Commentary
Israel will ultimately make its own decisions about the best way to defend itself against existential threats, for it is Israelis who will live with the consequences. Still, European posturing, often critical of America for being too supportive of Israel while they claim the moral high ground of implied impartiality, rings hollow in the context of more than 2000 years of Europe’s relations with Israel and the Jews.
Europe’s first serious interaction with a Jewish state came in 332 B.C., when Greeks, under Alexander the Great, conquered Judea. It took 170 years to throw off Greek rule, but following the rebellion under Judas Maccabeus, Jews regained their sovereignty. In 164 B.C., the Jews rededicated their Temple in Jerusalem, now celebrated with the holiday of Hanukkah.
Jewish control of their homeland was short lived. In 63 B.C., another European army completed its conquest, this time the Roman Empire under Pompey. Roman rule was harsh, including high taxes, control of religion and the brutal murder of those who opposed them. To further blot out the Jews’ relationship to their country, Emperor Hadrian changed the region’s name from “Provincia Judaea” to “Provincia Syria Palaestina”, later shortened to Palaestina or Palestine, the name Europeans preferred for nearly 2000 years (and many still do) until Jewish control resumed in 1948.
Roman methods of dealing with dissidents included crucifixion; a painful death earlier employed by the Greeks which was used throughout the Roman Empire. Romans crucified 6,000 along the Appian Way following the revolt of Spartacus in 71 BCE.
Somewhere around A.D. 33, Roman troops crucified a local Jewish preacher, Jesus. In one of the greatest disinformation campaigns of human history, generations of Europeans were taught that Jesus was killed by the Jews, rather than Europeans, even though the indigenous population of Israel had little control over their lives or even their religion under the iron rule of the most powerful European empire in the history of the planet.
In A.D. 63, the Jews were driven to open revolt by continued Roman brutality. Over the next 100 years, 1 million Jews were killed and more expelled by Roman troops, although some Jews always remained close to their holy sites. Jews were scattered across the Middle East and Europe. Jewish sovereignty did not return until 1948 with the founding of the modern State of Israel.
In the interim, Jews enjoyed periods of limited acceptance in Europe, interspersed with marked brutality. Unlike the United States, which welcomed refugees of diverse backgrounds for their contributions to its vibrancy, Europeans looked askance at the Jews scattered among them.
Unable to own land, Jews were dependant on feudal rulers. By 1096, Crusaders on their way to the Holy Land were practicing murder and mayhem on helpless and unarmed Jews. Over ensuing centuries, Jews were expelled or killed across the continent in countries ranging from England to Spain to Germany to Russia.
The term “ghetto” dates its origin to the often walled section of Italian cities where Jews were forced to live in the Middle Ages. “Pogrom” was initially created as a term to describe “an organized, often officially encouraged massacre or persecution of a minority group, especially one conducted against Jews.” (dictionary.com)
Under doctrines promulgated by Roman Catholic Church councils held in 1179 and 1215, Jews were prohibited from employing Christians and from appearing in public on Easter and other Christian holy days, and Christians were prohibited from living in Jewish neighborhoods.
In the 14th century, during the Black Plague, Jews were accused of poisoning the wells. In the 13th to 16th centuries, Europeans accused the Jews of killing Christian children to obtain blood for Matzah. In later years, Jews were blamed for European bank failures.
Jews were expelled from England in 1290. Anyone who has seen Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice knows that Jews were still looked at disapprovingly in early 17th century England, although they were permitted to return in 1655.
While Europeans prefer to believe that the Holocaust was the result of a few Nazi madmen, the facts show otherwise. As Hitler’s plans became known, Jews attempted to flee, only to be turned back by European states, as well as from their historical homeland in the Middle East, then under British rule. Not just Germans, but French, Poles, Hungarians, Russians and other Europeans contributed to Hitler’s “Final Solution.” In that context, the Holocaust differed from nearly two millennia of European history in its efficiency, not its intent.
Hezbollah forces began the current fighting by invading Israel, killing eight Israelis and taking two others as hostages. That was followed by hundreds of ball bearing-filled missiles fired at Israeli population centers, with the sole purpose of maiming, killing and terrorizing as many Israelis as possible. All of this was in response to nothing. If that is not a disproportionate response (not to mention a clear-cut war crime), what is? Yet, it is Israel Europeans accuse of a disproportionate response.
Europeans destroyed the last Jewish state. They persecuted and often killed the Jews among them for the better part of the next 2000 years. There should be no doubt why Israelis, who know their history, have no interest in trusting their safety to the judgment and good intentions of Europeans today.