Nirmal Gnanasunderam
PALESTINE
Palestine was never a country because a lack of a modern nation-state invalidates the existence of a people. With that logic, let’s apply the same standard to Israel before 1948.
1. When was it founded and by whom?
Palestine, as a land and cultural identity, existed for centuries—recognized under various rulers, including the Ottomans and the British. If your definition of a nation requires a modern state, well, Israel wasn’t a "country" either before 1948. But I’m guessing you don’t have an issue with that.
2. What were Palestinian borders?
Same borders it had under Ottoman and British rule recognized internationally and appearing on countless maps labeled as Palestine. Again, if borders define a country, then let’s talk about how Israel’s borders weren’t even officially declared in 1948 either.
3. What was its capital?
Jerusalem, a city with a Palestinian Arab majority until Zionist immigration shifted demographics. And no, calling it "undivided" now doesn’t erase the fact that it was a center of Palestinian life long before anyone called it Israel’s capital.
4. What were its major cities?
Jerusalem, Jaffa, Haifa, Gaza, Nablus, Hebron—cities with Palestinian Arab populations who had lived there for centuries before European Zionists arrived and claimed the land.
5. What constituted the basis of its economy?
Agriculture, trade, and craftsmanship—olive oil, citrus exports, and textiles. You know, things that existed before the "miracle" of making the desert bloom (which, by the way, was already blooming under Palestinian farmers).
6. What was its form of government?
Under the Ottomans, it was part of a larger administrative system. Under the British Mandate, Palestinians had governing councils and representatives—until Zionist militias started blowing up British offices and lobbying for a Jewish state.
7. Can you name at least one Palestinian leader before Arafat?
Haj Amin al-Husseini, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, who led Palestinian resistance against both British and Zionist occupation in the 1930s and 1940s. But I’m sure you’d rather pretend Palestinian resistance magically started in 1964.
8. Was Palestine ever recognized by a country whose existence leaves no room for interpretation?
The British referred to it as Palestine, the Ottomans administered it as a distinct region, and even Zionist leaders before 1948 used the term "Palestine" to describe the land. But sure, let's ignore all historical documents that don't fit the narrative.
9. What was the language of the country of Palestine?
Arabic. Spoken by the people living there for centuries. Much like Hebrew wasn’t spoken widely until modern Zionism revived it.
10. What was the prevalent religion of the country of Palestine?
Islam, Christianity, and Judaism coexisted—because Palestinians weren’t just Muslims, despite the narrative that ignores Christian and Jewish Palestinians who lived there before Zionism.
11. What was the name of its currency?
The Palestinian pound, issued during the British Mandate. And guess what? It had Arabic, English, and Hebrew on it—because Palestine was a diverse, multi-religious land before the Nakba.
12. What caused its demise and when did it occur?
Its people were ethnically cleansed in 1948 when Zionist militias expelled over 750,000 Palestinians in the Nakba. That’s what "caused its demise"—not a natural collapse, but a violent takeover.
13. Why was there no outcry when Jordan ruled the West Bank and Egypt ruled Gaza?
There was—but Jordan and Egypt were Arab nations, and Palestinians were seen as part of a larger Arab identity. But that changed when Israel started systematically erasing Palestinian identity, stealing land, and pretending Palestinians never existed.
14. When was this "nation" proud, and what was it proud of?
Palestinians were proud of their culture, history, and resilience long before being forced to prove their existence to people who deny it. Just because a people were occupied doesn’t mean they lacked pride—unless, of course, you think colonized nations only become "real" once they get rid of their occupiers.
Now, let me flip the script:
Before 1948, was there ever a "country" called Israel with defined borders, a government, and a recognized currency? Or was it just an idea pushed by European immigrants claiming a land where others already lived?
