Israel at the Gaza Border: The History the Decolonization Debate is Missing

While in Israel I visited the Gaza border, Lebanese border and Syrian border. I saw towns that were attacked by terrorists and listened to the stories of those who lost family members. It led me to ask: Is Israel a colony? Or is it one of the greatest success stories of an ancient people reclaiming their land? I discuss Jewish indigeneity, Islamic imperialism, and why progressives push a false narrative of decolonization and the red-green alliance between progressives and Islamists.

Many times, when you hear claims about Israel, there is very little understanding of Jewish history. Jewish people didn’t suddenly arrive in the Middle East in 1948; they have been there for millennia. They have a religious and historical connection to that land. Before Christianity or Islam emerged, Jews were praying toward Jerusalem. Even after all of these different countries invaded the land, Jews maintained a presence there, and other Jews who were part of the Diaspora would face toward Jerusalem and pray that they could one day return. There is so much history behind this situation, and it needs to be taken into account when calling Israel a European colonial state.

Another topic that I think we should bring up is Islam. When people talk about colonialism, Islamic imperialism is rarely mentioned. From the 7th century onward, Muslim armies began conquering much of the Middle East and taking over large parts of the world. Not only did they conquer these territories, but they also changed their identities. Arabic became the dominant language in many areas, and eventually Islam became the majority religion. So why do people think it’s acceptable for Israel to be called a colonial state while Islamic imperialism is rarely discussed?

I’m not trying to say that we shouldn’t care about what’s happening to the Palestinians. They have history in that area as well. But just because the Palestinians have history there doesn’t mean that the Jews don’t. We should examine the history and recognize that both peoples have historical connections to that land.

I feel that we need to start addressing the progressive movement and its alliance with Islamist organizations. These two movements hold opposing views when it comes to religion, individual freedom, and women’s rights. Yet elements of both come together over their opposition to Israel. Progressives often speak about oppression and the need for liberation. This can lead to the idea that dismantling Israel is necessary for liberation. Then you have Islamists who believe Israel must be eliminated to advance their political and religious goals. I know not all progressives or Muslims think this way, but we should start examining why these groups are coming together.

These are all questions I have been asking after visiting Israel and seeing firsthand what these people are dealing with. People are losing their lives. We shouldn’t forget about those who have died just because they don’t fit into the story we want to tell. I hope that you watch this video and reconsider some of your assumptions about Israel and the Jewish people.