There is a widely known quote that has urgent relevance today - "A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes."  

This quote captures the challenge of presenting the historical accuracy and the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Truth needs to change its shoes to sneakers and catch up with the lies, especially in the world of social media.

Pay attention to the vehemently anti-Israel, pro Palestinian rhetoric. They argue Israel is a “settler-colonial project" and in 1948 Jews came to the land and achieved and “maintained its rule through the forced expulsion and ethnic cleansing of the indigenous Arab people” - stealing their property and expelling them. With that narrative in mind, “Free Palestine from the River to the Sea,” means nothing less than the destruction of the Jewish State in place of a Palestinian State.  

Millions of people around the world accept, as fact, the Palestinian narrative without critical thought. Even more so, right now during the war. The ministries in Gaza are run by Hamas, yet, whatever they say is reported as truth and framing what Israel reports as lies. You don’t have to look further than some American media outlets. 

As I have written recently, I see little hope in moving people off their narratives as truth is not sought. The urgency is for teaching those open to the truth and teaching our children the truth so they can speak intelligently about the conflict, engender pride for Israel, in all of its complexity, and pride in being Jews. We need to catch up to the lies and speak historical truth based on evidence and primary sources.

I have taken on the privilege of teaching our eighth graders and framing the conflict factually. 

We are examining important historical facts that are often omitted or overlooked by Palestinian sympathizers, shedding light on the roots of the conflict and the reasons why the truth is sometimes overshadowed. It is essential to clarify these facts to promote a more nuanced understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  

We began this week by examining one of the frequently overlooked facts in discussions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and that is the continuous presence of Jews in the region. Jewish history in the land of Israel dates back thousands of years, long before the modern state of Israel was established in 1948. The ancient kingdom of Judea was one of the first and only independent nations to exist in that region, with a rich history that includes the construction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. We examined a timeline from the destruction of Judea by the Romans in 70 c.e. to the beginning of the 20th century. I showed them all of the Imperial powers that occupied the land, but never established a nation. We also looked at the Jewish census through the ages, validating the continuous presence of Jews while acknowledging the shift from Jews being the majority population to the minority population when the Muslim armies invaded in approximately 636. From that time on, Muslims maintained the majority population in the region.

The invasion and arrival of the Arab Muslims also contradicts the belief that the Arabs were the indigenous people. In fact, the majority of Arabs in the region did not have roots dating back to antiquity like the Jews. Most Arabs migrated to the area from Arabia, and their arrival occurred long after Jews had already established their presence in the land. This historical fact underscores the complexity of demographic changes in the region over the centuries. This does not mean that the Arabs don’t have a claim to the land as well. They do. After centuries of living there, creating a culture, and generational lines through the centuries, it is reasonable to understand why they claim this land as their home as well.

These truths, supported by primary historical records, including Muslim records, simply undermines the narrative the Palestinians have successfully transmitted for decades winning over many uninformed people. 

As the eighth grade continues their learning in the coming weeks, it is crucial for our students, and everyone else, to know other often overlooked points. For instance, the Palestinian narrative often cites the 1915 British and French promise of an Independent Arab nation in Palestine (Hussein-McMahon Correspondence). This is true. The Balfour Declaration of 1917, in which the British government expressed support for the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine, is also a fact. This official document recognized the historical connection of Jews to the land and played a significant role in the eventual creation of Israel.

However, this vital piece of the puzzle is routinely left out of the Palestinian story. Without this factual element of the story, the entire narrative shifts. 

In the coming weeks we will speak with the eighth graders about the founding of Zionism in the context of Nationalism and the rise of Arab nationalism as well. We will speak about the U.N. Resolution 181 which proposed two states, a Jewish and Arab State. We will discuss the war against Israel in1948, when Israel declared its Independence. The Palestinian narrative leaves out that the Arab nations attacked Israel in the hopes of destroying it before it even got a chance to establish itself. 

Understanding these historical facts helps shed light on why Israel often finds itself in a defensive position in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel's existence has been repeatedly challenged since its inception. 

Despite the abundance of historical evidence supporting these facts, misinformation and selective narratives continue to circulate, often driven by political agendas, and anti-Semitism. This distortion of facts can perpetuate a skewed understanding of the conflict, making it difficult for the truth to gain traction in the public discourse.

We must recognize and acknowledge the historical facts that underpin the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Jews have a deep-rooted history in the region, and their connection to the land is a crucial aspect of the conflict's complexity. Where possible we need to both educate and promote a more balanced and informed perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, one that acknowledges the historical realities while fostering a dialogue aimed at achieving better understanding for all who are interested. This involves confronting biases, prejudices, and anti-Semitism that interfere with communication of the truth. 

This education must be taught and quickly, for as we speak, lies are racing across the globe. 

Let’s get our sneakers on.