History is our teacher
On April 20, 1936, a significant event took place in Petach Tikvah,
Palestine. During this event, Jews successfully repelled an Arab
attack, marking a crucial turning point in the struggle for Jewish self-
determination in the region. This event holds immense historical
significance and sheds light on the complex dynamics of the Arab-
Jewish conflict during the interwar period.
The tensions between Arab and Jewish communities in Palestine had
been escalating in the 1930s. Arab nationalists, dissatisfied with
increasing Jewish immigration and land acquisition, launched a series
of attacks against Jewish settlements. These attacks aimed to deter
further Jewish migration and prevent the establishment of a Jewish
homeland.
The attack on Petach Tikvah was part of this larger pattern of
violence. Armed Arab assailants surrounded the settlement and
launched a fierce assault, hoping to seize control of the land.
However, they were met with a strong resistance from the Jewish
inhabitants of Petach Tikvah, who were determined to defend their
homes and community.
The Jews in Petach Tikvah had been preparing for such attacks for
some time. They had established self-defense units, known as
Haganah, to protect Jewish settlements. These units consisted of
young men and women who trained rigorously to ensure they were
ready to defend themselves and their communities. The attack on
Petach Tikvah put their dedication and training to the test.
The fighting in Petach Tikvah lasted for several hours. Jewish
defenders strategically positioned themselves throughout the
settlement, using their knowledge of the area to their advantage. They
utilized various tactics, including a combination of small arms fire,
sniper fire, and improvised explosives, to repel the Arab attackers.
The determination and resilience exhibited by the Jewish defenders
played a crucial role in repelling the Arab attack. They stood firm in the
face of adversity, refusing to be overrun by the assailants. Their
courage and unity, combined with their defensive strategies, ensured
their victory.
The successful defense of Petach Tikvah had far-reaching
consequences. It sent a clear message to both Arab nationalists and
the British authorities, who governed Palestine at the time. The Jews
were not willing to be passive victims but were ready to fight for their
right to self-determination and a homeland.
The events in Petach Tikvah also contributed to the gradual shift in
British policy towards the Arab-Jewish conflict. The British Mandate,
which had initially favored Jewish immigration to Palestine, started to
impose restrictions in response to Arab violence. However, the
resilience displayed by the Jewish defenders showed the British that
the Jews were capable of defending their interests and maintaining
their presence in Palestine.
The successful defense of Petach Tikvah by Jewish residents on April
20, 1936, was a significant event in the Arab-Jewish conflict during the
interwar period. It showcased the determination and strength of the
Jewish community in defending their settlements against Arab attacks.
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This event played a crucial role in shaping the trajectory of the
struggle for Jewish self-determination in Palestine and had lasting
effects on British policies in the region.
Forty-four House members vote against resolution declaring ‘river to the sea’ slogan antisemitic
All but one of the 44 lawmakers opposed to the bipartisan bill are Democrats
Marc Rod | Jewish Insider | 4-16-2024
Forty-four House members —?43 Democrats and one Republican — voted against a resolution describing the slogan “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” as antisemitic. The final vote was 377-44-1.
The resolution by Reps. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) says the slogan, used widely in anti-Israel protests as well as by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), is “outright antisemitic and must be condemned.”
The “no” votes came largely from progressive Democrats, as well as Republican Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), a frequent opponent of measures supporting Israel and condemning antisemitism.
Those voting against the resolution were:
Reps. Becca Balint (D-VT), Don Beyer (D-VA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Cori Bush (D-MO), Andre Carson (D-IN), Greg Casar (D-TX), Judy Chu (D-CA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Danny Davis (D-IL), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Maxwell Frost (D-FL), Chuy Garcia (D-TX), Robert Garcia (D-CA), Al Green (D-TX), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Summer Lee (D-PA), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Katie Porter (D-CA), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Rahsida Tlaib (D-MI), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Lauren Underwood (D-IL), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ).
Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) voted present.?
