The region known as Israel has a rich history that spans centuries of conquests, cultural changes, and political developments. It started as Judea in biblical times and underwent many transformations, such as the Roman retaliation, Ottoman Empire domination, the British mandate, and finally, the establishment of the modern state of Israel.
However, there is a lot of disinformation and rewriting of history surrounding the land that is now Israel. It is essential to promote accurate history, especially in light of the growing antisemitism in the United States and around the world. We need to unravel the complex narrative of a region that has been at the center of religious, cultural, and geopolitical changes throughout history.
Roman Retaliation:
The Renaming Of Judea To Syria Palaestina
Two hundred years after the life of Jesus, the geopolitical landscape of Judea was mainly shaped by the consequences of the Jewish-Roman Wars. These wars, which included the Great Revolt (66-73 CE), the Kitos War (115-117 CE), and the Bar Kokhba Revolt (132-136 CE), left Judea in ruins, with its population significantly reduced, and its culture transformed. The Romans, led by Emperor Hadrian, responded not only with military force but also with symbolic gestures aimed at erasing the identity of the rebellious province.
To suppress any further nationalistic fervor and wipe out the memory of the Jewish revolts, Emperor Hadrian renamed Judea "Syria Palaestina." This renaming was both a political and cultural attempt to diminish Jewish ties to the land.
The term "Palaestina" was derived from the Philistines, the ancient enemies of the Israelites, adding an additional layer of insult to the injury. This change marked a significant turning point in the region's history, as it was an early example of the use of cultural and psychological warfare, as well as a form of cultural genocide, in imperial politics.
The Origins Of The ‘Palestinians'
The origins of the Philistines, also known as the Palestinians, are still subject to debate among scholars. According to the Hebrew Bible and the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, the Septuagint, they could have come from Crete, indicating an Aegean origin. However, some scholars suggest Anatolia (Turkey) or regions around the Black Sea as their possible place of origin.
On the other hand, they could have been a tribe that broke off from Canaan. The cemeteries in Philistine cities in Israel revealed a mixed gene pool of local Semitic traits with European gene pools, which could suggest a migration into the region.
During the transition from the Late Bronze Age to the Iron Age, in 1143 BCE, the Sea Peoples, a group of traders, invaded the Eastern Mediterranean simultaneously, disrupting traditional trade patterns and partners.
Pharaoh Ramesses III claimed to have defeated the Sea Peoples at the mortuary temple of Medinet Habu, driving them out of Egypt. The wall sculpture inside the temple depicts the Sea peoples drowning in a sea battle, with others portrayed as prisoners with their hands tied behind them, a typical Egyptian portrayal.
The Harris Papyrus, which refers to them as the Peleset, describes how they were "reduced to ashes." During the New Kingdom (c. 1570 to c. 1069 BCE), Egypt conquered and ruled the southern Levant, and some prisoners were settled in the coastal areas of Canaan.
Today, historians generally identify the Peleset with the Philistines (Palestinians). Scholars have concluded that the Peleset clans originated in the greater Southern European area, including western Asia Minor, the Aegean, and the islands of the Mediterranean.
Ottoman Conquest & The Shift To Modern Imperialism
The region, then known as Syria Palaestina, underwent several changes in control over the centuries. In the early 16th century, it eventually became part of the vast Ottoman Empire.
During Ottoman rule, the area was administratively part of the Damascus Eyalet and later the Jerusalem Sanjak. Although the Ottomans brought a degree of administrative order and economic development, the region remained relatively neglected, with a focus primarily on its role as a destination for religious pilgrimage rather than political significance.
However, the Ottoman hold on the region changed dramatically following their defeat in World War I. The empire, unable to maintain its vast territories, conceded defeat and disintegrated, leading to the partitioning of its lands under the terms of the Treaty of Sèvres and later the Treaty of Lausanne. This loss paved the way for new interests to emerge in the Middle East, particularly by the British and the French.
British Mandate & The Path To A Jewish Homeland
In April 1920, the San Remo Conference granted Britain the mandate over Palestine, a move that gave rise to a new era in the region's history. The British began establishing administrative and political structures but were also tasked with a controversial mission: They had to facilitate the creation of a "national home for the Jewish people," as specified in the 1917 Balfour Declaration.
The British Mandate was characterized by a growing number of Jewish immigrants fleeing European antisemitism, particularly from Nazi Germany. This changed the region's demographic and cultural makeup, but it also led to an increase in conflict between the Arab and Jewish communities. This resulted in decades of violence and political tension.
The British struggled to manage the competing demands of the growing need for an independent Jewish state and the existing Arab population's aspirations for self-determination. As a result, they were unable to quell the rising tensions.
The Establishment Of Israel
& The Legacy Of Ancient Kingdoms
After World War II and the Holocaust, there was sympathy for the Jews worldwide, and many people felt that there should be a Jewish homeland. This led to UN Resolution 181 – the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine in 1947, which suggested dividing the land into Arab and Jewish states. The State of Israel was declared on May 14, 1948, even though the Arab nations rejected the plan. This declaration caused the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, which involved other Arab countries and led to significant territorial changes that complicated the region's map.
Although modern-day Israel only covers part of the territories of the ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah, it represents a legitimate return to Jewish sovereignty after almost 2,000 years. The name "Israel" refers to the northern kingdom that existed after the united monarchy of Saul, David, and Solomon, and it represents a return to the Jewish people's historical and biblical roots.
However, the modern state is home to many different peoples and religions, reflecting its complex past and present.
Conquests, Diaspora & Return
The history of the land stretching from Judea to Israel is a true story filled with conquests, diaspora, and eventual return. Each era, from the Roman times to the British mandate, has contributed to its identity, thereby influencing the cultural and political landscape of the region. The establishment of modern Israel in 1948 marked a significant milestone in Jewish history but also the beginning of new challenges in the Middle East.
Comprehending this historical journey is essential to understanding the ongoing complexities and conflicts in the region. As the past continues to echo in the current geopolitical realities, understanding the history of the land is crucial.
It is evident from an accurate reading of history that the Romans aimed to degrade and humiliate the Jews in their indigenous lands of Israel, Judea, Samaria, and beyond. They created Syria Palaestina to erase the identity of the rebellious province and the entire Jewish culture from its indigenous homeland.
The so-called Palestinian people are not from a nation-state origin. Historically, there was no "Palestine". Instead, they were a demographic designation bestowed upon “lesser-thans” and former prisoners and slaves by the Romans; Philistines who originally emanated from Crete and other Aegean origins.
When history is recounted correctly, today's aggression by the Palestinian people, Hamas, and Hezbollah is nothing more than an Islamofascist desire to conquer and establish a global Caliphate, as mandated by the Quran, under which the nations and people of the world would be required to bow down in subservience to Islam.
Given this undeniable truth, it is concerning that the actions of the leader of the free world are aiding and abetting the establishment of an Islamic global Caliphate.
The Biden administration is providing material support to terrorist organizations and helping Israel's enemies attack her.
Inquiring minds want to know why.
Take Back Your Mind
Think For Yourself
I disagree slightly. The push to eliminate Israel is, at heart, the continuation of the desire to eliminate the Jews. In that sense, the people hostile to Israel are just carrying on the work the Romans started. They were a terrible nuisance to the Romans, as you ably pointed out, and continue now to be a nuisance to the totalitarian states that surround them.
It's an old land and not much seems to have changed in the last few thousand years.