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<\/center><\/p>\n1- Palestine is the Western part of the Fertile Crescent: an area that includes Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. In this Fertile Crescent the first human agriculture developed. Here the first domestication of animals (e.g. goats, donkeys, camels) and plants (e.g. wheat, barley, chickpeas, lentils, olives) happened. <\/p>\n
2- This is also where civilization began including development of the first alphabet (by Phoenician Canaanites) and the first laws. It was where we first developed sciences like astronomy, engineering, and mathematics<\/p>\n
3- The original inhabitants of the Western part of the Fertile Crescent were called Canaanites and the original language was called Aramaic which Jesus spoke (he was born in the country called then Palestine and thus he was Palestinian)<\/p>\n
4- The old Aramaic language gave rise to derived languages including Syriac, Arabic, and Hebrew and this language group is called Semetic languages<\/p>\n
5- Arabic alphabet evolved in Southern Canaan (today\u2019s Jordan and Palestine) while the Latin alphabet evolved in Northern Canaan (Phoenicia, present day Lebanon and Syria). The Alphabet used in Europe today came from our part of the world.<\/p>\n
6- The people of Southern Canaan including Palestine endured many invasions of armies with nearly 15 times that local people were ruled by kings or emperors (Persian, Roman, Umayyad, Abbasid, Israelite etc). <\/p>\n
7- Local religious ideas evolved over the ages from Cananitic Pagan ideas to monotheistic ideas to Christianity (first century), Rabbinical Judaism (3rd century), Islam (7th Century).,<\/p>\n
8- Palestine was always multi-cultural, multi-religious society despite attempts to homogenize it in certain periods (e.g. the Crusaders killed and exiled Jews, Muslims, and Christians of other sects).<\/p>\n
9- Jews of today, like Christians and Muslims of today come from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds. They are thus genetically (biologically) heterogeneous.<\/p>\n
10- Before the wave of European Jewish immigration, Palestinians were of various religions: about 85% Muslim, 10% Christian, 5% Jewish and others. For hundreds of years Palestinians of various religions lived in relative harmony.<\/p>\n
11- Zionism is a political idea that spread among a minority of European Jews who adapted to the European notions of ethnocentric nationalism and thus claims Jews of today should gather in Palestine and create a Jewish state because of discrimination in Europe. Socialist Jews and other Jews believed in fighting for equal rights. Zionists thought that anti-Jewish feelings in Europe serves their interests and thus even collaborated with racists. There was a transfer agreement between the third Reich and the Zionist movement. Zionists also lobbied Western governments not to take in European Jewish refugees so that they all go to Palestine.<\/p>\n
12- Zionism started in the mid 19th century with formation of the \u201cJewish Colonization Association\u201d and became an international movement in 1897 at the first World Zionist Congress. To achieve its goals, its leaders advocated transferring the native non-Jewish Palestinians.<\/p>\n
13- The United States and other Western countries under influence of a Zionist lobby pushed for the creation of a \u201cJewish state\u201d of Israel in Palestine despite the wishes of the native people. <\/p>\n
14- Between 1947-1949, 530 Palestinian villages and towns were completely destroyed and their people made refugees. This process of forcing Palestinians out of their land continued in other forms since the founding of Israel in May 1948. Today 70% of the 11 million Palestinians in the world are refugees or displaced people.<\/p>\n
15- Current day Israel has a set of discriminatory laws that fit the descriptions given in the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid. Every month, the Israeli Knesset takes on more such racist laws.<\/p>\n
16- In 1967, Israel occupied the West Bank (including the old city of Jerusalem) and Gaza strip. Together these two areas are 22% of historic Palestine. Israel began immediately to build Jewish colonial settlements in these Palestinian lands. Contrary to International law, there are now over 200 settlements on our lands housing over 0.5 million Jewish colonial settlers.<\/p>\n
