daily californian logo

BERKELEY'S NEWS • NOVEMBER 19, 2023

Studying history is a good idea

article image

WILLOW YANG | FILE

SUPPORT OUR NONPROFIT NEWSROOM

We're an independent student-run newspaper, and need your support to maintain our coverage.

MARCH 06, 2020

Kelvin Ervais’ simplified statement in the op-ed “ASUC fails students when it comes to free speech” that there is an “Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory” does not make it so.  For three millennium up until 1948, Jews lived almost continuously in Judea and Samaria. In 1948, Jordan illegally occupied Judea and Samaria. With the enthusiastic support of Palestinian Arabs, it ethnically cleansed the eastern portion of Jerusalem, removing all of its Jews.

Not satisfied with its illegal occupation of Judea and Samaria, in June 1967, Jordan joined with Egypt and Syria in a genocidal war. Suddenly thrown into a defensive war, Israel pushed Jordan out of Judea and Samaria and ended their illegal occupation, finally allowing Jewish people to return to their homes that they had lost 19 years earlier.

In 1964, the Palestinian Liberation Organization was formed when Israel existed within the 1949 Armistice Lines. While the PLO charter is effusive about demanding the genocide of the Jews of Israel, it makes no mention of establishing an independent state of Palestine on Judea and Samaria, which at that time were illegally occupied by a foreign power, Jordan. Only after Jordan was pushed back from its illegal occupation in 1967 did the PLO suddenly discover the idea that Judea and Samaria were “occupied” by Jews and started talking about liberating “occupied” Palestine.

In addition, Eugene Rostow, under secretary of state for political affairs from 1966-69 and one of the authors of United Nations Resolution 242, has written extensively in The New Republic (April 23, 1990 and Oct. 21, 1991) that all settlements in Judea and Samaria are completely legal as per the British Mandate for Palestine and Article 80 of the Charter of the United Nations, nor are they in violation of Article 49 of the Geneva Conventions.

Rather than parroting the Palestinian National Authority whose enabling documents are the 1964 PLO charter, which mandates the murder of every Jew in Israel, and Article 7 of the Hamas Charter, which essentially mandates the murder of every Jew on Earth, it would be good to do a bit of actual historical research, as it could make a big difference.

Richard Sherman is a retired Florida-based Zionist with degrees from Syracuse University and the University of Maryland School of Law.
LAST UPDATED

MARCH 06, 2020


Related Articles

While Fitness and Opportunity Wellness Fund differs from its No Limits predecessor, FWOF still offers specialized personal training for students with disabilities.
While Fitness and Opportunity Wellness Fund differs from its No Limits predecessor, FWOF still offers specialized personal training for students with disabilities.
featured article
There are many strong opinions about the Thirty Meter Telescope, or TMT, project on Maunakea on Hawaiʻi Island, and it is important that everyone know the facts. Unfortunately, an April 2 op-ed by members of UC Berkeley’s Indigenous Americas Working Group calling for the UC system to stop funding construction of the TMT contained inaccurate information that needs a response.
There are many strong opinions about the Thirty Meter Telescope, or TMT, project on Maunakea on Hawaiʻi Island, and it is important that everyone know the facts. Unfortunately, an April 2 op-ed by members of UC Berkeley’s Indigenous Americas Working Group calling for the UC system to stop funding construction of the TMT contained inaccurate information that needs a response.
featured article
featured article
Silence might embolden well-funded groups that are attempting to harm the increasing numbers of students, faculty members and the broader community of higher education in our state who are taking a stand against injustice. The UC system needs to maintain the public mission of the university by speaking out about this.
Silence might embolden well-funded groups that are attempting to harm the increasing numbers of students, faculty members and the broader community of higher education in our state who are taking a stand against injustice. The UC system needs to maintain the public mission of the university by speaking out about this.
featured article