Submitted by Lawrence Kuznick, Nov 3, 2007 07:46

Ms. Abu El-Haj, the archeology professor at Columbia University, just given tenure, has as her thesis that Jews are creating their own history in the land of Israel. Notwithstanding the fact that the name "Palestine" was created on the expulsion from the land of the Jews/Israelites by the Romans, so as to avoid the connection between the people and the land, this professor continues to maintain the non-history of this connection. She might want to consider that cultures and civilizations are often built on top of others just vanquished. Thus, Moslem conquerors turn Byzantine/Christian holy places into mosques. More egregiously, Mohammed decides to use Jerusalem, not just the city but precisely the most important spot of holiness to Jews, to "ascend to heaven". Why pick that place, why not Mecca, or any other Arab-conquered area? Professor El-Haj should respond to that question, which in time occured hundreds of years after the Jews were forcibly evicted from the land and the land was laid waste in devastation.

Note: Comments are screened, and in some cases edited, before posting. We reserve the right to reject anything we find objectionable.