Egypt With Conflicting War-Type Attitude Towards Jews Since Days of Pharaohs

 Nadene Goldfoot                                            

The word is out that Egypt is preparing for war with Israel.  They evidently have never trusted Jews since the days of the Pharaoh who dealt with Jacob, Joseph's father.  When Jacob met the pharaoh, he was given land in Goshen but asked to tend the Pharaoh's few cattle as well as his own flock and he agreed.  Later, with a future pharaoh when Moses came into the picture, this pharaoh agreed to let the people of Moses go, but then changed his mind when he saw that they amounted to his whole workforce of 6 million, and chased after them, ending up in the Sea, drowned.               

Captured Egyptian M22 Locust tank, given as a compromise to Negba in 1953, preserved in the kibbutz.  A story told to me by the American born principal of Safed's high school was that a lone girl on a kibbutz in 1948 held off a tank during the battle with her rifle, and did the job.  They kept the tank on their grounds.            

Egypt fought against Israel when Israel was first was created in 1948, and then against them on 1956 in the Oct. 29-Nov. 5 1956 Sinai Operation.  Israel was circled by Egypt, Jordan and Syria and also hoping to eliminate marauder bases in the GAZA STRIP.  In a few days, Israel conquered the strip and most of Sinai Peninsula where they found a stone bearing Aramaic inscription in Nabatean characters.  

It was in 1967 that Israel and Egypt, Jordan and Syria had another war that may have only lasted 6 days, but which had everlasting consequences for them all.  This had started with 2 years of tension due to sabotage activities inside Israel and  border incidents, mostly due the Syrians, who were interested in involving the other Arab states in a further war with Israel.                       

            Jordanian Tanks on Israeli border June 4, 1967

Egypt's President Nasser, fearful of Israel retaliation and planning to deflect his army into the Sinai peninsula, acted on May 15, 1967 by demanding the removal of the UN troops who had been posted along the Gaza Strip and at Sharm e-Sheikh; and when the UN secretary-general, U Thant, immediately acceded, Nasser decreed a blockade of the Straits of Tiran so that no Israeli shipping would be permitted to go to the Port of Elath.            

A column of Egyptian tanks moves into Sinai May 7, 1967 and stayed

Israel tried diplomacy but Nasser  moved 100,000 men and 1,000 tanks into Sinai while the other Arab states rapidly made their preparations and held a unified attack on Israel to have a mass gang attack on Israel.  In a preemptive move, Israel surprised them all and struck on June 5th.  The rest is very interesting history ! I notice that De Gaulle of France, friendly to Israel before, had adopted an outright anti-Israel stance.  

Abdel Fattah Saeed Hussein Khalil el-Sisi (born 19 November 1954) is an Egyptian politician and retired military officer who has been serving as the sixth overall and current president of Egypt since 2014.  It is referred to as a militant government.  While a member of the Supreme Council, he made controversial statements regarding allegations that Egyptian soldiers had subjected detained female demonstrators to forced virginity tests. He is reported to have told Egypt's state-owned newspaper that "the virginity-test procedure was done to protect the girls from rape, as well as to protect the soldiers and officers from rape accusations". He was the first member of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to admit that the invasive tests had been carried out.

Notice that Egypt does not want anything to do with the Muslim Brotherhood.  Sisi's government is strictly against it, and yet, they are not helping Israel at all even though Hamas terrorists  are Muslim Brotherhood products.  So Egypt is not at war at the moment but intends to keep Hamas out !               

Since October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, Egypt's government has seen Israel's tanks once again and are again fearful, thus war preparation---just in case...

Egyptians are not allowed to leave Egypt and visit other countries without having a special pass which is almost impossible to procure, especially to Israel.  They would dub you as a spy.  

Egypt is not alone!  

• Destabilizing influence: Many Arab governments view Hamas and other militant Islamist groups with suspicion, seeing them as potential threats to their own stability. As part of the broader Muslim Brotherhood movement, which some Arab countries have banned, Hamas is seen as a destabilizing force that could inspire internal dissent or challenge ruling elites.
• Security concerns: Nations bordering Gaza, such as Egypt, have been particularly wary. Egypt has maintained a blockade of Gaza with Israel since 2007 and has expressed fears that a mass influx of Palestinians could lead to militants entering its territory and destabilizing the Sinai Peninsula.
• Conclusion I have realized is not to take any country for granted as a peaceful country towards Israel.  Each hour brings on new events and shapes attitudes, so always remember to show respect as you would want for yourself.  If you just can't, shut up and just listen to them;  then carefully end with something kind, and put that hatred from the other to bed.  

