60
It’s been 60 years since the Palestinian Nakbeh. That means around four generations of Palestinians.
Of course, in these past 60 years, life for Palestinians for those still living in Palestine and the ones living in exodus have changed drastically. Thanks to ethnic cleansing, injustice, barricading, lack-of-educational means, poverty, bad health care, constant pressure, among other racist and unjustifiable actions, life has changed.
Life for “Israelis” has also changed.
The wheels have turned…
Moose:
Remembering the biggest religious discrimination on earth
After 60 years, it is now evident that Europe has collectively managed
to achieve the biggest religious discrimination project in the history
of humanity.Followers of the Jewish faith who were never fully accepted in their
respective European communities were transferred away from their
original homelands and dumped into a confined geographical space. The
pretension that this expulsion appeared to be voluntary does not change
the fact that it was pre-planned, unnecessary and simply unfair. After
all, we are now fully aware of the miracles a shrewd marketing strategy
can do to manipulate people’s preferences, and even worse, convince
them that the decisions being made for them is actually their own
free-willed choices.Instead of trying to find a civilised solution for the “Jewish problem”
and integrate those underprivileged citizens ‐ whose been historically
discriminated against solely because of their faith (and race) ‐
European politicians in collaboration with the Jewish aristocracy have
managed to convince those citizens that they did not belong there in
the first place, and that they must return to their “original” homeland
of their prehistoric ancestry!Moving from a ghetto in Warsaw to a newly-built housing project (with a
little farm on top) might have seemed like a viable option and a
generous offer for a Polish second-class citizen, but that does not
mean it is the right or moral solution for his problems. Just like
Liberia never materialised as the solution for post-slavery racism in
America, the expulsion of Judaism followers to another “Promised Land”
(as Liberia was referred to in 1822) is not an acceptable substitute
for their right to live wherever they, their fathers and late
grandfathers were born and raised ‐ despite the hefty incentives to
move elsewhere.When you consider the widely adopted Evangelical belief that all
followers of the Jewish religion must be gathered in a certain location
for the rapture to happen, you add a surreal metaphysical dimension to
a mass racism movement and religious abuse, that even after 60 years
should not be tolerated.Like all other humans, Jewish people have
the right to live under the banner of their nationalities wherever they
are from, and not their religion. They have the right to return and
must experience that right.
Sixty years ago, here are some Jewish immigrant images from world-renowned photographer Robert Capa, shot in Palestine:
Here are some images shot in the first half of the last century by various photographers of Palestinians in Palestine, taken from the book “Before their Diaspora”:
And Palestinian people today, with all the images randomly derived by Googling “Palestinian people“.
Oh, my, how life changes.
Related:
Nada
May 15, 2008 @ 10:15 am
wow Roba! great post! i’ve always wanted to prove to the world how intellectual and open minded the Palestinians WERE…
Palestine was one of the most advanced city in the arab world in education, art, music, history, tourism, banking, agriculture, factories, petrol stations, crafts and many many other industries… and since the occupation Israel came up with the “Law Of Absentees”, all Palestine’s industries, farms, buses, cars, railroads, cattle, real states, … everything… have been looted and became the property of the “Jewish state”. just like what happened to the jewish citizens in europe (by the Germans and the Swiss in WW2), so they demanded justice for their looted properties. The question which has been 60 years begged to ask is: “Are the Palestinian people entitled for compensation for their looted properties?”
it really hurts how people (even young people of Palestinian origin) know nothing about Palestine except war and refugee camps…
and i think that’s the reason why many of them decided to ignore their origin since they think it’s not something to be proud of.
Abed Hamdan
May 15, 2008 @ 11:05 am
وتكلم الأيام نداولها بين الناس
وليعلم الذين ظلموا أي منقلب ينقلبون..والعاقبة للمتقين
Abed Hamdan
May 15, 2008 @ 11:05 am
وتلك الايام*
sabeur
May 15, 2008 @ 4:11 pm
Never seen these types of pictures, really shows how open Palestine was … they really ruined a special place, why!!
G.
May 15, 2008 @ 5:55 pm
Dear Roba,you mentioned a long time ago you and your family in 1990’s visiting Israel — so you are always welcome to return to visit for Israel’s birthday.
Actually Israel is over 3000 years old plus 60 years.My great great great grandparents returned to live in our homeland in 1860’s (that was 148 years ago.),living in Jerusalem (and Safad and Hebron) where Jews had ruled lived for thousands of yrs ,under our own Kingdom,then Romans occupation ,then Turk,then British,then Israeli.Jews were in the majority in Jerusalem by 1855 according to Ottoman census….the dear Circussians came to Jordan around the same time I think.
