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There is no Israel without Jews.

No Jews without Israel.

There is an abundance of misinformation about Israel and her roots in our educational system, synagogues, news outlets and media. There are influential representatives in government spewing lies about the Jewish homeland. This causes a gross distortion and perception of the truth with regard to Israel, the Jewish people, and her history.

Taking Back the Narrative (TBTN) is a Zionist education initiative which aims to get the facts about Israel, its right as the Jewish homeland, and the efficacious voice it represents in the world, out into the public sphere. TBTN does not have a specific political agenda, other than supporting truth, which should not have a side in the political theater.

The indisputable facts speak for themselves. TBTN aims to educate and inform advocates, Jewish educators, and government officials. TBTN’s sole mission is to correct mistruths and fill the gap about the Middle East as it relates to Israel and the Jewish people, in a positive, fact-based light. Israel is a living, breathing part of the Jewish ecosystem; there is no Israel without Jews, no Jews without Israel.

Taking Back the Narrative Advisory Committee Members:

Rabbi Dr. Elie Abadie * Avi Abelow * Shahar Azani * Ariel Grunberg * Aaron Hadida

Timeline of Events in Jewish History

538 BCE
Jews in Babylonia (today’s Iraq)

Return from Exile after the destruction of the First Temple

70CE
Destruction of Second Temple

Mass Exile; though Jews do remain in Israel (numerous members of the Jewish Priestly class fled and hid in Northern Israel; many remained for thousands of years).

 

Extended family of Kohanim (priests) fled to Peki'in in the Galilee where they settled into life as farmers. Jews remained in Peki’in until 1938. Today, it is a Druze village.

 

Post Second Temple Destruction - Rabbi ben Zakkai, with permission of the Romans, establishes a Rabbinical school in Yavneh in Judea, moving Jewish spiritual life outside the Old City of Jerusalem. 

131-136 CE
Bar Kokhba Revolt

The Third Roman-Jewish War
(after which, Romans rename Judea to Syria Palestina)

 

200-300CE
Jews forced to become Roman citizens

Permitted to legally resettle in Palestine

602-628 CE
Jewish revolt against the Byzantine Empire

Palestine was a Byzantine Province from 390 - 636 CE. The revolt, which broke out during the Byzantine-Sasanian War, was led by Nehemiah ben Hushiel and Benjamin of Tiberias.  

Jewish soldiers from Tiberias, Nazareth, and other Galilee settlements joined forces with these Persian invaders to capture Jerusalem in 614 CE. 20,000 Jewish soldiers joined the revolt; the Jewish population estimated at the time to be about 300,000 - 400,000.

1099 CE
Crusaders conquer Jerusalem

 Massacre both Jews and Muslims

1100 CE
Battle of Haifa

Majority of Haifa’s population is Jewish and together with Muslims fight against the Crusaders

Crusader transportation routes open - 300 Rabbis from France and England arrived in a group, some settling in Acre (Akko), others in Jerusalem

12th & 13th Century
Ayubbid Dynasty

Ruler Saladin allows Jews in Jerusalem; Jews in Jerusalem prosper

1267
The Ramban

A community of Spanish Jews was established in 1267 and built around the synagogue, which still carries his name (Ramban Synagogue) in the Old City today.

Early 15th century
Ashkenazi Presence

The Ashkenaz (German) community establishes itself in Jerusalem

1492
The Spanish Inquisition

Forced Spanish Jewry (Sephardim) to disperse, many returning to their Jewish ancestral homeland

1517
Start of Ottoman Rule

Jews mainly reside in Jerusalem, Nablus (Shechem), Hebron, Gaza, Tzfat and the villages of Galilee (Northern part of Israel). The Jewish community was composed of descendants of Jews who had always lived in the Land, as well as immigrants from North Africa and Europe.

1560
Tzfat as a Center for Scholarship

Becomes the epicenter for Kabbalah scholarship; Jewish population in Tzfat reaches 10,000

Late 16th century
First Kurdish Aliyah
1700
Judah the Pious

He established an Ashkenazi community in Jerusalem, and built the synagogue which became known as the Hurva.

1740
Rabbi Abulafia

At the request of the Ottoman Empire re-establishes Tiberias

1742- 1777
Hasidic Aliya
1800
Influx of Immigration

Students of the Vilna Gaon once again establish Tzfat as a mystical center for learning. Jerusalem and Hebron also see an influx of immigration during this time.

1855
Moses Montefiore

Purchases and establishes Jewish lands, as well as the first Jewish orchard outside of Jaffa

1860
Jews Expand Outside of Old City

First Jewish neighborhood, Mishkenot Sha’ananim, established outside the Old City of Jerusalem

1869
Ottoman citizenship law of 1869

Ottoman citizenship granted to Jews in Palestine

1870
Jerusalem has a Jewish majority
1878 - 1882
Early Political Zionists

Jews largely fleeing from widespread pogroms within the Russian Empire, established the new towns of: Petach Tikvah, Rishon Litzion, Rosh Pina, Zichron Yakov (first major Eastern European Jewish Aliyah).

1882
Yemenite Jews make their first Aliyah
1903 - 1905
Second Aliyah

Eastern European Jews, mostly Labor Zionists, comprise the return back to the Jewish homeland.

