Weekly Commentary: Leveling the playing field: most Palestinians are recent
immigrants

Dr. Aaron Lerner Date: 27 February 2014

Qudos to Amb. Alan Baker for his recent Jerusalem Issue Briefs article
"Changing the Historical Narrative: Saeb Erekat's New Spin" in which he
notes that "most of the Palestinians arrived as part of the waves of
immigration that began in the nineteenth century at the time of the
emergence of Zionism, attracted by employment opportunities and economic
benefits."

To be clear: that's not to say that the Arabs now living here don't have the
right to be here.

It's just that they have no edge on us as "natives" vs "newcomers".

The Palestinian claim that they are descended from Canaanites is not a
matter of colorful folklore.

It is the foundation stone of their program to challenge the legitimacy of
our existence as invading colonists in their native land.

Our message to the world should be clear.

We the Jewish People have a history here that is thousands of years longer
than most of our Arab neighbors.

And we have every desire to live in peace and harmony with our Arab
neighbors regardless of when their families immigrated.

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(Mail POB 982 Kfar Sava) Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-7255730
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il Website: http://www.imra.org.il