The textbook starts with the following statement: Israel exists
1) This statement seems not correct because there were many battles, fights, massacres and pogroms before 1948. Violence is clearly not started in 1948.
For example, massacres in Hebron have happened in 1517(*2), 1834 (*3), 1929 (*4). There were 37 Jewish communities attacked during Arab riots in 1929 (*5) as follows: Yesud HaMa'ala, Ein Zeitim, Safed, Kfar Hittim, Acre, Haifa, Mishmar HaEmek,Heftziba, Beit Alfa, Beit She'an, Jenin,Tulkarem, Nablus,Tel Aviv,Mazkeret Batya,Hulda,Kfar Uria, Hartuv,Motza, Ramat Rachel, Jerusalem, Atarot, Neve Yaakov, Beer Tuvia,Migdal Eder, Hebron, Gaza, Kfar Malal.
The textbook mentioned 1929 events on page 8 as a massacre of Jews in Jericho. Mixing Hebron with Jericho looked as a minor error to me on the first read but given present situation in Hebron with international community considering Jews of Hebron as illegal settlers - this maybe be material error as there could be a valid question of why if Jews were living in Hebron over centuries, they are now - 86 families(*6), considered illegal and obstacle for peace. If international community supports creation of another Arab state, i think basic human right should be requested and guaranteed in this new state for all people including Jews.
There were many battles in the land before 1948 and some random examples are below (*7): The Raid on the Suez Canal in 1915 The Third Battle of Gaza - November 1917 The Tel Aviv and Jaffa deportation 1917 The Battle of Nazareth, September 1918 The Battle of Jerusalem 1917 Arab revolt in Palestine 1936–1939 Bombing of Tel-Aviv, Haifa, Acrre and Jaffa by Italians in 1940 A revolt in Gaza against the Ottomans in 1763 The French Campaign in Egypt and Syria (1798–1801) The Battle of Jaffa 1192 or 1917
2) This statement seems also not correct as 1947–48 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine was the first phase of the 1948 Palestine war (*8) and it broke out after the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution on 29 November 1947 recommending the adoption of the Partition Plan for Palestine (*1). In other words, the war had started almost 6 month before Israel's independancy and in 1947, not 1948 as written in this paragraph. Or authors consider the period from November 1947 as a time of rest with no fightings?
3) This statement looks odd as it was not only Israel but all neighbours were created as aftermath of WWI and League of Nations mandates (*9) and situation in other lands are far from rest and prosperity in comparison to Israel - one of the leading world economies.
4) This statement looks odd as Israel was not controlling territories of Judea, Samaria and Gaza before 1967. There was no state for Palestinian Arabs created before 1967 on these lands, Israel creation in 1948 can logically not be blamed for that.
5) This statement seems also not correct because it was a military coalition of Arab countries attacked Israel on a second day of creation with the aim of destroying it. Is this creation of Israel and not war started by Arab armies to be blamed for future fights?
Next paragraph of the introduction is even more interesting. It says that Zionism was an origin or a starting point ('Ausgangspunkt') of problems in Palestine ('Palästina-Problems') in XX century ('und damit des Nahostkonflicts'), Zionists aim was creation of a homeland for jewish people in Zion, and the land was already belonging to other people, probably not to Jews, if i follow text logic correctly. This is mentioned that jews were dispersed in the world and in many lands they experienced threats of prosecution. Neither antisemitism, nor pogroms or killings are mentioned here. Just threats?
Probably as a rational for Jews to settle in Palestine region, the book indicates that there was a special New Year greeting - 'Next Year in Jerusalem' which reflects aspirations of Jews to return to a former homeland.
1) If i understand this text correctly - it assumes Zionists are guilty and/or to be blamed for creation of State of Israel and consequent 'Palestine problems', injustice towards Palestinian Arabs as land belonged to them. in other words, if a Lithuanian Jew goes to Hebron Yeshiva in 1929, is it Zionism to be blamed that he was killed by anti-Semites because Zionism was a origin ('Ausgangspunkt') of Palestinian problems? how this can be understood differently?
2) Once again, it is worth mentioning that nothing else is indicated as problem in this introduction - neither violence, which was clearly started in Palestine not by Jews or Zionists, nor wars to exterminations, nor terror, nor Arab nationalism (Many Jews were saved by Arabs during pogroms incl. one in Hebron. so notion that European Jews were 'so bad' (to rationalize violence?) seems may not be correct at all), nor antisemitism - but just Zionism.