1909
Tel Aviv is established
1917
WWI Ends

Britain occupies the area known as Palestine (today’s Israel and Jordan), which was previously under the Ottoman Empire. The Balfour Declaration promises an established national home for the Jewish people.

1919 - 1923
Third Aliyah Begins

Jews were returning to their ancient homeland in droves – as many as 1,000 per month. The British instituted harsh restrictions on the immigration numbers.

1922
First British White Paper targeting Jews
Mid 1920's
Fourth Aliyah

During this time, mostly Polish business owners aided in the economic growth of Palestine’s economy (especially of factories in urban areas). As a result, Arab immigration increased due to Jewish-led economic growth.

1929
Arab Riots

Resulted in the death of Jews at the hands of Arabs; 67 Jews murdered in Hebron

1935 -1939
Fifth Aliyah

Polish, German, Austrian Jews flee from the onslaught of Nazism; while some were families, many children came alone aided by the Youth Aliyah movement.

1936 - 1937
Arab Riots Continue

Death and devastation of Jews continues at the hands of Arabs, prompting underground Jewish resistance.

 

1937
Peel Commission

British attempt to further partition an already truncated Jewish portion of Palestine

1939
Second British White Paper

limited Jewish immigration/land purchases

1941
Grand Mufti of Jerusalem

Collaborates with Hitler, proposes ‘Final Solution’

1945
British Antisemitism Peaks

 Jewish survivors of the Holocaust are forbidden to enter Palestine; many were detained in harsh conditions.

1947
UN Partition of Palestine

At this time, Jews were already left with ONLY 22% of the land promised by the British in 1920.  Of that, this partition offered Jews a meager portion of what was left of the remaining 22%. Arabs reject; Jews accept.

1948
Israel Liberated by Jews from British Occupation

Arab armies launch massive attacks

1948 - 1950
Mass expulsion of Mizrahi Jews

Iraqi, Yemeni, Persian Jews from across the Arab world are expelled in response largely to Israeli independence.

1979
Persian Jewish immigration

As a result, from the overthrow of the Shah in Iran, Israel sees an influx of Persian immigration. Anti-Semitic Iranian Revolution replaces the Shah and ushers in radical Islamism.

Gaza Explained

Gaza Explained

Why Zionism

Why Zionism

Jewish Diversity

Jewish Diversity

Israel Fast Facts to Share

Israel Fast Facts to Share

Minorities Represented in Israel

Minorities Represented in Israel

Correct Israel-Related Terms

Correct Israel-Related Terms

Books

Taking Back the Narrative Logo

From Mizrahi Jewish spies deployed to Lebanon and Syria, prior to the liberation of Israel, to the brave history of Israel’s now world-renowned weapons industry, the TBTN approved book list offers something for everyone.

Meet a young nurse, Raquela, based on a real woman, whose life’s stories interweave as Israel transitions from a land occupied by the British to full independence — and all the joy and tribulations associated with that time period.

These titles are a sample of books that helped shape our in-depth perspective of the Jewish homeland. Please check back periodically, as our list will continue to expand.

View Books

Articles

  1.  Time stops in Peki’in – The Jerusalem Post
  2.  The History of the Land Is Jewish, Not Palestinian
  3.  Who are the Palestinians?
  4.  Israel at the Worlds Fair: Today & Before 1948
  5.  Why You Should Know San Remo: The Israel Forever Foundation 
  6.  Howard Grief: Legal Rights and Title of Sovereignty of the Jewish People
  7.  The lost Palestinian Jews – The Jerusalem Post 
  8.  Heroes on the Walls of Haifa – סגולה
  9.  History Finds No Evidence of Any People, Race, Tribe, or Culture Known as Palestinian
  10.  Old Jerusalem: 49 Photos Of Life In The Arab City Before Israel 
  11.  The Myth of ‘Occupied Palestinian Territories’: Part One | The American Spectator |
  12.  USA News and Politics Stop Calling it the West Bank. It’s Judea and Samaria – BBI 
  13.  The Musta’arib Jews Who Have Lived In The Land Of Israel For More Than 3300 Years « News « Articles « OneIsrael.org . . . israelstreet.org
  14.  The Western Wall and the Jews: More than a Thousand Years of Prayer 
  15.  Jewish Gaza | Simcha Jacobovici | The Blogs 
  16.  The Last Jew of Peki’in

Videos

videos

Taking Back the Narrative has compiled an array of media links to further illustrate the factual truth about the Jewish homeland.

You will find informative videos which will enhance your understanding about the map of Israel, the term Judea and Samaria, and even how other countries were formed in the Middle East, impacting Israel.

We look forward to continuously updating this compilation. If a video appears on our list, you can be sure it has the TBTN seal of approval!

View Videos

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Gaza Explained

The history of Gaza stretches back over 5,000 years, making it one of the world’s oldest inhabited areas. Caananites settled in what is now Gaza, and the small 25 mile strip of land is mentioned several times in the Bible. A litany of rulers conquered Gaza including: Philistines, Babylonians, Greeks, Israelites, Romans, Mamluks, and finally, the Ottomans who held the region for four centuries. When the British seized control of Palestine, Gaza was part of the British Mandate.

While many associate Gaza with only Arabs, Jews have also had a significant presence there. During Hasmonean rule, the Jewish King, Yochanan, captured the area in 145 BCE, and since then a rather large Jewish community resided in Gaza, and remained there when the Muslims took control in the 7th century. In the aftermath of the Spanish Inquisition, both Spanish and Portuguese Jews fled to Gaza.

