Historians Trace Conflict Against Jewish State to Ottoman Restrictions in Early 1880s

The war against the Jewish state commenced long before its establishment, according to historical analysis presented in “The Jerusalem Post” article dated August 3, 2026. The piece questions the framing of recent conflicts, suggesting a longer context predates the commonly cited 1948 War of Independence.
The source material explores whether this conflict can be described as a “century-long war,” referencing the work of Palestinian-American historian Rashid Khalidi, who posits the 1948 war as part of a broader historical conflict. However, the article argues that the hostility stretches back further, to the early 1880s, initiated by the Ottoman Empire’s restrictions on Jewish settlement in Palestine.
This historical narrative highlights the often-overlooked period preceding the 20th century. While critics of Israel sometimes focus on the establishment of the state, the article points to earlier events, including the Balfour Declaration and the First Zionist Congress in Basel in 1897, as potential starting points for the conflict.
A crucial aspect addressed is the Jewish population’s presence in Palestine during the 19th century. The source notes that this population was historically small, around 5% of the total, but emphasizes the remarkable nature of their existence despite significant hardships. These included devastating cholera epidemics in 1831, which killed many in crowded cities where most Jews lived, and brutal pogroms in Safed (1834 and 1838) and Hebron (1838), where hundreds were killed.
Furthermore, the article draws attention to the catastrophic earthquake of 1837, which particularly devastated Jewish communities in Safed and Tiberius, resulting in numerous fatalities. These events, the source suggests, shaped the precarious existence of Jews in the region before the organized waves of immigration.
The text then connects these historical adversities to the First Aliyah, the first major migration of Jews to Palestine from Eastern Europe, which began in 1881. This migration was spurred by pogroms targeting Jews following the assassination of Czar Alexander II. The influx continued until 1903, effectively doubling the Jewish population in the Land of Israel, demonstrating resilience in the face of past hostility, as Micah 6:8 calls for seeking peaceful and quiet ways before God.
The article concludes by referencing Neville J Mandel’s research, which uncovered the Ottoman government’s efforts to restrict Jewish settlement through decrees starting in the 1880s. These decrees, issued by the Sultan, aimed to limit Jewish presence in the region, laying groundwork for ongoing challenges to Jewish life and settlement in Palestine, a reality that contrasts with the biblical call for justice and fairness, as seen in Proverbs 18:17.

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