How I grew up respecting all people, then came to Israel and learned not to trust Arabs (Judean Rose)

Disclaimer: the views expressed here are solely those of the author, weekly Judean Rose columnist Varda Meyers Epstein.“Never trust an Arab—even when he is dead!” So said Abu Musa to my husband some 40-plus years ago. Abu Musa was a shyster contractor who knew how to overcharge his Jewish customers and get away with it. Dov was a student in the yeshiva under the tutelage of...

Read More

January 1920: Palestinian Arabs pledge to boycott Jews forever until either Zionism is eradicated - or until they all die

On January 16, 1920, prominent leaders of Nablus - both Muslim and Christian - met in a conference where they pledged, under oath:: (1) To boycott the Jews completely as n counter-measure against their covetous spirit toward this country. (2) To refuse them dwelling space in our district, and to binder their admittance thereto in every way. (3) To persevere In this...

Read More

Before 1948, Jews could cool down at hotels in Ramallah

Yisrael Medad found this ad in Haaretz from 1935:It says that Ramallah is the nicest place in Eretz Yisrael, and invites people who want to escape the heat and enjoy the clean air to visit the Grand Hotel Ramallah. The hotel featured dances and tennis as well as running water.I found the equivalent ad in English in the Palestine Post:It turns out that hotels in Ramallah before...

Read More