Thursday, June 02, 2011

The 1936 Jewish 'Nakba'

Due to Arab violence and terror, the long-time Jewish residents of the "Muslim Quarter" in Jerusalem's Old City, many of whom owned their property outright, were forced out, expelled and accompanied by British forces during the summer of 1936:


That was ethnic cleansing. Done by Arabs.

^

9 comments:

Morey Altman said...

I think most were able to return when the situation calmed down. The siege of the Old City in 1948, on the other hand, was unquestionably 'ethnic cleansing.' When Haganah fighters offered to surrender, the Jordanians refused unless every Jewish man, woman and child left with them. The expulsion of Jews from all territory held by Jordan (and Egypt) is just one of many inconvenient facts for some.

Morey Altman said...

The problem with you, um, 'anonymouses'is that you're all talk with no facts. No, the Baal Shem Tov wasn't born in Palestine, but then, neither was Yassir Arafat. On the other hand both Moshe Dayan and Yitzhak Rabin WERE born in Palestine. So it's a meaningless argument. Here's the thing I can't figure out, anonymous: why didn't all those Palestinians, who claim endlessly that Jerusalem has more meaning for them than food and water, simply stay put and fight? Jews didn't flee Jerusalem when Jordanian artillery was raining down on the city in 1967. Why was it that these places that are so highly prized today weren't worth fighting and dying for then? if it wasn't for the Jordanians (and Iraqi soldiers) the entire city would have fallen into Jewish hands. I'm really curious about this.

Former Dosik said...

I am sorry, but using an ancient book as an excuse to return to territory that your ancestors abandoned in any event does not cut it.

I don't support terror, but at this point the dismantlement of all of the state of Israel is what will bring at least temporary peace to the world.

Eventually oil won't matter as much, but for now, I am sorry, oil is necessary and the silly idea of a Jewish state is expendable. Petroleum saves and extends lives. The so-called "chosen people" can live elsewhere and contribute intellectually. It is because of you and your stubborn old-fashioned nationalism that the whole world has to suffer.

I am a former Jew. I finally woke up. In 20 years when religion and biblical history are disproven, so will you.

Anonymous said...

do us a favor - go back to sleep or better, become your former self.

Morey Altman said...

Dosik, in 20 years when religion and Biblical history aren't disproven, will you apologize and return to your people? Anyway, your knowledge of both religion and history seem to be greatly lacking. Jewish nationalism is based on both history and religion. Even if the Torah didn't exist, there would be thousands of documents (eg. Josephus, Church records, Arab documents, Ottoman records) archaeological evidence and even genetics that attest to our being the same people that have always lived here. The problem is, my brother, you have abandoned religion - which is fine - but have no sense of pride in who you are as a member of an important, ancient people. When oil is no longer needed, we'll still be around. The world doesn't exist for the sake of oil and its uses; life is about human engagement, philosophy and yes, even religion and the search for meaning in our existence. By all means, enjoy your oil. I'd rather have have pride and hope.

Former Dosik said...

The meaning in our existence is to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

I am not a member of any people. I have a passport but I am connected to whoever I wish to be connected to thanks to modern technology. And I do not wish to be connected to an ancient tribe, even if they consider me a part of it.

I am not your brother, stranger. Like a human evolved one way and an ape another way, I am descended from the same material as you are but I evolved to a much higher state.

Multicultural democracy works - except when threats like Islam are not stamped out.

Nationalism and religion do not work.

Morey Altman said...

I consider all men brothers; you consider all men strangers. I seek spiritual enlightenment; you seek personal gratification and quality of life, even if it comes at the expense of others. Higher state, my ass. But you're still welcome for Shabbat dinner anytime. ;)

Former Dosik said...

Please. False ideas of brotherhood are what brought Communism. The old way of "good fences make good neighbors" is the only way to peace. I am me, you are you, we have nothing in common, stay far away from me, and don't try to preach your Barney the Dinosaur nonsense to me.

If you do not do business with me, you are none of my business. That is my motto.

You seek nationalism at the expense of others. I seek progress and believe that privacy and individualism trump any sort of tribal nonsense identity.

Blow up the wall, the mosque and the churches in Jlem. Build a world trade center. Then you will have peace.

But if that happened, your children just might marry Arabs - you would of course prefer permanent war to that. I don't have, want or need children, but I would be very happy if yours married Arabs because their children would then no longer have a tribal identity.

Keep your Shabbat dinner. I work Friday nights and Saturday because I want to get ahead in the global economy, which cares little for a silly religion that enforces (boring) rest with STONING!

Morey Altman said...

We'll have to add condescending and presumptuous to traits of the "higher state." Shabbat dinner jokes notwithstanding, you don't know my level of religiosity nor my political affiliation. Believing in a community of mankind does not make me a communist anymore that owning a Mastercard makes someone a capitalist. Jewish children are welcome to marry Arabs if they so wish; I just don't want any of their neighbours strapping on bomb belts and blowing up anyone's children in Tel Aviv restaurants. As such, a dividing wall is completely acceptable for self-defence, and is even authorized on occupied territory when necessitated for military purposes. But whatever. What's clear is that you have issues with religion, especially the one you were born into. That's your prerogative; but Jewish nationalism and the belief system of the Jewish people are two different things (although intertwined.) You don't have to practice what you don't believe, and you don't have to identify if you so choose. But, that said, you would do well to step back from the details you don't understand and practice what you preach: If you want Jewish nationalists to "stay far away from [you]" you should avoid trolling their blogs.