Resource:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/31/world/middleeast/hamas-arab-states-palestinians.html#:~:text=and%20Nuclear%20Inspections-,Arab%20States%20Call%20for%20Hamas%20to%20Disarm%20Amid%20Push%20for,conflict%20between%20Israelis%20and%2

TV news, Egyptian commentator living in Israel now

Israel's Need For Defense From The Beginning Part I

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                           

         World War I, also known as the First World War or the Great War, began on July 28, 1914, and ended on November 11, 1918. It was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Central Powers.  Leading Jews had been working on Ottoman Empire holdings of Palestine that were originally Israel to be again in their hands; especially land Romans had taken from them such as Jerusalem.                                                                      

Israel was reconstituted on May 14, 1948 after Jerusalem was burned down by the Romans along with the 2nd Temple in 70 CE.  Almost 2,000 patient years had gone by, but many had kept praying all those years for it to be re-created again for its people in need.

It was faced with formidable problems.  Defense from attacks was the first consideration. It's long land frontiers made her particularly vulnerable to assault--and the enemy used either direct attack of infiltration.  Sabotage and murder originating mainly from the Gaza Strip and from Jordan were a constant nuisance, and did not stop despite Israel reprisal raids. 

Against direct attack, immense efforts were made to build up and equip the armed forces (Tzeva  Haganah Le-Israel) Below. Haganah means Defense.  It was a clandestine organization for Jewish self-defense in Palestine as the Brits were not helping at all. (See the movie, EXODUS.).  It succeeded Ha-Shomer in 1920, the first, and existed until 1948 when its members were transferred to Tzeva Haganah Le-Israel.  The British Administration gave no protection to its Jewish population.  The Haganah combined an illegal organization with individual Jewish participation in the government's security forces and even had certain legal formations.   

Haganah's efficiency was shown in the Sinai Campaign 1956, the Six Day War 1967, the Yom Kippur War 1973, etc.   the defeat of the Egyptian forces, the destruction of Egyptian bases, and the capture of large quantities of material on the 1st two occasions deferred the assault on Israel from 3 sides planned by President Nasser and gave Israel much needed breathing spaces.

When was the IDF created? The order to create the IDF was issued on May 26, 1948, and went into effect on May 31, 1948. Israel is again celebrated on May 14, 1948 for its re-birth.  

 

Haganah also won Israel much popular sympathy throughout the world and opened up to shipping the Gulf of Elath twice blocked by Egypt.  However, Arab pressures---especially after 1973----led to considerable international isolation.  

President Jimmy Carter shaking hands with Sadat and Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin at the signing of the Egyptian–Israeli Peace Treaty on the grounds of the White House, 1979

An important change occurred in 1977 with  President Sadat of Egypt's journey to Jerusalem and willingness to recognize the State of Israel.  This led to intensive negotiations culminating in the Camp David Agreements and the signing of a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt.                                                         

  Oil painting I did of husband Danny Eskow now in Safed, Israel, an art center.  He's got his new huge prayer shawl, so different from small American ones.  He can put it over his head and meditate.  My painting style changed a lot as well; painting faster and freer. He also found an Israeli cousin, his father's 1ST cousin who started BOYS TOWN IN JERUSALEM!  The family had been from Russia and from there to Brooklyn, NY. 

                                    Here I am in Safed in 1981 with our red Fiat from Italy and our female German shepherd who flew with us.  We have the bottom floor apartment and can use the merepeset to hang wet clothes, my first apartment living.  I taught English at the Jr high across the street.  I have gone Dottee (scarf) and the elevation here is like Jerusalem.  This was winter. Dan was in the air force in the USA.  He has some physical problems but passed the test here anyway.       

We made Aliyah in 1980.  In the 1980's Israel went through difficult periods in the international arena as a result of its invasion of Lebanon in 1982 and of the Palestinian uprising called an Intifada which started in 1987.  Then, world changes in the late 1980s brought new opportunities as both eastern Europe and the Black African countries, which had broken off relations after the Six-Day and Yom Kippur Wars, now resumed relationships with Israel.  Although Israel remained outside the fighting in the 1991 Gulf War, it was bombarded with Iraqi missiles which led to a reassessment of its military strategies.  later that year, peace talks with its Arab neighbors were initiated by the US.  Israel's population grew rapidly.  