In 1947, the UN presented its partition plan. The Jewish leaders reticently accepted, and yet again, the Arabs rejected the offer. This plan included Gaza as part of an Arab country. Upon independence, Israel was attacked by Egypt through Gaza and all Jews in Gaza were expelled, even from long-standing communities such as Kfar Darom, which was legally Jewish-owned since the 1930s.

Essentially, Gaza became the interim border between Israel and Egypt, and its borders were defined by the 1949 Egyptian-Israeli Armistice Agreement. Egypt quickly took control of Gaza, but did not annex the strip. After Israel and Egypt signed a peace treaty in 1979, Gaza remained a disputed territory, controlled by Israel. While under Israeli domain, Jews re-established Jewish communities in places where Jews lived in Gaza prior to 1948.

In 1994, Gaza had limited autonomy imparted by the Oslo Accords and the Palestinian Authority assumed power. Israel fully disengaged in 2005, and only retained control of Gaza’s borders, air space, and sea for security purposes only. This was great foresight because an even more extreme Islamist party, Hamas, won the Gazan elections in 2006 and by 2007, Hamas fully took over the area, often killing Fatah party members. The terrorist group destroyed all the green-houses left by Jews, who had done so, as favor to the local Arab population.

Hamas rules Gaza through mostly Sharia law, uses the strip as a terrorist launching pad against Israel, and does not recognize Israel’s right to exist. Its charter is one of the most antisemitic among Muslim regions.

The media portrays Gaza as only being blockaded by Israel, but Egypt also has a legal blockade on Gaza for similar purposes – anti-terrorism measures. Israel, though, for humanitarian purposes, keeps its Kerem Shalom border open, often even in times of war. When did the blockade begin and why? In 2006, when Israeli Gilad Shalit was captured. Egypt has put the pressure on Gaza by largely closing it’s Rafah border, but it’s motivations are two-fold: an attempt to rid Gaza of Hamas, a Muslim Brotherhood terrorist group, and to put pressure on Israel to be responsible for Gaza, and not Egypt.

Why Zionism

Zionism is the self-determination of the Jewish people to rightfully live in their homeland of Israel in true sovereignty. Though many Jews were forced to disperse around the world as a result of occupations, Jews never fully left the land of Israel. There was always a continuous presence of the indigenous Jewish population.

For those Jews living in the Diaspora, the desire to return to a free and self-governing Jewish homeland remained for thousands of years, as is evidenced by the extensive yearning for Jerusalem in Judaism’s liturgy and writings over millennia.

Today’s Jews are descendants of proud Judeans, and thus, the region of Judea, together with Samaria, comprise the biblical and historical epicenter of the greater ancestral homeland — which has deep Jewish roots grounded over a 3,500+ year history.

Jewish Diversity

It is a misnomer that Jews are white. Jews come in every color. Ultimately, today’s Jews can trace back to three tribes (Judah, Benjamin & Levi), located within the region of Judea & Samaria. Other Jewish communities still remain throughout the world which are tied to the Israelite tribes, though many are now assimilated.

The false assumption that Jews are white colonizers is beyond measure factually incorrect. To clarify, wherever Jews resided, before the colonization of lands by Christians and Muslims, there were no such distinctions; Jews were just Jews no matter where they settled.

Below are just some of the major Jewish communities. In reality, there are numerous Jewish sub-groups, ‘roots’ which are affiliated under the major ‘branches’ of the multi-faceted Jewish family. Some examples include: Romaniote Jews, Bukharan Jews, Kurdish Jews, Kavkazi Jews, Afghani, Syrian Jews, Italian (Italkim) Jews.

Mizrachi Jews: Mizrach, meaning East, refers to Jews from Arab lands. Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Syria comprise this territory.  Jews had lived in these lands for millenia, either due to forced expulsion from Israel or for trade purposes. Treatment of Jews vacillated depending on the time period and ruler; though they were considered dhimmi status (second class) and were denied many rights.

In 1941, inspired by the Nazis, the Iraqis launched the Farhud, or pogrom, against its Jewish residents. Nearly 200 Jews were murdered, and a thousand more injured during the violence. Hundreds of Jewish homes and businesses were looted and destroyed. Resulting from Israeli independence, achieved in 1948, the Jews were expelled from all Arab lands and those countries are now mostly Judenrein (Jew-free).

Ashkenazi Jews: Jewish communities were established in the Ashkenaz region (Western Germany and Northern France) during the Middle Ages post-decline of the Roman Empire, where Jews were brought as slaves following the destruction of the Second Temple (70 CE). These populations expanded when Jews migrated east to escape the Inquisition (1492). The Ashkenazi Jews had their own culture, including a unique language, Yiddish, which was an amalgam of Hebrew mixed with German.

While never fully accepted into the societies in which they lived, many Jews prospered especially in Germany and France, where they reached the upper echelons of society. However, the distaste for the Jew was pervasive, and in the late 1800’s came to a head with the Dreyfus Affair. While Jews began returning to Israel from this region in the 17th and 18th centuries, the first major wave of immigration was initiated in 1881, from Russia. Aliyot continued from all over Eastern Europe in waves until no longer permitted for Jews to leave after the rise of Nazism, as well as the antisemitic British White Papers in Palestine.