17- Israel has built walls around the remaining Palestinian enclaves (ghettos, people warehouses, cantons, reservations) and isolated them from each other and from the rest of Palestine. These walls separate Palestinians from their lands, from other Palestinians, from schools, from hospitals etc. As an example, the Bethlehem district houses 180,000 natives, some 50,000 of us living there are refugees from 1948 period. All of us are restricted now to develop and live on only 13% of the original Bethlehem district size. 87% of the district is now under control of Israeli settlements, military bases, closed military zones etc. The Bethlehem people are isolated behind a wall and even Jerusalem (6 km away) is off-limits to us.<\/p>\n
18- Colonialism involves violence. Over 80 massacres were committed against native Palestinians. Over 60,000 Palestinian civilians were killed by Israeli forces and settlers. This is ten times more than the number of Israeli civilians (most colonial settlers) killed by Palestinians. Palestinians resisted colonialism over the past 130 years mostly by using non-violent popular resistance something not widely discussed in the Western countries because of attempts to vilify the victims. <\/p>\n
19- Palestinians and other Arab countries in conflict with Zionism have been \u201cunreasonably reasonable\u201d as one diplomat described it. We accept all elements of International law` and all UN (United Nations) resolutions on the issue. Israel by contrast, violated over 60 UN Security Council resolutions and over 200 UN General Assembly Resolutions. Without the USA using its veto power to shield Israel from International law at the UN SC, the number would have been doubled.<\/p>\n
20- We Palestinians demand and are struggling for our right to return and to self-determination. We call for a democratic pluralistic state for people of all religions in our historic homeland of Palestine. We call for equality and justice. People in Europe and around the world can support us by using education, by coming to visit us, and by Boycotts, Divestments, and Sanctions (BDS). This is a collective human struggle similar to what happened in challenging apartheid in South Africa. <\/p>\n
There are` many books and references available to document each point.<\/p>\n
* * * * * * * * * *<\/p>\n
Related discussion may be found under the following questions:<\/p>\n
How can a culture of peace be established in the Middle East?<\/a><\/p>\n Israel\/Palestine, is the situation like South Africa?, Would a Truth and Reconciliation Commission help?<\/a><\/p>\n How can war crimes be documented, stopped, punished and prevented?<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n This question applies to the following CPNN articles:<\/p>\n Gaza\u2019s Contribution to Civilization<\/a><\/p>\n Mazin Qumsiyeh: Old story- new twist<\/a><\/p>\n Michael Moore: From the Rubble Rises 22 Powerful Voices<\/a><\/p>\n For Nobel Peace Prize: Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh, Bethlehem, Palestine<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018Keep Your Eye On Calendar, Palestine Will Be Free\u2019: Arundhati Roy\u2019s PEN Pinter Prize Speech<\/a><\/p>\n From Paris to Caracas, thousands march in support of Gaza around the world, one year after October 7<\/a><\/p>\n Norway, along with Ireland and Spain, to recognize Palestinian state<\/a><\/p>\n Michael Moore: I Now Bring You the Voices of a New Generation<\/a><\/p>\n International Women\u2019s Day: Women\u2019s International League for Peace and Freedom<\/a><\/p>\n South Africa requests ICJ emergency orders to halt \u201cunspeakable\u201d Gazan genocide<\/a><\/p>\n Last Days of Hearings at the International Court of Justice on the Israeli Occupation of Palestine<\/a><\/p>\n World Court to Review 57-Year Israeli Occupation<\/a><\/p>\n USA: 200+ Unions Launch Network to Push for Gaza Cease-Fire<\/a><\/p>\n Decision of the International Court of Justice<\/a><\/p>\n Gala of solidarity with the Palestinians at the Algiers Opera<\/a><\/p>\n Artists for peace in Gaza<\/a><\/p>\n Rallies held worldwide as Israeli genocide