Republican presidential candidate and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich caused a stir last week when, in an interview with the Jewish Channel, he referred to “an invented Palestinian people”:
The usual suspects reacted quickly. Palestinian Authority (P.A.) spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said, ”It is also obvious that he needs history courses to know that the Palestinian nation existed before even the American nation itself.” P.A. Negotiator Saeb Erekat called Gingrich’s remarks “racist” and said, “The Palestinian people inhabited the land since the dawn of history, and intend to remain in it until the end times.” P.A. Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said that Gingrich’s remarks were, “a denial of history.” Multiple news outlets and Palestinian apologists pointed out that Israel also had not existed until 1948.
What to make of all the noise?
First of all, Speaker Gingrich is just 100% factually correct. There was absolutely no consciousness either in the international community or among the local population of any kind of Arab nationalism specific to the Middle East until probably the 1920s. Since the establishment of Israel, that local brand of nationalism has blossomed into Palestinian nationalism – mostly in violent, convulsive reaction to the existence of the Jewish state and, since 1967, in reaction to the disputed status of the West Bank and Gaza. Prior to the 1920s, I would challenge anyone to produce a single document, book, article, or diary entry that speaks about or hints at the Palestinians as having any consciousness of an identity distinguishable from other Muslims and/or Arabs.
Jews have a slightly different history – in spite of repeated, egregious attempts by Palestinians to read Jews out of the history of the region. There was, of course, a Jewish state in present-day Israel. That state existed from the time of King Saul around 1000 BCE (or 1570 years before Muhammad) through the final destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans following the Bar Kokhba revolt in 136 CE (or 434 years before Muhammad). The Jewish people existed as a self-aware, obvious-to-anyone-with-a-brain people from the time (if we want to be stingy) of the Exodus from Egypt and probably well before that back to Abraham. That’s thousands of years of peoplehood. After the Romans, Jews continued to exist as an identifiable people; mostly in exile with a small Jewish community living in the Land of Israel. Through thousands of years of exile, crusades, expulsions, inquisitions, pogroms, and worse, the Jewish people remained an identifiable people always longing for, praying for, singing about, writing about, and finally making real a return to the Land of Israel.
Mr. Rudeineh, THAT’S what history looks like.
The Palestinian narrative is, in fact, full of falsehoods. Palestinian leaders have, in fact, created most of their own problems. Palestinian leaders do, in fact, peddle blatant fabrications about their own history and their own victimization. Palestinian leaders do, in fact, want to have it both ways – a proud, tough, strong people most of whom will have food today because of the handouts they accept from Western countries they teach their children to hate.
Rather than griping about Mr. Gingrich’s comments, Palestinian leaders should do something – anything constructive – to change their people’s fortunes.
What do you think?
6:28 pm
Newt hit the nail on the head. He is not a dream-lover and did not miss any history classes.Really strange and sad that many politicians and others actually smell of ignorance.
8:16 am
I wish I could vote for him! But I live in Sweden and here we dont have brave politicians like Newt Gingrich.
6:31 pm
Yes,
Newt Gingrich was accurate. It is a shame more leaders in the U.S. don’t stand by our friends and debunk the lies of terrorist. Why we even try to negotiate with them as they fire rockets at Israel is behind me. Their actions also need to be truthfully told, it is terrorism and murder.
3:03 pm
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A PALESTINIAN NATION! AND THE BIBLE WHICH STATES ISRAEL BELONGS TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE WAS WRITTEN LONG BEFORE ANY KORAN! ISRAEL WAS GIVEN TO THE JEWS LONG BEFORE MUSLIMS EXISTED!!!
1:13 pm
I Admire a Politician who tales the Truth ! I wish All the other Politicians would do the same !
12:17 pm
Ask any Muslim why neither of the words Jerusalem or Palestinian was ever once mentioned in the Koran. I also find it odd that Muhammad would ever say Israel was for the Jews. He did ButPalestinians?
12:15 pm
Wow someone really had the guts to tell the truth.
The truth will set you free except if you are a Palestianian! Praise G-d.
12:10 pm
Alyssa. You are wrong. Jews were actually referred to as Palestinians prior to 1948. Arabs then took over the name to use as a political weapon against Israel. Google Arafat quotes.
6:26 pm
I agree 100% with Newt Gingrich and I know his is quite a historian. People have believed the lies of Satan for too long. It’s time to wake up.
9:48 am
Israel is our only true friend in the Middle East. We MUST support the Israelis in their endeavors to remain free from threats, free from attack, free to grow and blossom as the desert flowers. I listnened to Mr. Gingrich last night, and was especially impressed with his views on Israel. He said that there would NEVER be another Holocaust on his watch, and I believe him. I stand with Israel and I stand with Newt.
7:02 pm
I’m an American Jew who beleives in the right of Israel to exist. I also beleive everyone deserves a land to call their own. Historically and archeologically speaking, there has been an area loosely referred to as Palestine for as long as there has been a Jewish land (which has not always been called Israel any more than it has always been called Palestine). If Palestine and Palestinians are invented people and country,then so are the following: The USA/Americans (ask any American Indian), Australia (ask an Aborigine), Canada, Argentina, Peru, Uruguay, Paraguay, Ecuador, Surinam, Guyana, French Guiana, Brazil, Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Vatican City, Italy, South Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Israel (formerly Canaan, according to the Bible. Who was there before Jacob? Before Abraham?), and Great Britain – among others. ALL of these countries have had other rulers/inhabitants. Do we call it Gaul or do we call it France? Are the people of Scotland Picts or Scots? Irish or Kelts? They all got their current name from the last invaders to conquer the land or through UN partition or their own referendum on independence. So, either ALL of these countries and their inhabitants are invented or none are. Which is it? Can’t have it both ways.
11:11 am
1. We’re glad you agree that Israel has a right to exist. Way to go out on a limb there.
2. Palestinians would have long ago had a country of their own if their leaders showed any interest in building one or the institutions necessary to build one. They have not.
3. Most lands take their names from the peoples who inhabit them, not the other way around.
4. While your history is correct (there has more or less been a place called Palestine since the time of Jesus), you didn’t really read our post. The point was that there was no consciousness of a Palestinian people – inside or outside historical Palestine – until the 1920s.
5. Your point about Native Americans is apt, but we wouldn’t have cited if we were you seeing as how it undermines your argument that “all people deserve a land of their own.” A land like, say, Oklahoma? Or South Dakota? Which State does the US vacate under your “everyone gets a land” policy? That makes for really nice, pollyanna claptrap, but for those of us who live in the real world, it’s a bit more complicated than that.
3:58 pm
After reading this article I will strongly consider a vote for Newt based on this honest assessment of Israel. We need real leadership for America to continue to ever have Gods blessings.
2:52 pm
What else can I say you hit the nail on the head. Just wish more people understood this.Israel has been around way before the Iranians. Besides Iranians are from Egypt.
2:46 pm
Reminds me of Abba Eban’s famous quote that the Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity