Newt Gingrich is historically right, Palestine is not a historical nation, either nationally or ethnically or any other way. The name “Palestine” was taken from the ancient race the Philistines (you may have heard of them from David and Goliath fame). The actual Philistines were a seafaring Indo-European people that died out sometime during the Persian and/or Babylonian empires. They originated from the Aegean area, as opposed to the Middle East proper, and were not Arab in origin.
Until the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, the term “Palestinian” was used to describe all people who lived in the geographic area known as Palestine, regardless of race, religion, or ethnicity. However, when Israel declared its national identity, the use of the word “Palestinian” became applied almost exclusively to Arabs. However, it’s important to understand that the word “Palestine” and “Palestinian” were used strictly as a regional reference, not a national one—similar to saying that someone who lives in Iowa is a “Midwesterner,” or someone who lives in France is “European.”
Having said that, Newt is frequently a bit—intemperate—in his statements. Nevertheless, his willingness to speak inconvenient truth is refreshing.
I have never understood our infatuation with the Israeli-Palestinian “peace process” (I put that in quotes, because I have no illusions that the Palestinian leadership actually want peace). It is a bad situation, but it is Israel’s problem. They don’t get involved with U.S. foreign policy issues, such as our relationship with Mexico, and I don’t know why we get involved with theirs, unless they ask us as a friend and ally to intervene. There is no pressing U.S. interest there. It should not be our crusade (if you’ll pardon the expression). There are certainly steps that I would like to see Israel take, and policies I wish they would implement for their own sake, but it is not our place, as Americans, to stick our nose in that beehive. Don’t get me wrong—Israel should get our full support, as a friend and ally. But it seems that a Palestinian peace has become the holy grail (again, pardon the expression) for presidential legacies.
Ron Paul is pretty close to being right on this one.