Fact Check: Only palestine existed before 1930. There was no israel. And israels creation was against the will of palestinians.

The Claim: "Only Palestine existed before 1930. There was no Israel. And Israel's creation was against the will of Palestinians."

Introduction

The claim posits that prior to 1930, only Palestine existed as a recognized entity, asserting that Israel did not exist and that its creation was contrary to the wishes of the Palestinian people. This statement touches on complex historical narratives surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has deep roots in both ancient history and modern political developments.

What We Know

1. Historical Context: The term "Palestine" has been used for centuries to describe the geographical region located between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. It has been associated with various political entities throughout history, including the ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah during the Iron Age.

2. British Mandate: After World War I, the League of Nations granted Britain the mandate over Palestine, which lasted from 1920 until 1948. The British Mandate included both Jewish and Arab populations, and tensions between these groups increased during this period.

3. UN Partition Plan: In 1947, the United Nations proposed a partition plan to create separate Jewish and Arab states in Palestine. This plan was accepted by Jewish leaders but rejected by Arab leaders, including Palestinian representatives, who opposed the establishment of a Jewish state.

4. Creation of Israel: Israel declared independence on May 14, 1948. The declaration led to the first Arab-Israeli war, resulting in significant displacement of Palestinian Arabs, with many becoming refugees.

5. Palestinian Perspective: Many Palestinian narratives emphasize that the establishment of Israel was against their will, as they viewed the UN partition plan and subsequent events as a violation of their rights and claims to the land.

Analysis

The claim that "only Palestine existed before 1930" simplifies a complex historical landscape. While the region was referred to as Palestine, it was not a sovereign state in the modern sense but rather a territory under various forms of governance, including Ottoman and later British rule. The assertion that "there was no Israel" is technically accurate prior to 1948; however, the Jewish connection to the land and the movement for a Jewish state (Zionism) were well established by the early 20th century.

Source Evaluation

• Wikipedia Articles: The entries on the history of Palestine and the State of Palestine provide a broad overview but may lack depth and nuance. Wikipedia is a useful starting point but should be supplemented with more rigorous academic sources.

• UN Documents: The United Nations sources are credible as they represent official historical records and resolutions regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, they may reflect the political biases of the UN and the member states involved.

• PCRF and Al Jazeera: These sources provide perspectives that align with Palestinian narratives. While they offer valuable insights, they may carry inherent biases due to their advocacy for Palestinian rights.

• Fact-Checking Source: The article from FactChecking.ie provides a balanced overview of the conflict's history, which can help contextualize the claim.

• Fondapol Study: This source discusses historical violence against Jewish communities in Palestine, which adds another layer to the historical context but may have an agenda that could influence its presentation of facts.

What Additional Information Would Be Helpful?

To further evaluate the claim, it would be beneficial to have:

• More primary historical documents from the period before 1948 that detail the political status of Palestine and the aspirations of both Jewish and Arab populations.
• Scholarly analyses that critically assess the narratives of both Israelis and Palestinians, providing a more balanced view of historical events.
• Data on public opinion among Palestinians regarding the partition plan and the establishment of Israel at the time.

Conclusion

Verdict: Partially True

The claim that "only Palestine existed before 1930" is partially true in that the region was referred to as Palestine and was under various forms of governance. However, it oversimplifies the historical context by not acknowledging the Jewish connection to the land and the established movement for a Jewish state prior to 1948. While it is accurate that Israel did not exist as a state until 1948, the assertion that its creation was against the will of Palestinians reflects a significant historical perspective that is contested and nuanced.

It is important to recognize that the historical narratives surrounding this topic are deeply complex and often politically charged. The available evidence indicates that while there was no sovereign state of Israel before 1948, the region's history involves multiple claims and perspectives that cannot be easily reconciled.

Readers should be aware of the limitations in the available evidence and the potential biases of various sources. It is essential to critically evaluate information and consider multiple viewpoints when exploring such contentious historical claims.

Sources

1. Understanding Complex Histories - Book Displays. Link
2. History of Palestine. Link
3. History of the State of Palestine. Link
4. History of the Question of Palestine. Link
5. The Palestine Question: A Brief History. Link
6. What Was Palestine Before 1948? Link
7. What's the Israel-Palestine conflict about? A simple guide. Link
8. History of Israel-Palestine Conflict. Link
9. The history of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Link
10. Pogroms in Palestine before the creation of the state. Link