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Rewriting History: Gaza

The world has watched as ISIS smashes ancient relics. Reports of destruction have come from IraqNimrud, Nineveh, and other locations. The destruction by Islamic State of precious artifacts in the Mosul museum has archaeologists and historical communities “dismayed.”

Islamic State, however, is not alone in its attempt to rewrite Middle East history. The Arab propaganda machine has been busy creating Pallywood productions that demonize Israel, and slowly eliminating millennial old evidence of the Jewish presence in “Palestine.”

Kfar Darom first modern Jewish settlement in GAza

I say Jewish presence in “Palestine,” because when the Jews lived in Kfar Darom there was not yet a state called “Israel” and there was no Arab people called “Palestinians.”

Jews in Gaza in biblical time

Those Jewish settlers of Kfar Darom were not the first Jews in Gaza. The Bible makes reference to the territory in its recitation of the history of the Jewish patriarchs.

Jewish communities in Gaza old time

Through the centuries Jews retained their connection to the land by the sea. It is written that the Hasmonean Kings built a Jewish settlement to house trade caravans.

Jewish life in Gaza in old texts

The Talmud and Mishna offer references to a Gaza synagogue.

Mosaic floor of old synagogue in Gaza that was destroyed

The ancient and priceless mosaic floor of that Gazan synagogue, however, was destroyed.

photo of GAnie Tal before it was destroyed in 2005

Ariel Sharon was active in the Gaza Strip resettlement project. Then, a couple of decades after the fact, Sharon, in capacity of his role as Prime Minister of Israel, removed every last Jewish resident.  There was a Jewish presence in the Gaza Strip until only ten years ago, but when the Jews left, Arabs lost their jobs and incomes. Hamas was elected as the ruling power. Thousands and thousands of rockets were fired on Israel. And still the world damns the Israeli occupation.

Ryan Bellerose has written regarding the rights of the Jews to Israel as an indigenous people here on Israellycool.

Yet, more and more people believe the rewriting of history coming from the Arab propaganda machine.

Jews in Gaza1922 Palestinian document
Photo credit: Sara Abergel

The Government of Palestine gave a provisional certificate of Palestinian citizenship to Yosef, on October 26, 1922. He was one of many Jews who were born in the late 19th century and lived in Gaza.

In trying to destroy evidence and distort facts of Jewish residency in Gaza, will they be successful in rewriting history?

 

Photos and video taken in: The Gush Katif Museum in Nitzan

Updated: July, 22, 2015 with the addition of citizenship document photo.

 

About the author

Picture of Real Jstreets

Real Jstreets

I lived in the United States, Canada and Australia before moving to Israel in the midst of the Second Lebanon War. For the last ten years, walking the streets of Jerusalem, the scenes I saw every day did not resemble the ones familiar in the Western media. Now I try to share those positive images with the world, what is really happening in Jerusalem, Israel, The Real Jerusalem Streets
Picture of Real Jstreets

Real Jstreets

I lived in the United States, Canada and Australia before moving to Israel in the midst of the Second Lebanon War. For the last ten years, walking the streets of Jerusalem, the scenes I saw every day did not resemble the ones familiar in the Western media. Now I try to share those positive images with the world, what is really happening in Jerusalem, Israel, The Real Jerusalem Streets
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