The Flag of

On October 1948, the Provisional Council of State COLORS adopted the and white colors with the Shield of David as the flag of Israel. This flag was unfurled on May YALE BLUE—in two horizontal stripes and the Shield of 11, 1949, at Lake Success in New York, when Israel David; became the 59th member of the United Nations. WHITE —Background.

ORIGIN SPECIFICATIONS

The design of the Israel flag is the same as that of the The dimensions of the standard‐size flag are 220 cm. by Zionist flag which was used at the , 160 cm. (or 88"x 64'). The width is divisible as follows: held in Basle in 1897. A major role in working out this Starting at the top, 15 cm. (6") white background. The design was played by David Wolfsohn, the distinguished Shield of David, composed of two equilateral triangles, Zionist leader who, in 1905, succeeded as is located in the center of the flag and measures 69 cm. president of the World Zionist Organization. Here is (27.6") from top to bottom. Wolfsohn's own account of the birth of the Zionist flag: DISPLAY IN U.S.A. "At the behest of our leader Herzl, I came to Basle to make preparations for the Zionist Congress, to assure its 1. At public gatherings: On left of congregation or success and to avoid any opening for detractors. Among audience, with U.S. flag on right, as audience faces the many problems that occupied me then was one platform, unless flags are displayed on platform itself, in which contained something of the essence of the Jewish which case the Israeli flag is displayed on speaker's left, problem: What flag would we hang in the Congress U.S. flag on his right, as he faces the audience. Hall? . . . Then an idea struck me. We have a flag — and 2. Height: When flags of two or more nations are it is blue and white. The (prayer‐shawl) which we displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of wrap ourselves when we pray: that is our symbol. Let us equal height, and they should be of about equal size. take this tallit from its bag and unroll it before the eyes International usage forbids display of one nation's flag of Israel and the eyes of all nations. So I ordered a blue above another's in peacetime. 3. Crossed Staffs: U.S. and white flag with the Shield of David painted upon it. flag on its own right, its staff in front of that of the That is how our , that flew over Congress Israeli flag. Hall, came into being. And no one expressed any surprise or asked whence it came, or how". (Based on Public Law 827, Sec. 3 (d), (g), and (k). 1

The Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel

Official Gazette: Number 1; Tel Aviv, 5 Iyar 5708, 14.5.1948 Page 1

The was the birthplace of the Jewish Jew and confer upon the Jewish people the status of a people. Here their spiritual, religious and political fully privileged member of the community of nations. identity was shaped. Here they first attained to statehood, created cultural values of national and Survivors of the Nazi holocaust in Europe, as well as universal significance and gave to the world the eternal Jews from other parts of the world, continued to Book of Books. migrate to Eretz‐Israel, undaunted by difficulties, restrictions and dangers, and never ceased to assert After being forcibly exiled from their land, the people their right to a life of dignity, freedom and honest toil kept faith with it throughout their Dispersion and never in their national homeland. ceased to pray and hope for their return to it and for the restoration in it of their political freedom. In the Second World War, the Jewish community of this country contributed its full share to the struggle of the Impelled by this historic and traditional attachment, freedom‐ and peace‐loving nations against the forces Jews strove in every successive generation to re‐ of Nazi wickedness and, by the blood of its soldiers and establish themselves in their ancient homeland. In its war effort, gained the right to be reckoned among recent decades they returned in their masses. the peoples who founded the United Nations. Pioneers, defiant returnees, and defenders, they made deserts bloom, revived the , built On the 29th November, 1947, the United Nations villages and towns, and created a thriving community General Assembly passed a resolution calling for the controlling its own economy and culture, loving peace establishment of a in Eretz‐Israel; the but knowing how to defend itself, bringing the General Assembly required the inhabitants of Eretz‐ blessings of progress to all the country's inhabitants, Israel to take such steps as were necessary on their and aspiring towards independent nationhood. part for the implementation of that resolution. This recognition by the United Nations of the right of the In the year 5657 (1897), at the summons of the Jewish people to establish their State is irrevocable. spiritual father of the Jewish State, Theodore Herzl, the First Zionist Congress convened and proclaimed the This right is the natural right of the Jewish people to be right of the Jewish people to national rebirth in its own masters of their own fate, like all other nations, in their country. own sovereign State.

