When were the “Palestinian People” Invented?
Ancient History
Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, destroyed the First Jewish Temple in Jerusalem in 586 BCE. Later, in 70 CE, the Roman Emperor Titus destroyed the Second Temple. The Arch of Titus, erected in Rome to commemorate Titus’ victory, depicts Roman soldiers carrying off the Temple’s Menorah—but no keffiyehs, or any other symbols of Palestinian identity. Why? Because the idea of a “Palestinian people” had not yet been conceived.
This discussion brings to mind the philosophy of Parmenides, who argued that “non-being” cannot exist. According to this logic, if something does not exist, there’s no sense in discussing it. But since the notion of a “Palestinian people” has become so widespread, it is worth examining the origins and historical context of this concept.
The Origin of the Name “Palestine”
After another Jewish revolt around 132–135 CE, Roman Emperor Hadrian sought to erase Jewish ties to the land. He renamed the region “Palestina,” drawing from the name of the long-defunct Philistines—an ancient seafaring people who had invaded from the Greek islands during King David’s time and later disappeared. The intention was clear: to sever the connection between the Jewish people and their homeland.
Interestingly, in Hebrew, the term plishtim (Philistines) is rooted in the word for “invaders”—a meaning that some might argue is still relevant.
Modern History: The British Mandate and Early 20th Century
Let us move on to modern history. Before continuing to read this article, I recommend reading an article of mine, previously published on this website titled “The modern misnomer of the Palestinian refugee“. As mentioned in that article, before the British Mandate, there were very few Arabs living in the Land of Israel. Following World War 1, American President Woodrow Wilson supported investigating the aspirations of local populations in Palestine. The 1919 King-Crane Commission reported that there was no identifiable “Palestinian” people. Local Arabs largely identified as part of Greater Syria and favored inclusion in a future Syrian state.
In 1948, when the State of Israel was established, the Jericho Conference was convened by Arab representatives in the West Bank (then under Jordanian control). Rather than demand independence, these leaders requested unification with Jordan. At the time, there was still no mention of a separate Palestinian identity—the conference resolutions referred to them as “Palestine Arabs.”
A report from the U.S. State Department summarized it as follows:
“Palestine Arabs desire unity between Transjordan and Arab Palestine and therefore make known their wish that Arab Palestine be annexed immediately to Transjordan. They also recognize Abdullah as their King and request him proclaim himself King of new territory…”
— Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, Volume V, Part 2, Document 809
Jordan and the Question of Identity
The British, as part of their imperial strategy, gave 76% (76%!) of the Mandate territory originally intended for the Jewish state to the Arabs. This area became modern-day Jordan, ruled by the Hashemite family, originally from Saudi Arabia. The Hashemite family were brought in by the British to control the area because apart from the tribes now known as “Palestinians” there was no one to hand over the area to. Today, 80% of Jordan’s population comes from tribal groups often referred to as “Palestinians,” while only 20% are of Bedouin origin—the ruling class.
The demographic imbalance has led to political tensions, and even laws forbidding a full population census. This raises key questions:
- Are these “Palestinians” simply Arabs living under an Arab monarchy?
- Are they a distinct people entitled to self-determination?
- Maybe Jordan is already, in effect, a “Palestinian” state?
These questions are often ignored—especially in academic environments influenced by political funding from regional powers like Qatar.
The Post-1967 Shift
Before 1967, Egypt controlled the Gaza Strip and Jordan controlled the West Bank. No movement emerged from these areas calling for an independent “Palestinian state.” It is amazing to realize that throughout this period there were never student demonstrations at Harvard university for an independent Palestinian state or demonstrations in Columbia University for self-determination for the so called “Palestinian people”
It was only after Israel’s victory in the Six-Day War and its control of these territories that the narrative of a distinct Palestinian identity gained traction.
In a 31.3.1977 interview with the Dutch newspaper Trouw, PLO leader Zuhair Mohsen said:
The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel. In reality, there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians, and Lebanese.
This statement—while controversial—is consistent with the historical ambiguity surrounding Palestinian national identity until the late 20th century.
Conclusion
Historical records, diplomatic archives, and personal testimonies all point to the same conclusion: the idea of a “Palestinian people” as a distinct national group is a relatively recent development, one shaped more by anti-semitic desire than by historical facts.
In a world increasingly indifferent to facts and driven by false anti-semitic emotionally charged narratives, if you aren’t a Harvard student or a populistic politician who needs the support of Muslims in his area, it’s vital to approach such topics with historical clarity and intellectual honesty.