In August 2019 the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) reported on a video uploaded to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas Facebook page on August 10th speaking at the Jalazun Refugee Camp near Ramallah. There he claimed the Palestinians" are the Canaanites who have lived in Palestine for 5000 years.
This isnt really anything new in February 2018 Abbas told the UN Security Council that PA residents are the direct descendants of the Canaanites.
We are the descendants of the Canaanites who lived in the land of Palestine 5000 years ago and continuously remained there to this day. Our great people remains rooted in its land. The Palestinian people built their own cities and homeland and made contributions to humanity and civilization" he said.
In January 2018 Abbas claimed that 5000 years ago the whole Levant was inhabited by Arab Canaanites" whom he said were the ancestors of todays Palestinian Arabs. Abbas has claimed on several other occasions in the past Canaanite origins. Notice his conflation of Arab and Canaanite.
But its a historic fact that the Arab imperialist army swept out of Arabia and actually invaded Israel and elsewhere only in the 7th century CE.
So too has Saeb Erekat former chief negotiator for the PA. In February 2014 he attacked then Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni before an audience in Germany. He claimed I am a son of Jericho. My age10000 years. I am a proud son of the Canaanites and I was here 5000 years ago and 500 years before the coming of Joshua bin Nun who burned my city Jericho and I will not trade in my history because of a demand to recognize Israel as a Jewish state."
In other words Erekats claimed Canaanite" roots ensured him that he didnt have to recognize Jewish history because his origins predate it. And in any case Joshua bin Nun Erekat hinted was a war criminal.
But his familys genealogical website states that Erekats family originates in the large Howeitat tribe.
In fact the Howeitat claim descent from a single ancestor an Egyptian named Huwayt from the 18th century.
Experts dismiss this Canaanite theory" as historical revisionism since the Canaanites have long become extinct. Other Palestinian" Arabs in the past have claimed to be descendants of the Jebusites who controlled Jerusalem until King Davids time. Theres no end to their lies.
The purpose of the Canaanite" narrative is not meant to shed light on the Palestinians real ancestry but to deny the Jews narrative. Why the Canaanites? Because they were in the country before the Israelite tribes were and thus have precedence according to them.
Fast forward just a week ago millions of Jews around Israel and the Jewish world danced with Sefer Torahs for Simchat Torah. And this past Shabbat all across the Jewish world the yearly Sabbath Torah reading began anew with Bereshit the beginning of the Book of Genesis.
The most basic commentary on the Torah printed in almost all Hebrew editions is that of Rashi Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki the famous 11th century French Biblical and Talmudic commentator.
In the beginning literally of Genesis Rashi asks a question Why does the Torah start with the story of creation? Since the Torah is a book of laws for the Jewish People why doesnt it begin with the first law given by God to the Jews the law for establishing a calendar?"
He answers the Torah starts with the creation narrative to establish that God is the Master of the Universe. Then Rashi says the most amazing thing that still resonates almost a thousand years later.
Based on earlier sources and a thorough knowledge of the meaning of Judaism Rashi quoting a midrash says So that if the nations of the world come to Israel and say you are thieves in Hebrew She-Kevash-Tem (you conquered and occupied) the land from the seven Canaanite nations living there you can tell them that all the universe is Gods He created it and gave it to the nations and when He decided He took it from them and gave it to us."
Three things have become starkly clear in our day:
First that Rashis explanation of the Torah has in fact come true. Jews have returned to the Land of Israel but the UN and many nations claim as Rashi explained they would that we stole the land from others namely the so-called Palestinians."
Second the Israeli Left uses the same Hebrew root/term Kibush occupation to denigrate the miraculous victory of the 1967 Six-Day War. It is the same term occupation" used by most of the world in their criticism of Israeli policies in the territories" Judea and Samaria.
Even Ariel Sharon used it at one point to justify his withdrawal from Gaza. It is the language of self-hating Jews those disconnected from Jewish history and tradition and the Judeo-paths among the nations. Occupation is when you steal someone elses land.
