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Palestinians

Reader comment on item: Lebanon, Stuck between Israel and Syria

Submitted by Steve Hagerman (United States), Jul 27, 2011 at 15:00

Hi Daniel. I really appreciate your research and hard work. Your study tour in Israel sounds very interesting, though I don't think I'll be able to participate. But in regards to the Palestinians, I'd like to share something that may interest you. I lived in Jerusalem many years ago and met a monk named Jacob Willibrands that Arab, Jewish, and Christian friends said was a world-class ethnologist. He was a brilliant man fluent in present-day Hebrew and Arabic and several other modern languages. I understand he was also familiar with ancient semitic languages.

In a personal visit he told me that he had done research on all the main Arab villages of Trans-Jordan, Israel, the occupied territories and Gaza. He said "Based on my studies I can say that the majority of Palestinians are Israelites. And when I say the majority, I mean well beyond fifty-percent." He also said, "I think if we were to research further we'd find that their tribal lines are still intact, because those who returned from the diaspora settled in their villages by their tribes." He is now deceased and I haven't been able to find information on the web as to whether he has left any writings. When in Israel you may want to see if you can locate such materials.

Submitting....

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Daniel Pipes replies:

Yes, there was a fascinating write-up of this thesis in the Jerusalem Post not too long ago. It makes sense to me.

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Reader comments (24) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
1Israel and Syria [79 words]rhtexasMar 13, 2012 07:06194323
1Palestinians [217 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Steve HagermanJul 27, 2011 15:00187748
Israel is NOT Palestine [295 words]M. ToveyAug 2, 2011 16:07187748
So what is the implication? [36 words]simonMar 13, 2012 16:48187748
Are most Palestinians descended from ancient Israel? [152 words]Steve HagermanMar 14, 2012 15:30187748
Palestinians would not be pleased [137 words]saraMar 14, 2012 17:52187748
Interfaith dialogue [125 words]UgriMar 15, 2012 08:59187748
1The fallacy of the "interfaith dialogue" [183 words]saraMar 15, 2012 17:44187748
3Israel, next war pulverize your enemy [219 words]NuritGJul 16, 2011 00:07187444
1Israel, next war pulverize your enemy [219 words]NuritGJul 20, 2011 12:32187444
You people underestimated Turks and still underestimating. [35 words]sephardiJul 15, 2011 19:00187433
8Wishful thinking [101 words]Solomon TaraganoJul 18, 2011 08:15187433
The Lessons of the Ottomans Not Learned. [341 words]M. ToveyJul 18, 2011 12:55187433
Untying the Knot of Lebanon's Predicament with Syrian Complications [334 words]M. ToveyJul 15, 2011 11:37187430
Israel has an ally with Cyprus [23 words]Carmen WaggonerJul 15, 2011 11:06187429
1How and when did Lebanon become Muslim-majority? [14 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
BernieJul 15, 2011 10:39187428
confused [42 words]concernedJul 16, 2011 04:48187428
All will go to Brasil [88 words]LebanonJul 17, 2011 12:54187428
How and when did Lebanon become Muslim-majority? [23 words]LebaneseSep 1, 2014 11:58187428
Your answer ... [15 words]DAVID A FISHEROct 9, 2017 16:05187428
3Genocide of the KURDS !!! [51 words]Samuel TsioutsiasJul 15, 2011 08:46187426
3The Kurds are now the victims of the Turkish barbarians [120 words]dhimmi no moreJul 17, 2011 10:08187426
Genocide of the Kurds !!! [145 words]Minhaj AkreyiJul 20, 2011 22:29187426
4The Kurds and the Armenian Genocide [324 words]dhimmi no moreJul 22, 2011 07:04187426

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