Lawrence claims that the Jews have been in Israel for 3000 years. I don't
think so. For the past 2000 they've been scattered over the face of the
earth. The land of Israel-Palestine has been either the home of or governed
by the Canaanites, the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Hurians,
the Hebrews, the Philistines (from whom the name Palestine comes), the
Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks, the Ptolemies of
Egypt, the Seleucids of Syria, the Romans, Muslim Arabs (CE 638), the
Abbasids in Baghdad, (750), followed by the Seljuks, Fatimids, and European
Crusaders, the Ottoman Turks (1517) -- then it really starts to get
complicated. Just thought Lawrence should know that the world is not as
simple as he thinks it.
Thus, the Jews lived in the area for approximately two millennia before the Muslims got there. The Muslims conquered them but didn't drive them out of the land. Thus, their presence in the land is approaching a continuous four millennia.
And do you grant that claim to the American Indians?
I admire the Jews because they are willing to fight for their land. They don't whimper, they don't whine and they are damned fine warriors. You've got to love them . . . well, some of us do.
Mike Geary, former Tenderfoot, BSA.
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