Book & Author
William Baker: Theft of a Nation
By Dr Ahmed S. Khan
Chicago, IL
The survivors of Holocaust continue to inflict a high-tech genocide in Gaza: 20,000 people (one percent of population) have been killed — of which seventy percent are women and children. Reflecting on this perpetual genocide the UN secretary-general António Guterres has observed: “Gaza is becoming a graveyard for children.”
Reflecting on the staggering proportion that sets Gaza apart from some of the recent worst wars, Robert Pape, a US military historian and University of Chicago professor, has observed: “Gaza is one of the most intense civilian punishment campaigns in history…It now sits comfortably in the top quartile of the most devastating bombing campaigns ever… by some measures, Israel's bombing of Gaza is surpassing the Allied terror bombing’ of German cities during WWII...US and UK airstrikes obliterated about 40-50% of the urban areas of the 51 German cities bombed between 1942-45…around 10% of all buildings in Germany were destroyed...In Gaza, approximately 1 in 3 buildings have been destroyed. In northern Gaza, over two-thirds of all buildings have been leveled (The Associated Press).”
In Theft of a Nation, William W. Baker, a professor of Biblical History and Apologetics, explores the Palestine conflict through the lens of history, religion and politics. Using a plethora of biblical and other resources, the author debunks an array of distortions, misconceptions and misinterpretations that have been embedded in media and have come to be accepted as facts for the description of turmoil in the Middle East. The author illustrates how biblical passages have been misused — by both fundamentalist and evangelical Christians (Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson et al.) — in providing moral support to the Jewish state to commit crimes against humanity in Palestine.
The author presents his scholarship in six chapters: 1. The Contestants, 2. Immigration and the United Nations, 3. The Nature of Zionism, 4. Political Realities and Ramifications, 5. Biblical Prophecy and the Promised Land, and 6. The Search for Peace.
The book has a unique cover — it illustrates a painting (1973) by Palestinian Sliman Mansur. On surface it portrays an elderly Arab porter carrying a sack of grain through the streets of the old city of Jerusalem, but various elements of painting depict symbolism of the occupied land and its people: The fraying rope represents the deterioration of hope for free Palestine; the strength and determination of old porter shows the respect and honor for the Dome of Rock of Mohammed (PBUH) and Abraham (PBUH); and the bulging sack indicates continued oppression by the Jewish state. The old man —like all Palestinian people — is determined to carry his beloved Jerusalem as a free and faithful servant, but never as a slave.
In the preface, the author introduces Palestine and observes: “Palestine a land of contrast, chaos and conflict; center of a world-shattering, nation-dividing dichotomy; a land with a legacy of bombs, bullets and death! Palestine where entire cultures and nationalities have been dispersed and displaced; home of factionalized fanaticism, firebrand rhetoric, and the waging of a colossal propaganda war unparalleled within the confines of world history. Palestine where historical brothers wage a relentless war spanning the boundaries of historical humanity, encompassing the twentieth century, still without solution or conciliation.”
The author believes that countless books and publications have attempted to define and depict the conflict, but few have presented the total picture of the historical background of both the land and the contestants; many publications have succeeded in merely exacerbating the conflict by the expression of the author's personal bias or prejudice given in support of his treatise. Moreover, Jewish authors employ a claim to a biblical promise to support the continued occupation of Arab lands and the ongoing expansionism instigated by each succeeding Israeli government.
Referring to distorted and faulty interpretation of biblical prophecy, the author states: “Major religious authors representative of a large segment of evangelicalism claim the bible fully supports the concept of a ‘Jewish Homeland’ and, therefore, evangelicals should be supportive of the expulsion of the Palestinian people from their native country. This teaching has become one of the primary contributing factors to the Middle East conflict and partly responsible for the continued proliferation and substantiation of a distorted and faulty interpretation of biblical prophecy.”
The author believes that our present day world stands on the brink of global disaster with the ever-growing possibility of a direct confrontation between major powers due to Middle East events: “The single most explosive situation faced by America's President and Congress is the real possibility of a Mideast war which would contain the potential of escalation to worldwide proportions. Both Arab and Jew possess the capability of nuclear warfare and have demonstrated little restraint or reservation to employ such devastation if either party should conclude it to be necessary for national survival.”
