The idea that the ancient Israelites and modern European Jewry are connected in any linear fashion is bizarre. And no, the recent study showing genetic overlap between Druze and Cypriots and European Jews is not particular relevant nor is it a refutation of Schlomo Sand.
I wish Dr. Cole would write about the meme that this study (see NYT Wade) disproves Sand. I think this will be the new front in the war about Zionism. The genetic research which shows over lap between certain Middle Eastern populations and some Jewish populations does not mean anything about the chronology of history, genetic drift and proves nothing.
Even the best attested events and people in ancient history have a great deal of ambiguity about them. The only figures in the Bible with independent archeological or textual reference by other contemporary sources seem to be Tobias, the competitor to Nathan in the post exile period, and Omri, father of Ahab. Whoever wrote the book of Exodus did know quite a bit about ancient Egypt. Then, in the later period, we are dependent on Josepheus and a few coins.
I personally think Israel is a great country and I admire the society, history and culture. Israel is an appealing society with a vibrant culture and remarkable history. Zionism was a reasonable idea in 1890 and 1945. It no longer should be the basis of policy and Israel should start finding a way to become post-Zionist and still vibrant and appealing.
This is a fascinating post. How about the looking at the Schlomo Sand issue next?
I emailed to promote the idea that Juan Cole needs to take a look at this issue, but you can read why I think a new conventional wisdom is gearing up to re-establish Zionism genetically:
From a Palestinian perspective, the Europeans arrivals, before during and after the WWII, look something like the French in Algiers: Europeans moving in but not as immigrants who will accept the existing social order. From an Israeli perspective, these are survivors returning to their ancestral homeland, a land which is theirs by right. Israelis want Palestinians to stop looking at them as colonists. Palestinians want Israelis to realize that the land is not, in fact, their ancestral homeland. In the end, the Palestinians are more right than the Israelis. Still, Israeli is not the only country in the world to be based on a myth. What makes the Israeli national myth unique, among other things, is that it is still the ongoing basis for policy, such as the right of return for Jewish immigrants but not others. The US is not still promoting the idea of Manifest Destiny, expanding the borders still further. The US does not now have a quota system to maintain the racial character of the country as it did in 1950. These myth-based policies have atrophied. Israel is still a myth-based country. Perhaps a few decades after a solid, lasting and comprehensive peace, Israel will feel comfortable moving away from these myths and become a normal nation.
The last effective Palestinian political response was the first Intifada in the 1980s. The images of Israeli armored vehicles and stone-throwing Palestinians was more effective than any petition, suicide bomber, UN resolution, academic paper, peace agreement, or handshake.
The idea that the ancient Israelites and modern European Jewry are connected in any linear fashion is bizarre. And no, the recent study showing genetic overlap between Druze and Cypriots and European Jews is not particular relevant nor is it a refutation of Schlomo Sand.
I wish Dr. Cole would write about the meme that this study (see NYT Wade) disproves Sand. I think this will be the new front in the war about Zionism. The genetic research which shows over lap between certain Middle Eastern populations and some Jewish populations does not mean anything about the chronology of history, genetic drift and proves nothing.
Even the best attested events and people in ancient history have a great deal of ambiguity about them. The only figures in the Bible with independent archeological or textual reference by other contemporary sources seem to be Tobias, the competitor to Nathan in the post exile period, and Omri, father of Ahab. Whoever wrote the book of Exodus did know quite a bit about ancient Egypt. Then, in the later period, we are dependent on Josepheus and a few coins.
I personally think Israel is a great country and I admire the society, history and culture. Israel is an appealing society with a vibrant culture and remarkable history. Zionism was a reasonable idea in 1890 and 1945. It no longer should be the basis of policy and Israel should start finding a way to become post-Zionist and still vibrant and appealing.
This is a fascinating post. How about the looking at the Schlomo Sand issue next?
I emailed to promote the idea that Juan Cole needs to take a look at this issue, but you can read why I think a new conventional wisdom is gearing up to re-establish Zionism genetically:
http://open.salon.com/blog/glencadia/2010/06/09/schlomo_sand_genetics_and_the_validation_of_zionism
Thanks.
From a Palestinian perspective, the Europeans arrivals, before during and after the WWII, look something like the French in Algiers: Europeans moving in but not as immigrants who will accept the existing social order. From an Israeli perspective, these are survivors returning to their ancestral homeland, a land which is theirs by right. Israelis want Palestinians to stop looking at them as colonists. Palestinians want Israelis to realize that the land is not, in fact, their ancestral homeland. In the end, the Palestinians are more right than the Israelis. Still, Israeli is not the only country in the world to be based on a myth. What makes the Israeli national myth unique, among other things, is that it is still the ongoing basis for policy, such as the right of return for Jewish immigrants but not others. The US is not still promoting the idea of Manifest Destiny, expanding the borders still further. The US does not now have a quota system to maintain the racial character of the country as it did in 1950. These myth-based policies have atrophied. Israel is still a myth-based country. Perhaps a few decades after a solid, lasting and comprehensive peace, Israel will feel comfortable moving away from these myths and become a normal nation.
The last effective Palestinian political response was the first Intifada in the 1980s. The images of Israeli armored vehicles and stone-throwing Palestinians was more effective than any petition, suicide bomber, UN resolution, academic paper, peace agreement, or handshake.