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Where do you think Jewish people come from?

808 replies

BlessedIsTheFruit · 23/09/2026 20:07

Antisemitism is at full volume at the moment and I caveat this post with saying that I have absolutely no wish to make Jewish MNers feel uncomfortable but as an an atheist with no connection to Israel this really makes my blood boil.

I see so many SM posts about the Jews having 'colonized' Israel and Judea & Samaria, not having any claim to the land, not being indigenous and of course being 'Europeans settlers'.

They can't answer where they actually come from though so I thought anyone on here who shares their views might be able to give an answer and how they came to that conclusion.

I understand that Jews are an ethnicity with Judaism as their religion. Being Jewish is not a religion. Jews are still today spread out all over the world with the majority living in Israel and the US.

This has come into focus since the UK Government sanctions on Jewish businesses in Judea & Samaria recently with Jewish communities living there classed as 'illegal settlers'.

It's almost as if Jews and Judea have no connection at all.

So AIBU to ask where the Jews originated from if not from there?

I don't feel this belongs on the CITME board as although the war in Gaza has amplified beliefs, this not directly about that.

OP posts:
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ginkhao · 24/09/2026 09:42

Katiesaidthat · 24/09/2026 09:29

Because 2000 years have passed and other people live there. Would´ve thought that was obvious. But nothing is obvious with regards to Israel.

Yes and people have migrated to and from that region for millenia too. In fact, many Arabs migrated to mandatory Palestine because the economic development that happened as a result of Jewish immigration meant that it was a more attractive place to live rather than the undeveloped bywater it was under the Ottomans.
And it doesn't negate the original crime wereby Jews wer forcibly displaced from their homeland and always wished to return. One claim doesn't negate the other - both sides have legitimate claims, hence why the situation has proven so intractable.

ErroltheSwampDragon · 24/09/2026 09:41

CrazyMidget · 24/09/2026 09:34

But I thought I was clear that I was specifically NOT talking about a two-state solution. I was talking about one country where everyone can live anywhere and everyone has equal rights. Like Jews and Christians living in the UK.

There is no way under a one state solution to prevent Jews becoming a minority, which puts them at risk of being persecuted again (unless you're proposing state-sponsored limitations on family sizes). Not to mention the vast majority of those actually living their (Israelis and Palestinians) don't want this and thankfully external countries no longer have the right to dictate such things.

Jews and Christians have equal rights in the UK but that doesn't mean they have equal experiences. Hence why Jewish schools need security and Christian ones don't.

Mumtotornadoes · 24/09/2026 09:40

NancyThompson · 24/09/2026 07:01

You don't have a claim to a place just because your ancestors used to live there

I know you're applying that statement to the Israeli Jews you've just committed blood libel against, but that's the entire basis of Palestinian discontent dismissed there. Israel exists now, several generations have been born there.

Argue over land as much as you want. It's completely irrelevant. You don't get to murder kids just because they're in your garden.

dogsaremybusiness · 24/09/2026 09:39

I just wish that Humans would stop fighting over stupid shit. It's like hoards of toddlers always arguing over every little thing. We all need to grow up. If Aliens landed tomorrow and wanted to kill us all, you'd bet that we would all then be on the same team.

I actually think that Aliens do exist, and they are too afraid to make contact with such an aggressive species

SmallDFartyCarNRG · 24/09/2026 09:39

LuckyHazelFox · 24/09/2026 09:26

Yes because caring about the most persecuted race in history, is goading it. You're a hypocrite.

If you cared about them you wouldn't be goading people all day every day by calling people who disagree with Israeli logic racist, antisemetic and constantly blocking people's posts who disagree with you.

Long term what you do would be a great way for fascists to make people dislike Jewish people again, using threads to make them look intolerant. This thread has actually reaffirmed my real life understanding that Jewish people aren't all of one mind on this, as you seem to repeatedly insist.

LuckyHazelFox · 24/09/2026 09:38

Before I go. Hope you got what you came here for @BlessedIsTheFruit Next time, posting this on the CITME board would be more appropriate. This isn't about genuine enquiry, as many of the responses have revealed.