This right was recognized in the Balfour Declaration of Accordingly we, members of the People's Council, the 2nd November, 1917, and re‐affirmed in the representatives of the Jewish Community of Eretz‐ Mandate of the League of Nations which, in particular, Israel and of the Zionist Movement, are here gave international sanction to the historic connection assembled on the day of the termination of the British between the Jewish people and Eretz‐Israel and to the Mandate over Eretz‐Israel and, by virtue of our natural right of the Jewish people to rebuild its National Home. and historic right and on the strength of the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, hereby The catastrophe which recently befell the Jewish declare the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz‐ people ‐ the massacre of millions of Jews in Europe ‐ Israel, to be known as the State of Israel. was another clear demonstration of the urgency of solving the problem of its homelessness by re‐ We declare that, with effect from the moment of the establishing in Eretz‐Israel the Jewish State, which termination of the Mandate being tonight, the eve of would open the gates of the homeland wide to every Sabbath, the 6th Iyar, 5708 (15th May, 1948), until the establishment of the elected, regular authorities of the 2

State in accordance with the Constitution which shall We appeal to the United Nations to assist the Jewish be adopted by the Elected Constituent Assembly not people in the building‐up of its State and to receive the later than the 1st October 1948, the People's Council State of Israel into the community of nations. shall act as a Provisional Council of State, and its executive organ, the People's Administration, shall be We appeal ‐ in the very midst of the onslaught the Provisional Government of the Jewish State, to be launched against us now for months ‐ to the Arab called "Israel." inhabitants of the State of Israel to preserve peace and participate in the upbuilding of the State on the basis The State of Israel will be open for Jewish immigration of full and equal citizenship and due representation in and for the Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the all its provisional and permanent institutions. development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and We extend our hand to all neighboring states and their peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will peoples in an offer of peace and good neighborliness, ensure complete equality of social and political rights and appeal to them to establish bonds of cooperation to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; and mutual help with the sovereign Jewish people it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, settled in its own land. The State of Israel is prepared language, education and culture; it will safeguard the to do its share in a common effort for the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the advancement of the entire Middle East. principles of the Charter of the United Nations. We appeal to the Jewish people throughout the The State of Israel is prepared to cooperate with the Diaspora to rally round the Jews of Eretz‐Israel in the agencies and representatives of the United Nations in tasks of immigration and upbuilding and to stand by implementing the resolution of the General Assembly them in the great struggle for the realization of the of the 29th November, 1947, and will take steps to age‐old dream ‐ the redemption of Israel. bring about the economic union of the whole of Eretz‐ Placing our trust in the Almighty, we affix our Israel. signatures to this proclamation at this session of the provisional Council of State, on the soil of the Homeland, in the city of Tel‐Aviv, on this Sabbath eve, the 5th day of Iyar, 5708 (14th May, 1948).

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Introduction to Judaism and Israel: An Abridged Source Reader Rabbi Michael Z. Cahana