At its inception, Israel adopted a unique law conferring citizenship on every Jew immediately upon landing on Israeli soil.  Within the 1st 3 years, the Jewish population was doubled from 650,000 to 1,300,000 through mass immigration called Aliyah.  This was accompanied by severe economic difficulties that were overcome only to some extent after a prolonged struggle.                           

                    Avraham  Stern, known as Yair (b:1907 d: 1942) , who split in 1940 from the Irgun Tzevai Leumi saying that Britain must be fought and they refused to do so, so he formed another group-Lohame Herut Israel and they did some sabotage. They were the toughest group.   He was killed and then Yisrael Scheib (Eldad) and Shamir took over.  Stern was killed by British police while being arrested.                                 

                  3rd cousin Stanley Goldfoot (born 1914 in South Africa, died 2006 in Jerusalem)  became Chief of Intelligence for the Stern Group, blamed for the bombing of the King David Hotel. 

                                          Yitzhak Jazarnitsky (Yitzhak Shamir) (b: 1915 in Poland ) took over Irgun Tzevai Leumi in 1937 leaving it in 1940.    He became Israel's 7th Prime Minister and served 2 terms, ((1983–1984, 1986–1992).).  Shamir joined the Revisionist Zionist Irgun paramilitary group led by Menachem Begin. During World War II the Irgun split over the question of whether to support the Axis Powers against the British Empire.  After the establishment of the Israeli state  Yitzhak Shamir was imprisoned by British authorities in 1941. A few months after Stern was killed by the British in 1942, Shamir and Eliyahu Giladi hid under a stack of mattresses in a warehouse of the detention camp at Mazra'a, and at night escaped through the barbed wire fences of the camp. Shamir became the leader of the Stern Gang, and, together with Giladi, Anshell Shpillman and Yehoshua Cohen, reorganized the movement into cells and trained its members.    Shamir served in Mossad between 1955 and 1965.                                 

                                                                         

    The Stern Group (Lohame Herut Israel) Fighters For the Freedom Of Israel, known as Lehi, or as British called them, The Stern Gang" after its founder, Avraham Stern. 

Since the IDF's  creation, its guiding principles have been shaped by the country’s need to defend itself from its numerically superior neighbors. The primary element of this doctrine is the belief that Israel cannot afford to lose a single war. IDF planners believe that this goal can be attained only through a defensive strategy that utilizes the rapid mobilization of overwhelming force to take the war to the enemy. Because the Israeli army has a relatively small active-duty component—estimates in the early 21st century placed it at some 125,000 troops, of whom roughly two-thirds were conscripts—this mission could  be achieved only through the maintenance of a well-trained reserve force and active intelligence gathering. These human assets were supplemented with robust early warning systems, one of the world’s most advanced theater missile defense networks, and a mechanized force that included some 2,500 main battle tanks and more than 5,000 armored personnel carriers.

It could more accurately be categorized as a citizen militia supplemented by a small corps of career officers and active-duty conscripts. Military service is compulsory for Jews and Druze, both men and women, and for Circassian men. 

Conscription deferments are available to students, and exemptions from service are granted to married women and women with children. Men undertaking religious studies, particularly those in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, were also exempt throughout most of Israel’s history, but in the 21st century the size of the community in proportion to the general population made the exemption highly controversial and politically polarizing. In 2023 the exemption did not have enough support in government for renewal and in 2024 conscription of ultra-Orthodox men began, although only a small fraction of the draftees reported for duty. 

The period of active-duty conscription is 32 months for men and 24 months for women; this is followed by a decades-long period of compulsory reserve duty (to age 40).

Resource;

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Israel-Defense-Forces

The New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I#:~:text=World%20War%20I%20or%20the%20First%20World,Allies%20(or%20Entente)%20and%20the%20Central%20Powers.&text=Facing%20a%20revolution%20at%20home%2C%20Kaiser%20Wilhelm,wi

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yitzhak_Shamir

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anwar_Sadat

The Respect and Disrespect of Jews: Ashkenazi and Anusim (converted Jews) in Germany

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                   

                                  Hamburg, Germany

July 18, 2024                                                 

          The 30 Years War (1618-1648) led Jews to find work.  Some were employed as factors, military purveyors, financial advisors, etc, and they in turn received privileged position as Court Jews where other Jews were attracted and lived.  Jews of Hamburg received better treatment this way. 

