Regarding My Palestine and Israel Series

by John Ellis I want to provide a quick heads up for those who have been reading the series: I am taking a brief pause. There are two main reasons for that: 1. I need a break and, 2. more importantly, the growing tension and violence on university campuses may necessitate a different type of … Continue reading Regarding My Palestine and Israel Series

Palestine and Israel, Chapter 4 (part 3): The Trauma of the British Mandate

by John Ellis In 1929, American journalist Vincent Sheean pitched the pro-Zionist paper The New Palestine a series of articles detailing life within the Zionist communities of Palestine. He proposed immersing himself in Zionist communities and culture and then writing about his experience. The paper gladly accepted the respected journalist’s offer. In his book Personal … Continue reading Palestine and Israel, Chapter 4 (part 3): The Trauma of the British Mandate

Palestine and Israel, Chapter 4 (part 2): The Trauma of the British Mandate

The Mufti of Jerusalem by John Ellis Even though its publication was suppressed through the efforts of Zionist supporters in the British government, the Palin Commission still produced drastic changes. Prime Minister Lloyd George recalled the military administration in Palestine, installed a civilian administration instead, and appointed Herbert Samuel as the High Commissioner. “Samuel, a … Continue reading Palestine and Israel, Chapter 4 (part 2): The Trauma of the British Mandate

Palestine and Israel, Chapter 4 (part 1): The Trauma of the British Mandate

by John Ellis With her imperialistic hubris bolstering her confidence in her eventual success, England embraced her role as protectorate over Palestine. As it would turn out, England was in way over her head, culminating in England dumping the problem of Palestine in the United Nation’s lap in 1947, a little over a quarter of … Continue reading Palestine and Israel, Chapter 4 (part 1): The Trauma of the British Mandate

Palestine and Israel, Chapter 3 (part 2): The Paris Peace Conference’s Codified Racism

Supreme Court Associate Justice and Leader of the American Zionists, Louis Brandeis by John Ellis As the summer of 1919 rolled to its end, a potentially disruptive report was issued detailing the findings of Charles Crane and Henry King. The two Americans had been commissioned by President Woodrow Wilson to travel the Middle East, study … Continue reading Palestine and Israel, Chapter 3 (part 2): The Paris Peace Conference’s Codified Racism

Palestine and Israel, Chapter 3 (part 1): The Paris Peace Conference’s Codified Racism

French Premier Georges Clemenceau, American President Woodrow Wilson, and British Prime Minister Lloyd George. by John Ellis The signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918, may have officially ended the military battles of World War I, but the fighting was far from over. The carnage, suffering, and demolished infrastructures left in the war’s wake … Continue reading Palestine and Israel, Chapter 3 (part 1): The Paris Peace Conference’s Codified Racism

Palestine and Israel, Chapter 2 (part 2): The Balfour Declaration’s Foundation of Deceit

“His Majesty’s Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish People, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or … Continue reading Palestine and Israel, Chapter 2 (part 2): The Balfour Declaration’s Foundation of Deceit

Palestine and Israel, Chapter 2 (part 1): The Balfour Declaration’s Foundation of Deceit

Sharif Hussein bin Ali, King of Hejaz “His Majesty’s Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish People, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights … Continue reading Palestine and Israel, Chapter 2 (part 1): The Balfour Declaration’s Foundation of Deceit

Palestine and Israel, Chapter 1: A Brief History of Zionism

Theodor Herzl, father of political Zionism “No one can deny the gravity of the Jews’ situation. Wherever they live in perceptible numbers, they are more or less persecuted. Their equality before the law, granted by statute, has become practically a dead letter. They are debarred from filling even moderately high positions, either in the army, … Continue reading Palestine and Israel, Chapter 1: A Brief History of Zionism

Palestine and Israel, Introduction: Justice Is Rarely a Two-Way Street

by John Ellis On April 29, 1956, Ro’i Rotberg, regional commander of the security forces for the kibbutz Nahal Oz, was killed in a planned ambush. On horseback, Rotberg attempted to chase off a group of Palestinians from Gaza who were reaping wheat from the kibbutz’s field. He was shot by hidden assailants and then … Continue reading Palestine and Israel, Introduction: Justice Is Rarely a Two-Way Street