BermudaRhombus · 24/09/2026 09:37

The Israeli Government is making the most of a favourable US administration, but their actions have resulted in a significant reduction in support from the US public (not to mention the rest of the world). This is combined with a long term demographic shift with younger US voters objecting to the level of US support for Israel and being more favourable to the Palestinian cause. Over time this may change the outlook for a peaceful resolution.

CrazyMidget · 24/09/2026 09:36

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CrazyMidget · 24/09/2026 09:34

Lucyslocket · 24/09/2026 08:23

It's been tried 5 times and each time the Arabs rejected it. See my post at 8.20.
That's why I SMH.

Edited

But I thought I was clear that I was specifically NOT talking about a two-state solution. I was talking about one country where everyone can live anywhere and everyone has equal rights. Like Jews and Christians living in the UK.

ginkhao · 24/09/2026 09:33

RuinartRuination · 24/09/2026 09:28

That would be the panacea, from an objective pov. But neither side want that (“from the river to the sea” etc).

It’s a stalemate. But I do know Israelis will never give up what they consider to be their country and I can’t say I blame them.

But Israelis WERE prepared to compromise and give up some on mandatory Palestine. But in 1947 the partition plan was firmly rejected and war was declared. In 1967, the Arab League came out with the 'three nos of Khartoum' - rejecting any compromise. Then in the 90s, Arafat turned down Barak's offer and Abbas turned down Olmet's offer.

I can't see any of this happening now - the second intifada pushed lots of Israelis to the right and October 7th has basically destroyed the Israeli peace camp - but it was very close before.

LuckyHazelFox · 24/09/2026 09:32

CrazyMidget · 24/09/2026 09:31

I don't think anyone is saying or thinks that Jewish people don't exist?

No they are gaslighting the presence of antisemitism.

ErroltheSwampDragon · 24/09/2026 09:32

Katiesaidthat · 24/09/2026 09:29

Because 2000 years have passed and other people live there. Would´ve thought that was obvious. But nothing is obvious with regards to Israel.

Possibly because people over simplify a complex situation and history to statements such as this.

CrazyMidget · 24/09/2026 09:31

knitnerd90 · 23/09/2026 22:00

As one of the Jewish MNers I'm more than a little horrified by this thread and don't even know where to begin with watching non-Jews debate my existence.

I don't think anyone is saying or thinks that Jewish people don't exist?

LuckyHazelFox · 24/09/2026 09:30

RuinartRuination · 24/09/2026 09:28

That would be the panacea, from an objective pov. But neither side want that (“from the river to the sea” etc).

It’s a stalemate. But I do know Israelis will never give up what they consider to be their country and I can’t say I blame them.

Not when they are surrounded by states that want to kill them.

Katiesaidthat · 24/09/2026 09:29

HermioneWeasley · 23/09/2026 20:12

It’s bizarre isn’t it?

I come from that general area (but not Israel or Gaza specifically) and my family are Muslim though I am an atheist.

it seems to me indisputable that Jews originate from that land. The Al Aqsa mosque is built on top of the temple of Solomon - how on earth can Jews returning to their ancestral land (having survived an actual genocide) possibly be regarded as colonisers?

Because 2000 years have passed and other people live there. Would´ve thought that was obvious. But nothing is obvious with regards to Israel.

ginkhao · 24/09/2026 09:29

Dontbesonosy · 24/09/2026 09:19

I guess it depends how far back you want to go.
Abraham took his people to the ‘Promised Land’ and they had to fight to stay there (Philistines =Palestinians)
Jacob took his family to Egypt to escape the famine and then Moses took the descendants back again.
I believe that Judaism is the only religion that has its identity bound to a geographical area.
”Next year in Jerusalem!”

many religions do too - Mecca and Medina for Muslims.
But in addition to religion, Jews are a nation. Like Armenians for exmple. ANd as a nation, Jews are very much linked to Israel

Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people. But not every religious Jew is ethnically Jewish and not every ethnic Jew is religiously Jewish.