Marranos lived there during the early 17th century.  The Jewish Community in Hamburg, began with the establishment of Sephardim from Spain, as they were expelled from their home country in 1492, they came through stopovers in Portugal, Amsterdam and Antwerp arriving around 1577.

Jews began to enter the main stream of German cultured life and society.  In other words, they became Hellenized.  At the same time, other Jews in Germany continued to suffer from severe discrimination in important cities nd provinces like Nuremberg and Saxony, excluding Jews altogether.  

                        

Rabbi Samson Wertheimer
His uncle was Samuel Oppenheimer

My paternal family has a connection to Rabbi Samson (Shimshon) Wertheimer b: Jan. 17, 1658-d Aug 6, 1724.  This has been found by researchers Andi Ziegelman and Sandy Aaronson.  Dr. Jeffrey Mark Paull and Janet Billstein Akaba have also done research.  This is from their study of Wertheimer and Wertheim Dynastics.  I am a 4th cousin to Dr. Jeffrey Mark Paull.  and am 4th and 5th cousins to 3 Billsteins; 3rd cousin to Andi Ziegelman and 5th to Sandy D. Aaronson.   In the SPANISH WAR OF SUCCESSION 1701-1714, Rabbi Samson and his Uncle Samuel Oppenheimer put up the money necessary to equip the imperial army and supply provisions as they were chief moneylenders and bankers.  At the time ruled Emperor Joseph I.     

Then there was the French Revolution led by Napoleon.  The French Revolution was a period of political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789, and ended with the coup of 18 Brumaire in November 1799 and the formation of the French Consulate.  It brought on  equality to the Jews of Western lands that were either annexed to or dependent on France.  This example resulted in a small degree of Emancipation in some places.  After the fall of Napoleon, the better laws was even sometimes cancelled about Jews.  There took place a wave of violence against the Jews like the Hep! Hep! riots in 1819.  During the Revolution  (1830-1848), the change for the better for Jews came about slowly.  Universal emancipation in Germany was achieved as a constitutional principle by 1869.

Now these Jews were so Hellenized that they had begun to enter German life in every aspect--literary, cultural, scientific, political, ---all with brilliant success.  This stimulated jealousy in the other Germans who resented their successes.  They organized against them and anti-Semitism was radical with Jews being excluded from political, military and academic appointments.  The downfall of the German Empire in 1918's ending was World War I  and the following establishment of the Republic  led to real equality.  

Resource:

The New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Revolution#:~:text=The%20French%20Revolution%20was%20a,formation%20of%20the%20French%20Consulate.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Hamburg

Legal Facts Verifying Israel's Legitimacy And Right To Be

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                

    Praying at the Wall on the Temple Mount, a picture showing the various styles of Jews;  orthodox not serving in the army and orthodox serving in the army-different levels of practicing one's faith.  Most citizens are living in Israel because of their Jewish faith which can be at any level, but Israel means something to them in their soul.  Otherwise they'd never bother to make aliyah and live there among all the enemies.  

Let's start with the bare facts.  Jews are an indigenous people of Palestine.  There's not another nation in on the face of this earth that has proof of being as old a people as they are from the same land they now live in.  Jews being on the Land go back to Moses and Joshua entering Canaan.  Moses died (Jewish date) in 1271 BCE just outside of Canaan, so Joshua led the Exodus to their Promised Land.  That was a good 3,294 years ago.  Their history is all vetted in the Torah (Old Testament), said to be 1st hand account by Moses himself.  Their very first king was Saul, born before 1010 BCE when David, 2nd king,  ruled. David ruled 3,033 years ago so Saul was about 3,060 years ago.  The Romans drove them out in 70 when they burned down Jerusalem and the Temple, and said they'd kill any who returned.  

This happened when many of the world's population were mutating from Neanderthals to Homo Sapiens, while those Jews had already been in existence a few thousand years already in Mesopotamia, reading and writing and debating,  descendants of Abraham and had spent 400 years in Egypt -most of which in slavery already. This is why Jews were invited into other countries;  Jews were literate people, they could read, write and were good in math; a treasure to have so that counties could trade and do business with other countries.  Their own people were not at this level at all.   

Edomites, Moabites, Ammonites, Aramaeanites, Horites;  Nabatites, all gone; assimilated, not a people anymore.  

Jews are an ancient people who have not died out and disappeared like so many other tribes.  They are vibrant and believe in life; living, and believe in rules as to how to do it best. They have a culture, a language, foods, and a history also vetted in many other Mesopotamian lands.

USA  was a country in 1776; 247 years ago.  England was a country, say-1066 when William the Conqueror came along with the Norman Conquest.  That was 957 years ago. Their people are a mixture of Vikings and Normans, Saxons, etc. Classical French historiography usually regards Clovis I, king of the Franks ( r. 509–511), as the first king of France.  Some Jews even lived in France before 70 CE, Charlemagne, the Holy Roman Emperor born in about 771, had a lot to do with the birth of countries or not.  So did the Romans. So now all these countries are questioning Israel's right to survive?  

On May 14, 1948, Israel announced their birth and had a population of about 600,000 Jews.  That's the number, actually it was 601,730 that arrived with Joshua on the 40 year Exodus.  They had lost 1,820 from the start of the 40 years.  Israel by 1948 birthed itself after the Holocaust of losing 6 million people.  This was something prophesized in the Bible-the gathering of Jews returning again to Jerusalem from all 4 corners of the Earth.  It's been going on.  We have people living in Israel, Judea and Samaria.  We are the descendants of the Judeans;  the Jews.                                               

                                   Lord Arthur James Balfour(1848-1930) 

Herzl negotiated with him in 1902 , very impressed by Chaim Weizmann.  As Foreign Secretary in 1917, he issued this Balfour Declaration.  He remained outspokenly devoted  to the Zionist ideal.  

1. Balfour Declaration:  On November 2, 1917, the British government issued this document of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations, pledging support for the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.  The Allied Governments were parties to the negotiations and approved the Declaration.  So did some of the principal leaders of the Arab national movement like Emir Feisal who eventually was king of Iraq and Syria. The agreement concluded on January 3, 1919 between King Hussein's son, Emir Feisal, chief Arab delegate at the Paris Peace Conference, and Dr. Chaim Weizmann, on behalf of the World Zionist Organization.  The Balfour Declaration was endorsed and Palestine recognized as a separate Jewish entity which the Arab States would maintain diplomatic relations, on condition--ah yes, on condition that Britain and France met Arab demands in other territories other than Palestine.                                        

2. The Palestine Mandate:  The British were given a 30 year mandate by the League of Nations on July 24, 1922 which followed the 1st World War. This incorporated the text of the Balfour Declaration about the Jewish Homeland, even recognizing the historical connection between the Jewish people and the Land and called upon Britain to facilitate the establishment of the national home.                         

The mandate covered the land on both sides of the Jordan River but as early as 1922, Britain divided the mandated territory  establishing an Arab emirate in Trans Jordan, which deprived the Jews of any Rights in the Land east of the river.  It was made forbidden to Jews to buy land or settle there.  

British policy towards the establishment of a Jewish national home was highly ambivalent.  At certain times, Jewish immigration to the Land was allowed.  At others, it was severely restricted and land purchase was prevented if you were Jewish.  

3. 1936-1938 British Proposal of Fixing Problem:  Britain; proposed to repartition Palestine into an Arab and a Jewish State with a British enclave.  The leadership of the Jewish community accepted it in principle.  The Palestine Arab leadership rejected it.  

An undisputed leader of the Palestine Arab community at that time was the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini, who, during the 2nd World War, joined the Nazis and spent the war years in Berlin. 

Abba Eban (center) with Israeli PM David Ben-Gurion and U.S. President Harry Truman (1951)

 As Abba Eban said, "The Arabs never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity."  

They've since 1967  said, No, No, No when in Khartoum, Africa at a conference with other Arab countries. 

No peace with Israel; 

No negotiations with Israel;  

No recognition of Israel;  and insistence on the rights of the "Palestinian People"-

and may I remind all that Jews were Palestinians too before 1948.  Anyone living on the land, Arab or Jew were called Palestinians, especially on any legal work like passports, etc." in their own country.  Today's Palestinians are not from a country with a president or king or anything like that.  Their heritage comes from an assortment of Arabs from many sources and countries who were looking for work, and the Jews needed workers.  They were rebuilding their ancient country into a modern country.  

