Has there ever been an independent state named Palestine in the history of the Middle East?

It is a historical fact that there has never been an independent state of Palestine in the region with its own rulers, language, or army. Talk of a Palestinian state is a distortion of history; modern Palestinians are predominantly Arabs who arrived from surrounding nations.

When did the Palestinian identity begin to emerge?

The Palestinian identity is a relatively new phenomenon that only began to strengthen and emerge after the 1967 war. Prior to this, the Arabs in the region identified more broadly with the Arab nation.

What is the significance of the Balfour Declaration regarding Israel's right to the land?

The League of Nations ratified the Balfour Declaration of 1917, according to which the promised home for the Jewish people encompassed not only present-day Israel but also Jordan, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.

What was the original cause of the Palestinian refugee problem?

The primary cause for the emergence of the refugee problem was the propaganda of the Arab states themselves, which urged Arabs to leave the war zone. At the same time, Arab countries expelled at least an equal number of Jews from their own lands.

Is Israel an occupying state?

Talk of an occupation is questionable, as there has never been a Palestinian state in the area to occupy. Historically, Jordan illegally occupied the West Bank and Egypt occupied Gaza from 1948 to 1967, contrary to UN resolutions.

Are Jerusalem or Palestine mentioned in the Koran?

Interestingly, the Koran does not mention Jerusalem or Palestine even once. Instead, the Koran contains passages that confirm the Land of Israel belongs to the Jewish people.

Israel and Middle East Issues – Articles and Analyses

Q: What is the true background of the BDS movement?

Although the BDS movement presents itself as a regular grassroots citizen movement, it is backed by radical organizations such as Hamas, the PFLP, and Islamic Jihad.

Q: Why has Israel built a security barrier?

The security barrier was built purely for defensive purposes to protect civilians from terrorist attacks carried out inside Israeli territory.

Q: Has the situation of Palestinians been better under Jewish administration or under their own leaders?

Analyses indicate that the Palestinians' own leaders (such as Hamas and the Palestinian Authority) have often driven their people into distress and mistreated minorities compared to life under Israeli administration.

Q: What could be a lasting solution to the Middle East conflict?

The most effective means is spiritual renewal and Christian faith, which transforms a person from within. This has been experienced by many extremist Muslims as well as other people. Love based on the Christian faith, forgiveness, and loving one's enemies offer a spiritual foundation that could genuinely resolve the deep tensions between Jews and Arabs.

This page gathers my writings in which I discuss Israel, the Middle East conflict, public opinion, and perspectives of justice and history regarding events in the region. I examine these topics from the viewpoints of the Bible, history, media, politics and human rights, aiming for honest and source‑based analysis.

The goal is to help the reader understand:

the historical and moral rights of Israel and the Jewish people
how media, influencers and political movements shape the image of Israel
the background factors and misunderstandings behind the Middle East conflict
why Israel evokes strong emotions and divides opinions
how a Christian perspective influences attitudes toward Israel

Israel and Justice – Related Articles

Justice and the Palestinians

Read the article: Justice and the Palestinians. This article examines the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians from the perspective of justice. Is Israel an apartheid state, and what is the status of the Palestinians? Has life been better for Palestinians under their own leaders?

Israel and the Media

Read the article: Israel and the media. A letter to the editorial staff of Rauhan puolesta magazine. The topic is the rewriting of history in the Middle East.

The Battle for the holy land – Israel in focus

Read the article: The battle for the holy land - Israel in focus. The dispute surrounding Israel and Jerusalem is a constant topic in the media, but what is the background of the Palestinians and what is the real history? This writing provides an overview of the historical roots, political tensions and religious factors behind the Middle East crisis.

The Middle East crisis

Read the article: Middle East crisis. Settlements and the question of occupation policy. Is Israel occupying a Palestinian state, or is this claim false?

Israel friendship in review

Read the article: Israel friendship in review. Is friendship with Israel good or bad? Historically, antisemitism and opposition to Israel have often gone hand in hand.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Israel and the Middle East

🗺️ Palestine as a State

Has there ever been an independent state called Palestine in Middle Eastern history? Historically, there has never been an independent Palestinian state with its own rulers, language or army. Claims about a historic Palestinian state distort history; modern Palestinians are largely Arabs who migrated from surrounding countries.

🧩 The Birth of Palestinian Identity

When did Palestinian identity begin to form? Palestinian identity is a relatively new phenomenon that began to strengthen only after the 1967 war. Before this, Arabs in the region identified more broadly with the Arab nation.

📜 The Balfour Declaration

What is the significance of the Balfour Declaration for Israel’s right to the land? The League of Nations affirmed the 1917 Balfour Declaration, according to which the Jewish homeland included not only modern‑day Israel but also Jordan, the West Bank and Gaza.

🏚️ The Origin of the Refugee Problem

What originally caused the Palestinian refugee problem? The main cause was the propaganda of Arab states, which urged Arabs to leave the war zone. At the same time, Arab countries expelled at least an equal number of Jews from their own lands.

⚖️ Is Israel an Occupier?

Is Israel an occupying power? The occupation narrative is questionable because there has never been a Palestinian state to occupy. Historically, Jordan illegally occupied the West Bank and Egypt occupied Gaza from 1948 to 1967 in violation of UN resolutions.

🕌 Jerusalem and Palestine in the Qur’an

Are Jerusalem or Palestine mentioned in the Qur’an? Interestingly, the Qur’an does not mention Jerusalem or Palestine even once. Instead, it contains passages that affirm the land of Israel as belonging to the Jewish people.

🚫 The Background of the BDS Movement

What is the true background of the BDS movement? Although BDS presents itself as a grassroots movement, it is influenced by radical organizations such as Hamas, the PFLP and Islamic Jihad. (Note: These groups have been responsible for severe violence and human rights abuses.)

🧱 The Purpose of the Security Barrier

Why has Israel built a security barrier? The barrier was built purely for defensive purposes to protect civilians from terrorist attacks carried out inside Israel.

👥 The Status of Palestinians Under Different Governments

Has the status of Palestinians been better under Jewish governance or under their own leaders? Analyses show that Palestinian leaders (such as Hamas and the Palestinian Authority) have often driven their people into hardship and mistreated minorities compared to life under Israeli administration.

🕊️ A Lasting Solution to the Middle East Conflict

What could be a lasting solution to the Middle East conflict? The most effective solution is spiritual renewal and Christian faith, which transforms a person internally. Many former extremists and ordinary people alike have experienced this. Christian love, forgiveness and loving one’s enemies provide a moral foundation that could genuinely heal deep tensions between Jews and Arabs.

About the Author – Jari Iivanainen

I have written numerous theological and historical articles dealing with the Christian faith, salvation, evolution theory, religions, worldviews, everyday life and ethical questions. My goal is to offer readers clear, well‑reasoned and respectful perspectives on spiritual and other topics. Above all, I hope that my writings will lead people toward salvation and the forgiveness of sins.

You can find more articles on the Writings page.