Sephardic Jews: Sephard, meaning Spain, is the area where Jews resided for thousands of years following the Roman Exile. From the time of King Solomon, Jews traded with the Phoenicians throughout the Iberian Peninsula. Jews in this area, while still not first class citizens under the prevailing Muslim (Moorish) rule, enjoyed a relative peace until 1492, when many were forced to convert to Christianity or face expulsion. During this time, Jews fled to all areas of the world, including back to the Jewish homeland. There are many Sephardic Jews living in Israel today who can trace their lineage back to Jerusalem for centuries.

Persian Jews: After the expulsion from the First Temple, due to the Babylonian conquest, the Jews were taken to Babylonia (present-day Iraq). From there, Jews migrated to Persia (present day Iran) and maintained a strong Jewish presence for millenia. (This is where the story of Purim in the Biblical Book of Esther takes place; Mordechai and Esther are buried in Iran.)

While being in a dhimmi class, Jews managed to contribute greatly to Persian society for thousands of years. In the 1950’s, the first major wave of Persian Jews immigrated to Israel (there was an earlier Aliyah in 1815; it was a difficult trek and many perished along the way.) Though the real Persian Jewish mass exodus occurred in 1979 with the fall of the Shah. Interestingly enough, Israel and Iran had a great relationship prior to the Iranian Revolution, with Israel helping to build up Iran’s infrastructure. The Persian Jews are a culturally rich people, and often identify themselves by the cities from where they originate in Persia (Tehrani, Mashhadi, Shirazi, Esfahani, etc…….)

Indian Jews: – Having an established presence of nearly 2,000 years, the Jews of India developed their own identity and enjoyed relative peace, given India’s culture of religious tolerance. Geographic and origination distinction further explain the main groups of Indian Jews:

Cochin Jews: The oldest of the Jews in India, they arrived after the First Temple (586 BCE) was destroyed by the Romans, and were welcomed by the ruler of the Chera Dynasty.

Bene Israel: – Arrived between 1600 – 1800 years ago when they were shipwrecked on the Konkan coast, originally from Northern Israel.

Baghdadi Jews: – The most recent wave of Jews in India, from the mid 18th – 19th centuries, immigrated as entrepreneurs to the British port cities of Mumbai, Bombay, Kolkata, and Yangon. This community rose to achieve wealth status and established Jewish schools, mikvahs, and kosher markets.

Yemenite Jews: (Teimanim) – This Mizrahi Jewish community traces its roots back to the destruction of the First Temple, when a group of Jews settled in Yemen. Though there is evidence of a mini Jewish Kingdom in Yemen from pre-Islamic times resulting from trade routes during the time of King Solomon. Some Yemeni Jews trace their lineage to Judah, others to Benjamin, Levi, and Reuben. Though they remained in exile, at times prosperous, but often persecuted, they held onto Jewish traditions and added to the Jewish fabric, including the chanting/singing of devotional (diwan) music. Each Jewish community in Yemen had its own unique diwan, composed of works from medieval Spanish poets of the Golden Age of Hebrew poetry, and including original work from community members. Between 1949 – 1950, the majority of Yemenite Jews were airlifted to Israel in Operation Magic Carpet. This mass exodus was prompted by murderous pogroms in Yemen against its Jewish communities.

Ethiopian Jewry: – Historical records show that the Beta Israel (House of Israel) community arrived in Ethiopia between the 1st and 6th centuries, coming in as merchants from various countries. In 1624, the Ethiopian army captured numerous Beta Israel Jews and forced them to be baptized. The community was often referred to as falasha, a derogatory term meaning ‘foreigner.’

Ethiopian Jews lived in disparate communities, not unified in religious practice, but kept many Judaic traditions. It was not until the 19th century, when Joseph Halevy, a French Jew, visited the area in 1867, that the Ethiopian Jews were truly recognized. Halevy and his subsequent student, Jaques Faitlovitch, exerted great influence among the worldwide Jewish leadership to push for recognition of this group.

The great famine of 1882 killed over a third of the Ethiopian Jewish community. Later, upon the onset of Fascism in Ethiopia, Judaism was no longer acceptable to be practiced. The Beta Israel faced constant threats to their survival. While Ethiopian Jews began arriving in Israel in the 1970’s, it was the daring rescues of Operation Brothers (1979-1984) and then Operation Moses (1984-1985) and finally Operation Solomon (1991) that the majority of the Ethiopian Jews were brought safely home to Israel.

Israel Fast Facts to Share

  • Jews have resided in Israel continuously since Biblical times; Jerusalem has been the capital of Israel for over 3500 years, was made the capital by King David

 

  • Even after the Romans destroyed the Second Temple in 70 CE and expelled many Jews, there were still Jews who remained

 

  • 4 Holy Cities of Tiberias, Jerusalem, Tzfat, and Hebron were home to both local Jews and those from the Diaspora throughout the ages

 

  • The 1875, a Turkish Census acknowledged that Jews were the majority in Jerusalem

 

  • Most of today’s Israel was barren land. Arab serfs worked for Ottoman landowners who mostly lived in Damascus

 

  • Jews paid up to 8 times the value when purchasing land from the Ottomans

 

  • Palestine was always associated with Jews and for thousands of years, ‘Palestinian’ meant Jews. In 1939, the flag of Palestine had a star of David. The Palestine sports teams were all Jewish players.

