So what's the story behind this map that's been circulating online for years and pops up every time there's a debate about #Israel and #Palestine?
Is it telling the truth?
Is it fake?
Let's uncover the real story: 👇
Is it telling the truth?
Is it fake?
Let's uncover the real story: 👇
This is a map of the territory now known as the State of Israel, and many use it to support their argument that modern Israel has 'stolen' the lands of Palestinian Arabs.
The map shows the territorial evolution of #Israel over the years, and at first glance, it does indeed give the impression that what was #Palestinian territory until 1948 is increasingly being reduced in favor of Israeli lands.
If you don't know the history, the map makes it look like Israel took land from Palestine.
But here's the catch: The green part is labeled 'Palestine,' making it seem like Israel stole from a country.
But here's the catch: The green part is labeled 'Palestine,' making it seem like Israel stole from a country.
But there was never a country called 'Palestine' to begin with. That name is for a territory, not an actual country.
So, the whole "Israel took land from a country" idea?
It's not the full picture.
So, the whole "Israel took land from a country" idea?
It's not the full picture.
Let's skip the ancient empires and zoom in on more recent history.
Specifically, to the Ottoman Empire that governed the territory in question for four centuries, from 1516 to 1917.
Specifically, to the Ottoman Empire that governed the territory in question for four centuries, from 1516 to 1917.
This is an essential context because, during their rule, the area we now refer to as Israel and Palestine was part of a much larger imperial jurisdiction, and not a sovereign state called 'Palestine.'
The area had a relatively sparse population. Throughout their rule, the Ottomans encouraged #Muslim migration to #Palestine, primarily from #Egypt and #Sudan. This is, in fact, the origin of many of today's Palestinians, as indicated by the surnames of major clans.
After WWI, starting in 1917, #Britain took over the territory. They quickly issued the Balfour Declaration, which was the first nod to creating a Jewish homeland in Israel. This was a new, European idea of a "nation-state," introduced to the #MiddleEast for the first time.
Arabs back then didn't even see themselves as separate nations but rather as clans (Some would say that they still think this way to this day)
That idea was pushed onto them by the Sykes-Picot Agreement, which split the #MiddleEast into various zones between France and Britain
That idea was pushed onto them by the Sykes-Picot Agreement, which split the #MiddleEast into various zones between France and Britain
On Nov 29, 1947, the UN passed a partition plan dividing the territory of British Mandate Palestine between Jews and Arabs. It recognized both sides' rights to establish a nation-state within agreed-upon borders, a move voted on and approved by UN member states
The Jewish community fully embraced the UN's partition plan, but the Arab population flatly rejected it.
Armed conflict against Jewish settlements started almost immediately, dubbed the War of Independence, even as British rule persisted.
Armed conflict against Jewish settlements started almost immediately, dubbed the War of Independence, even as British rule persisted.
After nearly a year of fighting, the young State of #Israel successfully repelled invading foreign armies and internal Arab forces, capturing additional territories in the process.
The armistice lines of 1949 established that the #WestBank would be under Jordanian control, and the #GazaStrip under Egyptian control. The remaining territories were incorporated into Israel. These borders held until the 1967 Six-Day War
The Six Day War was the first major Arab attempt since 1948 to destroy Israel. In May 1967 Egypt closed the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping – an act of war against Israel.
The governments of Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Lebanon moved their forces toward the Israeli border. Israel responded to the growing threat and in 6 days captured the Sinai, the #WestBank (Judea and Samaria), #Gaza, and the #GolalHeights
In 1977, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat visited Israel, marking the beginning of a peace process between the two countries. As part of this, Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt. Egypt, however, declined to retake control of the Gaza Strip, leaving it in Israeli hands
The 1993 Oslo Accords led to a phased transfer of most of the West Bank and Gaza Strip to Palestinian control.
Fast forward to 2005, Israel unilaterally disengaged from #GazaStrip, evacuating all its settlements.
Fast forward to 2005, Israel unilaterally disengaged from #GazaStrip, evacuating all its settlements.
Since 2005, there's been no Israeli presence—civilian or military—in Gaza. Since then, Hamas, a terror organization, effectively controlled the territory.
Let's summarize so far:
1. There has never been a sovereign state called #Palestine.
In fact, as of today, the territories belonging to the #Palestinian_Authority are the largest ever held by an entity defined as Palestinian.
1. There has never been a sovereign state called #Palestine.
In fact, as of today, the territories belonging to the #Palestinian_Authority are the largest ever held by an entity defined as Palestinian.
2. The majority of #Palestinians originated from migration from countries like #Sudan and #Egypt during the Ottoman Empire, with no proven historical connection to Israel.
3. Arabs residing in Israel before 1948 were offered the chance to establish their own nation-state but chose to go to war instead. They can't blame anyone but themselves for the outcomes.
Bottom line: The next time you encounter various maps circulating online trying to create a one-sided narrative, do your own research to uncover the truth.
Please hit the like button, comment to spark discussion, and share the post to hear what others think about the matter.
Please hit the like button, comment to spark discussion, and share the post to hear what others think about the matter.
For those interested in learning more about #Hamas, I recommend reading the following thread:
جاري تحميل الاقتراحات...