in Gaza enters 100th day<\/a><\/p>\n Artists Pledge to Boycott German Institutions Over Stifling of Pro-Palestine Speech<\/a><\/p>\n Music video: We are all Palestinian<\/a><\/p>\n Guernica stands in solidarity with Gaza<\/a><\/p>\n Update on UN response to Israeli destruction of Palestine<\/a><\/p>\n Letter to the world from Mazin Qumsiyeh in Palestine<\/a><\/p>\n More Demonstrations for Palestine<\/a><\/p>\n Two-Thirds of American Voters Want US to Back Cease-Fire in Gaza<\/a><\/p>\n Around the world, people take to the streets for Palestine<\/a><\/p>\n American Anthropological Association Endorses Academic Boycott of Israeli \u2018Apartheid Regime\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n 18 Years of BDS. 18 Years of Impact in Turning Darkness into Light<\/a><\/p>\n Dismantle Israel\u2019s carceral regime and \u201copen-air\u201d imprisonment of Palestinians: UN expert<\/a><\/p>\n Solidarity with Palestine: Swim with Gaza<\/a><\/p>\n Elders warn of consequences of \u201cone-state reality\u201d in Israel and Palestine<\/a><\/p>\n Celebrating Rachel Corrie<\/a><\/p>\n USA: Ilhan Omar Vows to Continue Speaking Out Against Israel\u2019s Abuse of Palestinians<\/a><\/p>\n Solidarity with the Palestinians and the forces of peace operating in Israel<\/a><\/p>\n Palestine: Tears and hope from the last few days<\/a><\/p>\n Phyllis Kotite has passed away<\/a><\/p>\n The Elders: Israel\u2019s designation of Palestinian NGOs as \u201cterrorist\u201d undermines core democratic principles<\/a><\/p>\n A message from Palestine: This is the time to re-imagine, re-create and restore.<\/a><\/p>\n Israeli and Arab women demand peace between Israelis and Palestinians<\/a><\/p>\n Global Calendar of Resistance to Defend Palestine!<\/a><\/p>\n General strike in Palestine<\/a><\/p>\n Richard Falk: A Palestinian Balance Sheet: Normative Victories, Geopolitical Disappointments<\/a><\/p>\n Women\u2019s leadership in the struggle for Palestinian freedom<\/a><\/p>\n New ICC ruling \u2018opens the door\u2019 for justice in occupied Palestine \u2013 Independent UN expert<\/a><\/p>\n The B\u2019tselem Report on Israeli Apartheid<\/a><\/p>\n Mazin Qumsiyeh: Suggested electoral platform\/program for Palestine<\/a><\/p>\n Amnesty International : US State Department\u2019s attack on the BDS movement violates freedom of expression and endangers human rights protection<\/a><\/p>\n Palestine: 15 lessons from 15 years of BDS<\/a><\/p>\n Dutch pension fund divests from two Israeli banks over settlements\u2019 finances<\/a><\/p>\n The Elders urge European leaders to stand firm on Israeli annexation threats<\/a><\/p>\n Israeli annexation of parts of the Palestinian West Bank would break international law \u2013 UN experts call on the international community to ensure accountability<\/a><\/p>\n Oppostion to Israel\u2019s proposed annexation of occupied Palestinian territory<\/a><\/p>\n Palestine Must Live: An Online Petition<\/a><\/p>\n UN commemorates International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People<\/a><\/p>\n Australia: Antony Loewenstein wins the 2019 Jerusalem (Al Quds) Peace Prize<\/a><\/p>\n Manifesto on diversity: the Land of Canaan<\/a><\/p>\n Uri Avnery, leader of the Israeli peace movement Gush Shalom, 1923-2018<\/a><\/p>\n UN Chief Proposes Armed Peacekeeping Force to Protect Palestinians<\/a><\/p>\n BDS Victory: Irish Senate Approves Bill Boycotting Israeli Settlement Goods<\/a><\/p>\n ICC judges order outreach to victims of war crimes in Palestine<\/a><\/p>\n Flotilla bringing needed medical supplies to Gaza<\/a><\/p>\n Uri Avnery (Israel\u2019s peace movement Gush Shalom) on Israel\u2019s Days of Shame<\/a><\/p>\n The carnage against Gaza civilian protesters<\/a><\/p>\n Amnesty International: Israeli forces must end the use of excessive force in response to \u201cGreat March of Return\u201d protests<\/a><\/p>\n Gaza Children Cinema \u2013 Update March 2018<\/a><\/p>\n Great March of Return: A New Defiance Campaign<\/a><\/p>\n Eyeless in Gaza<\/a><\/p>\n Photos: #FreeAhedTamimi and #FreePalestine in Brussels, Berlin, Athens, Amsterdam, London, Jaipur, Manchester, Naples, Milan, Dortmund<\/a><\/p>\n Israel\/OPT: Palestinian child activist Ahed Tamimi sentenced to 8 months in prison<\/a><\/p>\n Ahed Tamimi and the Pathology of the Israeli Mind<\/a><\/p>\n 14th Annual Israeli Apartheid Weeks of actions<\/a><\/p>\n International Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize<\/a><\/p>\n Israelis \u2018Blacklists\u2019 20 pro-BDS Groups Banned from Entry, Including Nobel Winners AFSC<\/a><\/p>\n Ahed Tamimi: The Mandela of Palestine?