Jews as your friend. they are your enemy. They are also enemy of Islam. All sush rubbish things have been mentioned in the Kuran. I want to ask one question, that are Jews not a human beings.
I agree with america which supports Israel.
(8) Bonifacio, Jr. Arribas, March 1, 2002 12:00 AM
Great article which was both educational & a nice promotional work for tolerance.
Dear Rabbi Spiro,
I really enjoyed reading your article. This might shed some light to you, I am a Muslim. However, studying about the three main religions: Judaism, Christianity, & Islam, has been a fascination for me for quite some time. (Martin Gilbert is a known author, I have his book ISRAEL and CHURCHILL - I haven't read ISRAEL yet though. After this intoductory article though, you can be sure I will.)
The main problem, I feel, in regards to problems never seeming to cease or reduce on a significant level in this world has to do with a lack of TOLERANCE & willingness to understand and observe by people belonging to different faiths. What must be realized, however, if looked at in the point of view of the Holy Books of major (& minor) religions, is that the jiff of each and everyone is that the messages are clear and similar. Or, rather, has a direct connectivity. And this connectivity is that there is but ONE GOD, believe in him, and be steadfast in prayer.
In regards to Jews, I have a profound respect. Your history and the trials that people of your religion has been through speaks for itself. In fact, when in regards to the making of the Jewish state, (of whom Churchill was a main advocate for,) which started back in the 1920's (I forgot the exact date,) didn't finally push through until 1945, when Churchill was finally PM of G.B.)
Although being a Muslim, I cannot speak in behalf of the whole Muslim race nor can I speak against them. I can, however, say that the region involving the Middle-East involves history dating far-far back. And usually, more often than not, history and tradition of more than a 1000 years creates a type of traditional mindset amongst people that inevitably cause an unconscious "selfish" type of character. And, in this regards, I apologize. (I am a Muslim from Indonesia, so I guess in a way I can be more open-minded about it all than if I were an Arab Muslim.)
To tell you the truth, a lot of verses in the Islamic holy book Qur'an mentions the Jews. Especially in "The Cow" Sura's. And Allah holds high praise and respect for you. Same goes for the Christians. (See the importance of tolerance or understanding.) Education is really the key.
I was wondering if you would know where I could get an English translation of the Jewish Holy Book. & if so, am a allowed for the simple reason that I'm not a Jew? I'd really like to read it. It'll help me more in my quest of being more religously aware and conscious abut the existence of God, our supreme being, and understanding.
Sincerely,
Bonifacio Badri Arribas, Jr.
"Bonju"
(7) Mike M, February 28, 2002 12:00 AM
Jews in the Holy Land before Israel's establishment
Its important to note that there was always a Jewish population in what is now the modern state of Israel throughout the past 2000 years. Additionaly it is imporant to point out that Jews were actualy the majority in Jerusalem by the latter half of the mid-19th century. Israel was not created in 1948, it was re-established and Jews did not appear out of nowhere once it came into existance. Furthermore it is important to note that before the British Mandate over Palistine, it was a part of the Ottomon Empire (modern day Turkey) and many "Palistineans" are actualy decendants of immigrants from Egypt and Syria.
Lastly, while an Arab presence cannot be ignored throughout the history of what is now Israel, before 1948 Palistine was thought of as a Jewish land because there was never any Palistinean national identity until the mid-1950's when Arabs from the West Bank and Gaza decided they would have to fight for themselves since it was unlikely they would receive anything other than military failures and rhetoric from Arab states.
(6) Naama Rodkin, February 24, 2002 12:00 AM
The passage sounds like propaganda to me. Sure, the Britons were against Zionism (from time to time). Why do you expect them to favor Jews rather than Arabs? Why would they? Jews,at that time,used Terrorism against British fources stationed in Palestine. For some reason, someone forgot to write that. Moreover, Let's not forget Britain was the first country ever to support the idea of a Jewish state. You mustn't make them look like monsters. It's childish and ridiculously unreliable. By the way, if their occupation was immoral---
I couldn't help noticing you're implying God was some what responsible for the victories of my country. Hey, I can't prove he wasn't... But to me it seems that thanking providence makes the founders of Israel look passive. And that's unfair. Israel was established -yes, thanks to good timing- but mainly thanks to brave men and women who gave their blood, sweat and tears for their country. They're the reason for my being here.
(5) Richard Blair, February 21, 2002 12:00 AM
Mixed Feelings
I've always felt pretty supportive of the Jewish cause in Israel. I can be roughly grouped into the category of American agnostic in case you were wondering. I learned a lot of what I know from an Israeli I traveled with in South America, and I've always been appaled at the terrorist methods of the Palestines that I've witnessed through newspapers and other forms of media. However, there is one line in this article that really troubled me: "After 2,000 years, the land of Israel was once more in the hands of the Jews."
Now, I'm still trying to educate myself on this whole issue, but I can't help but feel sympathy for a people who are autonomous in a region for 2,000 years, and are suddenly forced to live with an old enemy. Of course, there have been many transgressions on both sides for thousands of years, but am I right in assuming that there was peace for a long, long time before 1948?
My heart bleeds for the suffering of the Jews, but I have mixed feelings about today's struggle in Israel. Both sides of the conflict have tremendous support from what I can tell, it seems like Palestines are oppressed by the Israelis and Israelis are oppressed by the entire Middle East.
I'm struggling to understand.
(4) Jerry Bell, February 18, 2002 12:00 AM
Timing.
I cannot image the United States supporting the creation of the State of Israel during, at least, the last 20 years. Timing would seem to be everything - if not for my belief in God.
(3) Gretchen Hardister, February 18, 2002 12:00 AM
Very informative
I know the feeling.
(2) Suzanne Tunstall, February 18, 2002 12:00 AM
opened my eye's
I was both,shocked & horrified to read of the,British,barbaric behavior towards,the,holocost victims,both,the,turning away,of the ship also the survivor's who made it ashore & were degraded yet again,I am ashamed to have been born in Britain I ask your forgiveness for what has been done.
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(1) Linda Kirk, February 18, 2002 12:00 AM
Awesome - can't wait to dig into the series.
I am thrilled to find so much historical
information re: the State of Israel available on a single website - so many websites are narrow in scope - yours covers everything I'm interested in. Thank you.