Palestinians distort history of Zionism: Jews sent to Israel to rid Europe of its Jewish "burden"

Both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas are reinforcing the PA libel that Zionism started as a European plot to rid Europe of the "burden" of having Jews living among them.

The PA Ministry of Culture Administration in Tulkarem held a political conference earlier this month to mark the 93rd anniversary of the "cursed" Balfour Declaration. The guest lecturer stated that the British plan for a Jewish homeland was "in order to be rid of this burden called the Jews, which troubled Britain and Europe, who wished to be rid of this burden - even at the expense of a different nation." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Nov. 5, 2010]

Meanwhile, Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar said that the Jews were expelled from Europe "because they betrayed, stole and corrupted these countries." He added that they will soon be expelled from "Palestine" as they were from Europe, "because of their crimes." [Jerusalem Post, Nov. 6, 2010]

As Palestinian Media Watch has reported, this rewriting of the history of Zionism has been PA policy since its inception. The PA has consistently taught that the Jews came to Israel not because of their historical ties to the land, but because Europe wanted to be rid of "the burden of its Jews" [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Dec. 6, 1998 and "wanted to get rid of the Jews and their problems." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Nov. 15, 2009]

Click here to see more examples from PMW's website about the PA's portrayal of Zionism as a European plot to get rid of the Jews.

Following is the transcript of the article about the Balfour Declaration in the official PA daily newspaper:

Headline: "The Ministry of Culture in Tulkarem holds a political conference on the subject of the Balfour Declaration"

"The Ministry of Culture Administration in Tulkarem in cooperation with the [Department of] Public Relations and Security Forces, held a political conference under the heading, 'The West and Balfour's Promises,' to mark the 93rd anniversary of the cursed Balfour Declaration... Lecturer Na'aman Shahrour spoke about this anniversary, which still sticks in the throats of the Palestinians... Shahrour also spoke about the historical aspect of this promise and the reasons that led Balfour to commit to it. He said: 'The Palestinian people is still bleeding since the British Foreign Minister gave this promise, resulting in all that has happened throughout the years and what is happening now - killing, destruction, and theft... All this in order to be rid of this burden, called the Jews, which troubled Britain and Europe, who wished to be rid of this burden - even at the expense of a different nation.'"
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Nov. 5, 2010]