The Invasion of Canaan

NGWS, United Nations, US Politics 9 Minutes

It is imperative for humanity, represented by the United Nations, to prevent the recurrence of the merciless cruelty depicted in the Old Testament during the invasion of Canaan, in the context of the imminent invasion of Gaza.-JB

The invasion of Canaan is a significant event in the Old Testament, specifically in the Book of Joshua. According to the narrative, after being led out of Egypt by Moses and spending 40 years in the desert, the Israelites, under the leadership of Joshua, entered the land of Canaan – the “Promised Land” given to them by God.

The Book of Joshua describes a series of military campaigns against various city-states in Canaan, including the famous Battle of Jericho. The walls of Jericho are said to have fallen after the Israelites marched around the city blowing trumpets for seven days, after which they invaded the city.

There are passages that depict the total destruction of some Canaanite cities and their inhabitants. For example, Joshua 6:21 states: “They devoted the city to the LORD and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.”

Some additional quotes from the Old Testament that describe the destruction of Canaanite cities:

  1. Deuteronomy 20:16-17: “But in the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes, but you shall devote them to complete destruction, the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, as the LORD your God has commanded.”
  2. Numbers 21:3: “And the LORD hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah.”
  3. Joshua 10:40: “So Joshua struck the whole land, the hill country and the Negeb and the lowland and the slopes, and all their kings. He left none remaining, but devoted to destruction all that breathed, just as the LORD God of Israel commanded.”
  4. Joshua 11:11-12: “And they struck with the sword all who were in it, devoting them to destruction; there was none left that breathed. And he burned Hazor with fire. And all the cities of those kings, and all their kings, Joshua took, and struck them with the edge of the sword, devoting them to destruction, just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded.”

Sources:

A few more quotes from the Old Testament that detail the destruction of Canaanite cities:

  1. Deuteronomy 7:2: “And when the LORD your God gives them over to you, and you defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. You shall make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them.”
  2. Joshua 8:24-25: “When Israel had finished killing all the men of Ai in the fields and in the wilderness where they had chased them, and when every one of them had been put to the sword, all the Israelites returned to Ai and killed those who were in it. Twelve thousand men and women fell that day—all the people of Ai.”
  3. Judges 1:17: “Then Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they defeated the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath and devoted it to destruction. So the name of the city was called Hormah.”

Sources:

Letters to a Jewish Friend of Christ,
annotated by Dr. Michael D. Robbins

The article outlines a series of published and unpublished letters written to Roberto Assagioli (referred to as FCD in the text) by Master DK. The letters detail FCD’s assignment to work with the Jewish people as part of his spiritual mission. This task was seen as integral to achieving world peace.

FCD was tasked with helping the Jewish community move beyond historical complexes and a persecution mindset. He was advised to prepare for this work through study, meditation, writing, and networking. However, he was cautioned against starting with the Zionist movement due to its political motives.

The Jews were regarded as the originators of mankind, dispersed throughout all nations with the hope they would eventually cease to identify as Jews through evolution. However, Zionism became a threat to global harmony, operating under the same evil influences as the Germans.

FCD was encouraged to help the Jews relinquish their desire to return to their ancient homeland and instead embrace a spiritual concept of the Kingdom of God without geographical boundaries. His role involved aiding them to see their situation from a different perspective and adjust their attitudes towards life. However, this was expected to be challenging due to the Jewish community’s deep-seated pride, stubbornness, and intellectual approach to subjects.

FCD’s mission required in-depth thought, study, and a solid foundation for future endeavors. The ultimate goal was to help the Jewish community recognize their responsibilities and faults, and move beyond their past.

Overall, solving the Jewish issue is presented as a significant step towards achieving true world peace, an integral part of Master DK’s spiritual work.

Source: Written in 1948 by the Tibetan Master to a Jewish Friend of Christ and co-disciple in the Ashram of K.H.

Q: Why did the USA support the creation of Israel in 1948?

A: The United States’ decision to support the creation of Israel in 1948 was influenced by a variety of factors:

  1. Humanitarian Response: The revelations of the Holocaust, where six million Jews were killed during World War II, created an urgent need for a Jewish homeland. Many in the U.S. were sympathetic to the plight of the Jewish survivors and supported the establishment of a state where they could seek refuge.
  2. Political Considerations: The issue of Jewish statehood had significant support among the American public, and thus was a matter of domestic politics as well. President Harry Truman, who was up for re-election, recognized that supporting the creation of Israel would be a popular move.
  3. Strategic Interests: Some policymakers believed that the creation of a pro-Western state in the Middle East would serve U.S. strategic interests, particularly in the context of the emerging Cold War with the Soviet Union.
  4. Religious Beliefs: For some Americans, especially among certain Christian communities, the establishment of a Jewish state in the Holy Land had religious significance, fulfilling Biblical prophecies.
  5. Diplomatic Influence: By being one of the first countries to recognize the State of Israel, the U.S. aimed to gain influence over the new country’s policies.

However, it’s important to note that the decision was not without controversy. Some officials in the State Department and Department of Defense were concerned that supporting the creation of Israel would endanger relations with Arab countries, potentially jeopardizing access to Middle Eastern oil and creating regional instability1.

Footnotes

  1. Spiegel, S. L. (1986). The Other Arab-Israeli Conflict: Making America’s Middle East Policy, from Truman to Reagan. University of Chicago Press. Link ↩

Q: Why was the popular support in the USA so high for the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 if Jewish-Americans comprised a small proportion of the electorate?