  Do you wonder why Israel feels the Arabs are not interested in making peace with them?  It's so obvious.  

4. Buying The land on which Jewish towns and villages were settled was bought and paid for by the Jews, often times individually and a few times by donation money from Jews. 

The Tzedakah (Charity) Box: Pushka Power:  a little box or tin can sitting on a counter somewhere. Every day, a little spare change gets dropped in there, plus a few more coins just before Shabbat. When it's full, it goes to a good cause, whichever the family chooses, or to send to Palestine to buy land.  Most Jews in the diaspora kept a little can, a pushka, with coins in it to buy the land.  

Most Arabs were hurting under the Ottoman Empire and couldn't pay the taxes and weren't doing well as farming goes.  They were only too happy to sell at very exhorbitant prices, but the Jews paid it since the land was so holy to them. So there are land records.  More often, the Arabs need the records for proof of living on the land, and can take their case-if there is one-to the highest supreme court in Israel-now under it's own problems. Israel's laws are the hardest of all countries to follow as some of the laws are on the books and so ancient; ask any American lawyer who tried to work in Israel. There's Ottoman law, still in use; Israel law, etc.     

  Baron Edmund de Rothchild (1845-1934) from a family of financiers and philanthropists  of Frankfort-on-Main in Germany where his ancestors lived from the 16th century onwards.  The "House of Rothchild" became well known.  Edmund was from the French line.  Luckily, Edmund and wife Adele, another Rothchild, was interested in intellectual and artistic pursuits and had a great art collection.  They were attached to Jewish religious traditions.  They had large donations from the few wealthy Jews in the Diaspora, like Baron Edmond de Rothschild.

  The first Zionist pioneers in Palestine appealed to him for financing  in the early 1880s to save them from financial collapse.  He continued to support Palestinian colonization unostentatiously and gradually taking under his protection all the new settlements, which would have had to be liquidated had it not been for his aid.  Altogether, he bought 125,000 acres in Palestine and is to be credited with the settlement of Galilee and Samaria.  In 1900,  he transferred the management of the colonies to ICA, and then from 1924, to PICA.  In his last years, he cooperated with Chaim Weizmann and Nahum Sokolow and in 1929 at the time of terrible rioting became honorary president of the Jewish Agency.  He's buried at Zikhron Yaaaov -reinterred, in 1954.                                          

Jewish National Fund (קֶרֶן קַיֶּימֶת לְיִשְׂרָאֵל‎, Keren Kayemet LeYisrael; previously הפאנד הלאומי‎, Ha Fund HaLeumi) is a non-profit organization founded in 1901 to buy and develop land in Ottoman Syria (later Mandatory Palestine, subsequently Israel and the Palestinian territories) for Jewish settlement. By 2007, it owned 13% of the total land in Israel. Since its inception, the JNF says it has planted over 240 million trees in Israel. It has also built 180 dams and reservoirs, developed 250,000 acres (1,000 km²) of land and established more than 1,000 parks.  And we've witnessed the Arabs purposely flying kites lit with fire in order to cause forest fires and fires on farms such as wheat fields. That doesn't cause love for the Arabs.  Israel was attacked

5. Wars Fought to Keep the Land:

  A. The War of Independence from 29 November 1947 to 1949:  Arabs refused to accept its very existence, attacked 5 minutes after announcement of birth. First, units of Arab irregulars crossed into the country from Syria, Lebanon and Egypt to reinforce local Arabs in their attacks upon Jewish localities and in an attempt to block the main roads.  

Then on May 14, 1948, day of birth, Israel was invaded by the regular armies of Egypt, Transjordan, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon and a Saudi-Arabian contingent.  General of the Arab League, Azzam Pasha,  said, "This will be a war of extermination and a momentous massacre which will be spoken of like the Mongolian massacres and Crusades."  

 B. the Sinai War from 29 October until 5 November 1956

 C. The Six Day War from 5th to 11th June 1967

 D. The War of Attrition from 1968 to 7-8 August 1970-never peaceful, with forays into Israel, engaging in acts of terrorism and sabotage.   Clashes along frontier lines with Arab terrorist organizations (fidayun) who was supported by Arab governments.  