1. THE JEWISH STATE (1896) Theodor Herzl a new and permanent sphere of operation is opening here for that spirit of enterprise which has heretofore We are one people‐‐our enemies have made us one met only with hatred and obloquy. without our consent, as repeatedly happens in history. Distress binds us together, and, thus united, we 2. The Balfour Declaration November 2, 1917 Foreign suddenly discover our strength. Yes, we are strong Office November 2nd, 1917 enough to form a State, and, indeed, a model State. We possess all human and material resources Dear Lord Rothschild, necessary for the purpose. I have much pleasure in conveying to you, on behalf of This is therefore the appropriate place to give an His Majesty's Government, the following declaration of account of what has been somewhat roughly termed sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations which has our "human material." But it would not be appreciated been submitted to, and approved by, the Cabinet. till the broad lines of the plan, on which everything "His Majesty's Government view with favour the depends, has first been marked out. establishment in Palestine of a national home for the THE PLAN: The whole plan is in its essence perfectly Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to simple, as it must necessarily be if it is to come within facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly the comprehension of all. understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non‐ Let the sovereignty be granted us over a portion of the Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and globe large enough to satisfy the rightful requirements political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country." of a nation; the rest we shall manage for ourselves. I should be grateful if you would bring this declaration The creation of a new State is neither ridiculous nor to the knowledge of the Zionist Federation. impossible. We have in our day witnessed the process in connection with nations which were not largely Yours sincerely, Arthur James Balfour members of the middle class, but poorer, less 3. The Palestine Mandate, The Council of the League educated, and consequently weaker than ourselves. of Nations: July 24, 1922 The Governments of all countries scourged by Anti‐ Semitism will be keenly interested in assisting us to Whereas the Principal Allied Powers have agreed, for obtain the sovereignty we want. the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of Article 22 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, to entrust We must not imagine the departure of the Jews to be a to a Mandatory selected by the said Powers the sudden one. It will be gradual, continuous, and will administration of the territory of Palestine, which cover many decades. The poorest will go first to formerly belonged to the Turkish Empire, within such cultivate the soil. In accordance with a preconceived boundaries as may be fixed by them; and plan, they will construct roads, bridges, railways and telegraph installations; regulate rivers; and build their Whereas the Principal Allied Powers have also agreed own dwellings; their labor will create trade, trade will that the Mandatory should be responsible for putting create markets and markets will attract new settlers, into effect the declaration originally made on for every man will go voluntarily, at his own expense November 2nd, 1917, by the Government of His and his own risk. The labor expended on the land will Britannic Majesty, and adopted by the said Powers, in enhance its value, and the Jews will soon perceive that favor of the establishment in Palestine of a national 4 home for the Jewish people, it being clearly population are not prejudiced, shall facilitate Jewish understood that nothing should be done which might immigration under suitable conditions and shall prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non‐ encourage, in co‐operation with the Jewish agency Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and referred to in Article 4, close settlement by Jews on the political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country; land, including State lands and waste lands not and required for public purposes.

Whereas recognition has thereby been given to the ART. 13. All responsibility in connection with the Holy historical connection of the Jewish people with Places and religious buildings or sites in Palestine, Palestine and to the grounds for reconstituting their including that of preserving existing rights and of national home in that country; and securing free access to the Holy Places, religious buildings and sites and the free exercise of worship, Whereas the Principal Allied Powers have selected His while ensuring the requirements of public order and Britannic Majesty as the Mandatory for Palestine; and decorum, is assumed by the Mandatory, who shall be Whereas the mandate in respect of Palestine has been responsible solely to the League of Nations in all formulated in the following terms and submitted to the matters connected herewith, provided that nothing in Council of the League for approval; and this article shall prevent the Mandatory from entering into such arrangements as he may deem reasonable Whereas His Britannic Majesty has accepted the with the Administration for the purpose of carrying the mandate in respect of Palestine and undertaken to provisions of this article into effect; and provided also exercise it on behalf of the League of Nations in that nothing in this mandate shall be construed as conformity with the following provisions; and conferring upon the Mandatory authority to interfere with the fabric or the management of purely Moslem Whereas by the afore‐mentioned Article 22 (paragraph sacred shrines, the immunities of which are 8), it is provided that the degree of authority, control guaranteed. or administration to be exercised by the Mandatory, not having been previously agreed upon by the ART. 22. English, and Hebrew shall be the official Members of the League, shall be explicitly defined by languages of Palestine. Any statement or inscription in the Council of the League Of Nations; confirming the Arabic on stamps or money in Palestine shall be said Mandate, defines its terms as follows: repeated in Hebrew and any statement or inscription in Hebrew shall be repeated in Arabic. ARTICLE 1. The Mandatory shall have full powers of legislation and of administration, save as they may be ART. 23. The Administration of Palestine shall recognise limited by the terms of this mandate. the holy days of the respective communities in Palestine as legal days of rest for the members of such ART. 2. The Mandatory shall be responsible for placing communities. the country under such political, administrative and economic conditions as will secure the establishment 4. Peel Commission Report (1937) of the Jewish national home, as laid down in the The Jewish National Home is no longer an experiment. preamble, and the development of self‐governing The growth of its population has been accompanied by institutions, and also for safeguarding the civil and political, social and economic developments along the religious rights of all the inhabitants of Palestine, lines laid down at the outset. The chief novelty is the irrespective of race and religion. urban and industrial development. The contrast between the modern democratic and primarily ART. 6. The Administration of Palestine, while ensuring European character of the National Home and that of that the rights and position of other sections of the the Arab world around it is striking. The temper of the 5