Btw half of Israel is sephardic (meaning their ancestors are not from Europe but lived for many years in Iraq/Egypt/Morrocco.We Jews all originate in Israel but most (not all) were exiled by the Romans.
In other words the Israeli Jewish Sephardim have beautiful skin just like you and other folks from Amman :) Half the population Roba
Layla
May 15, 2008 @ 7:43 pm
What a fantastic post. I am in awe…the pictures are so evocative and demonstrate the profound change. Incredible.
Ahmad Al-Sholi
May 15, 2008 @ 11:38 pm
so, if that half originally came from palestine “hypothetically speaking” where the other half came from?
If that half were exiled as you claim.. why did they mostly cultivated under roman governance again “europe”?
Between Romans and Turks laid many great states that we arabs take high pride in, The Kaliphite State, Umaite, Abbasite, Ayoubi then the turks.. We all know how you came throughout the turkish reign, at time of the empire’s weak sultans and corrupt governance.
So, if you are the true owners… where did we come from? why do not you read a true historic non biased documentation apart from Jewish assumed writings.
Why don’t you admit that two bigger religions emerged after Judasim? Christanity arrived and people converted to it. Islam came, and people from both converted to it?
You claim religion and blood are entwined.. As smart that was to seal yourself legitimacy, it just doesn’t work in any sane human sense to nationalize upon religion. You miss the true definition of nationalism when you link religion to it.
You totally ignore the non faith people of Palestine land upon history when you assume that the inhabitants were all jews.
You ignore the transformation of the peoples of Grand Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Najd, Yemen and north africa.. meaning when you chart the immigration of Kananites, Phenicians, Ashorites, Amounites, Amazeges and how did arab chartered the related roots.
I wish you people come to your senses, and realize what you have done. All the injustice that you caused, and the ignorance you continue to present… I think a terrible feel of guilt that you might not have understood yet is keeping you in the wrong path.
Palestine is arab. hijacked for now, and will have its glory again. If not at our time, its at our grandchildren time, if not; at theirs time.
madas
May 15, 2008 @ 11:56 pm
Roba great pictures… they show that palastinians have history and culture… i specifically like the yone showing young ladies learning how dance in a gym… very cool
Moose… I loved the ending of your contribution… you are right, everyone has the right to live in their respective countries… no one should be obliged to live somewhere specific because of their religions… This logic should be used more often in media… well done.
ArabianMonkey
May 16, 2008 @ 12:09 am
Yes, life changes. And if you keep that in mind, believe in it, imagine beyond it, perhaps the next wave of change can have a happier ending.
loolt
May 16, 2008 @ 12:09 am
ironic that the picture word to combat spam on this entry was ‘hate’.
This was a very powerful collection of photos, very apporpriate.
Solomon2
May 16, 2008 @ 12:10 am
“Thanks to ethnic cleansing, injustice, barricading, lack-of-educational means, poverty, bad health care, constant pressure, among other racist and unjustifiable actions, life has changed.”
When Arabs can openly advocate being pro-Israel without fear of being tagged a “collaborator” and executed without trial, then they can discuss the history of how they have been abused and by whom. Not before.
Hareega
May 16, 2008 @ 12:29 am
Solomon,
Can any American claim on American soil that he’s pro-alQaeda without being fear of being tagged as a collaborator? He can’t, even in the land of free
What Israel have done is way much worse. It displaced people from their homes and tried to change the identity of a very precious land that belonged to them.
Nada,
Most Palestinians would not want a comepenstaion for their land, they just want the land itself.
Shrillary
May 16, 2008 @ 12:37 am
Moose,
Why are all the other Arab countries failed states?
Monarchies.
Primitive economies.
Primitive forms of education.
Corruption.
Arabs are backward people.
-S
mo
May 16, 2008 @ 1:32 am
hmmm not sure how i feel about the term jewish “immigrant”
Simon Columbus
May 16, 2008 @ 11:26 am
@ Hareega:
That’s not fair. Israel is, though all its faults, by no means to be compared with Al-Qaida. Al-Qaida exists to destroy, to set the world on fire - Israel is, after all, still meant as a homeland. Place Iran where you wrote Al-Qaida, I think that would more appropriately hit it. While Israel is sort of the common enemy in Arabic states, Iran has been treated like that in the US throughout the last years (I think).
rima ali
May 16, 2008 @ 2:28 pm
G.