 E. Yom Kippur War, 6 October to 26 October 1973.  Hit on Jewish holiest day of year, people in synagogues on a 25 hour fast...Israeli soldiers at their weakest.  

Besides all out wars, there have been so many attacks that Israel has had to enter Gaza to stop them. 

Despite it all: all the tsuris that has hit this teeny country, they have made a name for themselves giving the world some of their talent showing they are a people worth keeping. 

  

Resource; 

Facts About Israel, published by the Division of Information, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem.  1973.

The New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia

 

  

 

Facing Off Palestinian Accusations With Israel's Reality

 Nadene Goldfoot                                        

Joshua, with 601,730 Israelites of the Exodus who had been traveling for 40 years from Egypt, entered Canaan in about 1270 BCE after Moses had died outside its land.                             

According to 1 Sam 14:47-48 Saul fought against Moab, Ammon, Edom and the kings of Zobah. In addition he fought against the Philistines and the Amalekites. 

The Jewish state of Israel was established by King Saul in about 1050 BCE.   Palestine was  a name given to Israel and Judah in 135 CE  by the Romans after they destroyed Jerusalem and it's Temple of Solomon in 70 CE.  The Jewish General (Aluf) Bar Kokhba had led his new army back to Jerusalem and held it for 3 whole years from 132 to 135, which maddened the Roman army so much that they renamed the land after the Israelites most hated enemy, the Philistines. 

The claim that Jews have on this land is that they have always maintained ties to the land ever since 70 CE for the past 3,700 years.  A national language of Hebrew and a distinct civilization have been maintained.  Even after the destruction of the 2nd Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem and the beginning of the exile, Jewish life in Palestine continued and often flourished.  Large communities were reestablished in Jerusalem and Tiberias by the 9th century as well as in Safed (Tzfat).  In the 11th century, Jewish communities grew in rafah, Gaxs, Ashkelon, Jaffa and Caesarea.  In the 12th century many Jews were massacred along with the Muslims by the Crusaders.   but rebounded and Jerusalem and the Galilee had many immigrants. 

70 CE acted like a holocaust for the Jews of Jerusalem.  They were starved beyond belief, trapped in Jerusalem by the Roman soldiers.  The remainder was slaughtered, with those lucky enough to live through it all taken as slaves for the circus or work force.  Some managed to escape both before the horror and then afterwards.  

2,000 years went by with Jews praying 3 times a day for their return.  The day came after 2,000 years of suffering;  pogroms, anti-semitism, being 2nd class citizens.  

By early 19th century, there were more than 10,000 Jews living in Palestine.  Starting in 1870, 78 years of nation building was done in earnest with 5 Aliote starting in 1881.  It all culminated in Israel's re-birth.                                             

       Liberation of Jerusalem in 1914 during beginning of WWI.

By 1914, there were 85,000 Jews living in Palestine.  Four years later, the land was occupied by Britain, which governed it for 30 years, from 1918, the end of the war to 1948, after WWII. 

By 1919, there were 1,806 Jewish immigrants.

By 1920, there were 8,223 Jewish immigrants.

By 1921, there were 8,294 Jewish immigrants.

In 1925, there were 34,386 Jewish immigrants.

In 1933, there were 37,337 Jewish immigrants.

In 1934, there were 45, 267 Jewish immigrants.

In 1935, there were 66, 472 Jewish immigrants.  

In 1939, there were 31, 195 Jewish immigrants.

Britain helped Arabs immigrate but kept out Jews, going against their mandate to "help Jews create their National Homeland."  

Germany closed the doors and no Jews could leave.  Then Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939.  My uncle, Werner Oster, got out in May 1939 on the ship, SS Washington,  and came to the USA. He could have been the last Jew that got out.    

In 1941, there were 4,592 Jewish immigrants.   

Before 1948, there had been Jewish immigration going on, some deemed  illegal for people fleeing the Holocaust.  There were 385,066 Jewish immigrants making up 89.6% of the people who came from America, Europe and Oceania, and 44,809 from Asia and Africa making 10.4% and 22,283 not stating their origin. Total=452, 158.  

