The Blogs: When History Becomes a Marketing Strategy

The Talmud, a central text of Rabbinic Judaism, contains a powerful line: “Truth lasts; a lie does not.” This quote underscores the enduring nature of truth and the eventual exposure of falsehoods.

But what happens when the lie is repeated so often, so loudly, and strategically that the world forgets the truth?

This is precisely what’s happening today with the conversation around the word “Palestinian.” It’s not just history, it’s branding. It’s not just narrative, it’s marketing. And it’s time we called it out.

My Family’s Story is Proof

This isn’t just history to me, it’s deeply personal.

My mother was born in Palestine before the modern State of Israel existed.

She grew up in the land her ancestors had lived in for generations, not as a foreigner or settler, but as a Jew rooted in the soil of her people’s ancient homeland.

In fact, like all Jews living there at the time, she carried a passport that said “Palestinian.”

Before 1948, Palestinian meant anyone, Jew or Arab, living in that geographic region under the British Mandate.

Let that sink in.

The very term being used today to erase Jewish history was once printed on Jewish passports, Jewish newspapers (The Palestine Post), and Jewish orchestras (The Palestine Symphony).

History didn’t change, marketing did.

The Greatest Rebranding Campaign in History

If the world knew history real, documented, undeniable history it would recognize what’s happening right now for what it truly is: a modern political campaign designed to erase Israel from the map. This campaign involves the dissemination of misinformation, the manipulation of historical narratives, and the exploitation of sympathy and victimhood to delegitimize Israel’s existence.

The idea of a uniquely Arab “Palestinian” national identity is a relatively new development. It did not exist in ancient times under the Ottoman Empire (1517–1917) or the British Mandate (1917–1948).

The term Palestinian as an exclusively Arab ethnic or national identity only began to take shape in the mid-20th century, after the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.

This emerging identity was solidified with the creation of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1964 before Israel took control of the West Bank and Gaza in 1967.

Why is that important? Because the original goal of the PLO, and the driving force of modern Palestinian nationalism, was not to create a state alongside Israel it was to replace Israel.

This was a deliberate political strategy:

To rewrite history
To erase Jewish ties to the land
To frame Israel’s existence as illegitimate

This tactic has proven tragically effective in the arena of global opinion because it weaponizes sympathy, victimhood, and misinformation to turn history upside down.

A Forgotten Witness: Tour of Palestine, 1695

But if we want real history, not modern marketing, we must return to the facts. In 1695, Dutch scholar Hadriani Relandi, a respected geographer and philologist fluent in Hebrew, Arabic, and Greek, was sent on a tour of what was then known as “Palestine.” His book, Palaestina ex monumentis veteribus illustrata, was published in Latin in 1714, and it documents what he found as he surveyed over 2,500 locations mentioned in the Bible or Mishna.

His findings are stunning, and devastating to the modern myth of an ancient Arab “Palestinian” identity:

No Arabic Roots: None of the place names had Arabic linguistic origins. The names were overwhelmingly Hebrew, Greek, or Roman. Cities like Akko, Jaffa, Hebron, Gaza, and Jerusalem had no Arabic etymology. For example, Ramallah was still known as Beit El, Hebron was Hebron, and the Cave of the Patriarchs was called “El Khalil” a nickname for Abraham, not a historical Arab city name.
Sparse Population: The land was nearly empty. The few people living there concentrated in cities like Jerusalem, Tiberias, Safed, Akko, and Gaza. Most residents were Jews and Christians. Muslims were largely absent, aside from a small number of Bedouins who worked as seasonal laborers.
Jewish Majority in Urban Centers: In cities like Jerusalem, Jews made up the majority. In Gaza, about 550 people lived there, half were Jews, and the rest were Christians. In Nazareth, all 700 residents were Christians. In Tiberias and Safed, thriving Jewish communities existed. Even Umm al-Fahm, today portrayed as an Arab stronghold, was a small Christian village of 10 families.

Relandi’s work is an unintentional witness against the claim of continuous Arab presence and heritage. His 17th-century survey confirms what archaeology and Jewish tradition have always shown: that the Land of Israel was overwhelmingly Jewish in identity, language, and memory and largely barren of Arab cultural or demographic presence.

The Jewish People: Not Visitors, Natives

Long before there was Rome, Mecca, or London, there was a thriving Jewish civilization in Israel.

This isn’t just about belief, it’s about proof.

Every time a shovel hits the ground in Israel, Jewish history comes to life:

Ancient Hebrew inscriptions
Coins from the Second Temple period
The remains of King David’s palace in the City of David
The Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are believed to be buried
The ancient synagogue mosaics from the Galilee
The walls of Jerusalem’s Old City were built atop layers of Jewish civilization

No other people on earth can point to this depth of connection both spiritual and physical to this land.

Why This Matters

Because when you erase history, you can invent any story you want. But history is not a trend; it is not a marketing slogan. It is truth and recognizing this truth is crucial. The world is being sold a clever, emotional, politically charged brand designed to turn Israel into the villain and Jews into outsiders in their own ancestral home. But here’s the reality: You cannot colonize your homeland. You cannot “occupy” land you’ve never left.

The Jewish Response? Teach. Tell. Remember.

History is not a weapon, it’s a shield. We don’t have to erase anyone else’s narrative to tell our own truth. But we must remember it. But we must tell it. Loudly. Clearly. Proudly. If the world knew history, not headlines, it would understand that this is not a conflict over land. It’s a conflict over truth.

Want to honor Jewish history? Want to ensure future generations know their story?

Sign the Jewish Future Promise, a commitment to preserving and promoting Jewish history and identity. Forgetting is not an option. This promise is a call to action for all who value truth and history.