The Dossier: The Palestinians and the wrong side of history

Rep. Rashida Tlaib and the Holocaust: Facts versus falsehoods

Commenting on the Holocaust, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., who has already gotten into a heap of controversy over previous anti-Semitic remarks, claimed that her “Palestinian” ancestors helped create a “safe haven” for Jews fleeing Nazi persecution.

“There’s always kind of a calming feeling when I think of the tragedy of the Holocaust, that it was my ancestors — Palestinians — who lost their land and some lost their lives, their livelihood, their human dignity, their existence, in many ways, has been wiped out … in the name of trying to create a safe haven for Jews, post-Holocaust, post-tragedy and the horrific persecution of Jews across the world at that time,” Tlaib said in an interview with Yahoo News. “And I love the fact that it was my ancestors that provided that in many ways.”

Tlaib’s ancestors were not at all welcoming to the Jews. In fact, they were openly hostile to the idea of Jews living alongside them. One of the clearest examples of that reality was the 1936-1939 Arab riots.

As persecuted European Jews were attempting to find safe haven from Nazi Germany in their ancestral homeland, the Arabs of British-controlled Mandatory Palestine launched riots with the explicit, stated goal to prevent further Jewish immigration to the land of Israel. The riots, from 1936 to1939, resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Jews. And through violent force, the Arab riots convinced British authorities to curb Jewish immigration. In 1939, British authorities announced that only 15,000 Jews would be allowed to immigrate to the area per year for the next five years.

The Palestinians have consistently been on the wrong side of history

Many have rightly pointed out, in response to Rep. Tlaib’s comments, that Arab leadership in Mandatory Palestine sided with Nazi Germany during World War II, and the grand mufti of Jerusalem at the time was a trusted ally of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.

Siding with the enemies of America (and free countries everywhere) has been a common theme in the history of Arab leadership, which later came to identify as Palestinian, in the land of Israel. Being on the wrong side of World War II was not a one-off incident.

Palestinian national identity has roots in the Soviet Union. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), founded in 1967, was entirely controlled and funded by the USSR. And the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which spawned Palestinian identity, was largely propped up by the Soviets. So it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that the Palestinians were on the wrong side of the Cold War.

And of course, who could forget that Palestinians took to the streets after the 9/11 attacks to cheer the terrorist carnage.

"Palestinian" leadership were on the wrong side of World War II. They supported Nazis.

They were on the wrong side of the Cold War. They supported the USSR.

They were on the wrong side of 9/11. They cheered the attacks.

In contrast, Israel, since its founding in 1948, has been on America’s side, the right side of history.

Trade war continues: China raises tariffs on US imports

Beijing has responded to President Trump’s decision to raise tariffs on Chinese goods. The government has decided to impose $60 billion of new tariffs on U.S. goods, which are expected to go into effect on June 1.

“Beijing will increase tariffs on more than 5,000 products to as high as 25%. Duties on some other goods will increase to 20%. Those rates will rise from either 10% or 5% previously,” CNBC reports.

Tensions in the Persian Gulf: Saudi, UAE ships ‘attacked’

Saudi Arabia’s news agencies have announced that two of its oil tankers were damaged in a “sabotage attack” while traveling around the Persian Gulf.

The Saudis have not announced who they believe is stirring up trouble in the strategically vital, energy-rich Gulf.

In addition to the attacks on the Saudi tankers, the United Arab Emirates has also reported trouble on the high seas. On Sunday, the UAE foreign ministry said four of its commercial ships were attacked in the same region.

The news comes amid heightened concerns about Iran’s efforts to disrupt or attempt to close off the vital shipping routes in the Gulf. The United States has deployed several warships and military assets into the region, citing terrorist threats from Iran and its proxy entities.

Venezuela’s Guaido government formally requests US military backing

The U.S.-endorsed opposition in Venezuela under Juan Guaido has formally asked the Pentagon for help in its efforts to overthrow socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro and expel foreign forces from Venezuela.

In a letter sent to U.S. Southern Command, which was shared on social media by Republican Senator Marco Rubio, Guaido’s U.S. envoy Carlos Vecchio writes: "We welcome strategic and operational planning so that we may fulfill our constitutional obligation to the Venezuelan people in order to alleviate their suffering and restore our democracy.”

Author’s note: This post originally appeared in Blaze Media’s The Dossier newsletter. For foreign policy news and views delivered to your inbox twice a week, subscribe here.

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