<\/a><\/p>\n The Elders applaud Palestinian reconciliation; renew call for end to blockade of Gaza<\/a><\/p>\n USA: Israel-Palestine statement by the Mennonites takes a \u2018third way\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Gandhi Peace Award to Omar Barghouti and Ralph Nader<\/a><\/p>\n The Inside Story on Our UN Report Calling Israel an Apartheid State<\/a><\/p>\n Confessions of a Megalomaniac by Uri Avnery of Gush Shalom (Israel)<\/a><\/p>\n The Elders welcome Paris Mideast peace conference, urge all P5 states to show leadership<\/a><\/p>\n 200 legal scholars back right to boycott Israel<\/a><\/p>\n International Women\u2019s Boat to Gaza<\/a><\/p>\n Women\u2019s Boat to Gaza\u2019 set to arrive in Gaza within hours amid fears of Israeli hijacking<\/a><\/p>\n Film review: Disturbing the Peace<\/a><\/p>\n Red carpet film festival asserts Gaza\u2019s pride and talent<\/a><\/p>\n Freedom Flotilla will sail until the blockade of Gaza is permanently and fully lifted<\/a><\/p>\n The Elders welcome Paris conference as step towards two-state solution for Israel-Palestine<\/a><\/p>\n US: United Methodist Kairos Response Welcomes Pension Fund Exclusion and Divestment of Israeli Banks<\/a><\/p>\n Join the Palestine Museum of Natural History: Why doing so is so important<\/a><\/p>\n 2015 Black Solidarity Statement with Palestine<\/a><\/p>\n Palestine: Breaking the Silence Tour in Hebron<\/a><\/p>\n Letter of appreciation to the Palestinian Youth Orchestra<\/a><\/p>\n Gaza prepares to welcome Freedom Flotilla III<\/a><\/p>\n Sanctions against Israel: Round up from 2014<\/a><\/p>\n Le Centre de la paix organise une s\u00e9ance de soutien psychologique pour les enfants de Gaza<\/a><\/p>\n The Peace Centre organized a counseling session for Gaza's children<\/a><\/p>\n \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 Links for the following articles published prior to 2015 do not work because they were made by a version of PERL programming that is no longer supported. With three easy steps, you can find the article by its number. First, click on it before returning to this page. Your browser will say that the article is not available but in the address listed you can see that it was located at ViewArticle=xxxx where xxxx is the number of the article. Returning to this page, then click here<\/a> for the listing of all years. Then click on the year that contains the number for the article you seek. It will send you to the page where you can easily search for the article by its title. \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013<\/p>\n Despite crackdown, Palestinians organize for long-term peace<\/a> <\/p>\n The Elders support Palestinian move to sign international treaties<\/a><\/p>\n Presbyterian General Assembly Votes 310-303 to Divest from Israeli Occupation<\/a><\/p>\n Anti-Apartheid Archbishop Tutu Calls Presbyterians to Back Divestment From Israeli Occupation<\/a><\/p>\n One Democratic State gaining momentum – Bethlehem Declaration<\/a><\/p>\n Worcester Palestinian Friendship (WPF)<\/a><\/p>\n Appeal: Welcome to Palestine 2012<\/a><\/p>\n L\u2019appel de 'Bienvenue en Palestine 2012'<\/a><\/p>\n Towards a Culture of Peace and Recognition: Palestine is a UNESCO Member State<\/a><\/p>\n Vers une culture de Paix et Reconnaissance: La Palestine est un membre de l\u2019UNESCO <\/a><\/p>\n Edward Said lecture<\/a> <\/p>\n Students for a Free Palestine<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" . . . Tolerance & Solidarity . . . Here is a blog by Mazin Qumsiyeh that responds to this question. 1- Palestine is the Western part of the Fertile Crescent: an area that includes Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. In this Fertile Crescent the first human agriculture developed. Here the first domestication of … Continue reading Presenting the Palestinian side of the Middle East; Is it important for a culture of peace?<\/span>