 

  • The British were tasked with ensuring sovereignty for Jews in all of Palestine, but ended giving away 78% of the Mandate to the Arabs, which is now the country of Jordan

 

  • Most Arabs who live in Israel come from 25 Muslim countries; most Arabs immigrated between the two World Wars

 

  • Judea & Samaria is not ‘Palestine’ – it is the heartland of Israel and was legally guaranteed through the 1920 San Remo Conference

 

  • In 1948, many Arabs left Israel only after the Arab leaders urged them to leave for the expedient opportunity to kill Jews and return victorious

 

  • In 1967, an Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood terrorist, Arafat, in conjuction with the KGB, made up the modern ‘Palestinian’ as a way to unite Arabs via a politically antisemitic propaganda tool, as a result of realizing Israel will always beat Arab armies. Only through propaganda can the Arabs subvert Israel and Jews

 

  • Gaza is controlled by Hamas, and Egypt has a far harsher legal blockade on Gaza

Minorities Represented in Israel

Though Israel is the one Jewish homeland, a rich tapestry of minorities makes up the diversity throughout the land. Every fabric of society sees multi-ethnic and religious participation throughout Israel—from medicine to the military, and even in government. While most think that it is only Arabs who make up the minority population, and indeed they do comprise about 20% of the populace, there are numerous other groups who ought to be mentioned. Some have been in Israel since before the birth of Christianity, one group migrated their flocks towards Israel, and yet others were invited by various conquerors.

Below is an overview of the various groups which add to the already diverse culture of Israel:

Druze – The Druze are a 1,000+ year old ethno-religious Levantine tribe located throughout several Middle Eastern countries. They are known to be loyal to the countries in which they live, which greatly explains the high participation of the Druze in the IDF. The Druze have helped Israel in every war since 1948. Located primarily in the Galilee, Carmel, and the Golan Heights, the Druze make up approximately two percent of the Israeli population. They are not Arabs nor do they identify as Muslims. Druze have customs and beliefs which incorporate a mixture of Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, and Christianity—along with elements of Greek philosophy. The famed Jewish traveler, Benjamin of Tudela first discovered the Druze in the 12th century. He described them as a proud warrior tribe living in the mountains, with an affinity towards Jews. Jews and the Druze commonly intermarried prior to the 11th century, after which the Druze put a halt on such practices. Interestingly, today’s Askhenazi Jews and the Druze share some similar genetic links.

https://theconversation.com/solving-the-1-000-year-old-mystery-of-druze-origin-with-a-genetic-sat-nav-68550

Circassians – The Adyghe people as they internally refer to themselves, meaning ‘noble man’ are part of a network of warrior tribes originating in the Caucasus mountains. The Circassians were forcibly converted to Christianity in the 3rd century CE, and voluntarily adopted Islam in the 17th century. Firmly established in Israel since about the 1870s, due to Ottoman invitation (the Ottomans respected them as warriors and asked them to settle the corners of the Ottoman Empire), the Circassians made their way from the Balkans to the Galilee region. When the Circassians arrived, they formed a tight bond with the newly arrived Russian Jewish community, as they shared linguistic commonalities. This distinct group was asked to specifically reside in two different towns, Rehaniya and Kfar-Kama. 1.5 million Circassians were killed in the Caucasian War of 1880, and a million were exiled from their home base of the Caucasus Mountains. These days, in addition to Israel, this Muslim group lives in Turkey, the Caucasus region, and throughout the Middle East.

Today, many Circassians remain in their original villages, but also live throughout Israel. The Circassian language is still spoken today, and it is taught to children in their primary schools. After completing village schools, Circassian children are given a choice between attending Jewish schools or Arab schools, depending on proximity to the respective populations. Around 4,000 Circassians reside in Israel, with many serving in the IDF and within security and border police forces. Circassian men make up the bulk of Muslim officers in the Israeli army. Religiously, the Circassians in Israel are Sunni Muslims. Ethnic dance is a major part of the culture; a yearly three-day dance festival draws Circassians from around the world.

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/circassians-in-israel/

https://theculturetrip.com/middle-east/israel/articles/an-introduction-to-circassians-israels-other-muslims/

https://israel.com/home/culture/religions/circassians/

Armenians – The Oldest Christians in the world, the entire nation of Armenia adopted the religion in the fourth century CE, and by the fifth century had already purchased land in Jerusalem and settled many Armenian monks. There are accounts of Armenians in Israel even during Roman times, who came in with the Roman legions. In the more modern era, two distinct events brought Armenians to Israel; in 1915, the Armenian Genocide occurred, after which a number of Armenians immigrated to Palestine. More recently, after the Soviet Union dissolved, those Armenians who were married to Jews, made their way to Israel. 11,000 Armenians live in Israel, with 2,000 residing in Haifa. In Jerusalem, the Armenians have their own Quarter. During the time of the Jordanian occupation, Armenians in the Old City were given Jordanian citizenship, which they still hold, creating issues today regarding Israeli citizenship benefits.

