A series where I use history to debunk common misconceptions about the Middle East conflict.
I have already shown in the past how Palestine was desolate at the turn of the 20th century, before the Jews revived the land.
This New York Times article from June 9th, 1918 – not long before the end of WWI and the British takeover of the land – reinforces this point. Note in particular:
- How the early Zionists went out of their comfort zone to cultivate the land, and make it thrive more than it had under Turkish ownership or under the Arab farmers
- Some of the Arabs had clearly been positively influenced by the Jewish farmers
- Not all the Jews had been from Europe as the haters claim
- At the time, the Jews established the largest wine cellar in the world in Rishon Le Zion