The Jewish People liberated parts of the Land of Israel their promised ancestral homeland in stages first in 1948 and then in 1967 with Gods help. The Jewish People didnt steal" anything.
And finally that the only permanent claim for the Jewish People to their homeland is Gods promise as set down in the Bible; not just history or for security but Gods promise to their forefathers. Only being rooted in Jewish tradition will guarantee long-term survival as it did for nearly 2000 years of exile.
Rashi told the Jewish People He took it from them and gave it to us." And thats what every Jewish leader should continuously broadcast on the world stage.
A true Jewish leader needs to stand up not frightened of Trump Putin the UN or anyone and declare The Master of the Universe took it from them and gave it to us." The Promised Land belongs to the Jews exclusively and not to any other nation because God gave it to them to live in.
Any Israeli prime minister who cant get on TV go to the UN General Assembly or any other meeting with world leaders and say these words should quit before rejecting the promises of God and participating in a peace process" to help another group steal part of the Land of Israel from the Jewish people.
As King David said If I forget you Jerusalem" - a term for the entire Land of Israel - let my right hand wither" - rather than sign any false peace agreement - let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth...." (Psalms 137: 5-6) rather than agree to foreigners taking over part of the Jewish Peoples homeland.
Why mislead the Palestinians?" Why make them believe they are right that Israel stole their land" by participating in a peace process? Why fool them into believing that Israel might give them land and a state? The God of Israel will never let that happen if the Jewish People hold on tight to the Torah view.
It doesnt matter if Abbas claims to be a Canaanite. Whoever becomes prime minister should tell them and the world the truth He took it from them and gave it to us."
Ariel Natan Pasko an independent analyst and consultant has a Masters Degree specializing in International Relations Political Economy & Policy Analysis. His articles appear regularly on numerous news/views and think-tank websites and in newspapers. His latest articles can also be read on his archive: The Think Tank by Ariel Natan Pasko.
(c) 2019/5780 Pasko
In August 2019 the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) reported on a video uploaded to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas Facebook page on August 10th speaking at the Jalazun Refugee Camp near Ramallah. There he claimed the Palestinians" are the Canaanites who have lived in Palestine for 5000 years.
This isnt really anything new in February 2018 Abbas told the UN Security Council that PA residents are the direct descendants of the Canaanites.
We are the descendants of the Canaanites who lived in the land of Palestine 5000 years ago and continuously remained there to this day. Our great people remains rooted in its land. The Palestinian people built their own cities and homeland and made contributions to humanity and civilization" he said.
In January 2018 Abbas claimed that 5000 years ago the whole Levant was inhabited by Arab Canaanites" whom he said were the ancestors of todays Palestinian Arabs. Abbas has claimed on several other occasions in the past Canaanite origins. Notice his conflation of Arab and Canaanite.
But its a historic fact that the Arab imperialist army swept out of Arabia and actually invaded Israel and elsewhere only in the 7th century CE.
So too has Saeb Erekat former chief negotiator for the PA. In February 2014 he attacked then Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni before an audience in Germany. He claimed I am a son of Jericho. My age10000 years. I am a proud son of the Canaanites and I was here 5000 years ago and 500 years before the coming of Joshua bin Nun who burned my city Jericho and I will not trade in my history because of a demand to recognize Israel as a Jewish state."
In other words Erekats claimed Canaanite" roots ensured him that he didnt have to recognize Jewish history because his origins predate it. And in any case Joshua bin Nun Erekat hinted was a war criminal.
But his familys genealogical website states that Erekats family originates in the large Howeitat tribe.
In fact the Howeitat claim descent from a single ancestor an Egyptian named Huwayt from the 18th century.
Experts dismiss this Canaanite theory" as historical revisionism since the Canaanites have long become extinct. Other Palestinian" Arabs in the past have claimed to be descendants of the Jebusites who controlled Jerusalem until King Davids time. Theres no end to their lies.
