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The '''Nebi Musa Riots''' or '''Meoraot Tarap''' (lit. 5680 incidents) of April 7-9 1920 offer a striking early example of the hostile and violent [[racism|racist]] [[Arab]] response to [[Jewish]] presence in  Mandatory Palestine.  

The '''Nebi Musa Riots''' or '''Meoraot Tarap''' (lit. 5680 incidents) of April 7–9, 1920 offer a striking early example of the hostile and violent [[racism|racist]] [[Arab]] response to [[Jewish]] presence in  Mandatory Palestine.  

These riots erupted during the so called Nebi Musa festival, a significant religious observance for Arabs, but quickly turned into a savage mob attack against Jews in Jerusalem.  

These riots erupted during the so-called Nebi Musa festival, a significant religious observance for Arabs, but quickly turned into a savage mob attack against Jews in Jerusalem.  

As Khalil al-Sakakini, a prominent Arab "Palestinian" intellectual, recounts, a frenzy of violence swept through the streets, with Arab assailants indiscriminately throwing stones, shouting violent chants like "Muhammad’s religion was born with the sword," "we will drink the blood of the Jews," and attacking Jews in the most brutal ways. In one account, a Jewish shoeshine boy, merely trying to hide from the mayhem, was violently beaten over the head with his own box by an Arab attacker.<ref><blockquote>A riot broke out, the people began to run about and stones were thrown at the Jews. The shops were closed and there were screams . . . I saw a Zionist soldier covered in dust and blood . . . Afterwards, I saw one Hebronite approach a Jewish shoeshine boy, who hid behind a sack in one of the wall’s comers next to Jaffa Gate, and take his box and beat him over the head. He screamed and began to run, his head bleeding and the Hebronite left him and returned to the procession . . . The riot reached its zenith. All shouted, “[[Muhammad]]’s religion was born with the sword” . . . my soul is nauseated and depressed by the madness of humankind.</blockquote>

As Khalil al-Sakakini, a prominent Arab "Palestinian" intellectual, recounts, a frenzy of violence swept through the streets, with Arab assailants indiscriminately throwing stones, shouting violent chants like "Muhammad’s religion was born with the sword," "we will drink the blood of the Jews," and attacking Jews in the most brutal ways. In one account, a Jewish shoeshine boy, merely trying to hide from the mayhem, was violently beaten over the head with his own box by an Arab attacker.<ref><blockquote>A riot broke out, the people began to run about and stones were thrown at the Jews. The shops were closed and there were screams . . . I saw a Zionist soldier covered in dust and blood . . . Afterwards, I saw one Hebronite approach a Jewish shoeshine boy, who hid behind a sack in one of the wall’s comers next to Jaffa Gate, and take his box and beat him over the head. He screamed and began to run, his head bleeding and the Hebronite left him and returned to the procession . . . The riot reached its zenith. All shouted, “[[Muhammad]]’s religion was born with the sword” . . . my soul is nauseated and depressed by the madness of humankind.</blockquote>

Even during this early period, when Jews were still a minority, their national aspirations were already met with fierce resistance. The British authorities, who controlled Palestine at the time, eventually restored order but only after considerable bloodshed, underscoring the volatility and danger of the situation.

Even during this early period, when Jews were still a minority, their national aspirations were already met with fierce resistance. The British authorities, who controlled Palestine at the time, eventually restored order but only after considerable bloodshed, underscoring the volatility and danger of the situation.

The leaders such as al Husseini and others' incited mob violence of the Nebi Musa Riots, where Jews were attacked simply for their identity and aspirations, reflects the reality of Palestinian rejectionism towards the Zionist project and the Jewish people’s right to self-determination, but more broadly, anti Jewish racism, pure and simple. It would not be the last time that Jews in Palestine would face such hostility, and it serves as an early chapter in the broader narrative of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where violence against Jews became a recurring theme in the years leading up to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.

The leaders such as al Husseini and others' incited mob violence of the Nebi Musa Riots, where Jews were attacked simply for their identity and aspirations, reflects the reality of Palestinian rejectionism towards the Zionist project and the Jewish people's right to self-determination, but more broadly, anti Jewish racism, pure and simple. It would not be the last time that Jews in Palestine would face such hostility, and it serves as an early chapter in the broader narrative of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where violence against Jews became a recurring theme in the years leading up to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.

In light of this history, it is crucial to acknowledge that the Arab leadership’s resistance to peaceful coexistence, and later to partition and negotiations, played a central role in shaping the conflict. The notion that the Palestinian Arabs were innocent bystanders to their fate is not only historically inaccurate but dangerously dismissive of the aggressive campaigns of violence that targeted Jews long before the events of 1948. This violent legacy, reflected in the riots of 1920, set the stage for decades of continued hostility, culminating in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, where Arab states and Palestinian forces rejected any form of compromise or peaceful coexistence with the Jewish state.

In light of this history, it is crucial to acknowledge that the Arab leadership's resistance to peaceful coexistence, and later to partition and negotiations, played a central role in shaping the conflict. The notion that the Palestinian Arabs were innocent bystanders to their fate is not only historically inaccurate but dangerously dismissive of the aggressive campaigns of violence that targeted Jews long before the events of 1948. This violent legacy, reflected in the riots of 1920, set the stage for decades of continued hostility, culminating in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, where Arab states and Palestinian forces rejected any form of compromise or peaceful coexistence with the Jewish state.

==References==

==References==

{{Reflist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Arab-Israeli conflict}}

{{Arab-Israeli conflict}}

[[Category:Israel]]

[[Category:Israel]]

[[Category:palestine]]

[[Category:Palestine]]

[[Category:Racism]]

[[Category:Racism]]

[[Category:history]]

[[Category:History]]

[[Category:Islamism]]

[[Category:Islamism]]

[[Category:Middle East]]

[[Category:Middle East]]