🇮🇱🇮🇱 This post is only for those who care about facts and believe that a nation does not forfeit its right to live on its ancestral land simply because of a massacre and ethnic cleansing. I keep hearing people justify the terror attack today near Hebron under the pretext that Israel is "occupying" the area. Jews have lived in Hebron since the days of Abraham, over 3,800 years ago. In 1929, the Arab residents of Hebron massacred the city’s Jewish population. Seven years later, in 1936, the British Mandate authorities decided to evacuate and remove every survivor left from the Jewish community following the massacre. There is a term for what the British did: ethnic cleansing. Just 32 years later, in 1968, Jewish residents returned to live in the city. A nation that was ethnically cleansed from a community where it had lived for 3,800 years cannot be considered an "occupier" when it returns just 32 years later. And if you’ve made it this far, here are the Main Periods Without a Jewish Presence in Hebron since 1,800bc, 3,800 years ago: ​The Babylonian Exile (6th Century BCE) – ~50 to 70 years: The Crusader Period (1099–1187) – ~88 years: Modern Era (1936–1968) – ~32 years. Jews cannot be considered occupiers in Hebron, as they are the indigenous people of the city.

Last night, I had the privilege of attending Katharina von Schnurbein farewell event. It was an evening full of appreciation for Katharina, mixed with sadness over her upcoming departure. Thank you, Katharina, for your unmatched courage and humanity. In a world where speaking the truth has become rare and difficult, your steadfast voice is more important than ever.