Phil Duffy on the ancient Jewish claim to Palestine

In the final analysis, the Zionists are asking the world, but particularly the United States, to issue them a license to commit genocide. 

I believe that the Zionist claim is that God awarded them Palestine.  I have seen various versions of this, and would welcome any Zionist to point to their version of the story.  It always comes down to this:

1. The Jews voluntarily left Palestine for greener pastures in Egypt (the story of Joseph).
2. At first things worked out but ultimately the Egyptians enslaved the Jews. 
3. Moses led the Jews out of Egypt and into the desert (Exodus). 
4. Moses died and was succeeded by Joshua who led the Jews against the Canaanites who had then homesteaded Palestine. 
5. The Jews massacred the Canaanites and took possession of Palestine.

I have some reservations about this account.  I don’t think Jesus would have recommended to his fellow Jews that they act similarly during his time on Earth, but I’ll accept the Zionist version, with a question – “Is that all you have as proof that Palestine belongs to you?”

The Jewish Diaspora (dispersion) presents a theological challenge for Jews.  After 70 AD when the Romans destroyed the Temple, huge numbers of Jews left Judea, leading to the claim by Zionists that they were driven off the land that was legitimately theirs.  The claim does not square with history.  Zionists are not claiming they have a right to Judea, but to the larger landmass that was occupied by Jews of Judea and the 10 lost tribes of Israel.  Those 10 tribes split with the two tribes of Judea after the death of Solomon and have been assimilated into other cultures.  Further calling into question the claim that Jews were driven from Judea is that many remained and lived side-by-side with Arabs.  Those who left after 70 AD and became a part of the Diaspora were probably only a fraction of the number of Jews already in the Diaspora.  A large number already had left Israel to live their lives elsewhere.

In summary, most of the Jews who left Israel did so voluntarily, and those who left after 70 AD, although feeling the pressure of having lost to the Romans in an unsuccessful uprising, did so voluntarily.

~ Phil Duffy, February 1