You Cannot Be Serious
Jews prayed daily for the return to Zion, kept the Hebrew language alive, and maintained a collective memory of their homeland, even in the farthest corners of the Diaspora.
Refuting the Allegation That Jews Are Colonisers
For over 3,000 years, the Jewish people have maintained an unbroken connection to the land now known as Israel. Historical records, archaeological evidence, and religious texts consistently affirm the centrality of this land in Jewish identity and culture. From the ancient Kingdoms of Israel and Judah to the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, Jewish presence has been a defining feature of the region’s history. Even during periods of exile and persecution, small Jewish communities endured, safeguarding their ancestral heritage.
Throughout this time, other peoples—including Canaanites, Philistines, Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Crusaders, and Turks—have also inhabited the region. However, their presence often coincided with external empires or transient conquests. Unlike these temporary rulers, the Jewish connection has been deeply spiritual, cultural, and historical. Jews prayed daily for the return to Zion, kept the Hebrew language alive, and maintained a collective memory of their homeland, even in the farthest corners of the Diaspora.
In recent years, however, some academics and activists have sought to distort this historical truth. They allege that modern-day Jews are “colonisers,” imposing foreign rule on indigenous Palestinians. This claim is not only ahistorical but reflects a deep-seated bias cloaked in academic jargon. Figures like Ilan Pappé have conveniently ignored the millennia-long Jewish connection to the land and the fact that Jews returned in modern times as refugees fleeing centuries of persecution, not as imperialists. As U.S. President Joe Biden aptly stated, “You don’t have to be a Jew to be a Zionist,” affirming that supporting Jewish self-determination in their ancestral homeland is a matter of justice, not imperialism.
Christianity’s Influence in the Land
Christianity, born in the Jewish heartland, spread rapidly after the life and crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. The land of Israel became a focal point for Christian pilgrimage and theological reflection. During the Byzantine era, Christian rulers built; churches, monasteries, and shrines over sites they deemed holy. Yet, Christianity’s influence in the land was often symbolic rather than demographic, as Christian empires came and went.
The Crusades marked a particularly dark chapter. In 1099, Crusaders massacred Jews and Muslims alike in Jerusalem. Despite such atrocities, Jewish communities persisted, though under immense strain. Globally, Christianity’s expansion became deeply intertwined with European colonial ambitions. Empires like Spain, Portugal, France, and Britain often used Christianity to justify the conquest and coercion of indigenous populations. Indigenous languages, cultures, and traditions were suppressed under the guise of spreading the Gospel.
Today, Christianity remains a dominant global religion, its enduring reach a legacy of these colonial efforts. However, the story of Christianity in Israel reflects the broader dynamics of empires imposing themselves on the land—a stark contrast to the Jewish people’s enduring and organic connection to their homeland.
The Penetration of Islam
The rise of Islam in the 7th century brought another transformation. Following Arab conquests, the region became part of the Islamic Caliphates, with Jerusalem emerging as a significant religious and political centre. The construction of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock marked the city’s importance in Islamic tradition.
Islam’s global spread, like Christianity’s, was often facilitated through conquest and trade. The concept of Dar al-Islam (House of Islam) and Dar al-Harb (House of War) provided a framework for expanding Islamic governance. While this expansion enriched many societies through trade and scholarship, it often relegated non-Muslims, including Jews, to second-class status as dhimmis. Jews faced discriminatory taxes, restrictions, and periodic violence, such as the 1066 Granada Massacre and the Farhud in Baghdad in 1941.
The 1066 Granada Massacre was a tragic and violent attack on the Jewish community of Granada, in what is now Spain, on December 30, 1066. This massacre resulted in the killing of approximately 4,000 Jews and marked one of the earliest large-scale anti-Jewish pogroms in medieval Islamic Spain
The Farhud was a violent pogrom (massacre) targeting the Jewish community of Baghdad, Iraq, on June 1–2, 1941. The term “Farhud” translates to “violent dispossession” in Arabic. This atrocity occurred during the Jewish festival of Shavuot and is considered one of the most traumatic events in the history of Iraqi Jewry.
Today, political Islam continues to shape the narrative in the region. Groups like Hamas reject Israel’s right to exist, intensifying tensions between a radical interpretation of Islamic identity and Jewish self-determination.
Facts on the Ground
Jerusalem is sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike and serves as a powerful example of Israel’s commitment to religious tolerance. The Temple Mount, known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif, is home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock. While Muslims enjoy unrestricted access to these sites, Jewish access is heavily regulated. Israeli authorities enforce limits on Jewish visits and prohibit Jewish prayer at the Mount to prevent tensions with Muslim worshippers.
Under Israeli governance, Jerusalem has seen an unprecedented degree of religious freedom. Holy sites for all faiths, including Christian churches and Baha’i shrines, are protected, and worshippers can practice their religions openly. This policy starkly contrasts with Saudi Arabia’s Mecca and Medina, where non-Muslims are forbidden from entering, and no places of worship other than mosques are permitted.
Israel’s efforts to preserve Jerusalem as a shared spiritual centre highlight its pluralism. Meanwhile, neighbouring countries such as Syria and Iran impose severe restrictions on religious minorities. For instance, during Christmas 2024, a Christmas tree was burned in Damascus, reflecting the persecution non-Muslims face across the region.
The Worst Colonisers in History
If Jews were colonisers, they would be history’s least effective. Colonisers exploit land for resources, impose their culture, and subjugate indigenous populations. In contrast, Jews returned to Israel not to conquer but to survive. They revived barren lands, established a thriving democracy, and extended freedoms to minorities unparalleled in the region. Far from erasing other cultures, Israel protects and embraces diversity.
The notion that Jews are colonisers is a dangerous fabrication, reflecting a failure in education and a prioritisation of ideological conformity over historical truth. As Winston Churchill said, “The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.”
A Note to the Jewish Diaspora
Over the past 12 months, in combating antisemitism and fostering peaceful coexistence, I have realised that reasoning with antisemites is often futile. Their hatred oscillates between irrational and criminal. Such individuals, whether in academia, media, or political activism, must be held accountable under the law.
Yet there is hope for the uninformed, who lack malice but hold misconceptions. Some are unaware that Israel’s population includes 20% non-Jews or that Muslim members of the Knesset, such as Mansour Abbas, play integral roles in its democracy. For these individuals, education can be transformative, as “you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.”
Our mission is to influence with truth and integrity. In this fight for justice and understanding, let truth be our armour.
Colonel Michael Scott CSC is not Jewish but has developed a deep personal connection with Israel and Israelis having been a resident in Jerusalem from July 2019 to September 2021. He is the Founder and CEO of the 2023 Foundation, a nascent global charity focussed on combatting antisemitism and fostering peaceful coexistence.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not reflect the positions of the Australian Defence Force or the Commonwealth Government of Australia.
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