Friday's UN resolution "...calls upon all States, bearing in mind paragraph 1 of this resolution, to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967"
In the spirit of that distinction, here is the redacted summary of the battles of the Hanukkah story according to the UN.
In 167 BCE, after launching the revolt in ancient Modi'in Occupied Palestinian Territory against Antiochus IV, the 5 sons of Matityahu set up base camp in the Hills of Beit El Occupied Palestinian Territory.
That same year, Judah Maccabee and his small band of men face off in their first battle against Apollonius in Ma'aleh Levona Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The next major battle, in 166 BCE, is against Seron, who lost to the Maccabees in the hills of Beit Choron Occupied Palestinian Territory.
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A few months later, with a massive Syrian-Greek army headed by Lysias coming his way, Judah and his men gather in Mitzpah Occupied Palestinian Territory, in preparation for an epic battle in Emek Ayalon.
In 164 BCE, a huge battle takes place in Beit Tzur Occupied Palestinian Territory, ultimately resulting in giving the Maccabees access to Jerusalem Occupied Palestinian Territory.
They then make their way to Jerusalem Occupied Palestinian Territory, and rededicate the Temple that stood in Occupied Palestinian Territory.
In 162 BCE, the next major battle takes place in Beit Zechariah Occupied Palestinian Territory, where Judah's brother Elazar was killed while attacking a war elephant.
In 161 BCE, Judah defeats a vast army lead by Nicanor in Adasa/Givon Valley Occupied Palestinian Territory.
In 160 BCE, Judah Maccabee is tragically killed during a desperate battle in Elasa/Mt. Bal Hatzor Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Eventually a Jewish State is consolidated 20 years later by the last surviving brother, Simon.
Ironically, Antiochus VII demands that Simon return to him the "illegally occupied" cities of Jaffa, Gezer and the coastal towns, which had previously been controlled by the Syrian-Greeks.
Simon defiantly responds (Maccabees 1 Chapter 15): "We have not taken strange lands, nor are we ruling over foreign territory. We have returned to our ancestral inheritance, from which we had been unjustly expelled by our enemies. And now that we have been blessed with the opportunity, we will hold onto our ancestral land."
Antiochus VII then attacks, and is repelled by Simon's army, paving the way for generations of Hasmonean rule.
Hanukkah celebrates a time in history when God delivered "many in to the hands of the few, the impure into the hands of the pure, the wicked into the hands of the righteous" (Al Hanissim Prayer). It marks a victory against tyranny and religious persecution.
It also reaffirms a stubborn historical truth which stands firm regardless of one's opinion on the best way to solve the seemingly intractable modern-day conflict: for thousands of years the Land of Israel – especially the parts referenced by in last week's UN resolution – has been profoundly intertwined with Jewish destiny. No amount of Security Council resolutions can ever change that big, beautiful, historical, and inescapable fact. Happy Hanukkah!
(14) Anonymous, December 30, 2016 1:19 PM
No Two State Solution?
Is the point of the article that we should not support a two-state solution? Ironically, that's exactly what John Kerry is saying that Israel's position is secretly. Is he right?
jack forman, January 2, 2017 4:18 AM
No, it's to show that what the UN calls "occupied territory" is historically Jewish
The UN denies Jewish ties to the Old City and the Western Wall as well as to most of the West Bank. In doing so, it undercuts the whole premise of the land-for-peace argument. How can Israel negotiate on the basis of land-for-peace when the UN denies they have any land to negotiate for peace?
(13) jim, December 29, 2016 7:55 AM
facts galore!
hang on, and fight nonsense.
(12) Deborah Iwo, December 28, 2016 9:34 AM
Shame on the UN
No other country is treated so disrespectfully as Israel. Jews have lived in Judaea and Samaria long before there was any such thing as a Palestinian.
(11) Anonymous, December 28, 2016 6:19 AM
Absolutely agree with Ben Kline. Watch out , our ' wonderful enemies', your time is already started in Europe. Europe is finished, her history is only her Past time.
(10) NEKAMA, December 28, 2016 4:39 AM
I will start with the following .לעולם לא עוד
We will never ever again see a holocaust .בארץ ישראל
No matter what they do or what they say this time around Israel will take the entire world into destruction if we are ever on the brink of extinction.
with or without the Americans Which were thrown against the wall by our beloved Golda Meir Z'L when she said to kissinger. Send us weapons... or else..
We, modern Jews either in the diaspora or living the daily tension in Israel will never be subservient again.
I will end with the Story of David and Goliath.
Who is Goliath here? all of them ... the whole world hates us with passion ....forever.
CHAZAK VEEMATZ ISRAEL TAMID
ייתכן שאלוהים להגן ויברך הצבא הישראלי
CHAG SAMEACH LEKOL HAYEHUDIM BERETZ ISRAEL VEBAOLAM
(9) Anonymous, December 27, 2016 10:59 PM
Ancient Palestinians
I guess according to the UN, the Maccabees were brave Palestinian "freedom fighters" who reclaimed the Dome of the Rock, and rededicated it to Allah.
(8) Anonymous, December 27, 2016 10:36 PM
All I can say is: B"H
(7) Anonymous, December 27, 2016 9:21 PM
Presildent Obama started his administration with his Cairo speech maligning Israel and ending his 8 year term with a resolution unprecedented in American history betraying and maligning our only ally not only in words but in action. Cairo was words and resolution is action G-d will judge and do as He sees fit. Good griddens President Obama
(6) Anonymous, December 27, 2016 5:36 PM
yes ... and "Jewish destiny" is determined by the A-mighty who intervenes in history. This resolution is also part of the Divine plan.
(5) Anonymous, December 27, 2016 2:54 PM
Amen!!!! Excellent way to demonstrate how absurd the UN resolution is.
(4) MESA, December 27, 2016 2:25 PM
Eretz Yisrael belongs to us and we have no right to let anyone take any part of it away.
(3) Anonymous, December 27, 2016 2:10 PM
When President Obama lights the menorah in the oval office (as all past US presidents have done) will he not see the irony of his actions?
The menorah represents the lighting of the menorah in the temple (now occupied Palestine) following a Jewish revolt over 2000 years (before the event of Islam)
(2) john, December 27, 2016 1:46 PM
Historically correct
Very good article. What you have written can be checked out as being correct in history books.
I too agree with PM Netanyahu that this ruling is absurd.
(1) Jack, December 27, 2016 10:23 AM
Aish offices
And don't forget that with this "Absurd" (that is how PM Netanyahu referred to this resolution, the Aish World Center across from this Western Wall is now in the illegally occupied territories.
Laine, December 29, 2016 7:46 PM
And in Addition
According to 2334,the Jews living in the re-built Jewish Quarter
are "war criminals" who should be brought before the ICC.And,of course the re-built Jewish synagogues (including the magnificent
Hurva,vs 3) are illegal and should thus be demolished again.This
incidentally is Obama and May's idea of a "balanced resolution".
Hate to think what an unbalanced one would be.