During an interview with A Haber, Professor Dr Erhan Afyoncu, a historian and columnist penning articles for the Turkish daily Sabah, provided a well-documented response to historical events. Afyoncu highlighted his concerns about the Israeli oppression towards Palestinians in the course of the conversation.
The Turkish historian highlighted the rarity of incidents in history where schools, hospitals, churches, and mosques were targeted alongside civilians, deeming it one of the darkest chapters in history.
During his discussion with Melih Altınok on the "Sebep-Sonuç" program broadcast on A Haber, Professor Dr. Erhan Afyoncu provided insights grounded in historical facts.
Here are some key points from his remarks:
The issue we are facing today is not a recent one but the culmination of events dating back 150 years. Britain plays a significant role in the problems we witness worldwide, including the Palestinian and Iraqi issues, owing to its historical colonial ambitions. In the case of Palestine, this influence is particularly pronounced. A century ago, Jews sought to establish a state in Palestine under Britain's auspices, a plan that continues to impact the region to this day.
During the 19th century, Britain pursued a policy that targeted the Ottoman lands, as there were no specific groups it aimed to protect. The Russians supported the Orthodox, the French supported the Catholics, and Britain, in conjunction with certain Protestant groups, assumed the role of protector for the Jews. They made promises to grant land to the Jewish population and later exploited this in World War I. The Balfour Declaration in 1917 was the promise of a homeland for the Jews.
The influx of Jewish immigrants to the region began around 1881, driven by the belief that every significant disaster in their history signified the arrival of the Messiah. In the 1880s, the population in Palestinian territory consisted of 430 thousand Muslims, 35 thousand Jews, and 55 thousand Christians. It is striking to observe how the population balance has evolved since then. At the time, there were even fewer Jews than Christians in Palestine. However, the situation is quite different today.
When approximately 5 thousand Jews arrived, Abdulhamid II perceived this as a threat. He declared that Jews could settle in various parts of the empire, provided that their numbers did not exceed 100-150 households, but they were prohibited from settling in Jerusalem. The sale of land to foreign Jews was also restricted, although there were instances of partial land sales due to financial incentives offered to local administrators. However, these land acquisitions amounted to only 0.73 per cent of all Palestinian territory during that period, which is less than 1 per cent.
One of the crucial issues here is the discussion of this matter without being well-informed or referencing any documented evidence. Even as of 1945, the proportion of land owned by Jews stood at around 5.5 per cent, which was not a substantial amount. Since the establishment of the Israeli state in 1948, they have increasingly colonized these regions, displaced Palestinians, and seized their lands.
The ongoing tragedy is deeply saddening. I struggle to recall any other instance in history where a state targeted innocent people, including civilians and children, in schools, hospitals, churches, and mosques simultaneously. This represents one of the darkest chapters in human history. As we often say, oppression is not a sustainable path forward."