3) There are no positive words about Israel in this introduction either. The textbook discusses Zionism, creation of State of Israel, and League of Nation Mandate was clearly stated Jewish Agency 'to assist and take part in the development of the country' (*9). This aim was achieved by Israel and this is also part of the history of the region. Why introduction chapter cannot have a similar statement to this: Zionist migration and creation of State of Israel in 1948 transformed undeveloped and wasted lands of Palestine region into the world leader in science, business and agriculture, supplying many countries around the globe with good and services. There is sadly a long lasting conflict that requires it resolution. Why not? or history learning textbooks should mention only negative points?
4) More interesting is the second part of the paragraph that talks about a) 'New Year' b) New Year Greeting ('Grussformel') c) as 'reflection of aspirations of Jews' which, in my view, disregards Jewish tradition, history, religion. It is great that authors are aware of 'Next year in Jerusalem' greeting. But even if they are not aware of f.e. Psalms of David (*13), i hope they have at least heard of a Boney M version of Psalm 137 'By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.'(*12). They may not know about the phrase "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning." (*13) but they have probably heard that Land of Israel is central to the Jewish tradition and Jerusalem is a holiest place for Judaism.
5) Another minor item - Jews do not celebrate a New Year in Christian sense so this would be much more appropriate for a textbook to read Jewish New Year or Rosh Hashanah (like on page 7, paragraph 1.1.3 authors go to the details and mention word 'Kibbuz',specially noted that plural form of this word is 'Kibbuzim'.). 6) Even less important thing is that Jews do not say 'Next Year in Jerusalem' during Rosh Hashanah or Jewish New Year celebration. It is used on Pessach and Yom Kippur.(*17) Last sentence of introduction states that key point is that Palestine was populated and this was ignored. This sentence is also in contradiction to facts.
1) First of all there were category of land known as 'State lands and waste lands' (*11).
2) It was neither ignored as Article 6 of Mandate states 'that nothing should be done which might prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country'. The book briefly mentions Mandate and a Balfour declaration without going into details (f.e. on page 6 - Grossbritannien liess seine Herrschaft als treuhänderisches Schutzmacht-Mandat vom Voelkerbund legitimieren). The textbook mentions only of rights of non-Jews (Wahrung der Rechte der alteingesessenen Bevölkerung'). it this is very frequent that i see that second part about rights of Jews is ignored in discussions about. I have not found any reference to 850'000 Jewish refugees from the Arab and Muslim countries (*24) in the textbook either.
3) Zionists were cooperating with Arabs and assumed cooperation in future. Faisal–Weizmann Agreement (*15) is not mentioned here either.
4) The fact is that Arabs are now living in every city (Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv, Haifa etc.) in Israel but Jews are expelled from many Arab and Muslim lands, neither they are welcomed in Judea, Samaria and Gaza. Jews were living in Gaza over centuries but now expelled under 'applause' of the international community. Next part 1.1.1 describes Zionism and an origin of it. This paragraph as well as introduction above does not mention:
1) Christian Zionism (*18) which is important to mention that Zionism is not entirely Jewish movement. i do not think authors equate Zionists with Jews but it is well know that many anti-Semites do so it would have been important to clarify this point.
2) Labour Zionism (*18) in not mentioned in this paragraph, although it is written about in 1.1.3
3) Arab Nationalism (*19) 4) The fact is that not only Zionism but League of Nation Mandate aimed to establish national home for the Jewish people in Palestine. Here is important part that of League of Nations mandate, which is in my view, should have been mentioned or included entirely into the textbook:
Article 4 : An appropriate Jewish agency shall be recognised as a public body for the purpose of advising and co-operating with the Administration of Palestine in such economic, social and other matters as may affect the establishment of the Jewish national home and the interests of the Jewish population in Palestine, and, subject always to the control of the Administration, to assist and take part in the development of the country. The Zionist Organisation, so long as its organisation and constitution are in the opinion of the Mandatory appropriate, shall be recognised as such agency. It shall take steps in consultation with His Britannic Majesty's Government to secure the co-operation of all Jews who are willing to assist in the establishment of the Jewish national home.