Home is strongly nationalist. There can be no question Having received and examined the report of the Special of fusion or assimilation between Jewish and Arab Committee (document A/364)(1) including a number of cultures. The National Home cannot be half‐national. unanimous recommendations and a plan of partition with economic union approved by the majority of the Arab nationalism is as intense a force as Jewish. The Special Committee, Arab leaders' demand for national self‐government and the shutting down of the Jewish National Home has Considers that the present situation in Palestine is one remained unchanged since 1929. Like Jewish which is likely to impair the general welfare and nationalism, Arab nationalism is stimulated by the friendly relations among nations; educational system and by the growth of the Youth Movement. It has also been greatly encouraged by the Takes note of the declaration by the mandatory Power recent Anglo‐Egyptian and Franco‐Syrian Treaties. that it plans to complete its evacuation of Palestine by 1 August 1948; The gulf between the races is thus already wide and will continue to widen if the present Mandate is Recommends to the , as the maintained. mandatory Power for Palestine, and to all other Members of the United Nations the adoption and The problem cannot be solved by giving either the implementation, with regard to the future Government Arabs or the Jews all they want. The answer to the of Palestine, of the Plan of Partition with Economic question which of them in the end will govern Union set out below; Palestine must be Neither. No fair‐minded statesman can think it right either that 400,000 Jews, whose entry 6. Declaration of Independence — May 1948 into Palestine has been facilitated by he British The Land of Israel was the birthplace of the Jewish Government and approved by the League of Nations, people. Here their spiritual, religious and political should be handed over to Arab rule, or that, if the Jews identity was shaped. Here they first attained to should become a majority, a million Arabs should be statehood, created cultural values of national and handed over to their rule. But while neither race can universal significance and gave to the world the eternal fairly rule all Palestine, each race might justly rule part Book of Books… of it. For the full text, see pages 2 & 3 of these notes.

5. UN General Assembly Resolution 181 7. The Palestinian National Charter: Resolutions of the ‐ November 29, 1947 Palestine National Council July 1‐17, 1968 The General Assembly, The following is the complete and unabridged text of the Palestinian National Covenant, as published Having met in special session at the request of the officially in English by the PLO*, based largely on the mandatory Power to constitute and instruct a Special text adopted earlier in 1964. In his letter of September Committee to prepare for the consideration of the 9, 1993 to Prime Minister Rabin, stated question of the future Government of Palestine at the that those articles which deny Israel's right to exist or second regular session; are inconsistent with the PLO's new commitments to Israel following their mutual recognition, are no longer Having constituted a Special Committee and instructed valid. Several of the key articles to be amended are it to investigate all questions and issues relevant to the highlighted below. On April 24, 1996, the Palestinian problem of Palestine, and to prepare proposals for the National Council, convening in Gaza, voted 504 to 54, solution of the problem, and with 14 abstentions, as follows:

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1. "The Palestinian National Charter is hereby Article 6: The Jews who had normally resided in amended by canceling the articles that are Palestine until the beginning of the Zionist invasion will contrary to the letters exchanged between the be considered Palestinians. P.L.O. and the Government of Israel 9‐10 September 1993. Article 7: That there is a Palestinian community and 2. Assigns its legal committee with the task of that it has material, spiritual, and historical connection redrafting the Palestinian National Charter in with Palestine are indisputable facts. It is a national order to present it to the first session of the duty to bring up individual Palestinians in an Arab Palestinian central council." (24/04/96) revolutionary manner. All means of information and education must be adopted in order to acquaint the On December 14, 1998, the Palestinian National Palestinian with his country in the most profound Council, in accordance with the Wye Memorandum, manner, both spiritual and material, that is possible. convened in Gaza in the presence of U.S. President He must be prepared for the armed struggle and ready Clinton and voted to reaffirm this decision. to sacrifice his wealth and his life in order to win back his homeland and bring about its liberation. Draft Palestinian Constitution ‐ March 2003 Article 8: The phase in their history, through which the Text of the 1968 Charter: Palestinian people are now living, is that of national Article 1: Palestine is the homeland of the Arab (watani) struggle for the liberation of Palestine. Thus Palestinian people; it is an indivisible part of the Arab the conflicts among the Palestinian national forces are homeland, and the Palestinian people are an integral secondary, and should be ended for the sake of the part of the Arab nation. basic conflict that exists between the forces of Zionism and of imperialism on the one hand, and the Article 2: Palestine, with the boundaries it had during Palestinian Arab people on the other. On this basis the the British Mandate, is an indivisible territorial unit. Palestinian masses, regardless of whether they are residing in the national homeland or in diaspora Article 3: The Palestinian Arab people possess the legal (mahajir) constitute ‐ both their organizations and the right to their homeland and have the right to individuals ‐ one national front working for the determine their destiny after achieving the liberation retrieval of Palestine and its liberation through armed of their country in accordance with their wishes and struggle. entirely of their own accord and will. Article 9: Armed struggle is the only way to liberate Article 4: The Palestinian identity is a genuine, Palestine. This it is the overall strategy, not merely a essential, and inherent characteristic; it is transmitted tactical phase. The Palestinian Arab people assert their from parents to children. The Zionist occupation and absolute determination and firm resolution to continue the dispersal of the Palestinian Arab people, through their armed struggle and to work for an armed popular the disasters which befell them, do not make them lose revolution for the liberation of their country and their their Palestinian identity and their membership in the return to it . They also assert their right to normal life Palestinian community, nor do they negate them. in Palestine and to exercise their right to self‐ Article 5: The Palestinians are those Arab nationals determination and sovereignty over it. who, until 1947, normally resided in Palestine Article 10: Commando action constitutes the nucleus of regardless of whether they were evicted from it or the Palestinian popular liberation war. This requires its have stayed there. Anyone born, after that date, of a escalation, comprehensiveness, and the mobilization of Palestinian father ‐ whether inside Palestine or outside all the Palestinian popular and educational efforts and it ‐ is also a Palestinian. their organization and involvement in the armed 7