Describing the objectives of the book, the author states: “One purpose of this book is to present an objective and impartial view of both the contested land and the contestants. We will examine such pertinent questions as: who were the original Semites? Who really was the first to occupy the land known historically as Palestine? Where did the Arabs and the Jews originally come from? How, when and by whom was the land first divided? Another purpose of this book will be to carefully examine the political involvements and ramifications for America and the world. Basic political questions such as: should the United States maintain a policy of unswerving support for the Israeli government despite America's increasing need for allies among the emerging nations of the world? And what of the growing dependence of America upon the third world Arab countries for important oil and fuel supplies? What treaties exist between Israel and the United States? Is America bound to support Israeli occupation of Palestine with military intervention of our own armed forces? Of special importance will be the consideration of the polit ical history of Palestine from its ancient status in secular and biblical history to its present-day stronghold of Zionism. What role did western European powers play in creating the current crisis? What about the Balfour Declaration and the United Nations Partition of 1948? These and many other ques tions must be explored and understood before an equitable conclusion can be made.”
Referring to the main objective of the book, the author states: “A primary goal of this book is to present a thorough examination of the biblical passages often cited as ‘proof texts’ in support of a ‘Jewish Homeland.’ Each important text will be examined by use and application of the hermeneutical rules of interpretation which apply to every work of literature, including the Bible. Each ‘prophecy’ long assumed to corroborate the Jewish occupation of Palestine will be examined in light of the original language in which it was written. A careful consideration of past historical events and the latest archaeological findings will be presented in an effort to establish as fact that many biblical prophecies have been fulfilled and must not be paralleled with contemporary events or cultural changes of the twentieth century. Did God promise all those claiming to be Jews of every age and every land and nation a special homeland? Did He fulfill His own Covenant with Abraham? Does God support and desire dishonesty, distortion and deceit? Determinative answers to all of these questions are crucial to the formulation of an honest and objective understanding of the Mideast crisis, and will prove influential in affecting one's understanding of the Biblical passages which lie at the very heart of the Jewish and Palestinian conflict.”
Commenting on how historically all conflicts have been grounded in injustice, ignorance and deceit, the author states: “This book is written with the hope that once enlightened, citizens of every country and culture will weigh equitably the many factors comprising the Palestinian issue, and only then will voice their support of a just resolution for all parties. This author believes that all conflict everywhere and throughout the annals of human history has been caused primarily by injustice, ignorance and deceit. True justice, and consequently true peace, depends upon the emergence and assimilation of truth, impartiality, and the sincere desire to right all wrongs once those wrongs are exposed. Truth is never expendable and must remain the determinative force for change and a truly lasting peace.”
Referring to the historical context about the inhabitants of Palestine, the author notes: “The Ottoman Moslem rule which lasted for 400 years and which came to an end in 1917, did not in any way alter the Arable or Moslem structure of the people of Palestine. The small Jewish and Christian minorities…continued to live in peace with the Moslems. Though both were minorities, they were accepted as friends and neighbors in good standing…From a cursory examination of ancient Palestinian history, it becomes apparent that the ancestors of the Palestine Arabs of today were indeed living in Palestine at the same time as the ancestors of the Semitic Jews. The Biblical record affirms that the Arabs and Jews were first cousins, being descendants of one common ancestor, Abraham, by his three wives Sarah, Hagar, and Ketura…Those Palestine Arabs still living in Palestine are true descendants of the original semitical inhabitants. Their roots do not lie in Syria or Lebanon, Jordan or Egypt, but rather the only country they have ever known as their homeland, the land of Palestine.”
