A new Arab claim that many Israelis are descended from 19th century converts (Subbotniks) ~ Elder Of Ziyon

Thursday, February 05, 2026

A new Arab claim that many Israelis are descended from 19th century converts (Subbotniks)

We know that Arabs love the Khazar theory, which allows them to claim that most of the Jews in Israel don't really descend from the Israelites and therefore are purely European colonists.

I just saw a new variant in the UK-based Al Araby:

But how did these Europeans become Jews, claiming today to be the "Children of Israel" mentioned in the Bible? Although the Bible speaks of a Middle Eastern people whose features are not European, and whose stories all take place between Egypt, Sinai, and Palestine, there is no clear answer to this central question. While historical information begins with the Khazar Kingdom, which converted to Judaism in the 8th century CE, artificial intelligence tells me that in the 19th century, some Eastern Europeans and some peasants in regions like Russia and Ukraine began to recognize Judaism as part of their cultural and religious identity within the Enlightenment movement. Some of these communities adopted the Jewish religion or some Jewish customs. In short, the situation of these European Jews with our countries is similar to that of someone from Mexico, for example, who converted to Hinduism and then came demanding that the Indians reclaim their temples and holy sites.

What is he talking about?

It seems he means the Subbotniks. a small sect of Christians who started to take on various Jewish rituals starting in the late 18th century. Some of them did convert, some of them embraced Karaitism, some of them made aliyah in the early 20th century and blended into Israeli society as Jews, but they were a fringe movement; reaching at most 10,000 members, a tiny percentage of European Jewry.

It is very clear that they are only a tiny percentage of today's Jews in Israel. The author appears to know this quite well, being careful not to say "most" of the Israelis are Subbotniks, but heavily implying it.

Deep down, Arabs know that Jews are more native to Israel than they are This is why they are so anxious to create new theories to discredit them as being related to the Israelites.