| Dear Friend of Israel, Friend of FLAME:
Palestinian president-for-life Mahmoud Abbas recently claimed that the first and second Jewish temples were in Yemen, not Jerusalem, citing the Koran. Not only does all reputable archeological research locate the temples in Jerusalem, but the Koran makes no assertion they were in Yemen. So much for Abbas’s “facts.”
Indeed, the Palestinian narrative claiming rights to “Palestine” is based almost entirely on deceitful attempts to nullify deep, long Jewish historical connections to the region. Lacking any evidence of Palestinian peoplehood earlier than the 20th century, let alone existence of any ancient governance, leadership, distinct culture or archeological artifacts, Palestinians are left only to falsify history using outright lies.
Just as Palestinianism is fundamentally a movement to eliminate the Jewish state—rather than build one of their own—so is the focus of Palestinian leaders to dissemble and discredit the abundantly proven Jewish role in the region’s history.
When examined rationally, Palestinian examples denying established records of Jewish sovereignty, religion, architecture and artifacts are almost comical—or at least embarrassing—in their blatant fabrication. But like most Big Lies, when told often enough to those with no other source of information, the locals (e.g., Palestinians) come to believe them, while many elites, who know better, patronizingly ignore them.
Ultimately, however, falsehood makes an unstable foundation for nationhood. Lies are not only deceptive and eventually disproven, but are also mean-spirited—and thus morally brittle. In either case, they don’t wear well.
Here are ten of the most egregious lies comprising the Palestinians’ argument they hope will justify their right to a state “from the river to the sea” in the land of Israel.
Lie #1: There were no Jewish Temples in Jerusalem. Even Muslim scholars refute this lie. Persian historian Abu Jafar Muhammad bin Jarir al-Tabari (838-923), for example, described David’s and Solomon’s involvement in building on the Temple Mount in a way that corresponds exactly to the Bible’s description of the process. Extensive archeological evidence also confirms the existence of both Temples. No wonder guidebooks published in the 1920s and 1930s by the Supreme Muslim Council—responsible for Muslim religious affairs in British Mandatory Palestine—unequivocally identified the Temple Mount as the location of Solomon’s Temple.
Lie #2: Biblical figures were Palestinians. Many Palestinians, for example, claim Jesus Christ was Palestinian. But the Bible clearly identifies Jesus as a Jew, saying he was born in Bethlehem, circumcised according to Jewish law (Luke 2:21), attended synagogue on Shabbat (Luke 4:16), and celebrated Passover in Jerusalem (John 2:13). Moreover, the term “Palestine” didn’t even exist in Jesus’s lifetime—it was invented by the Romans decades later.
Lie #3: Jews have no claim over Jerusalem. Though Palestinians persuaded UNESCO to designate Jerusalem and its Jewish sites as “Palestinian,” Jerusalem has always been the spiritual, religious, and national center of the Jewish people. It was the capital of the Biblical Jewish kingdoms and has never been the capital of any Arab or Muslim entity. Furthermore, Jews have lived in Jerusalem, almost continuously, for 3,000 years.
Lie #4: Jews have no right to sovereignty in “Palestine.” In fact, Jews had sovereignty and self-rule during three ancient periods: United Monarchy under kings Saul, David and Solomon (~1047-930 BCE); Kingdom of Judah (~930-586 BCE); and the Hasmonean Dynasty (~140-63 BCE). All periods are confirmed by major archeological evidence. In contrast, no archeological or historical findings reference a Palestinian people or state.
Lie #5: Jews have no connection to Hebron. Despite Biblical references to Abraham settling in Hebron and purchasing the Cave of the Patriarchs as a burial site for his wife Sarah, Palestinians convinced UNESCO to call the Tomb of the Patriarchs the Ibrahimi Mosque, negating its Jewish origins. Furthermore, Hebron was the first capital of King David’s Israelite kingdom. In modernity, Jews lived there continuously for 500 years until 1929, when an Arab pogrom murdered many of them and exiled the remainder.
