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Assaf Wohl

History lesson for Arab MKs

Assaf Wohl reminds Arab Knesset members who the real immigrants in Israel are

I recently watched the television interview with Knesset Member Zahalka, where the Arab MK got carried away with stories, arguing that Defense Minister Ehud Barak “listens to classical music, but killed 1,400 children…” The issue of classical music seemed to greatly bother Zahalka and he repeated it several times.

 

But I am not interested in discussing Barak’s favorite symphonies or the question of whether it was professionally appropriate for interviewer Dan Margalit to be dragged into a loud debate (which in retrospect was revealed to be a superb PR asset.) Just before he left, Zahalka called Margalit “an immigrant.” This comes on top of Knesset Member Ahmad Tibi’s statement that the Jews are immigrants, and some of them are fascists.

 

It is noteworthy that both Zahalka and Tibi have a Ph.D. Yet whatever their areas of specialty are, history of the Land of Israel is certainly not one of them. Two such intelligent people are unaware of the basic history of the country where they reside. After all, Kfar Qara, where Dr. Zahalka resides, was only established in the 18th Century under the auspices of the Arab occupation of Eretz Yisrael. Meanwhile, Arabs only arrived at Taibe, where Dr. Tibi hails from, in the 17th Century from Saudi Arabia and Egypt, as attested to by the last names of some residents.

 

Do they truly believe that the “Palestinians” nobody heard of until the 20th Century, truly grew from the land? Don’t they know that under Arab villages in the Galilee one can find synagogues from the Second Temple period? Don’t they know that by the end of the 19th Century, only about 140,000 non-Jews resided in the Land of Israel, while by 1948 this number grew tenfold, mostly because of Arab immigration to Eretz Yisrael?

 

“This neighborhood used to be Sheikh Munis,” Zahalka yelled before leaving the Tel Aviv studio, thereby revealing the truth. As it turns out, the appetite of Zahalka and his voters is not confined to the territories. Yet the village of Sheikh Munis, where Tel Aviv University is located today, was only established in the 19th Century, when the Land of Israel was being conquered by Ibrahim Pasha. This took place about 2,500 years after the Shiloh inscription was written in Jerusalem, using the same Hebrew I use to write my column.

 

And so, the “immigrant” tales are baseless even when compared to the Brothers Grimm fairytales. So why then do Arab Knesset members blatantly lie to the cameras? Aren’t they scared to be condemned publicly?

 

Counting on Jewish ignorance

No, they are not scared. Lies, manipulations, and deception are fundamental pillars in Arab dialectic. First of all, because Arab representatives create fear and hatred through them. Continuing to fan the flames of the conflict is a vital interest for them. After all, the conflict preserves their status as MKs and makes them popular among their voters.

 

In addition, the Arab MKs realize that the vast majority of Jews will not be able to respond to the “immigrant” argument. And not because it’s a winning argument. Rather, because Israeli Jews are interested in iPhones and in reality shows, and no longer have any interest in the history of the people or land of Israel. The people of Israel today wish to study business administration, rather than history or Biblical studies. The dispensers of Arab propaganda lies are counting on it, and rightly so.

 

And so, a few final words for MK Zahalka. Please read the words of Pharaoh Merneptah, who noted the existence of Israelites in Canaan about 3,225 years ago. This will enable you to conclude that, in historical terms, you are the guest here.

 

I have no problem with you staying, and I insist that as opposed to the Jews in Arab states you enjoy equality. But how about a little respect to the old timers? After all, you are no more than a little dot in continuous Hebrew history in Eretz Yisrael.

 

Therefore, with all due respect (which I don’t hold for provocateurs such as yourself,) you better keep something important in mind. Historical figures such as King David, Judah Maccabee, and even Bar Kochba were the masters of the land here long before Ibrahim Pasha was even born. So don’t try to fool me, Zahalka. I’m not an idiot.

 


פרסום ראשון: 01.06.10, 00:02
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