Sephardic jews are only 10% of all jews in the world, the 90% are Ashkenazi jews, who are not jews by blood (like the original sephardic ones), they turned into judaism 1200 years ago, not for religious reasons but for political reasons, Ashkenazi jews originated from Russia & Poland, they have no relation to palestinian land except that they migrated to palestine to establish israel in 1948!! seems that you jews believed the lies you’ve been spreading all around the world, well you succeeded in the west but you will not succeed here since we know our history really well. I advise that you read some history books, I recommend “THE LIFE OF AN AMERICAN JEW IN RACIST MARXIST ISRAEL” it’s a great book and everybody should read it, it is written by a decent jew who dared to say the truth. I quote what is written in his book regarding the original inhabitants of palestine before 1948:
“At the time, Palestine was inhabitated by Palestinian Arabs
and a few Palestinian Jews who are blood related and who had lived together
in peace for centuries. With Palestine as their choice for a homeland, European
Ashkenazi Jews began migrating to Palestine. As I explained
earlier, most were communist/socialist oriented with some of
them being radical Bolshevik communists whose aim is world domination.
So when you think of Jews, especially as related to Israel, keep in mind
that there is a great difference between Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews.”
rima ali
May 16, 2008 @ 3:45 pm
G.
Sephardic jews are only 10% of all jews, the rest 90% are Ashkenazi jews who are not jews by blood, they turned into judaism 1200 years ago, not for religious reasons but for political reasons only, they originated from Poland and Russia and have nothing to do with this region or palestinian land except for the fact that they migrated to palestine in 1948 to establish israel on palestinian land!! seems that you guys believed the lies you’ve been spreading all around the world, it worked in the west but you’ll not succeed here because we know our history quite well, I suggest you read some history books, I recommend a book called “THE LIFE OF AN AMERICAN JEW IN RACIST MARXIST ISRAEL” it is a great book and everyone should read it, it is written by a decent jew who dared to tell the truth, I’ll quote some of what is written in his book about the inhabitants of palestine before 1948:
“At the time, Palestine was inhabitated by Palestinian Arabs and a few Palestinian Jews who are blood related and who had lived together in peace for centuries. With Palestine as their choice for a homeland, European Ashkenazi Jews began migrating to Palestine. As I explained earlier, most were communist/socialist oriented with some of them being radical Bolshevik communists whose aim is world domination. So when you think of Jews, especially as related to Israel, keep in mind that there is a great difference between Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews.”
Hareega
May 17, 2008 @ 12:06 am
Simon,
Iran has a goal, to control the region, and they’re willing to do anything for it. Israel had a goal, to create their own Jewish state in the land they want and they nearly accomplished this goal, and they were ready to do anything for that. They fought and killed and displaced the people of the land elsewhere. they still do kill innocent unarmed civilians and destroy their villages to maintain the existence of their state.
Iran may be more of a threat to the US, but that doesn’t make it more “evil”. It’s even more of a threat to my country Jordan but I wouldn’t say that they’re any different from Israel. Just another discriminatory religious state that cares more about power than about human lives.
Don Cox
May 17, 2008 @ 12:19 am
“The pretension that this expulsion appeared to be voluntary does not change the fact that it was pre-planned, unnecessary and simply unfair.”
That applies to the expulsions of Jews from the Middle Eastern countries just as much as to the expulsions from Europe. There used to be a million Jews in Baghdad. Where are they now? What happened to all the Jews of Egypt?
And does anyone think these countries are better off now that their Jewish communities are gone?
An irrational hatred of Jews (and Gypsies) is unfortunately widespread in many countries. The Jews can hardly be blamed for wanting a homeland of their own, like the Armenians, Kurds, Poles, Irish, etc etc. The Arabs have most of the Middle East as their territory.
The fortunate countries are those like the US, Britain or Australia which have flourishing Jewish communities.
Ahmad Al-Sholi
May 17, 2008 @ 12:29 am
Don Cox,
What kind of logic do you present when you say that USA, UK and Australia are prosperous because of their flourishing Jewish communities or population?
Ahmad Al-Sholi
May 17, 2008 @ 12:30 am
And if Arabs control majority of the middle east.. Is that a ground for giving away some of it? Palestine for instance?
Hareega
May 17, 2008 @ 3:52 am
Just as Israel declared its independence (not sure from who), Arab Jews fled their home countries and went to live in Israel, which was supposed to their enemy. Some Arab Jews decided to stay in their countries, until this day, and they’re living well there, or more accurately just like other Arab citizens.
Prior to 1948, Jews were suffering discrimination in Europe and not in Arab countries.
There are still quite a few Arab Jews living in Arab countries. Bahrain just appointed a Jewish Bahrani to be its ambassador in the US.
If Americans or Europeans felt that Arab Jews were really being discriminated against, why didn’t they offer them a piece of their land to build Israel on? I didn’t hear of the British offering Scotland or Wales or American offering California to Jews to have Israel there. Why offer them a very precious piece of land inhabited by other people?
G.
May 17, 2008 @ 8:59 am
Good points Don Cox.