Article 6 :The Administration of Palestine, while ensuring that the rights and position of other sections of the population are not prejudiced, shall facilitate Jewish immigration under suitable conditions and shall encourage, in co-operation with the Jewish agency referred to in Article 4, close settlement by Jews on the land, including State lands and waste lands not required for public purposes....establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, it being clearly understood that nothing should be done which might prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country; and Whereas recognition has thereby been given to the historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine and to the grounds for reconstituting their national home in that country;
So the question is - was the League of Nation just a gathering of 'evil' Zionists? or what? although book seems to be critical to British ruling, why then book is not clear in blaming Great Britain as responsible for mandate land and/or European politic towards Jews as an 'Ausgangspunk' of the problems and consequent wars? Why Israel? Talking about creation of state of Israel - legal aspects and law is often downplayed and arguments are pushing about 'justice' towards Arab majority of non-existing country. Also in this book on page 9, it is written that UN resolution from 29.11.1947 and division of land was formally legal but questionable ('Dieser Entscheid war formell-rechtlich legal, aber trozdem fragwuerdig'). This is so, according to book, as Arab countries were against it and this was to cause wars and violence. So probably there should not be any law if Arab countries are against? And because Jews had only 6.6% of land (what was 100% and what belonged to Arabs form 100%?) and a lot of Arabs were living in Jewish parts. So question to textbook is – if people own only 6.6% of land, they have no rights for self-determination? Jewish people can live as minority in other countries, there should not be minorities in Jewish state? Or the point is that Israel should be created but just on several km less land? There seems to be no attempt to think of justice for the Jewish people. Is it assumed that Jews, being >10 Mio nation around 1900 but a minority everywhere, have to live with limited rights and hope on a good treatment by 'democratic' majority? This had not worked before, and it does not work now in Europe where Jews are often a target from left and right and may have to hide their identity in order not to be attacked in France or Germany. Situation is even graver if we consider historic chain of events in this or similar order: In 1938 in Evian, Jews were not permitted to escape and all doors out of Nazi Europe were closed for Jews. It is easier to mention nations who saved Jews or known for helping Jews to escape - Denmark, Bulgaria, Serbs and Belorussia partisans. There are heroes saving Jews in every place esp. Poland however most of nations and states are seen to cooperate with Nazi, in some European countries Jews were killed by locals before German Nazi even arrived. Just after WWII, Jews have not been welcomed back to their homes that were either destroyed or occupied by other people as families were killed. Jewish pogroms in Poland after war are well known but problems were not only in Poland . On Page 9, there is a very strange phrase naming German and Polish anti-Semites that I leave without comments for everyone who want to translate it: ‘..die ruecksichtslose Entschlossenheit die juedischen Kämpfer, die sich an Engländern und Arabern fuer das Unrecht rächten, das ihnen deutschen und polnische Antisemiten zugefuegt hatten’ This is just after the Holocaust that anti-Semitic complain was launching in the Soviet Union. Jewish Antifascist committee was closed (*16), Solomon Michoels was killed on Stalin order in January 1948, arrests of his colleagues and preparations started well before that. The scale of anti-Semitic propaganda leaves almost no doubt (although i have not seen documented proof) that large scale operation to deport Jews from European part or Russia to Siberia was planned. Anti-Semitic campaign in Soviet Union stopped only with death or Stalin, leaving Jewish institution closed till the time of 'Perestroika', having Jewish intelligencia - authors, actors, poets - killed. f.e. On 12 August 1952, at least thirteen prominent Yiddish writers were executed in the event known as the "Night of the Murdered Poets"(*16) In parallel, this is just after the Holocaust that Jewish people were expelled from the Arab lands and Arab leaders started a war to destroy Israel. No country in Europe, neither America helped newly created stated of Israel. It was clear for many that Arabs are stronger and Israel will fall. This was only Stalin to voice support to Israel in the UN and it was Stalin to sell weapons to Israel via Czechoslovakia. (Although it is probably no one can say if he expected Israel to survive or not) There are other places in the textbook in relation to terrorism and terrorists organizations, but this should be better reviewed by specialists. there are just couple of general points: 1) It is quite strange to me that maps in the schoolbook have no scale. It is impossible to judge in this is 50 or 500 km from 'the see to the river'. There are no historic maps of Palestine in the book just British mandate borders that are correctly stated in legend but not in the header. 2) There are almost no citations and references. Text looks as a fantasy to me. 3) There are almost no numbers. I found only 6 numbers on pages related to the start of the conflict (pages 6 to 15)
I) 1:60 ratio of population related to 1948 war (Page 10)
II) 10% Christian population (Page 11)
III) 6.6% of land owned by Jews (Page 9)
IV) 700'000 Palestinian Arabs refugees (Page 10)
V) 4 Mio grown number of Arab refugees (Page 11)
VI) 400'000 of Arab refugees (Page 15)
VII) 120 Milliards Dollars (guess in connection to what? )
The only absolute numbers within pages 6 to 15 are numbers on Palestinian Arabs refugees. Let me add some more that, on my view, are missing the the textbook:
1) There were about 532k inhabitants of Palestine in 1890, at around begging of the Zionist movements, 43k (<10%) from those were Jews (*20). The demography is not very reliable in general but let us assumes this is correct
2) It seems there is also Jewish majority in Jerusalem in 1922 (*20). IN any case there was a Jewish population lived in the land.