Palestinian revolution. It also requires the achieving of liberation of Palestine. It must, particularly in the phase unity for the national (watani) struggle among the of the armed Palestinian revolution, offer and furnish different groupings of the Palestinian people, and the Palestinian people with all possible help, and between the Palestinian people and the Arab masses, material and human support, and make available to so as to secure the continuation of the revolution, its them the means and opportunities that will enable escalation, and victory. them to continue to carry out their leading role in the armed revolution, until they liberate their homeland. Article 11: The Palestinians will have three mottoes: national (wataniyya) unity, national (qawmiyya) Article 16: The liberation of Palestine, from a spiritual mobilization, and liberation. point of view, will provide the Holy Land with an atmosphere of safety and tranquility, which in turn will Article 12: The Palestinian people believe in Arab unity. safeguard the country's religious sanctuaries and In order to contribute their share toward the guarantee freedom of worship and of visit to all, attainment of that objective, however, they must, at without discrimination of race, color, language, or the present stage of their struggle, safeguard their religion. Accordingly, the people of Palestine look to all Palestinian identity and develop their consciousness of spiritual forces in the world for support. that identity, and oppose any plan that may dissolve or impair it. Article 17: The liberation of Palestine, from a human point of view, will restore to the Palestinian individual Article 13: Arab unity and the liberation of Palestine his dignity, pride, and freedom. Accordingly the are two complementary objectives, the attainment of Palestinian Arab people look forward to the support of either of which facilitates the attainment of the other. all those who believe in the dignity of man and his Thus, Arab unity leads to the liberation of Palestine, freedom in the world. the liberation of Palestine leads to Arab unity; and work toward the realization of one objective proceeds Article 18: The liberation of Palestine, from an side by side with work toward the realization of the international point of view, is a defensive action other. necessitated by the demands of self‐defense. Accordingly the Palestinian people, desirous as they Article 14: The destiny of the Arab nation, and indeed are of the friendship of all people, look to freedom‐ Arab existence itself, depend upon the destiny of the loving, and peace‐loving states for support in order to Palestine cause. From this interdependence springs the restore their legitimate rights in Palestine, to re‐ Arab nation's pursuit of, and striving for, the liberation establish peace and security in the country, and to of Palestine. The people of Palestine play the role of enable its people to exercise national sovereignty and the vanguard in the realization of this sacred (qawmi) freedom. goal. Article 19: The partition of Palestine in 1947 and the Article 15: The liberation of Palestine, from an Arab establishment of the state of Israel are entirely illegal, viewpoint, is a national (qawmi) duty and it attempts regardless of the passage of time, because they were to repel the Zionist and imperialist aggression against contrary to the will of the Palestinian people and to the Arab homeland, and aims at the elimination of their natural right in their homeland, and inconsistent Zionism in Palestine. Absolute responsibility for this with the principles embodied in the Charter of the falls upon the Arab nation ‐ peoples and governments ‐ United Nations, particularly the right to self‐ with the Arab people of Palestine in the vanguard determination. Accordingly, the Arab nation must mobilize all its military, human, moral, and spiritual capabilities to Article 20: The Balfour Declaration, the Mandate for participate actively with the Palestinian people in the Palestine, and everything that has been based upon

8 them, are deemed null and void. Claims of historical or determination, human dignity, and in the right of all religious ties of Jews with Palestine are incompatible peoples to exercise them. with the facts of history and the true conception of what constitutes statehood. Judaism, being a religion, Article 25: For the realization of the goals of this is not an independent nationality. Nor do Jews Charter and its principles, the Palestine Liberation constitute a single nation with an identity of its own; Organization will perform its role in the liberation of they are citizens of the states to which they belong. Palestine in accordance with the Constitution of this Organization. Article 21: The Arab Palestinian people, expressing themselves by the armed Palestinian revolution, reject Article 26: The Palestine Liberation Organization, all solutions which are substitutes for the total representative of the Palestinian revolutionary forces, liberation of Palestine and reject all proposals aiming at is responsible for the Palestinian Arab people's the liquidation of the Palestinian problem, or its movement in its struggle ‐ to retrieve its homeland, internationalization. liberate and return to it and exercise the right to self‐ determination in it ‐ in all military, political, and Article 22: Zionism is a political movement organically financial fields and also for whatever may be required associated with international imperialism and by the Palestine case on the inter‐Arab and antagonistic to all action for liberation and to international levels. progressive movements in the world. It is racist and fanatic in its nature, aggressive, expansionist, and Article 27: The Palestine Liberation Organization shall colonial in its aims, and fascist in its methods. Israel is cooperate with all Arab states, each according to its the instrument of the Zionist movement, and potentialities; and will adopt a neutral policy among geographical base for world imperialism placed them in the light of the requirements of the war of strategically in the midst of the Arab homeland to liberation; and on this basis it shall not interfere in the combat the hopes of the Arab nation for liberation, internal affairs of any Arab state. unity, and progress. Israel is a constant source of threat Article 28: The Palestinian Arab people assert the vis‐a‐vis peace in the Middle East and the whole world. genuineness and independence of their national Since the liberation of Palestine will destroy the Zionist (wataniyya) revolution and reject all forms of and imperialist presence and will contribute to the intervention, trusteeship, and subordination. establishment of peace in the Middle East, the Palestinian people look for the support of all the Article 29: The Palestinian people possess the progressive and peaceful forces and urge them all, fundamental and genuine legal right to liberate and irrespective of their affiliations and beliefs, to offer the retrieve their homeland. The Palestinian people Palestinian people all aid and support in their just determine their attitude toward all states and forces struggle for the liberation of their homeland. on the basis of the stands they adopt vis‐a‐vis to the Palestinian revolution to fulfill the aims of the Article 23: The demand of security and peace, as well Palestinian people. as the demand of right and justice, require all states to consider Zionism an illegitimate movement, to outlaw Article 30: Fighters and carriers of arms in the war of its existence, and to ban its operations, in order that liberation are the nucleus of the popular army which friendly relations among peoples may be preserved, will be the protective force for the gains of the and the loyalty of citizens to their respective Palestinian Arab people. homelands safeguarded. Article 31: The Organization shall have a flag, an oath Article 24: The Palestinian people believe in the of allegiance, and an anthem. All this shall be decided principles of justice, freedom, sovereignty, self‐ upon in accordance with a special regulation. 9