Expounding on the desire to establish a Jewish state, the author observes: “…desire to re-establish a state and escape persecution gave rise to the formation in 1897 of the Zionist Organization. This organization was charged with the task of achieving the desired goal of a Jewish state. It is important to note at this juncture that those Jews being persecuted had no ethnic connection with the Semitic Jews who had once lived and occupied a portion of Palestine. Remember that the original Semitic Jews were carried away into slavery and dispersion on several historical occasions by various Kings and Kingdoms…”
Explaining the hypocritical role played by the British in creating the Jewish state, the author notes: “While the British accepted the aid of the Arab people in fighting the German invasion of the Middle East, they secretly conspired to ‘sell out’ their Arab allies to the Zionist dream of a new homeland. The British Secretary General sent a letter to the Zionist Organization and specifically to Baron Rothschild, encouraging the Jews to ‘take’ Palestine as their homeland. Although the Balfour document was completed as early as 1915, it was kept secret by the British in order to enjoy the aid of the Arab people in fighting the Germans. We now know it was kept secret also because a serious division was already in place among the orthodox Jews and those adhering to the Zionist Organization's claims and manifesto.”
Reflecting on how the British Empire gave someone’s land to someone else viz a viz Balfour Declaration, the author observes: “The Balfour Declaration took two years to write, yet contains a mere 67 words. The wording came from the British Foreign Office, but the text had been revised in the Zionist offices of America and England. So it was on November 2, 1917, when General Allenby was pushing up through Palestine with his British Army, that Arthur James Balfour, the British Foreign Secretary, issued the famous declaration bearing his name. This document gave official British approval of Palestine as a national home for the Jewish people. The text of the Declaration reads as follows: ‘His Majesty's Government views with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.’”
Commenting on the British rule in Palestine, the author notes: “The British ruled Palestine for the next 30 years under a so-called ‘mandate’ issued by the old League of Nations. And it was at this point in time that the Arab nationals began resisting the British occupation of their homeland. The Balfour Declaration gave the Zionists the backing of a major Middle East power, thus Zionism, both Religious and Political Zionism, was launched under this mandate. History reveals the British were to experience the wrath of the Jew as well as the Arab during the next thirty years of rioting, terrorism, murder and untold atrocities. For the first time a new term was used with absolutely no meaning, the term ‘National Home’ for the Zionist Jews.”
Expounding on the changed demographics of Palestine from 1914 to 1948, the author notes: “By 1914 only 3,000 Jewish farmers lived in Palestine. At the close of the First World War (1918) the population of Palestine was divided into 644,000 Arabs and only 56,000 Jews. Obviously the Jews had never held the land of Palestine either numerically or industrially in the past 2,500 years! This land had belonged to the Semitic ancestors of the modern-day Arab.”
Commenting further on demographics, the author observes: “On May 14, 1948, the present-day ‘State of Israel’ was born from the passage in the United Nations, which was formerly the old League of Nations, of the Partition of Palestine. Once again the various nations of the world took the liberty to determine that the European Jews who had immigrated to Palestine should be given half the land in order to settle the fierce struggle between the newly arriving Jews and the Arab defenders. Once again the impetus for the Zionist dream of their own homeland was reinforced. During the British occupation of Palestine in 1918, the population consisted of 644,000 Palestinian Arabs, and 56,000 Jews. Other small ethnic groups existed but they were insignificantly small and they need not complicate our figures. The Jews formed a mere 8% of the total population…When the British left in 1948, the population consisted of 1,350,000 Palestine Arabs and 650,000 Jews. The Jewish ratio increased from 8 to 32 1/2%. Notice the increase of the Palestinians during the thirty-one years of the mandate was very little more than double. This was to be expected as a result of natural increases. The Jewish population, however, increased during the same period by more than eleven times! This phenomenal increase was not ‘miraculous’ or ‘supernatural’ as even some misguided ministers and teachers have proposed, but rather attributable to the Jewish immigration which continued to flow into the country in great numbers, all the while against the wishes of the original, majority population.”
