Are most Palestinians descended from ancient Israel?

Submitted by Steve Hagerman (United States), Mar 14, 2012 at 15:30

Based on Jacob Willibrand's research and recent genetic studies, it appears to me that most Palestinians are probably of Israelite descent. Most are probably descendants of Jews who returned after the second diaspora. Studies by Israeli geneticists (as reported in the Jerusalem Post some time ago) found that about ten percent of Palestinians have the Cohen genetic haplotype identified with the tribe of Levi that was scattered throughout the ancient population. The percentage among Israelis was reportedly at ten percent as well. There have been some documentaries on Israeli television about this connection.

In Yitzak Ben Zvi's book, The Exiled and the Redeemed, he mentions a Jewish connection with at least one Palestinian tribe. He was an early president of Israel and quite a scholar on such issues. In ancient times many forebears of the Palestinians became Jewish Christians (Nazarim and Ebionim). The majority later adopted Islam during times of Muslim persecution.

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