…to mark the second anniversary of the Iran-backed Hamas attack on Israel and the beginning of the war which is still on-going.

Although protaganists for both sides claim the history is simple, it is not and some events after the British Mandate was established after WW1 until the British withdrew in 1948 are the subject of dispute by both sides.

(Table from Wikipedia)

How it was when the Romans occupied the area.

A map from 1895 during the Ottoman Empire.

A map from 1945 near the end of the British mandate, which interestingly even at that stage is called “a Land of Strife.” For Jordan the “trans-” was dropped in 1949.

The UN Partition plan of 1947.

A map from 1949 and the declaration of the state of Israel. One notes that Egypt had moved into occupy Gaza by then and continued to occupy it until 1967.

by Roger Childs

The Complexities of Palestine

Both Palestinians and Jews have strong historical cases for occupying “Palestine” (named after the Philistines) dating back well over 2000 years and the sensible UN Partition Plan for a Jewish State and a Muslim state, which was adopted by the General Assembly in late 1947, didn’t come into being.

The increasing Jewish presence

The Romans did not force the Jews out of Judea in a single expulsion. Rather, the Romans expelled them from Jerusalem only; and the rest of Judea lost most of its Jews slowly, over a period of centuries, as conditions in Judea became too harsh. Even then, we have records of Jewish communities who lived in Judea (Palestine) pretty continuously. However, Jewish people in significant numbers have only featured in Palestine over the last 100 or so years. In the late nineteenth century over 80% of the inhabitants were Arab Palestinians.

The British who had a League of Nations mandate over the area after 1919 allowed tens of thousands of Jews to move into the area in the interwar years. After WW2 many holocaust survivors in Nazi-occupied countries found that they were not welcome back to where they had lived and so moved to Palestine, their spiritual homeland. This was particularly true in the case of Poland and parts of the Soviet Union.

The UN’s plan for dividing the area into two states and internationalising Jerusalem, was usurped when “Israel” unilaterally declared independence with huge support from the Americans who then and since provided considerable military and other aid. The Arab countries around Israel attacked from all sides, but were beaten off by the efficient and well led Jewish armed forces.

In 1948, Britain virtually abandoned Palestine to warring groups and the Zionist Haganah and Irgun committed many atrocities including the blowing up of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. 

A creative solution to the conflict featured in the brilliant American television drama “The West Wing”. President Josiah Bartlett sent more than 10.000 American troops to patrol the border between the lsraeli and Palestinian territories. 

Since 1948 the Israeli government has always retaliated to attacks. As readers will have seen in the media, since the Hamas attack the Israeli military response has been relentless and the majority of Gaza has been levelled, and tens of thousands of its inhabitants (out of 2.3 million) have been killed. Some of these have been Islamist combatants but many non-combatants have also been victims.

Ann Arnold sums up what happened:

On 7 Oct 2023, meticulously planned, one thousand Hamas terrorists slaughtered some 1.200 innocent people across more than 20 communities in southern Israel.  Hamas rule Gaza. They started this barbaric war, killing torturing and brutalizing men, woman and children and babies snatched from their beds. 364 innocent Israelis enjoying themselves at a music festival were brutally massacred at the site. 253 others became hostages, forced into a living hell.

“An eye for an eye“

There has been widespread international condemnation of this continuing military action which has been made possible by on-going American support and military aid. The United Kingdom, France and other countries have recently recognised Palestine, including the west bank of the Jordan as an independent state. Australia said it will also with strict caveats, but New Zealand declined. Every country on the Security Council, except the US, supports recognition, but not of Hamas or the Palestinian Authority. 

It is uncertain whether this will stop the violence. Perhaps a variation on the Bartlett “solution” could be European Union forces doing the patrolling between the two sides. The critical issue is that the violence and killing of innocent people must stop.

A census of Palestine was conducted by the Mandatory government on 23 October 1922. Population figures in the census featured a breakdown by district of residence, religion, language and age. The total population of Palestine was given as 757,182, of whom 590,890 (78%) were Muslims (“Mohammedans”), 83,794 (11%) Jews, 73,024 (9%) Christians and 9,474 others. The population of Jerusalem was given as 62,578, of whom 13,413 were Muslims, 33,971 Jews, 14,699 Christians and 495 others.