The purpose of the Canaanite" narrative is not meant to shed light on the Palestinians real ancestry but to deny the Jews narrative. Why the Canaanites? Because they were in the country before the Israelite tribes were and thus have precedence according to them.
Fast forward just a week ago millions of Jews around Israel and the Jewish world danced with Sefer Torahs for Simchat Torah. And this past Shabbat all across the Jewish world the yearly Sabbath Torah reading began anew with Bereshit the beginning of the Book of Genesis.
The most basic commentary on the Torah printed in almost all Hebrew editions is that of Rashi Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki the famous 11th century French Biblical and Talmudic commentator.
In the beginning literally of Genesis Rashi asks a question Why does the Torah start with the story of creation? Since the Torah is a book of laws for the Jewish People why doesnt it begin with the first law given by God to the Jews the law for establishing a calendar?"
He answers the Torah starts with the creation narrative to establish that God is the Master of the Universe. Then Rashi says the most amazing thing that still resonates almost a thousand years later.
Based on earlier sources and a thorough knowledge of the meaning of Judaism Rashi quoting a midrash says So that if the nations of the world come to Israel and say you are thieves in Hebrew She-Kevash-Tem (you conquered and occupied) the land from the seven Canaanite nations living there you can tell them that all the universe is Gods He created it and gave it to the nations and when He decided He took it from them and gave it to us."
Three things have become starkly clear in our day:
First that Rashis explanation of the Torah has in fact come true. Jews have returned to the Land of Israel but the UN and many nations claim as Rashi explained they would that we stole the land from others namely the so-called Palestinians."
Second the Israeli Left uses the same Hebrew root/term Kibush occupation to denigrate the miraculous victory of the 1967 Six-Day War. It is the same term occupation" used by most of the world in their criticism of Israeli policies in the territories" Judea and Samaria.
Even Ariel Sharon used it at one point to justify his withdrawal from Gaza. It is the language of self-hating Jews those disconnected from Jewish history and tradition and the Judeo-paths among the nations. Occupation is when you steal someone elses land.
The Jewish People liberated parts of the Land of Israel their promised ancestral homeland in stages first in 1948 and then in 1967 with Gods help. The Jewish People didnt steal" anything.
And finally that the only permanent claim for the Jewish People to their homeland is Gods promise as set down in the Bible; not just history or for security but Gods promise to their forefathers. Only being rooted in Jewish tradition will guarantee long-term survival as it did for nearly 2000 years of exile.
Rashi told the Jewish People He took it from them and gave it to us." And thats what every Jewish leader should continuously broadcast on the world stage.
A true Jewish leader needs to stand up not frightened of Trump Putin the UN or anyone and declare The Master of the Universe took it from them and gave it to us." The Promised Land belongs to the Jews exclusively and not to any other nation because God gave it to them to live in.
Any Israeli prime minister who cant get on TV go to the UN General Assembly or any other meeting with world leaders and say these words should quit before rejecting the promises of God and participating in a peace process" to help another group steal part of the Land of Israel from the Jewish people.
As King David said If I forget you Jerusalem" - a term for the entire Land of Israel - let my right hand wither" - rather than sign any false peace agreement - let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth...." (Psalms 137: 5-6) rather than agree to foreigners taking over part of the Jewish Peoples homeland.
Why mislead the Palestinians?" Why make them believe they are right that Israel stole their land" by participating in a peace process? Why fool them into believing that Israel might give them land and a state? The God of Israel will never let that happen if the Jewish People hold on tight to the Torah view.
It doesnt matter if Abbas claims to be a Canaanite. Whoever becomes prime minister should tell them and the world the truth He took it from them and gave it to us."
Ariel Natan Pasko an independent analyst and consultant has a Masters Degree specializing in International Relations Political Economy & Policy Analysis. His articles appear regularly on numerous news/views and think-tank websites and in newspapers. His latest articles can also be read on his archive: The Think Tank by Ariel Natan Pasko.
(c) 2019/5780 Pasko