Religion & Beliefs

Birthright…Palestine?

Birthright Israel has a doppelgänger called Birthright Palestine. The Palestinian program aims to "gather first-generation, western-born Palestinians (over the age of 18-years old) in their ancestral homeland, so that they can reunite and witness firsthand how their brethren are living … Read More

By / March 5, 2008

Birthright Israel has a doppelgänger called Birthright Palestine. The Palestinian program aims to "gather first-generation, western-born Palestinians (over the age of 18-years old) in their ancestral homeland, so that they can reunite and witness firsthand how their brethren are living under illegal Israeli military occupation."

Birthright Palestine participants are offered opportunities to volunteer in Bethlehem, take daily Arabic language classes, engage in cultural events, and party hearty. Although the program mimics the structure of its Jewish, Zionist counterpart almost exactly, there are some fundamental differences between the two. Shocking, I know.

One major difference is that Birthright Palestine doesn't support a two-state solution. Another is that they describe some of their destinations as the "1948 territories, which some people refer to as 'Israel.'" (Emphasis mine.)

Other differences: The Birthright Israel trip is a 10-day gift that covers roundtrip airfare, hotel, transportation, most meals and other associated land costs, while Birthright Palestine requires participants to cover their own airfare and pay approximately $1,000 to $3,000, depending on the length of their stay.

Though the site describes Birthright Palestine as a "concept created by the Palestine Center for National Strategic Studies (PCNSS)–a new non-profit, non-governmental Palestinian organization," the Birthright Palestine domain name is actually registered to Palestinian-American Nader Muaddi at an address in good ol' Pennsylvania, and Muaddi is an alum of the Palestine Summer Encounter–a strikingly similar program.

The first annual Birthright Palestine Program is launching this summer, and in case you're not convinced, more details about the experience can be found here.

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  • Anonymous

    Palestinians have been copying Zionist terminology for years.  Israel has a "Law of Return?"  Great, let's call for a Palestinian "Right of Return" so we can override the Jewish population.

    Professor Ruth Wisse said it best:  Palestinian society and culture have contributed nothing of original or positive value to the world.  All their literature, music, and academic research is defined by their opposition to Israel.  Their textbooks still show only "Palestine."

    Until and unless Palestinian society matures and develops a focus other than kutl al-Yahud (kill the Jews), the only solution is continued disengagement and separation behind the fence, or wall, or whatever you want to call it.  With emergency military forays (though not re-occupation) to defend Israel's security when they inevitably keep lobbing rockets and dispatching gunmen at Israelis.

    And to those who say this position "demonizes" the Palestinians:  it is they who have chosen to demonize themselves, in 1947, in 1967, in 2000, by repeatedly choosing death over life.  "And Pharaoh [read: Arafat, then the Hamas leadership] hardened his heart."  But you know, in the end?  Israel will do what it takes to ensure its security, armchair critics in online forums be damned.  And it will win.  Always.  Am Yisrael Chai.

  • naftali

    Do you know how many millions, billions of dollars have been spent on those 'camps' which could easily, over 60 years been turned into and called a 'city'. Israel even offered to build more modern facilities in the 'camps', but were refused outright.

    You are also forgetting about the idea of national sovereignty, that for example, I live in a house in the U.S. but I am subject to U.S. laws. The sovereignty of the West Bank was Jordan's until the 1967 war. The sovereignty of Gaza was Egyptian until that war. Israel won the sovereignty, if you allow the normal pattern of history to apply to the Jewish people, in that war. Israel relinquished sovereignty over Sinai, and then over Gaza. Even if Israel wanted to return the West Bank to Jordan, that can't be done. Do you know enough history of the region to know why that is the case?

    If you have a problem with belittling, that sword cuts both ways–how are Jews and Israelis portrayed in Arab and European media? How are Jews referred to by Islamic Clerics in their sermons.

    I agree with you that the word 'victim' should be analyzed. I prefer the older definition, where people blown up on buses or people subjected to daily rocket attacks are considered to be attacked and innocent–instead of the newer definition where those attempting murder are considered victims.

    And what about the Ten Commandments? I can't wait to hear your clear and thoughtful analysis. And are you conceding that Gd granted this land to the Jewish people?

  • Monosodium glutamate

    When you declare war on someone, and you lose, and run away, you lose your home. The Sudeten Germans tried it, and the Palestinians did it. Doesnt matter if your ancestors lived there, war has consequences. I am always amazed that the Palestinians feel they can wage war without consequences. The fact that Palestinian "culture" is based upon killing Jewish civilians doesnt help them either

    God granted the Jews the land? You obviously havent read the Bible-the Jews had to fight the Amalekites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Emorites, and Hittites for the possession of the land. Leave our Bible alone-your bible is Mein Kampf

  • Anonymous

    Does it really help anything to dehumanize and accuse the Palestinians (semantics aside) of being irrational? Really? Yeah, dismiss the validity of their claims and hold them in camps (how is this parallel not even admitted?), soldiers beat and torture them, and then the Jews are the victims?