The central religious center for Armenians in Jerusalem is the Cathedral of St. James, where the Jerusalem Armenian Patriarch has a seat, and is located on the old Roman 10th Legion encampment. At the height of its population in Jerusalem, Armenians numbered in the tens of thousands. Today, just a few hundred remain within the Armenian Quarter. The first printing press in Jerusalem was established by Armenians in 1833, and to this day, continues to print in three languages: Armenian, Arabic, and Hebrew. Armenians hold steadfast to their culture and pushback against assimilation. However, the group has been greatly influenced by Arab culture. Many Armenians in Jerusalem feel caught in the middle between affiliation with Israel and the Palestinian-Arabs, because of their Jordanian citizenship. A major contention point between Armenians and Israel has been the failure to fully recognize the Armenian Genocide, due to Israel’s alliance with Turkey. Another sore spot has been Israel’s siding with Azerbaijan against Armenia in that latest regional conflict.

Culturally, the Armenians in Jerusalem contributed a great deal to the capital. Along with the first printing press, the first photography workshop was established by Armenians in 1855, and their Holy Translators’ School was the first co-ed school in Jerusalem, where Hebrew is still taught.

https://www.jcpa.org/jl/hit04.htm

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/armenian-quarter-of-jerusalem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M6jnZqIVFw

Arameans – Prior to 2014, this ethnic group was lumped together with Christian Arabs, but a push to recognize their Aramean heritage was sought. This Christian practicing ethnic group is descended from a Semitic-speaking people who lived across the Western and Northern Levant, including Israel’s northwest region, whose kingdoms existed simultaneously with the Biblical kingdom of Israel. Despite a few territorial skirmishes, both people had close ties, and even intermarried at times. When their kingdoms in Syria fell to the Assyrians, the Aramaic language prevailed throughout the empire, and was even spoken in Israel. They speak an Eastern Aramaic language, and a multitude of Christian churches are represented amongst the population. In a 2017 Knesset document explaining who the Arameans are, the following was presented:

“Some 80–90% of the Christian Arab population in Israel—i.e., an estimated 110,000–120,000 people—meet the conditions for changing their registered nationality to Aramean according to the Ministry of Interior guidelines. According to estimates, those who meet the conditions include some 56,000 Greek Catholics, some 43,000 Greek Orthodox, some 9,500 Maronites, and several hundred who are Syrian Orthodox and Syrian Catholic.”

There has been a push by certain Aramean priests to have their young people volunteer for the IDF. Those who live in more Arab areas have gotten strong pushback for army participation, not only from Arabs but also from anti-Zionist Jewish groups.

https://dbpedia.org/page/Arameans_in_Israel

https://observer.com/2015/03/its-hard-to-be-a-christian-arab-in-israel-but-not-because-of-jews/

https://m.knesset.gov.il/EN/activity/mmm/Arameans_in_the_Middle_%20East_and_%20Israel.pdf

Bedouins – Making up 3% of the Israeli population, the Bedouins are a traditionally nomadic tribe, who have lived all over the Middle East and North Africa. The Negev Bedouins are primarily from the Hejaz region of Saudi Arabia, which used to be an independent kingdom. During the Ottoman and British occupations of Israel, both empires ignored the Bedouins and paid no attention to developing the Negev desert. In 1948, when Arab countries attacked Israel, and the Bedouins got caught in the crossfire, close to 90,000 Bedouins fled to Jordan and Egypt. Only 11,000 remained in the southern Israel deserts. The government of Israel not only recognized the semi-nomadic people, but also offered them access to national healthcare, educational, and other social services. Today, there are seven official Bedouin villages in the Negev desert, with about 45 villages not connected to Israel’s infrastructure; these residents choose to continue their ancestral semi-nomadic lifestyle. Around 70,000 Bedouins live in the unofficial towns.

Although many Bedouins today identify as ‘Palestinians’ there was a previous history of service in the Israeli military. Primarily, Bedouins were very helpful as desert trackers especially during Israel’s Independence War. The younger generation is once again beginning to show interest in serving in the IDF; albeit, still in small numbers.

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-bedouin-in-israel/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Bedouin

Muslim Arabs – Arabs comprise approximately 21% of the population of Israel, and of those, 83% are Muslim; Sunni Islam is the predominant sect among the Israeli Arab Muslims. After the War of Independence (1947 – 1949), those Arabs who chose to stay and live in Israel were granted Israeli citizenship. They enjoy more civil rights than many Arabs in the Middle East, and Israel is one of the few places in the Middle East where Muslim women can vote. After the 1967 Six-Day War, when Israel regained its rightful ownership of the eastern part of Jerusalem in a defensive measure, Israel offered the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians-Arabs living in that area Israeli citizenship. Most declined, and therefore were given permanent resident status. This policy allows them access to the healthcare system, civil services, along with the right to live, work, and travel throughout Israel. Many of these residents still hold Jordanian passports today.

While many Muslim Arabs live in their own villages, they are also integrated within cities such as Haifa and Lod. Most Arabs have their own elementary and high schools, though these are not funded as well as other schools in the country. However, in 1948 there was only one operational school. Hundreds of Arab schools exist today in Israel.

There are several courts throughout the country regulated by the religious Muslim structure; matters pertaining to marriage and divorce in their communities are handled through Sharia law.

Arabs are not obligated to serve in the Israel Defense Force, mainly for humanitarian reasons. Israel does not force its Arab citizens to raise arms against brethren. However, many do choose to serve, though they are at times met with consternation from their communities. There exists a disparity between those who serve and those who do not; all Israeli soldiers, regardless of ethnic or religious affiliation, receive benefits such as assistance with continuing education.

