By Azka Javeria and Umm Zahra
When discussing Palestine and Israel, most people forget to mention a very crucial event- the expulsion of the Jews from Palestine under Ceasar in 1 CE. Since then, Jews believe that God has promised to return them to Jerusalem and it is their Holy right to rebuild the Temple of Solomon, ruined by Nebuchadnezzar and then Ceasar. This belief coupled with the belief that a state exclusively for Jews should exist in Palestine is a brief summary of Zionism.
The Temple of Solomon existed where the al Aqsa compound stands today. Zionists believe that rebuilding it will pave way to the arrival of their Messiah, whom we call the Dajjal. They have been digging under the Al Aqsa compound for quite some time now in attempts to weaken its foundations, so that its collapse can be blamed on the smallest of natural disasters. They also hope to find the Ark of the Covenant lost 3000 years ago which contains some artefacts from earlier Prophets, including the staff of Moosa (AS).
So how did the Jews return to Palestine? Some Jews started returning to Palestine as early as 1200 AD, when they were expelled from Europe. In the 20th century, a large number of Jews fled Europe and Russia due to religious persecution and made their way as refugees to Palestine.
Note that Jews did not feel afraid of facing religious persecution in Muslim regions such as Palestine. For them Palestine was a safe haven. This is further proved by the fact that 100,000 Jews fled Nazi Germany and Poland and came to Palestine, where they were welcomed. That speaks volumes about the ‘violent, vicious and extremist Muslims’.
It was in 1897, long before Nazism was founded, Theodore Herzl founded Zionism which led supported the idea of a Jewish state in Palestine. At this time, Palestine was under the Ottoman Caliphate. When the caliphate was abolished, more or less as a consequence of the First World War, Palestine fell into the greedy hands of the British. Hence started an era of colonialism and ethnic cleansing of the Muslims.
The British supported Zionism in attempts to ensure Jewish support in both the First and Second World Wars. The Balfour Declaration (“Balfour’s promise” in Arabic) was a public pledge by Britain in 1917 declaring its aim to establish “a national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine.
Jews arrived in Palestine in large numbers. Between 1922 and 1935, tens of thousands of Arabs were displaced as Zionists ‘bought’ land from absentee landlords. As a result, in 1936, Palestinians launched a large scale uprising against the British occupation and Zionist settler colonialism. It was called the ‘Arab revolt’ (much like the ‘Indian Mutiny’ but that’s a story for another time) and was crushed by the British within 3 years. The British destroyed at least 2,000 Palestinian homes, put 9,000 Palestinians in concentration camps and subjected them to violent interrogation, including torture, and deported 200 Palestinian nationalist leaders.
Then, when the British tried to curb Zionist migration into Palestine to control violence, the Zionists revolted against them. So, in 1947 the British handed over the affairs to the UN. In resolution 181, the UN recommended the partition of Palestine into Jewish and Arab states.
At that time, Jews formed about one third of Palestinian population and legally owned less than 6 percent of the land. Yet, the UN recommended that 55% of the land be allocated to Jews. This land included most of the key agricultural areas, important coastlines and major cities. Arabs, who still possessed common sense, rejected the proposal and the Nakba (catastrophe) followed.
The Nakba was a war between the untrained, inexperienced Palestinian Arabs and the well trained, well-armed Zionist military groups. As a result 750,000 Palestinians were expelled and made refugees. They were made homeless in an attempt to save their own homes.
Zionist forces took more than 78% of Palestinian land, destroyed and ethnically cleansed 530 villages and cities, led more than 70 massacres and killed 15,000 Palestinians in a series of mass atrocities. Some sources claim the number was more than 15,000.
Britain had already announced that they would be ending their mandate in Palestine on 15th May 1948, the same day David Ben Gurrion (first Prime Minister of Israel) announced the declaration of independence in Jaffa (Hebraized to Tel Aviv). To date Zionists celebrate 15th May as their independence while Palestinians remember it as the Nakba day.
In 1967, another war broke out, now between Israel and other Arab states including Egypt, Jordan and Syria. Postwar Israel illegally occupied the remaining Palestinian territories of East Jerusalem (giving them access to Al Aqsa), the West Bank, and the Gaza strip. Another 430,000 Palestinians were displaced in this war.
To date Israel continues to occupy these lands and continues to use land grabbing and discriminatory policies such as the absentee property law, forced evictions, forcible transfers, restriction of free movement, expression and speech, arbitrary detentions, property demolitions. Today, Israel controls more than 85% of what was known as Palestine.
You don’t have to be a genius to guess who the oppressor is in this conflict?
In the recent siege that Israel has laid of the Gaza strip, their electricity, water, food and all life supplies have been cut off. The land is being pounded with vicious bombs. The city is densely occupied with women, children and civilians.
It’s highly disheartening for the muslim fraternity to see visuals of parents pulling out dead bodies of kids, from under the rubble of devastated structures. What should be our response in these hard times?
In the words of Dr.Omar Sulaiman, of Yaqueen institute: “Be humble in victory and be hopeful in defeat.” Though for a martyr death is not defeat. It actually equates to triumph of a higher level.
After the battle of Uhud, when muslims were left with the mutilated bodies of their loved ones, Allah (swt) comforted them “Don’t lose heart, don’t grieve.” You haven’t truly lost until you have Iman. You are still on higher grounds. These are changing events in Dunya when Allah (swt) Al Hakeem, the Most Wise grants rise and fall to nations.
Similarly when Allah’s (swt) angels arrive to collect the souls of the martyred, they are told “Don’t be afraid, don’t grieve.” The worst time in Dunya is over. Now is the time to transit towards your Lord in peace, safety and happiness.
We must believe in the promise of Allah (swt) for the those who stand for the truth and give their lives for it’s sake, no matter how the enemies win and boast their victory. Allah (swt) Al Muheet has encompassed them from all directions. Quran states: “… and Allah encompasses the unbelievers.” (Al Baqarah 2:19)
Keep exerting yourself earnestly in Dua. This is not a wasted moment. Every single prayer for the oppressed is answered by Allah (swt) Al Mujeeb, the One Who Responds Most. But we cannot hasten Allah’s (swt) decree. It will come on time and at the best of time.
Lastly believe that Islam shall prevail. And why not? It is the chosen religion of Allah (swt). Be a guided muslim always.
Spread the truth, deception and lies are bound to collapse as they have no support from Allah (swt). They are momentary fire-works in the sky that disappear to nothing soon enough. Time will tell, bi izn Allah.
Sources: Amnesty International, Al Jazeera, National Geographic
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