History Isn't on the Palestinians' Side

Opinion Journal ^ | 04/02/2002 | VICTOR DAVIS HANSON

[Pokey78]

For all the efforts of our contemporary theorists to harness and sometimes refashion history, the facts of the past belong to no one--and won't go away. Those who conjure it up often discover to their dismay that they themselves are subject to its brutal laws of truth. The Palestinians are fast learning of history's ironies and unintended reminders, as they seek to invoke the past to convince Americans of the righteousness of their present plight.

[Travis McGee]

bttt

[HockeyPop]

btttttt

[samson1]

It's unfortunate this history lesson will fall on deaf ears. The Us media, European Union and the Arab world live in moral revisionist times. At least the Israeliis and hopefully President Bush will stand up for democracy.

[Liberal Bob]

"We are told that the Palestinians have a long memory of, and reverence for, the past--especially the injustice of 50 years of lost homelands. But Americans are not ahistorical. We remember Sept. 11, and the Palestinians who cheered our dead before being admonished by a terrified Arafat.

For the [ast three decades Palestinian terrorists and their sponsoring brotherhoods have murdered Americans abroad. Palestinians embraced Saddam Hussein's cause and clapped as Scuds plunged into Tel Aviv and blew apart American soldiers in Saudi Arabia. An entrapped Arafat now calls for American succor, but a few months ago scoffed that the U.S. was irrelevant as far as he was concerned. The problem, again, is not that Americans have forgotten Palestinian acts, but that we remember them all too well.

I sure would like to see MSNBC show that clip of Arorats people pigs dancing in the street Sept. 12th every hour with the news.

[untenured]

Moammar Gadhafi was a different man after the American air strike proved his military worthless and his person no longer sacrosanct.

I've read this a lot recently, but why do people keep saying it? Didn't he get his revenge over Lockerbie?

[Scott from the Left Coast]

The Palestinians have two things on their side: 1. Euro-leftist oligarchs, primarily the snail-eating Frogs; 2. The dynamite that's strapped there.

[Pokey78]

We remember Sept. 11, and the Palestinians who cheered our dead before being admonished by a terrified Arafat.

Obligatory pic of Miss Jihad 2001:

[Pining_4_TX]

I would really like to see an objective chronology of events since 1948. I realize that objectivity is hard to come by in this situation, but I would like to know who was where when, including maps. Also, what about the role the US has played in always supporting Israel? Are we the heavy in the background, allowing Israel to do whatever it wants, as the Arabs claim? Everyone already seems to have taken sides in this conflict and each side gives completely different narratives of the events. I want what Sargeant Friday always used to request, "Just the facts, Ma'am."

[Pokey78]

Another poster did the animation (can't remember who it was).

If we added the moving tongue and audio (AHHALALALALALALALALALA!!), the internet might collapse.

[hove]

Now that was one awesome essay!

[Rome2000]

September 11 was a massive suicide bombing.

There is no difference between the what the PLO is doing to Israel and what the Saudi suicide bombers did to us on 9/11.

They will not stop until the price they pay is too much to bare.

We haven't even begun to scratch the surface of what we are going to have to do to these subhuman, insane, beasts to make them stop.

[paul51]

There is only one way to interpret acts of terrorism.

[xm177e2]

How is it that the British won't give up Gibraltar long after their successful battles against the Spanish fleet?

Actually, Britain is willing to sell them out, but the Gibraltarians desperately want to stay part of England not join Spain in any way.

[Goldsters]

It is hard to find anyone without a preference spending the energy to write a detailed explanation of history. What I did was read as much as I could find from both sides and compare which side a) used the most factual (provable) data and b) had the best record for telling the truth.

Neither side is innocent. But the Israelis are typically more willing to be self-critical.

Having said that, I've been planning to do a page for my own education, compiling data from both sides and creating the best timeline I can from that...

Until then, here is a chronology that appears to match what I have read from even "objective" writers...

Another really good thread that discusses (thru the thread) the history can be found Here.

Here is another. Some has a spin, but you can tell what is provable and what is opinion...

Here is a Chronology of terrorism I haven't read, but should help you.

If you want to read a book about it, I'd reccommend Bernard Goldburg. He is a Jew, but he has earned the respect of Arabs by not hesitating to find fault with Israel.

I'm sure there's more, and better stuff out there, but in case no one else gets to your question, I hope this helps.

[monkeyshine]

Fantastic essay worthy of pulling out your ping lists imho...

[capitan_refugio]

"Palestinian refugees" are a creation and myth of the Arab League. When the UN authorized (in Nov 1947) partition of the British mandate of Palestine and Transjordan into Jewish and Islamic states (Israel and Jordan), the model was not unlike the partition of Indian and Pakistan.

As the independence date in 1948 neared, Jewish residents in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Transjordan left their homes, businesses and lives, and relocated to the soon-to-be state of Israel. Approximately 283,000 Jews immigrated from parts of the Middle East, and an additional 264,000 came from Egypt and other parts of North Africa.

Likewise, the Islamic residents of Palestine were supposed to leave, and over 725,000 did. The problem was, the Arab League refused to recognize the legitimate State of Israel, and also refused to assimilate the refugees. The Arabs declared war on Israel and lost. After the 1967 "Six Day War" an additional 400,000 Arabs left (primarily from the "West Bank," the "Gaza strip" and the "Golan Heights"). These people too, were rejected by their Islamic kin.

The "Palestinian refugees" are the problem of the Arabs. The Israelis should run the refugees out and let the Arab league - who created them in the first place - deal with the problem.

[monkeyshine]

Bump 2 bump.

[Goldsters]

Oops, I meant Bernard Lewis. Sorry.

- A fellow Texan. =]