Lie #6: Rachel’s Tomb is a mosque. Though centuries of Muslim tradition identify this Bethlehem site as the burial place of Rachel, Palestinians persuaded UNESCO to call it Bilal ibn Rabah Mosque. In fact, the Palestinian myth that Rachel’s Tomb was associated with Bilal ibn Rabah—who is actually buried in Damascus—took shape only in 1996, when Muslim religious authorities decided to apply the name to the site.
Lie #7: Palestinians are descendants of the Canaanites, the first people to inhabit the region. In fact, Canaanites disappeared three millennia ago, long before Arabs arrived. Some Arab Palestinians descend from Arab invaders who conquered the region in the 7th century. Many descend from 100,000 Arabs who immigrated during the British mandate in the 20th century. Noted Arab historian Philip Hitti clarifies: “There is no such thing as Palestine in history.”
Lie #8: No archeological evidence connects Jews to the Land of Israel. In fact, a trail of thousands of archeological artifacts confirms Jewish heritage in the region, including a 1,500-year-old limestone capital decorated with menorahs, whose discovery was just announced by the Israeli Antiquities Authority last month.
Lie #9: Ashkenazim are fake Jews. Palestinians point to the debunked Khazar myth, which posits that European Ashkenazi Jews are descendants of a Turkic empire that existed over a millennium ago. But peer-reviewed studies have discredited this theory, proving that Ashkenazim have genetic markers linking them to the Middle East, where Jews originated. Furthermore, Jews lived in Europe centuries before the Khazar Empire.
Lie #10: “Palestine” was always an Arab country. Fact #1: The Romans gave the land of Israel a new name: Syria Palestina in the 2nd century CE, in order to disassociate Judea from its indigenous Jewish inhabitants. Fact #2: Arabs didn’t become a majority population in the region until after Muslim conquests of the 7th century. Fact #3: Palestinian Arabs have never controlled any land in “Palestine,” always sharing the territory with Jews and descendants of other regional conquerors over the centuries.
Today, Palestinians still use the term “Palestine” to erase Jewish connection to the land of Israel—which persuades many who are ignorant of the region’s true history.
Please make the point when speaking with family, friends, colleagues—or in letters to the editor—that the Palestinians’ national narrative is based on a series of Big Lies—a fiction that quickly crumbles when confronted with historical facts.
If you agree we need to spread this truth, please use your email browser to forward this Hotline issue to fellow lovers of Israel—and encourage them to join us by subscribing to the Hotline at no charge.
Best regards,
James Sinkinson, President
Facts and Logic About the Middle East (FLAME)
P.S. I’m sure you’d agree: If your enemy says they want to kill you and take your land, you’d be smart to believe them. If you try to make peace, but they refuse all your offers and continue to make murderous threats, it’s time to eliminate this enemy. Israel has faced exactly this danger with the Palestinians—yet continued to hope for peace . . . until Hamas’s October 7 massacre and kidnappings. Finally, Israel and many lovers of Israel are facing reality. They’ve concluded their futile dreams of peace must end. They must finally defeat their Palestinian enemies—starting with Hamas and other jihadi terrorists. I hope you’ll agree that we supporters of the Israel-U.S. relationship need to speak out. FLAME’s new hasbarah—explanatory message—“End of the Palestinian Lie”—describes how Israel and the West have for 77 years bought the myth that the Palestinians want peace. It details the many offers of land for peace Israel, the U.N. and the U.S. have made to give Palestinians their own state—all refused. Finally, it explains why Israel must adopt a bold new strategy—disarming, disabling and defeating Hamas and all other terror groups that attack Israeli civilians. Please review this convincing, fact-based editorial, which FLAME intends to publish to millions—in leading social media, as well as in the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, New York Post, Chicago Tribune, Tampa Bay Times, Denver Post and Los Angeles Times. This piece will also be sent to all members of Congress, the President and Vice President. If you agree that this kind of public relations effort on Israel’s behalf is critical, I urge you to support us with a donation.
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