Muslim Arabs attend Israeli universities and have substantially risen in Israeli society. Numerous Muslims are represented in the fields of medicine and law, and as of recently, within engineering and technology. United Hatzalah, the Israeli non-profit health emergency service, counts numerous Muslim Arabs among its volunteers. They often fill in for the Jewish volunteers during Jewish holidays.  Muslim Arabs serve in the Knesset (Israel’s government), sit on the Supreme Court, and a Muslim woman, Rana Raslan, was crowned Miss Israel in 1999 to represent the country in the Miss World pageant.

“The State of Israel…will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions.”

–Israel’s Declaration of Independence, 1948                                                                                                           

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-status-of-arabs-in-israel

https://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/aboutisrael/people/pages/society-%20minority%20communities.aspx

https://mfa.gov.il/mfa/foreignpolicy/issues/pages/facts-and-figures-islam-in-israel.aspx

Israel-Related Terms to Use Correctly

Checkpoints  – Much noise is made in the media about the checkpoints in the ‘West Bank.’ That area is Judea & Samaria, a historically and religiously significant area to Jews, and has been an epicenter of terrorist activity for decades, sanctioned by the Palestinian Authority, who has control over two-thirds of the region. To contain security concerns, checkpoints are a necessity. However, it is incorrect that these security controls are only for Arabs. Anyone leaving Judea & Samaria, Jews included, are subject to passing through a checkpoint. Jews who live even in Area C, which is fully controlled by Israel, have to go through checkpoints daily if leaving the area. The army can ask anyone for ID, including Jews.

Separation Wall – All countries enact necessary security measures to prevent violence. Even Arab countries have security walls between one another. In 2002, a security wall, not a ‘separation wall’ was built in Judea & Samaria as a response to the uptick in suicide bombings. This measure greatly reduced the occurance of the bombings, which wreaked havoc on daily life all over Israel. Buses were routinely blown up, cafes, nightclubs, and even schools. Along the border of Gaza, there is a security fence, which was also built to reduce terrorism.

Egypt took even further security measures against Hamas. In 2009, with help from the United States, Egypt started building a steel wall along the Gaza border. In 2014, Egypt demolished homes on its side of the border with Gaza, as a planned buffer zone to prevent weapons smuggling into the Gaza strip. In 2020, Egypt built a new concrete wall along the border with Gaza, this time, from Gaza’s southeastern point at Kerem Shalom (Israel’s border opening with Gaza) to the Rafah border crossing. The Egyptian walls are also equipped with electronic sensor controls.

West Bank The 1947 United Nations Partition resolution referred to the “hill country of Samaria and Judea.” There was zero mention of the “West Bank.” This was because the “West Bank” was a Jordanian occupation term, when Jordanians occupied the area from 1948 – 1967. The antisemitic term was only invented in 1950 to disconnect the area from Jews.

Apartheid – No such thing exists in Israel. Arabs have equal rights in Israel

Palestinians – The academically correct term is Palestinian Arabs. There were also Palestinian Jews. Both people lived in the region of Palestine. Palestinian Arabs became Jordanians. Palestinian Jews became Israelis. Those Arabs living in Israel became Israeli Arabs.

Palestine – Most often erroneously referred to as a country which Jews ‘stole,’ in reality, Palestine was a region which was comprised of today’s Israel and Jordan. Jordan was carved out of 78% of the region (therefore Jordan is the Arab Palestine), with Jews retaining only 22% of the promised Mandate.

Military Occupation in Gaza – Hamas is in charge of Gaza. Israel disengaged from Gaza in 2005; therefore, there is no Israeli military occupation.

Settlements – These are legal Jewish communities in Judea & Samaria, the ancestral heartland of Israel.

Settlers – These full Israeli citizens (who vote, serve in the army, and hold a teudat zehut or Israeli identity card) of Judea & Samaria are Jews living in legal Jewish communities, many of which are the suburbs of Jerusalem. 

The ‘Moderate’ Palestinian Authority: While slightly more moderate than Hamas, the PA has a pay for slay policy which encourages terrorists to kill Jews. The regime also actively teaches antisemitism in its schools and mosques.

Occupation: Most often referred to the false narrative that Israel is occupying the Arabs in Judea & Samaria. In reality, the Palestinian Authority, an offshoot of the terrorist organization, the PLO, has full control of Area A, where Jews are not allowed. Israel has military jurisdiction in Area B, for security purposes only, while the PA is in full civic control. Area C is fully under Israeli control as per the 1993 Oslo Accords.

Nakba – The term Nakba, meaning ‘catastrophe’ in Arabic, is used as a rallying cry for the lie that Jews stole Arab land and exiled Arabs en-masse in the 1940s, creating the ‘Palestinian’ refugee crisis. In reality, Arab leaders were waging a years-long war against Jews, well before 1948. When Israel achieved independence in 1948, Israel offered citizenship to its Arab residents; yet, the Arab countries’ leaders who attacked Israel, encouraged Arabs in Israel to leave quickly so that the Arab armies could kill Jews faster.

Once that would be complete, the Arab leaders promised a swift return for the Arabs. The Israelis surprised the world by winning a stacked war against the fledgling sovereign nation, and the Arabs who left became refugees in neighboring countries. Famously, the Jewish Mayor of Haifa, at the time of the Independence War, begged his Arab residents to not flee.