The advent to power of the German Nazi 3rd Reich in 1933 changed these figures significantly.

This documentary is sympathetic to the Arab viewpoint, but the Jewish viewpoint is covered. A key point is that the Jews felt that to create a viable state for themselves they had to expel Muslims from many villages.

by Ann Arnold

The two state solution

In this clamor to force Israel into accepting a Palestinian state in their land I’d like people to remember a few facts.

A fact: Most recently a peace abiding Israel in their own backyard, was brutally attacked by the barbaric terrorist group Hamas that rules the Gaza strip. On 7 October 2023, meticulously planned, one thousand Hamas terrorists slaughter some 1.200 innocent people across more than 20 communities in southern Israel.  Hamas, I repeat, rule Gaza. They started this barbaric war, killing torturing and brutalizing men, woman and children and babies snatched from their beds. 364 innocent Israelis enjoying themselves at a music festival were brutally massacred at the site. 253 others became hostages, forced into a living hell. Tortured and starved underground for no other reason than they are Jewish. 

So, for the past nearly 2 years a demonised terrorist regime holds, starves and kills hostages when it suits for their depraved ideology; blackmailing Israel to release 100’s of imprisoned murderers and terrorists in exchange for a couple of hostages at a time. From unimaginable horror, now, most hostages are dead. Held to ransom have been grieving families and a tiny nation broken in grief through no fault of their own, wondering why much of the world still hates them. 

Today innocent cries from underground, are just 20 skeletal hostages still alive. 

A fact: Ironically many Gazans want Hamas destroyed so they can live a life without fear. You won’t hear that said on any mainstream media. This is a propaganda war run by the media who are never made accountable for their blatant errors and therefore deceive an unsuspecting public.  

Israel has always attempted to get aid into Gaza, but Hamas steals it from their own people, selling it on to them at exorbitant prices they can’t afford. It’s a well-documented fact proven with video footage and eyewitnesses. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) backed by USA and Israel was formed to counteract this. But the news media only want to pursue distorted facts with fake news. Few outlets are interested in the truth unless they are independently run. 

When the media find out they’re wrong they don’t refute their error. But leave the general public blindly believing emotionally driven lies about Gaza. 

Israel has grown and prospered because she is in her promised land. Her innovations in technology, medicine etc. are shared for the benefit of the world. She’s the first to respond with help to countries struck by disasters such as earthquakes. But who takes notice of that? 

A fact: There are 22 Arab States in the world from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean.   

A fact: There has never been a Palestinian people, that is a modern invention and sheer propaganda. The geographic area known as Palestine has always had a Jewish presence. Israel is now the 3rd Jewish state to exist in that area. There was never an Arab State there, nor a Palestinian one, nor a Moslem or any other state. Recreated legitimately after the holocaust why can’t the tiny State of Israel be allowed to exist peaceably? Ask yourselves.  

One recent news announcement 14 August 2025 on Australian television was this: ‘Hamas welcomes PM Albanese’s recognition.’  Rewarding terrorism.  

All killing could stop in a heartbeat if Hamas cared about its people more than it hated Jews. Many Gazans know this. But would be killed if they spoke it. Countries like Britain, France, Canada, Australia etc. in their ignorance, and arrogant stupidity think they have the answer by supporting evil with a two-state solution in Israel.

A fact: There is a stark reality lost to the world! The Middle East conflict is not hard to understand. One side wants the other dead. Just one quote ‘Wipe Israel off the map.’ Palestinians do not want Israel to exist. They announced to Israel years ago their famous 3 no’s – no recognition, no peace and no negotiations.

Israel on the other hand loves life and just want to live in peace.

Above is just a small glimpse of history.  But won’t be complete without lastly turning our attention to biblical history.

Throughout the Bible’s pages God granted Israel the land it presently occupies. Although they have been scattered throughout the world as God promised. He also promised they would be gathered into their own land again. This was fulfilled on 15 May 1948. Ever since that time Arab nations and countries throughout the world have demonised Israel into giving up her land. 

No country will remain guiltless forcing Israel to accept a two-state solution in the delusion it will bring peace. It can’t. Because the One who watches over the affairs of man said so. A biblical passage is Genesis 12:3 ‘I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; And in you (Israel) all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’

Remember and rethink.