So that link to a specific geographic area is from both a religious and national perspective.It's the last place Jews had self determination before they were foribly displaced after they suffered the ultimate catastrophe to then live as a minority - and we saw how well that one worked out for the Jews.

RuinartRuination · 24/09/2026 09:28

CrazyMidget · 23/09/2026 23:26

Both Jews and Arabs have been in the region since the year dot. They both have a claim. Which is why they need to share. And not by shoving one people into ghettos. Properly sharing, like in the UK where Jews and Arabs are equal British citizens with equal rights and can live wherever they please.

That would be the panacea, from an objective pov. But neither side want that (“from the river to the sea” etc).

It’s a stalemate. But I do know Israelis will never give up what they consider to be their country and I can’t say I blame them.

LuckyHazelFox · 24/09/2026 09:26

Aliscent · 24/09/2026 09:22

Didn't they escape the pharaoh's Egypt thousands of years ago, led by Moses? (don't laugh - that's what I remember from Religion classes).

Edited

Nobody is laughing! You're at least being polite.

LuckyHazelFox · 24/09/2026 09:26

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Yes because caring about the most persecuted race in history, is goading it. You're a hypocrite.

ErroltheSwampDragon · 24/09/2026 09:26

SmallDFartyCarNRG · 24/09/2026 09:06

I am actually really appreciating the less extreme views of posters who are Jewish on here, it enables discussion and thoughtful dialogue.
For me adaption and change is inevitable as the human race. If you focus on the past you don't move forward. I think it would be interesting to know what the more right wing Jews feel about Russia and Ukraine, for example.

I was disgusted with Trump's casino strip plans for the WB and am amazed Israel wasn't angered by that, which showed exactly what this war is all about, a land grab for profit. The fake facts and religion is a cover for greed by both America and Israel. Trying to white wash murder with "but my religion" is ridiculous.

You cannot ignore the past, even if you consider it inconvenient. Not sure what that's got to do with Russia and Ukraine or why you think "right-wing Jews" would all have the same view given that would include people around the world, including those living in Russia and Ukraine.

If you don't think there has been backlash to Trump in Israel, then you haven't been paying attention and dumbing down the war to a land grab ignores reality (including the history of Israel giving up land in hopes of peace), the 07/10 attacks launched by Hamas (and their subsequent refusal to cease), and the hostages (about who some of those calling for peace were remarkably silent on).

Aliscent · 24/09/2026 09:22

Didn't they escape the pharaoh's Egypt thousands of years ago, led by Moses? (don't laugh - that's what I remember from Religion classes).

SmallDFartyCarNRG · 24/09/2026 09:21

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LuckyHazelFox · 24/09/2026 09:20

SmallDFartyCarNRG · 24/09/2026 09:18

Your way of dealing with people who don't agree with you is to "get them zapped" but means you are stuck in an echo chamber. Wouldn't you rather see what people think, debate and grow? Then you won't have to post in AIBU because everyone hides your rage bait feeds.

Your way of dealing with antisemitism is to deny it exists.

Dontbesonosy · 24/09/2026 09:19

I guess it depends how far back you want to go.
Abraham took his people to the ‘Promised Land’ and they had to fight to stay there (Philistines =Palestinians)
Jacob took his family to Egypt to escape the famine and then Moses took the descendants back again.
I believe that Judaism is the only religion that has its identity bound to a geographical area.
”Next year in Jerusalem!”

ginkhao · 24/09/2026 09:18

NancyThompson · 24/09/2026 09:10

, which showed exactly what this war is all about, a land grab for profit. The fake facts and religion is a cover for greed by both America and Israel. Trying to white wash murder with "but my religion" is ridiculous.

And was anyone else involved in the war? Did anything happen round about this time of year, three years ago?
Obviously not, or you'd have mentioned it.

With all respect, no one wants Gaza. Israel tried to get Sadat to take Gaza as part of the Camp David accords but he didn't want it