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the "Justification for Jewish presence" is greater?

Reader comment on item: Extras about Zionists Purchasing Israel, Not Stealing Palestine

Submitted by Ron Thompson (United States), Jun 23, 2011 at 14:23

I think this article makes an absolutely central point that is seldom even mentioned - although it should perhaps be fleshed out with many more details - it probably deserves a short book. The article is also an excellent companion to the Wall St piece cited by Pipes, What if the Jews Had Behaved like the Palestinians? (ok, I altered the title slightly). Together these two are a comprehensive and complete refutation of the entire 'narrative' of the ongoing Palestinian propaganda blitz, and should become part of the mainstream discussion of the israeli-Palestinina conflict (if they did of course, the terms of that discussion could not rationally remain what they are now)

But I have a slight disagreement with the "ultimate justification" argument. It seems to me that the legitimacy of the existence of Israel rests on not one but three grounds, all of which are co-equal in importance (and none of which rest on any supernatural religious ground).

Those three grounds are, first, History, just as Professor Pipes says - all the records, historical and archaeological, point to the highlands of 'Palestine' as the first origin of the Jewish people at least three thousand years ago (archaeology dosn't take the record further back in time), with a continuing Jewish presence ever since.

Second, blood, toil, tears, and sweat - sheer work, energy, creativity,and resilience for over 90 years (to take 1917 as an arbitrary date).

Third, the accelerating geostrategic importance and competence of Israel as a bastion of Western economic and military strength and, of course, shared values, none of which values are reliably represented or shared by any of the States which threaten Israel, and by extension, also threaten the values and interests of the rest of the peaceable portions of the planet.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (27) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
2The Palestine Mandate & Private vs. Public Land [488 words]RobertJul 5, 2021 22:46269667
Question [53 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Vadim AnshelevichMay 11, 2021 14:52266811
An Answer that Cannot Answer in Certainty [187 words]M ToveyMay 11, 2021 19:44266811
1What percent of land in Persia was owned by Muslims? [46 words]PrashantMay 11, 2021 20:25266811
3Separation Jews from the Arabs based on citizenship [321 words]Mark ShorAug 4, 2020 08:06259824
6On the other hand, Syria stole land from the Jews [245 words]ThinkerJul 10, 2011 07:45187135
1ZION IS GOOD FOR PEACE [63 words]HINDU JEWISH CHRISTIAN SOULJul 4, 2011 22:55187013
1A thought [50 words]Kepha HorJul 4, 2011 13:05187004
4Had the Arabs been able to live in peace [418 words]MosheJul 12, 2011 04:53187004
I see, but... [142 words]Kepha HorJul 12, 2011 21:11187004
2Moral Equivalency Outrage! [120 words]saraJul 1, 2011 17:14186951
1Malta and Israel [179 words]Anne-Marie DelcambreJun 28, 2011 06:09186862
11Purchasing Israel [381 words]Elliott MeiselJun 27, 2011 18:45186850
re Zionism, the Jewish National Fund, and Palestinian's 100% lack of back information.... [84 words]Jascha KesslerJun 23, 2011 17:49186700
4the "Justification for Jewish presence" is greater? [295 words]Ron ThompsonJun 23, 2011 14:23186692
A Wonderful Article [100 words]Anne-Marie DelcambreJun 27, 2011 07:16186692
3The Anti Israel [191 words]Jay1Jun 22, 2011 23:28186642
Europeans? [121 words]Peter HerzJul 1, 2011 15:00186642
New Amsterdam [35 words]mythJun 22, 2011 11:25186596
2Re the Dutch of NY [61 words]Peter HerzJul 1, 2011 14:46186596
In 1948 Jews were the majority in what is now Israel... [89 words]Peter ForsytheJun 22, 2011 10:46186594
Evictions of a Contested Sort [114 words]M ToveyMay 6, 2021 20:29186594
2Jewish, Christian, and Pagan rights on Mecca [124 words]PrashantMay 7, 2021 16:02186594
1Superb article [71 words]Shirna OspovatJun 22, 2011 05:13186583
3Redemption, not occupation [95 words]NuritGJun 22, 2011 02:36186575
3I know it's beside the point, but I couldn't let this go by w/o comment [96 words]Linda TalismanJun 21, 2011 08:56186523
2Hear, Hear [147 words]Peter HerzJul 1, 2011 14:52186523

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