Reflecting on the misinterpretation of biblical truths to support occupation of Palestine, the author notes: “The literalistic or premillennialist theories do great harm to several fundamental and basic biblical truths as well as continuing to render irrational support for the Occupation of Palestine and the displacement of the Arab Palestinian People. (1) This view would make the restored nation of Israel today to keep the Law of Moses, which was ‘made full’ and/ or abrogated by Jesus Christ and the New Covenant. Deuteronomy 30:1-10 will reveal to the reader that the only promise of a restoration of the nation included adherence and obedience to the Law of Moses. Not only the promise, but the only actual and historically documented restoration likewise indicates the returned Jews were under the Law of Moses. Also, the promise in Deuteronomy, chapters 28-30 demanded Israel FIRST be converted before they will return. The literalists say they will first RETURN and THEN be converted. The fact is, not even the wildest and most fanciful of the popular literalist writers can say, with a straight face, that ‘all the Jews are returning to Israel.’… (2) Literalists ignore the plain teaching that the NATION OF BIBLICAL ISRAEL WILL NOT BE RESTORED! They tend to conveniently overlook the following passages which teach that the biblical nation of Israel would be so utterly dissolved that it would never again be intact nor inhabit the land of promise. (a) Hosea 1:4-6 (b) Isaiah 5:1-6 (c) Jeremiah 19:1-11; 23:39,40”
Expounding on the biblical interpretation of Jew as the chosen of the God, the author observes: “The biblical ‘nation,’ recipients of the physical land promises, were long ago scattered and assimilated among the nations of the world. The teaching and emphasis of the Bible for today is the fulfillment and fruition of the Abrahamic promise by and through the appearance in time, space and history, of Jesus Christ. The Jew was the chosen of God only according to the flesh, and entitled only to the blessings of his covenant. The Jew is not the chosen of God according to the Spirit, or the seed of Isaac according to the promise. I sincerely hope that every Bible reader and Christian believer will…re-examine and re-evaluate his acceptance of Premillennialist and Literalistic teaching which has so unjustly "forced" God to be in support of, indeed responsible for, the grievous injustice of the 'Theft of A Nation.'”
Discussing the primary prerequisites for peace, the author states: “If there is ever to be a lasting peace in the Middle East, the two principle opponents must begin serious negotiations, paying attention to the following items which I consider of paramount importance: 1. The State of Israel and its leaders must: a. Recognize and admit the injustice and wronging of Palestinian Arabs including all acts of aggression and occupation since 1948. b. Immediately cease all annexation of Arab lands and curtail any further Expansionism and new settlements or defense acquisitions. c. Express a willingness to negotiate the return of captured land portions of the West Bank and Gaza Strip to their rightful owners among those returning Palestinian Arabs and/or their descendants. d. Pledge to adhere to the Security Council Resolution 242 passed on November 22, 1967, as well as all other pertinent resolutions. e. Recognize the PLO as Representative and Spokesman for the Palestinian Arabs and express willingness to negotiate with them. f. Openly support the Right of Self Determination by all Palestinian Arabs living in the Occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. (a) For any of points (b) through (f) to even be considered, point (a) must first become a reality. This seemingly minor point will require perhaps more courage on the part of the Israelis than even the remaining points. Admission of exploitation and forcible annexation of Arab lands and possessions will demonstrate to the Palestinians and the Arab world the seriousness of Israel's search for peace; it will vindicate.”
The author further observes: “Let it be stated that there is no basis for Christian opposition to the Arab people and the Palestinians in particular on the basis of Biblical teaching. Christians must cease allowing such misrepresentation by refusing to be a part of any of the polluted political ministries.” The author concludes the book by citing Edmund Burke: “All that is necessary for the forces of evil to win the world is for enough good men to do nothing.”
William Baker in Theft of a Nation, using an array of biblical and other resources explores the historical, religious and political dimensions of the issue of Palestine viz a viz themes of The Contestants, Immigration and The United Nation, The Nature of Zionism, Political Realities and Ramifications, Biblical Prophecy and the Promised Land, and The search for peace — and in the process debunks the distortions created by incorrect use of biblical passages often cited as “proof texts” in support of “Jewish Homeland”. The book is essential reading for all who believe in humanity and peace!
[Dr Ahmed S. Khan – dr.a.s.khan@ieee.org – is a Fulbright Specialist Scholar. Dr Khan has more than forty years of experience in Higher Education. He has served as Professor of Electrical Engineering, and Chair & Dean, College of Engineering & Information Sciences. He has authored/coauthored many technical and non-technical books, including Mashriq-o-Mugrib Ki Mumtaz Shaksiaat (Prominent Personalities of the East and the West) and the Science, Technology & Society (STS) series of books that include Technology and Society: Issues for the 21 st Century & Beyond, and Nanotechnology: Ethical and Social Implications .]
