Thank you for the first part. Never saw it so clear. Here is a write up based on your text:
Jewish History in Palestine
The history of Jewish presence in Palestine and the claim to this land is often justified by religious, historical, and modern political narratives. Central to the debate are the biblical accounts of the conquest of Canaan and the brief duration of the ancient Jewish kingdoms. Today, the Jewish claim to the land after more than 2,000 years is frequently challenged, especially in light of the continuous presence of Palestinians in the region.
Biblical Narratives and the Conquest of Canaan
The Bible provides several accounts of the violent conquest of Canaan by the Israelites. Their God explicitly commanded them to exterminate the native population. This is illustrated clearly in the book of Joshua, where the destruction of Jericho is described:
“And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, sheep, and donkey, with the edge of the sword.”
(Joshua 6:21)
This systematic annihilation of the population was understood by the Israelites as a divine command. A more explicit directive is found in the book of Deuteronomy:
“But of the cities of these peoples, which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance, you shall let nothing that breathes remain alive, but you shall utterly destroy them…”
(Deuteronomy 20:16–18)
These passages suggest that the Israelites did not acquire their “homeland” through peaceful settlement but through genocide. According to the biblical narrative, they were invaders, seizing land through brutal force and eliminating its original inhabitants.
The Brief Duration of the Ancient Jewish Kingdoms
While the Jewish kingdoms play a significant role in the Bible, their actual existence was historically limited. The Kingdom of Israel (the northern kingdom) lasted only about 200 years before being conquered by the Assyrians, while the Kingdom of Judah (the southern kingdom) existed for around 350 years before being destroyed by the Babylonians. In total, the Jewish people had about 500 years of political control in the region—a relatively short period compared to the millennia during which other civilizations lived there.
Now, more than 2,500 years have passed since the fall of these Jewish kingdoms. In that time, the descendants of the local populations—today’s Palestinians—have lived continuously in the region. The claim that Jews, after centuries of absence, have a right to return to this land appears weak, especially considering that many Jews living in Israel today have no genealogical connection to ancient Israel.
Ancestry and Genetic Studies
Modern genetic research further supports the notion of a deep-rooted Palestinian presence in the region. A 2017 study revealed that around 90% of the DNA of modern Palestinians is derived from the people who lived in Bronze Age Canaan. This suggests that the Palestinians are the direct descendants of the ancient inhabitants who lived there long before the arrival of the Israelites.
In contrast, many modern Jews have no traceable ancestry to the biblical Israelites. Historians like Shlomo Sand argue that many Jews are descendants of later converts, such as the Khazars from Eastern Europe, who embraced Judaism centuries after the fall of the Jewish kingdoms. These findings cast doubt on the idea that Jews have an inherent right to return to the land.
Historical Expulsions and Colonization
The claim of returning to the “ancestral homeland” after over 2,000 years is also problematic from a historical and moral standpoint. Following their expulsion by the Romans in the 1st century CE, Jews lived primarily in the Diaspora, while the ancestors of today’s Palestinians continued to reside in the region.
In the 20th century, European powers, through the Sykes-Picot Agreement and the Balfour Declaration, facilitated colonial projects that supported the Zionist movement. These events led to the creation of the State of Israel in 1948, resulting in the Nakba—the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes. As such, the establishment of Israel can be seen as a colonial project that relied on the displacement and dispossession of the native population to make way for Jewish settlers, many of whom had no direct genealogical link to the region.
—-
The biblical account of the genocidal conquest of Canaan and the brief political presence of the ancient Jewish kingdoms challenge the modern Jewish claim to the land. Given the genetic continuity of the Palestinian population and the colonial backing of modern Zionism, the Jewish right of return after so many centuries appears increasingly questionable.