Samuel Koltov

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Dec 1, 2024, 3:06 PM

Jesus was (Not) a Palestinian

A cross hanging in the middle of a street in the Old City of Jerusalem.

All credit goes to Shmuel Aryeh Koltov

"Jesus Was a Palestinian": A Controversial Claim Through History December is here and we can soon expect that a familiar, yet contentious phrase will begin to circulate: "Jesus was a Palestinian." This claim, often invoked in modern political and cultural...

Apr 5, 2024, 12:26 AM

We lost – Both the war and ourselves

I already had the feeling that we'd lost the war very early on after seeing the responses from our leaders, ministers from the government, and prominent thought leaders, both religious and secular. It wasn't so much the anger and...

Jan 11, 2024, 3:28 PM

The ICJ – We Only Have Ourselves to Blame

The International Court of Justice

Credit: Dennis Jarvis

Today the ICJ will begin the hearings over the claims of genocide brought by South Africa against Israel, the consequences of which can be problematic to Israel, to say the least. While there won't be any immediate rulings, just...

Dec 14, 2023, 5:03 PM

Towards a New Narrative: The Israeli Arabs

The world hasn't been the same since October 7. The way we, Israelis, see ourselves, the world, and particularly the Palestinians, has changed fundamentally. I don't think there is one person, who hasn't been affected deeply by this indescribable...

Oct 30, 2023, 12:46 AM

Readying the Next War

The religious extremist settlers are laying the groundwork for the next war, and the Israeli government is allowing them to do it. Three weeks have passed since the horrible day, where murderous Islamist fanatics went crazy in a blood rage,...

Oct 21, 2023, 5:08 PM

Don’t Become the Monster You’re Fighting

There is no doubt that President Biden has been and is a staunch supporter of Israel and our right to defend ourselves, just as he's completely in tune with all of Israel that Hamas needs to be removed from...

Oct 20, 2023, 2:19 PM

The War: Despair and Longing for Hope

We are almost two weeks into the war, and there seems to be no end in sight. On the contrary, it feels like the worst has yet to come. Are we to believe the IDF and various experts, we can...

Sep 22, 2023, 11:37 AM

Obodas – A King Deified

The temple of Zeus Obodas and ruins of the Byzantine fortress seen from the south. Credit: Shmuel Aryeh Koltov

Alexander Jannaeus felt relaxed, surrounded by his soldiers, this morning outside of Gadara (modern day Umm Qays, Jordan), feeling confident of his skills as assertive ruler of the Hasmonean kingdom, having successfully managed to obtain victories and avoid crucial...

Sep 8, 2023, 1:23 PM

Two Quarters, One Essence – A Walk Through Palestinian Jerusalem (?)

A nun walking through the Muslim Quarter of the Old City in Jerusalem.

Credit: Shmuel Aryeh Koltov

There are four quarters in the Old City of Jerusalem, the Jewish, the Armenian, the Christian, and the Muslim Quarter. By default one could think that these four quarters each have their own character, and that it would be...

Sep 3, 2023, 6:53 PM

A New Home for Old – and New – Stories

Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem

Credit: Shmuel Aryeh Koltov

Another blogger has found his way to the Times of Israel blogs, and - from what I can see - I will be in good company. There already are a lot of interesting blogs, focusing on different subjects and...

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About Me

Amateur historian wanting to present alternative narratives of the Holy Land.

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