A: The high level of popular support among Americans for the creation of the State of Israel in 1948, despite Jewish-Americans comprising a small proportion of the electorate, can be attributed to several factors:

  1. Humanitarian Sentiment: The horrors of the Holocaust had a profound impact on global consciousness. Many Americans, regardless of their religious affiliation, were sympathetic to the plight of the Jewish people and supported the idea of a safe homeland for them.
  2. Biblical Connection: For Christian Americans, especially among certain Protestant denominations, the reestablishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine was seen as the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. This belief, known as Christian Zionism, contributed significantly to pro-Israel sentiments.
  3. Political Leadership: The stance of U.S. political leaders, including President Harry Truman, who strongly advocated for the establishment of Israel, also influenced public opinion. Truman’s arguments were grounded in humanitarian, moral, and democratic principles, which resonated with many Americans.
  4. Anti-Communism: In the early years of the Cold War, there was a perception that a new Jewish state would be pro-Western and serve as a bulwark against Soviet expansion in the Middle East.
  5. Media Influence: Media coverage in the U.S. of Jewish refugees and the violence in British-controlled Palestine also swayed public sentiment in favor of a Jewish state.
  6. Influence of Jewish-American Community: Despite being a small proportion of the population, Jewish-Americans played a significant role in shaping public opinion through advocacy, lobbying, and fundraising efforts.

It’s important to note that public opinion was not universally in favor of the creation of Israel, and there were debates and disagreements about U.S. policy towards Palestine both within and outside of the government1.

Footnotes

  1. Spiegel, S. L. (1986). The Other Arab-Israeli Conflict: Making America’s Middle East Policy, from Truman to Reagan. University of Chicago Press. ↩

Q: Did Jewish-Americans control many media outlets n the USA in the 1940s?

A: The claim that Jewish-Americans controlled many media outlets in the USA during the 1940s is a complex one and requires a nuanced understanding of the time period and the media landscape.

It’s important to note that allegations of Jewish control over media have been used as anti-Semitic tropes throughout history, and such blanket statements can be misleading and harmful.

That being said, it is true that some Jewish-Americans held prominent positions in the American media industry during the 1940s. For example, the Warner brothers, who were Jewish, led Warner Bros. Studios, and Adolph Zukor, a Jewish immigrant, was a key figure at Paramount Pictures. Similarly, in the newspaper industry, Jewish-Americans like Arthur Hays Sulzberger, publisher of The New York Times, held significant influence1.

However, the presence of individuals of Jewish descent in leadership roles within media companies does not equate to “control” of the media by Jewish-Americans as a whole. Media organizations are complex entities influenced by a diverse range of factors including market demands, government regulations, and individual editorial policies.

Therefore, while it’s accurate to say that Jewish-Americans were represented in the media industry, it would be inaccurate and overly simplistic to suggest that they “controlled” many media outlets in the 1940s.

Footnotes

  1. Gabler, N. (1989). An Empire of Their Own: How the Jews Invented Hollywood. Crown. Link ↩

Q: Is it fair to say that Jewish-Americans had more influence in the American media industry than Palestine-Americans in the 1940s?

A: Yes, it is fair to say that Jewish-Americans had more influence in the American media industry than Palestinian-Americans in the 1940s. Historically, Jewish immigrants and their descendants have played a significant role in the development of the U.S. film industry, as well as other media sectors1,2.

In contrast, the Palestinian-American community was much smaller and less established during this period. The first significant wave of Palestinian immigration to the United States didn’t occur until after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, which is after the time frame in question3. Therefore, their influence in American media during the 1940s would have been considerably less.

However, it’s important to note that influence in the media industry does not directly translate into control over public opinion or policy decisions. Media content is shaped by a variety of factors, including audience preferences, economic considerations, and societal norms.

Footnotes

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews_in_the_history_of_American_film ↩
  2. Gabler, N. (1989). An Empire of Their Own: How the Jews Invented Hollywood. Crown. ↩
  3. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/palestinian-american-immigration-history ↩
Pew Research Center
https://www.pcpsr.org/

Support for a two-state solution among Palestinians and Israelis declines to just one-third on each side, along with growing opposition to the detailed items of a permanent peace agreement for implementing a two-state solution. Slightly more Israeli Jews support one unequal state under Israeli rule than the two-state solution; but both publics still prefer two states to any other democratic framework for resolving the conflict. Pairs of reciprocal incentives can raise support somewhat on both sides, showing some flexibility particularly among the Israelis. But trust is declining to new low points, and a majority of Palestinians reject four proposed confidence building measures while a majority of Israelis accepts half of them. 

Set on the backdrop of mideast conflict, Jeffrey Brown profiles the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, a musical ensemble that brings Israelis, Palestinians and other Arab citizens together for a common goal of creativity and maybe more. He talks to their founder, renowned conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim.

https://west-eastern-divan.org/

Our message of peace must be louder than ever. The greatest danger is that all the people who so ardently desire peace will be drowned out by extremists and violence. But any analysis, any moral equation we might draw up, must have as its core this basic understanding: there are people on both sides. Humanity is universal and the recognition of this truth on both sides is the only way. The suffering of innocent people on either side is absolutely unbearable.

OPINION ARTICLE BY MAESTRO DANIEL BARENBOIM

Discover more from Hierarchical Democracy

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Published by Jose Becerra

Published

One thought on “The Invasion of Canaan”

  1. Pingback: Not True – Hierarchical Democracy

Leave a Reply