The resolution further states that the slogan is a rejection of peace efforts and “perpetuates hatred against the State of Israel and the Jewish people,” and that “anyone who calls for the eradication of Israel and the Jewish people are antisemitic and must always be condemned.”?
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) was censured last year in part over her use of the slogan, with most Democrats standing behind Tlaib at the time.
The “No Paydays to Hostage Takers Act” by Reps. Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Moskowitz, which seeks to bar ransom payments to U.S. adversaries and block U.S. passport holders from visiting Iran, passed by a 391-34 vote, the no votes again coming from progressives and Massie.
The votes were part of a series of Israel-related measures that the House considered on Tuesday, the rest of which passed nearly unanimously.
A bill from Reps. French Hill (R-AR) and Juan Vargas (D-CA), the “Holding Iranian Leaders Accountable Act,” which would require reports to Congress and to the public on the assets of top Iranian officials and leaders of Iranian proxy groups, and a bill by Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Brad Sherman (D-CA) to counter the use of human shields by Hamas, Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad passed by 419-4 votes.?
Bush, Massie, Omar and Tlaib voted against both bills.
The “Iran Sanctions Accountability Act,” by Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO)to require the administration to issue specific regulations to ensure that humanitarian exemptions on Iran sanctions are not used in furtherance of malign activities passed by a 408-13 vote.
Bowman, Bush, Casar, Garcia, Jayapal, Barbara Lee, Summer Lee, Massie, Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Ramirez and Tlaib voted no.
The bill would to extend U.S. sanctions on Palestinian terrorist groups using human shields, give key lawmakers the authority to request that the administration determine and report on whether specific individuals meet the criteria for sanctions, to extend existing sanctions to include PIJ and require a report to Congress on U.S. and allied efforts to combat the use of human shields.
Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-TX) and Michael McCaul’s (R-TX) “No Technology for Terror Act,” which would permanently codify stringent export controls on Iran, was approved by a 406-19 vote.
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) and Bowman, Bush, Casar, Garcia, Jayapal, Johnson, Barbara Lee, Summer Lee, Massie, McGovern, Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Pocan, Pressley, Ramirez, Schakowsky, Tlaib and Velazquez opposed.
Rep. Michelle Steel’s (R-CA) bipartisan bill to make U.S. energy sanctions on Iran permanent passed 407-16.?
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Bowman, Bush, Casar, Chuy Garcia, Jackson, Jayapal, Johnson, Barbara Lee, Summer Lee, Massie, Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Pressley, Ramirez and Tlaib voted “no.”
Rep. Claudia Tenney’s (R-NY) bipartisan resolution urging the European Union to fully designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization passed by a 411-14 vote.
Bowman, Bush, Casar, Chuy Garcia, Jayapal, Johnson, Barbara Lee, Summer Lee, Massie, Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Pressley, Ramirez and Tlaib opposed.
The “Illicit Captagon Trafficking Suppression Act” by Hill and Moskowitz, imposing sanctions on producers and distributors of the stimulant drug — potentially including Syrian and Hezbollah leaders — passed by a 410-13 vote.
Hard-right Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) and Matt Rosendale (R-MT) joined Bowman, Bush, Johnson, Barbara Lee, Summer Lee, Massie, Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Pressley, Ramirez and Tlaib in voting “no”
The stimulant, popularly used by ISIS terrorists, was reportedly found on the bodies of Hamas terrorists after Oct. 7.
Tlaib in a statement dismissed all of the Israel-related votes this week as repetitive “‘messaging’ bills.”?
“These bills are just an attempt to distract from the genocide in Gaza. I am not voting for any of these bills while the genocide of Palestinians continues,” she said.
Report by The Times of Israel:
118th Congress - 1st Session House Resolution #883 is passed expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the slogan, 'from the river to the sea' Palestine will be free... is antisemitic and its use must be condemned
'Gaza stores full; markets overwhelmed with goods' by Ariel Kahana