    How is the place where someone lives, works, raises their family, and where their ancestors lived not theirs? Where do you live? Maybe I will come and claim it from you. 

    Semantically speaking, maybe "victim" should be analyzed.

    To be honest, attacking the validity of Palestinians' claim to the land is pointless and alienates any potentially sympathetic allies of Israel's, and just gives validity to their argument. And do you think the Arab states have any interest in helping the Palestinians rebuild their lives in Arab countries? (See Jordan camps.) Fuck no!

    Keep belittling and demonizing — it's worked well so far, right?

    God granted the Jews the land? Do you think He would approve of using any means necessary? How about the Ten Commandments? 

  • Ismail

    "Did you know that the Koran refers to that land as Israel and NOT Palestine!'

    What a triumph for ecumenism!

    May we expect Mr. Nazi to approvingly quote the Koran to adjudicate other matters of 21st century geopolitics?

  • ChevyNazi

    refers to that land as Israel and NOT Palestine!

  • Monosodium glutamate

    Here are some ideas for an itinerary for birthright "Palestine"

    Arrive at Ben Gurion airport

    1) Go outside, gather stones, drive to Hadassah Hospital in al Quds, and throw stones at the staff of the emergency room.

    2) Go outside, gather more stones, go to the Al Aqsa mosque, throw stones over the Al Buraq wall (the Western Wall). Everyone knows the Jews have no historic claim to Jerusalem

    3) Visit Yad vashem and protest the "holohoax". Everyone knows the so called holocaust didnt happen, and is just a tool to oppress the Palestinians

    4) Go to Palestine TV and read excerpts of Mein Kampf for children

    5) Fundraise to purchase explosives for the Islamic Jihad/Rachel Corrie brigades

    6) Visit the Park Hotel in Netanya on the first nite of Passover and commemorating the successful attack

    Sounds like fun-can I sign up

  • naftali

    Ben Gurion was just saying how he believes an Arab looking at the situation would feel.  And lo and behold, it kind of does seem that is how they feel.  He was trying to explain it to us–saying that they're not quite as irrational as they appear.  Implied is that their mindset is quite intractable.

    Now, if you ask them if they should have their own UN agency to help with their 'refugees' for 60 years–he might not go along with that.  And that's the kind of thing that emboldens the insanity.  When you institutionalize it instead of institutionalize it.

    Not bad wordplay for one cup of coffee if I say so myself. 

  • Phantom

    No offense, but what a dumb thing for Ben-Gurion to say.  Why try to rationalize an irrational idea?  How can you "steal" land on which you've lived for time immemorial?  Just because Arabs lived there doesn't change the fact that Jews lived there too.  And unlike the Arabs, it seems to me that the Jews were willing to share it.  If I were a Jewish leader, I would never say a thing like that.  It will only embolden irrational minds.

  • naftali

    Yeah, they want to flatter us to death.

  • Anonymous

    "What a joke!  There has never been a Palestinian country, people, culture or language"

     Perhaps.  But arguing semantics, like about the validity of the word "Palestine" or "Palestinian" or whatever usually ends up being a colossal waste of time.  Use any word you want, but there is something of substance here.  And in the end, no one ever really articulated that substance better than one of the greatest Zionists in history:

    If I were an Arab leader I would never make terms with Israel. That is natural: We have taken their country. Sure, God promised it to us, but what does that matter to them? Our God is not theirs. We come from Israel, it's true, but 2,000 years ago, and what is that to them? There has been anti-Semitism, the Nazis, Hitler, Auschwitz, but was that their fault? They only see one thing: We have come here and stolen their country.

    David ben-Gurion as quoted by Nahum Goldmann

     

     

     

  • Chip_Devlyn

    Like everything the so-called Palestinians do, Birthright "Palestine" is not motivated by love of "Palestine", but enmity towards Israel. The Israeli national anthem speaks of the yearning of the Jewish soul for Zion and the hope of 2,000 years. The "Palestinian's" proposed national anthem reads in part "Palestine is my revenge, and the land of resistance". Their defining characteristic is hatred of Israel. Naturally they can't raise enough money to cover the costs of airfare for their Birthright. It's a crappy cause.

  • Palestine is a myth.

    What a joke!  There has never been a Palestinian country, people, culture or language.  The Russians and the Arabs invented the "Palestinian people" for the sole purpose of destroying Israel.  The word Palestine has no connection to the Arabs.  Jews were also called Palestinians because they lived in the land of  Palestine, which is just another name for Israel.  Arabs are delusional bordering on psychotic like many people here who actually support the mythical "Palestinians."