Article 32: Regulations, which shall be known as the membership of the National Congress of the Palestine Constitution of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, Liberation Organization [taken] at a special session shall be annexed to this Charter. It will lay down the convened for that purpose. manner in which the Organization, and its organs and institutions, shall be constituted; the respective * English rendition as published in Basic Political competence of each; and the requirements of its Documents of the Armed Palestinian Resistance obligation under the Charter. Movement; Leila S. Kadi (ed.), Palestine Research Centre, Beirut, December 1969, pp.137‐141. Article 33: This Charter shall not be amended save by [vote of] a majority of two‐thirds of the total

The Covenant of the Islamic Resistance Movement ()

18 August 1988

Excerpts:

"Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam "Protocols of the Elders of Zion", and their present will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it." conduct is the best proof of what we are saying."

"The Islamic Resistance Movement believes that the 'The Islamic Resistance Movement views seriously the land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf consecrated for defeat of the Crusaders at the hands of Salah ed‐Din al‐ future Moslem generations until Judgement Day. It, or Ayyubi and the rescuing of Palestine from their hands. . any part of it, should not be squandered: it, or any part .The Movement draws lessons and examples from all of it, should not be given up. " this. The present Zionist onslaught has also been preceded by Crusading raids from the West and other "There is no solution for the Palestinian question Tatar raids from the East. Just as the Moslems faced except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and those raids and planned fighting and defeating them, international conferences are all a waste of time and they should be able to confront the Zionist invasion vain endeavors." and defeat it. This is indeed no problem for the "After Palestine, the Zionists aspire to expand from the Almighty Allah, provided that the intentions are pure, to the Euphrates. When they will have digested the determination is true and that Moslems have the region they overtook, they will aspire to further benefited from past experiences, rid themselves of the expansion, and so on. Their plan is embodied in the effects of ideological invasion and followed the customs of their ancestors."

THE PEEL COMMISSION PARTITION PLAN, JULY 1937

In April 1936, following repeated Arab attacks against Palestine into two separate states, one Jewish and one Jewish life and property, the British Government Arab, with a British controlled corridor from Jaffa to appointed a Royal Commission to enquire into the Jerusalem. The Jews, reluctantly accepted this plan. working of the Mandate. In July 1937 the Commission The Arabs rejected it. issued its Report, recommending the Partition of

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6 Days War – June 1967; emotionally transformative for secular Jews saw God in the victory

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