3) There are currently 12.37 Mio Palestinian Arabs (*22) incl. 2.9 Mio in Judea and Samaria, 1.9 Mio in Gaza, 1.8 Mio in Israel
So this appears that during 'Zionist period' Palestinian Arab population grown more than 10 times in the Mandate territory and about 25 time in total. Jewish population was 11.2 Mio in 1900, comparable growth for Jewish population can be assumed around 275 Mio. Jews are currently estimated as 15 Mio worldwide almost no change from 1900. Palestinian Arabs are living in every city in former British mandate land, as i already wrote above, but not Jews. I believe there is enough place for Jews and Palestinian Arabs in the Middle East to live without blaming Zionists. As Jews were expelled from Arab and Muslim countries (*24) - why only Israel should contribute land for a Palestinian state?
II)-> %% of population without indication of absolute number may be well misleading. 6.6% of land is even more difficult to understand. if they reference %% of land owned by Jews - one should know
1) What is 100%. Does this include Negev Desert, or maybe south Lebanon or east bank of Jordan river?
2) What %% of land is owned by Palestinian Arabs, what %% of land owned by now Syrians, Egyptians or other owners outside of Palestine region whatever border is. What %% of land was waste. i thin this is racist to mention only Jews, on some maps advertised n Zurich main station Jewish land was coloured yellow while the rest of the land whoever owned it - green. in this book there are only to colours - Blank and different shadows of green. so yellow colour obviously could not have used in principle.
3) Why %% of owned land is important if f.e. Jewish family was living in a room in the city, owning not a lot of land but Arab farmer had more land outside of the city walls. 4) Can Jews purchase land or a houses or it is not allowed as considered by some as 'stealing Palestinian lands'? What was an alternative to creation of Israel in 1948? Civil war? Occupation of land by Arabs and killing Jews? Bi-national state? Who would run it? Or injustice is simply that too many %% of land including Negev was given to Jews? but even simple look at the middle east map with a scale – makes one clearly see that all blames on Jews having too much land is simply insane. Good thing about this book, despite not all important facts are presented, there are still many facts written down so if students have time to think and read this book critically, they will find logical, sequential and other issues.
(*1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Partition_Plan_for_Palestine
(*2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1517_Hebron_attacks
(*3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hebron
(*4) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1929_Hebron_massacre
(*5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1929_Palestine_riots
(*6) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebron
(*7) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_history_of_the_region_of_Palestine
(*8) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1947%E2%80%9348_Civil_War_in_Mandatory_Palestine
(*9) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Nations_mandate
(*10) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Arab%E2%80%93Israeli_War
(*11) https://unispal.un.org/DPA/DPR/unispal.nsf/0/2FCA2C68106F11AB05256BCF007BF3CB
(*12) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivers_of_Babylon
(*13) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psalm_137
(*14) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Thomas
(*15) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faisal%E2%80%93Weizmann_Agreement
(*16) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Anti-Fascist_Committee
(*17) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27Shana_Haba%27ah
(*18) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Types_of_Zionism
(*19) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_nationalism
(*20) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographic_history_of_Palestine_(region)
(*21) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographic_history_of_Jerusalem#Jews_as_absolute_or_relative_majority
(*22) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinians
(*23) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_Jewish_population_comparisons
(*24) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_exodus_from_Arab_and_Muslim_countries
P.S. one general point about anti-Semitism: I do not know what the correct definition of anti-Semitism is, there are many discussion but my view is as follows. 1) There is a well formulated guilt, blame or a libel towards Jews. For example, that Jews are enemies of Christ, drinking blood of Christian kids, stealing Palestinian land. it is assumed that Jews are doing something very bad. 2) This guilt is supported by officials and mass media. 3) Population develops this libel further and use it as rational of physical violence 4) There are calls to kill Jews, calls to destroy Israel also contribute here. 5) Anti-Semitism is often irrational and fail logical argumentation. So every person may have different opinion or even several different opinions, one can blame religious Jews but be fine with converted Jews that refused their tradition and religion, one may blame Zionists and be ok with left or even ortodox Jews blaming Israel, one would call Zionist only Zionist, another will call all Jews Zionists It may not be correct to describe all these opinions as anti-Semitic but overall there is a libel that everyone is aware of. and even neutral people that do not blame anyone could say that if all are against Jews than this means they are doing something wrong. all cannot be mistake ( TIP. yes, they can. However 'all' is also incorrect) If official foreign politic of a country assumes religious Jews praying at western wall, or baby born in Hebron are illegal occupants and war criminal. Is this not an absurd? is this not connected to the libel that Jews are 'stealing lands' and Palestine does not belong to Jewish people? Cases of physical attacks on Jews are growing in Europe and some nations introduce laws to criminalize trading with Jews in Judea and Samaria. Calls to kills Jews are heard also in Europe. Everybody is aware of that. but there seems to be an easy option for now - blame Zionists for everything.