By May 14, 1948, Israel was born, enjoying 5 minutes of peace before being attacked by the Palestinian Arabs.  The Jews were a substantial majority in these areas of Palestine partitioned by the United Nations for a Jewish state, much lying in the Negev Desert and along the coast.  Independence Day is designated to be on the 5th day of Iyar (ה' באייר) in the Hebrew calendar, the anniversary of the day on which Israeli independence was proclaimed, when David Ben-Gurion publicly read the Israeli Declaration of Independence. The corresponding Gregorian date was 14 May 1948. 

Update 8/4/22: "The official UN estimate was that the land assigned to the Jewish state contained approximately 538,000 Jews and 397,000 Arabs (a number that included Christians, Bedouins, Druze, and others.)"Dershowitz.  

In the first 34 years of Israel's history, they have had to fight 5 major wars. War of Independence from 1947-1949, Sinai War (29 Oct-5 Nov 1956), Six Day War (5-11 June 1967), War of Attrition (1968-7-8 Aug 1970, Yom Kippur War (Oct 6-25 in 1973)

Besides calling men and women into the IDF (Israel Defense Force), they have built farms, even in the desert, restored forests, built museums and schools and theaters.  They have provided homes to Jews from every continent.

               Jewish  Ethiopeans becoming IDF soldiers

 In 1985 it was for the Ethiopeans they settled in Tzfat.   Jews have built the only democracy in the Middle East.  

In 1948, the Jewish population was 758,702.   101,828 had been Jewish immigrants.  There were 126,000 non Jews.  Total=872,000. 

In 1949, the Jews' population was 1,013,871. 239,576 had been Jewish immigrants.   There were 160,000 non Jews.  Total=1,173, 871.

In 1950, the Jews' population was 1,202, 002.  170,449 had been Jewish immigrants.  There were 167,101 non Jews.  Total=1,270,094.  

In 1951, the Jews' population was 1,404,392.  175,095 had been Jewish immigrants.  There were 173,433 non Jews.  Total=1,577, 825.  334,971 Jewish immigrants came from America, Europe and Oceania, making 50.3% of the new citizens.  330,456 came from Asia and Africa, making 49.7% of the new citizens.  18,774 did not state where they came from.  Total=648, 201.  

From 1952-1954, the Jews' immigration was 11,187 from America,  Europe and Oceania, or 21.9%, and 39,978  or 78.1% from Asia and Africa.  Not stated were 28 people.  Total=51,193.  

From 1955-1957, the Jews' immigration was 49,630 from America.  Europe and Oceania, or 30.9%, and 110,714 or 69.1%  from Asia and Africa.  617 were not stated.  Total=160, 961.

Israel's international "birth certificate" was validated by the promise of the Bible;  uninterrupted Jewish settlement from the time of Joshua onward;  the Balfour Declaration of 1917;  The League of Nations Mandate, which incorporated the Balfour Declaration;  the UN partition resolution of 1947; Israel's admission to the UN in 1949;  the recognition of Israel by most other states, and most of all, the society created by Israel's people in decades of thriving, dynamic national existence. 

Land size hasn't changed since 1980; only population has grown with 80% Jewish and 20% Muslim ratio .  Jews are allowed to live in sections of Judea and Samaria, their ancient home.  

Population in Israel is expected to reach 9.61 Million by the end of 2022, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Israel Population is projected to trend around 9.61 Million in 2023, according to our econometric models.  It was 9.217 million in 2020.  When I made aliyah in 1980, it was 3.878 million.  The population of Israel represents 0.11 percent of the world´s total population which arguably means that one person in every 899 people on the planet is a resident of Israel. (1/899) That's not even 1% but about a 10th of 1%.  We're a tiny group left of an ancient people.  

Abba Eban standing with President Truman, 33rd USA President, and David Ben Gurion- primary national founder of the State of Israel and the first Prime Minister of Israel

There is certainly no other state, big or small, young or old, that would consider mere recognition of its "right to exist"  favor, or a negotiable concession"----Abba Eban  

 “Israel was not created in order to disappear- Israel will endure and flourish.” - John. F. Kennedy

"In Israel, in order to be a realist, you must believe in miracles."

- David Ben-Gurion

Resource:

Facts About Israel, division of information, ministry for foreign affairs, Jerusalem

Myths and Facts-a concise record of the Arab-Israeli conflict by Mitchell G. Bard and Joel Himelfarb.  

A Young Person's History of Israel, 2nd edition by David Bamberger

Tanakh, Stone Edition, p. 2035, chart 11.  

The Case For Israel by Alan Dershowitz, p. 68