I read through the Encyclopedia Judaica and took some notes abut the history of the region and the relationship between the Jews and the Arabs. Now I’m not saying that there were always bad situations, but to claim that Arab/Israeli violence is a new phenomenon born of occupation is disingenuous.

First, some background.

In the Torah, there is the story of the Jews being enslaved by the Pharaoh in Egypt. The reason? The Jews were a large nation who might (it was postulated) ally themselves with an invading power. This bit points out 2 points: 1) the history of oppression against Jews will be mired in worry and anger at a separate nation, not prompted by any real threat and 2) in the biblical world, land annexation through the military might was the norm.

Also, I am not going to trace the history of European anti-Semitism; that has been done.

Here are some names and dates to remember:

1009 (CE) – after the Muslim military captured the land from the Byzantines in 638, Caliph Fatimid Al-Hakim made an ultimatum to the Jews – convert or leave. This ultimatum was eventually rescinded but I’ve made my point.

1099 – Crusaders capture Jerusalem (and kill Jews…)

1187 – Saladin captures most of Israel but Christians retain rights of pilgrimage.

Fighting continues through 1192

1244 – Egypt annexes Jerusalem; Judea and Samaria are part of “Trans-Jordan”

Jews immigrate due to European persecution in the 13^th century. Saladin welcomes Jewish settlers but elsewhere things aren’t going as well – the Acre synagogue is destroyed by Al Malik Al Ashraf in 1291

1474 – Muslims destroy Nachmanides synagogue

1517 – Ottoman conquest

Jews caught between the rising power of the Janissay army and the Ottoman decline. Druze and Bedouin tribes plundered Jewish towns. Turks (1576) expelled over 500 Jewish families from Safed

1625 – Bedouin sheikh Muhammed Ibn Farkoh tyrannized Jews in Jerusalem

1720 – Nov. 8, Arabs set fire to synagogue as debt collection.

Power over Jerusalem – Ottomans as of 1831, Egypt 1832-1840, Turkey 1841

In the mid 1800’s, many European countries claimed rights over areas of the Middle East in order to protect their religious citizenry in Israel. They establish delegations (missionaries). These consuls do not protect Jews from Turks

1839 – Montefiore talks to Muhammed Ali about making a chartered settlement but Ali is soon removed from power.

Religious conflict develops among all the missionaries who aren’t allowed to bother the Muslims.

The Young Turks revolt of 1908 gives Arabs the freedom to pursue nationhood – manifested by anti-Jewish-immigration incitement

Turks in 1915 start crushing Zionism, viewing it as a rebellion (especially in light of WWI)

January 3, 1919 Weizmann and Faisal (the emir) sign peace agreement but Arab nationalists ignore it and start attacking Jews. Herbert Samuel, British high commander, tries to appease the Arabs and appoints Hajj Amin al Hussein (a rioter and known criminal) as mufti. The attacks continue and the British stand idly by.

A suggested representative assembly is boycotted by Arabs because of the 11% Jewish participation.

Anti-Jewish riots (including the 1929 Hebron Massacre) are claimed to be in fear of Jews trying to take over religious sites.

The British size up the 1929-31 attacks as “disappointment of the political and national aspirations and fear of the economic future.”

1931 – Al Qassam’s terrorists start killing individuals and targeting Arabs who do business with Jews. These terrorists killed by the British in 1935, declared martyrs.

Mufti allies with Nazis to eradicate Jews even after the 1939 White Paper promises a reduced immigration of Jews.

For terrorism and violence between 1939 and the mid 60’s but pre 1967, check here.

The PLO began with the signing of the Palestinian national Charter in 1964! Arafat’s Fatah party dates to 1957! These predate the 1967 war which is often cited as the reason for the terrorism (see here for more on this).