CHRONICLES OF DISCORD: Unveiling the Palestinian-Israeli conflict from an historical account.
INTRODUCTION
The conflict between Palestine and Israel, a discord that has endured for generations, stands as a testament to the complex interplay of history, politics, and deeply ingrained beliefs. Stretching back over a century, its origins can be traced to a colonial act, the reverberations of which persist in the lives of millions to this day.
Palestine, a land etched deeply in history, unravels a story woven intricately with the threads of Islam and the Muslims who shaped its narrative long before the 18th century. In the early days of Islam, during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab, the serene entry of Muslim forces into Jerusalem in 638 CE set the stage for a history interwoven with religious tolerance. This was the first entry of Islam into the region. This land stood with the Muslims since then even after the transfer of leadership from the Rashidun Caliphs to the Umayyads then the Abbasids.
Under Umayyad and Abbasid rule, the cultural and economic flourishing of Palestine became a testament to the harmony of diverse religious communities between the Muslims,Jews and Christians dwelling there. The construction of the Dome of the Rock in 691 CE in Jerusalem by one of the Umayyad Caliphs, a marvel of Islamic architecture, stands as a symbol of this era’s cultural renaissance.
Yet, the pages of history turned with the arrival of the Crusades in the 11th century. They vowed to take over what they know as ‘the promised land’ by launching crusades which means calling everyone who has the ability to fight to come together and conquer the land from the Muslim rule. As we have discussed before in our previous publication. Jerusalem fell to Crusader forces in 1099, marking a turbulent interruption in Muslim rule. In mid-1099, the Crusader army arrived at Jerusalem and besieged the city.
After several weeks of intense fighting, the Crusaders breached the city’s defences on July 15, 1099. The capture of Jerusalem resulted in a brutal massacre of the city’s Muslim and Jewish inhabitants, leaving thousands dead. However, about 87 years into the dominance of Jerusalem by the Christians, the indomitable spirit of Sultan Salahuddin Ayyubi (Saladin) saw the reclamation of Jerusalem in 1187 after the historical victory at the battle of Hittin, signaling a powerful resurgence of Islamic influence. Afterward, several Crusades were waged in order to conquer the Land to no avail. Historically, about 10 different Crusades was waged by the European Christians in order to capture Jerusalem which was the heart of Palestine.
Moving forward through the annals of history, when the Ottoman Empire ascended to prominence in the 13th century and took over Palestine in the 16th Century, Palestine found itself under a new administrative umbrella. The Ottoman era brought relative stability, fostering a period of coexistence. However, the empire’s decline in the 18th century would herald internal strife and external challenges exposing the land to the prying eyes of the enemies.
In the annals of Palestine’s history, challenges and controversies have left their imprints, the history of Palestine before the 18th century is a testament to the interplay of conquests, cultural exchanges, and religious coexistence. It is a history that echoes the broader Islamic narrative, where the struggles of the past continue to shape the aspirations and identity of a people deeply connected to this timeless land.
IN THE NEXT EPISODE, WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE GENESIS OF ISRAEL; THE BALFOUR DECLARATION.
STAY TUNED!!!