The Arab nations are represented by 21 separate countries. There is only one Jewish nation with a tiny country, Israel. The combined territories of Arab countries is 650 fold greater than Israel .Israel became a nation about 1300 BCE (BC), two thousand years before the rise of Islam. The people of modern day Israel share the same language and culture shaped by the Jewish heritage and religion passed through generations starting with the founding father Abraham. Since the Jewish conquest in 1272 BCE, the Jews have had dominion over the land for one thousand years with a continuous presence in the land for the past 3,300 years.For example in Safad in the Galillee in northen Israel — there was a big Jewish community in the 16th century CE(AD) –a Hebrew printing press is established in Safed in 1577 was the first press in the whole of the Ottoman Empire.
Dear Harrega — Israel’s independence was authorized by the United Nations in 1947 — 2 states — one Israeli/one Arab.The Arabs voted against.The Arabs lost.
my ques to all is thus:During 1948 to 1967 the Egyptians controlled Gaza and the Jordanians controlled East Jerusalem(THe Arab Legion expelling the Jewish population from Gush Etzion and E.jerusalem in May 1948)[and PLO established itself in 1964 …. b4 the 6day war in 1967!! ..]….. why didn’t the Palestinians establish a Palestinian state in West Bank and Gaza whilst it was under Arab rule between 1948-1967 ????????????????????????????????
As a matter of interest,there is a Jordanian Embassy in Tel Aviv Israel and an Israeli Embassy in Amman.Anyone wants to visit the REAL beautiful Israel?
G.
May 17, 2008 @ 9:24 am
Oh another point…. two big icons in the Palestinian history lied about where they were born.both Yasser Arafat and Edward Said were not Palestinians,but born in Egypt in 1929 (Arafat) and Said(1935).
“Edward Said lived in Cairo until his departure to attend prep school in America in 1951, Edward Said resided with his family in luxurious apartment buildings in the exclusive Zamalek neighborhood where he was attended to by maids and a butler, he played with childhood friends in the manicured private gardens of the Aquarium Grotto, he attended private English and American schools, he was driven around in his father’s large black American cars by a chauffeur, and he enjoyed the facilities at the exclusive Gezira Sporting Club as the son of one of its only Arab members.” — by Assaf Moghadam
Israeli leaders like Arik Sharon for instance was born in 1928 in Kfar Malal in what is today Israel.Arafat was also born in Egypt in 1929 and lived in Cairo until the age of 28 and identified himself until then as an Egyptian.
Ahmad Al-Sholi
May 17, 2008 @ 5:54 pm
G.
- Israel was recognized by the UN, true… under the same rotten politics that run the whole world. A great place for your people to flourish in.
- 100 years ago, there were no arab countries. zoning was fully geographical with all economic and demographic impacts.
- To us arabs, there is no difference between palestinian or Jordanian governance. We relate to ourselves as one, the bonds between the people across the river is even greater on an east west nots rather than north south nots, taking into consideration both current Jordan and all of Palestine maps. Which makes perfect sense in sociology science.
As an example, The Hashemites originate from Mecca. Do you think we do not consider them from the same medium? Then you know nothing.
- Judasim is the first religion and Islam came after 2000 years… The surprise to you is that has nothing to do with arabs, when you want to relate Islam to current countries in this world you would say they are 55 countries with a muslim majority. In our own sense, that counts to nothing within Arabia, we are all arabs. Our history proves the civil harmony.
-The Arab Revolution led by the Hashemites almost a 100 year ago was planning to rule eastern arabia, thanks for the european invasion, our dreams were scattered and thus you see the many countries we have now. However, in reading various history chapters we learn that nations rise and fall and takes some generations to move between.
- As for Sharon was born in Palestine.. that makes his parents the original offenders and he was just as consistent on the offence. As for Arafat or Said were born in Egypt, that makes no difference, they are arabs, especifically Palestinians.
- As for Jordan and Egypt ruling of the remaining Palestinian lands after 1948 war and the loss of Palestine’s majority. Palestinians and all arabs seek the shared existance in all aspects.. to cut short, we do not have an issue of establishing a country separated from our arab meduims, we can merge in any one easily given the current difficulties forced by the european invasion and installment of Israel. At current times, no arab country surrounding palestine would want to merge with palestinian remaining land so not to waste the political existence of the palestinian cause.
- Digest that, don’t play smart here, we can tackle all your claims. As human beings, I urge you to surrender to logic and admit the truth. Palestine is arab, so it was, and so it will be again.. If not in our time, then later it is.
ole
May 22, 2008 @ 4:57 pm
This might be of interest:
http://www.foresightartgallery.com have an exhibition titled “I’m form there and I have memories” running through the end of May.
Also a picture of a street in Haifa in 1939:
http://www.arabs48.com/article-images/b08415162957.jpg