Tamrurim תַּמְרוּרִ֔ים

“Who is a Palestinian?”

Let’s first define a contemporary framework for “Who is a Palestinian?” I don’t want to engage is the rhetoric which denies the existence of a people who have built their geographic, cultural and faith identities around this term. To do so is completely counter-productive, dismissive, and de-humanizing.

It has taken me many years of learning with those who identify as Palestinian, studying history, exploring comparative nomenclature, and asking a lot of questions, to form the following conclusion. There are FIVE distinct sub-groups of Palestinians.

1. Gazans. These folks have been governed solely by internal forces (first Fatah and then Hamas) since August 2005. They were cheated out of a fully flourishing and safe life by the hands of Hamas.  Israel was forced to put unspeakable protections in place as a result of abuses by Hamas (like restricting the imports of certain materials because Hamas was using them for tunnel and weapon development). 

2. Residents of the Disputed West Bank/Judea-Samaria. Palestinians living here are caught between a lack of Israeli citizenship while still be heavily controlled my Israeli government, military, and police. They experience the highest levels of oppression, racism, and violence. They are often placed on curfews or total lock downs which cause undue stress and financial hardship.  They are antagonized by a right wing government (often having their ancestral land and homes bull-dozed for what amounts to “eminant domain”). They are also victims of extreme agitators and murderers who are Jewish settlers in this territory. They have been offered citizenship over the years to both Jordan and to Israel and have rejected it.

3. Arab Israelis identifying as Palestinian descendants are full citizens of Israel.  They vote, serve in all levels of government, serve in the IDF, own land, etc.  They experience similar micro-aggressions that Black and Brown people in the US do:  more frequent traffic and security stops, some employment discrimination, an erasure of history and contributions to society, an under-representation in pop culture and symbols of the country (like the flag and national anthem).  This is wrong and needs to be addressed, but it isn’t “apartheid.” 

4. Descendants of Arabs living in British Mandate Palestine who were displaced during the transition of power in 1948 and are now settled in other countries have a significant tie to the land and should have freedom of movement within the land.  They are not, however, refugees.  Refugee status (as defined by the UN) given to descendants of displaced persons only applies to this one group of people and represents a bias and prejudice against Israel.  No other peoples are granted this inherited status.  If that were the case, then almost every Jew in the world would be a refugee from Judea/Samaria.  And the descendants of the 900k+ Mizrahi Jews expelled from Arab lands would be refugees from those lands, and so on. The UN and the UK have a major responsibility in the displacement of Palestinians in 1948.  The lack of thoughtful transfer of power created a terrible crisis.  Arabs taken from their homes and businesses deserve reparations. 

5. East Jerusalem residents aren’t citizens of Israel, but instead hold permanent residency with Israeli ID cards. That means they can access services, but they can’t cast a vote in national elections—and their status (as well as their homes) can be taken away. It’s a very difficult framework to live within. And while they are eligible to apply for Israeli citizenship, most hold tight to their Palestinian identity (knowing that it means navigating the uncertainty of policies that could uproot them at any moment).

Each of these five groups have distinct needs on a journey for equality and rights within the framework of Israel and Zionism. We cannot lump these groups into one entity and believe we are making a difference for ANY of them.

“WHERE/WHAT IS PALESTINE?”

It is important to recognize that while the British Mandate controlled land was called “Palestine” (the only time it has ever been officially called that) it is critical to note that all legal tender, the English and Hebrew newspaper, and official documents (like passports) also contained a symbol with an Aleph and a Yud – which means “Eretz Yisrael” or the full language itself.

The borders of this land have been pushed and pulled for centuries via wars, peace agreements, changes in ruling parties and international agreements. The land that is currently identified as Israel, Gaza and the Disputed West Bank/Judaea-Samaria, has had portions a part of Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and unclaimed land space. The phrase “From the River to the Sea” which is often used in this struggle, would indicate all land from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea and down to the Red Sea should be Palestine. The northern part of Israel known as the Golan Heights would return to Syrian control in this definition and the border with Lebanon (known as the Blue Line) would be maintained.

Israel’s control of Gaza, the Disputed West Bank/Judaea-Samaria, and the Golan Heights came to be via wars they did not start. The international community has mistreated Israel in ways it doesn’t treat other sovereign entities who have acquired land via war and treaty. I do believe Israeli leadership could have done something vastly different with the West Bank (another blog post to come), as to not antagonize, but ultimately they came to that land rightfully.

ZIONIST AND PRO-PALESTIN(E)(IAN)?

Yes.

I can strive for a vision in which ancestral strongholds are acknowledged and celebrated for for Jews, Palestinians, Christian Arabs, Druze, Armenians, and historic Christian denominations represented in the Christian quarter of the Old City. A vision that abolishes claims for only one people or another.

I can strive for a vision in which each sub-group of Palestinian peoples receive equality, freedom of movement, representation and dignity under a partnership with Israel. A vision in which K’lal Yisrael supports adaptations or inclusion of additional pieces to certain symbols, national identity and laws.

I can strive for a vision in which the entirety of the land is jointly administered by these people with the ancestral ties, while still providing global protection for the Jewish people. A vision that ensures a Shoah does not happen again.

I can strive for a vision in which the international community treats Israel equally as it does other lands. A vision which included complete and permanent peace with Israel’s neighbors and a universal condemnation and global leadership actively working to destroy IRGC and similar terrorist entities.