An often ignored catastrophe is the expulsion of Jews from Arab lands, where Mizrahi Jews lived for hundreds, some even thousands of years, in the 1950s and 1960s. These Jews were stripped of all possessions and material wealth, and their homes were confiscated. While the United Nations created UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) in 1949 to help Arabs who voluntarily left Israel, there was no international NGO help for the almost one million Jews expelled from the Arab countries. Israel absorbed all the Jewish refugees, at a great financial burden.

Israel-Related Terms to Use Correctly 

  • Checkpoints  – Much noise is made in the media about the checkpoints in the ‘West Bank.’ That area is Judea & Samaria, a historically and religiously significant area to Jews, and has been an epicenter of terrorist activity for decades, sanctioned by the Palestinian Authority, who has control over two-thirds of the region. To contain security concerns, checkpoints are a necessity. However, it is incorrect that these security controls are only for Arabs. Anyone leaving Judea & Samaria, Jews included, are subject to passing through a checkpoint. Jews who live even in Area C, which is fully controlled by Israel, have to go through checkpoints daily if leaving the area. The army can ask anyone for ID, including Jews.

  • Separation Wall – All countries enact necessary security measures to prevent violence. Even Arab countries have security walls between one another. In 2002, a security wall, not a ‘separation wall’ was built in Judea & Samaria as a response to the uptick in suicide bombings. This measure greatly reduced the occurance of the bombings, which wreaked havoc on daily life all over Israel. Buses were routinely blown up, cafes, nightclubs, and even schools. Along the border of Gaza, there is a security fence, which was also built to reduce terrorism.

    Egypt took even further security measures against Hamas. In 2009, with help from the United States, Egypt started building a steel wall along the Gaza border. In 2014, Egypt demolished homes on its side of the border with Gaza, as a planned buffer zone to prevent weapons smuggling into the Gaza strip. In 2020, Egypt built a new concrete wall along the border with Gaza, this time, from Gaza’s southeastern point at Kerem Shalom (Israel’s border opening with Gaza) to the Rafah border crossing. The Egyptian walls are also equipped with electronic sensor controls.

  • West Bank (a Jordanian Occupation Term) – Judea & Samaria, the ancestral & biblical heartland of Israel, which was also legally guaranteed to Jews through the 1920 San Remo Conference and ratified by 51 member countries of the League of Nations.

  • Apartheid – No such thing exists in Israel. Arabs have equal rights in Israel

  • Palestinians – The academically correct term is Palestinian Arabs. There were also Palestinian Jews. Both people lived in the region of Palestine. Palestinian Arabs became Jordanians. Palestinian Jews became Israelis. Those Arabs living in Israel became Israeli Arabs.

  • Palestine – Most often erroneously referred to as a country which Jews ‘stole,’ in reality, Palestine was a region which was comprised of today’s Israel and Jordan. Jordan was carved out of 78% of the region (therefore Jordan is the Arab Palestine), with Jews retaining only 22% of the promised Mandate.

  • Military Occupation in Gaza – Hamas is in charge of Gaza. Israel disengaged from Gaza in 2005; therefore, there is no Israeli military occupation.

  • Settlements – These are legal Jewish communities in Judea & Samaria, the ancestral heartland of Israel.

  • .Settlers – These full Israeli citizens (who vote, serve in the army, and hold a teudat zehut or Israeli identity card) of Judea & Samaria are Jews living in legal Jewish communities, many of which are the suburbs of Jerusalem. 

  • The ‘Moderate’ Palestinian Authority: While slightly more moderate than Hamas, the PA has a pay for slay policy which encourages terrorists to kill Jews. The regime also actively teaches antisemitism in its schools and mosques.

  • Occupation: Most often referred to the false narrative that Israel is occupying the Arabs in Judea & Samaria. In reality, the Palestinian Authority, an offshoot of the terrorist organization, the PLO, has full control of Area A, where Jews are not allowed. Israel has military jurisdiction in Area B, for security purposes only, while the PA is in full civic control. Area C is fully under Israeli control as per the 1993 Oslo Accords.

  • Nakba – The term Nakba, meaning ‘catastrophe’ in Arabic, is used as a rallying cry for the lie that Jews stole Arab land and exiled Arabs en-masse in the 1940s, creating the ‘Palestinian’ refugee crisis. In reality, Arab leaders were waging a years-long war against Jews, well before 1948. When Israel achieved independence in 1948, Israel offered citizenship to its Arab residents; yet, the Arab countries’ leaders who attacked Israel, encouraged Arabs in Israel to leave quickly so that the Arab armies could kill Jews faster.

    Once that would be complete, the Arab leaders promised a swift return for the Arabs. The Israelis surprised the world by winning a stacked war against the fledgling sovereign nation, and the Arabs who left became refugees in neighboring countries. Famously, the Jewish Mayor of Haifa, at the time of the Independence War, begged his Arab residents to not flee.

    An often ignored catastrophe is the expulsion of Jews from Arab lands, where Mizrahi Jews lived for hundreds, some even thousands of years, in the 1950s and 1960s. These Jews were stripped of all possessions and material wealth, and their homes were confiscated. While the United Nations created UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) in 1949 to help Arabs who voluntarily left Israel, there was no international NGO help for the almost one million Jews expelled from the Arab countries. Israel absorbed all the Jewish refugees, at a great financial burden.