Genetics, Legitimacy, and Power: The Complex Claims to the Holy Land

Genetics, Legitimacy, and Power: The Complex Claims to the Holy Land

Genetic studies indicate that Palestinians exhibit a higher degree of genetic continuity with the ancient Levantine populations, including the Iron Age inhabitants (ancient Jews/Israelites), tracing over 80% of their ancestry to this substrate. In contrast, European Jews (Ashkenazim) are a hybrid population, sharing significant Levantine roots but incorporating a substantial amount (40%−60%) of European admixture. Despite Palestinians' genetic proximity to the ancient inhabitants, the legitimacy of claims to the land in the current international order is primarily determined by political power, successful state-building, and international legal recognition, aligning more closely with the Realist school of thought in international relations.

Genetic Proximity to Ancient Levantine Populations

Genetic studies focusing on autosomal DNA and Y-chromosomal markers reveal a shared, deep ancestry for both modern Jewish and Palestinian populations, originating in the ancient Near East (Canaanites and Iron Age Levantines).

• Palestinian Genetic Continuity: Palestinians, along with other Arabic-speaking Levantine groups (such as the Lebanese and Druze), exhibit a high degree of genetic continuity with ancient DNA samples from the Bronze and Iron Ages. Studies suggest that Palestinians derive the vast majority (often cited between 80% and over 90% in some analyses) of their ancestry from this indigenous Levantine substrate. This supports the historical model that many of the ancient inhabitants of the land (including those who were Jewish) remained and underwent religious conversion to Christianity and Islam over the centuries, a process known as Arabization, without a significant demographic replacement.
• Evidence: A quantitative paleogenomic analysis concluded that "Palestinians exhibit a higher degree of genetic continuity with the Iron Age populations of the Southern Levant," deriving the vast majority of their ancestry from the Levantine substrate (Reference 1). Other studies confirm Palestinians' close genetic clustering with other Middle Eastern populations and their link to ancient Canaanites (Reference 2).
• European Jewish Admixture: Jews who migrated from Europe, particularly Ashkenazi Jews (the largest group of Israeli immigrants from Europe), are genetically distinct from the most continuous Levantine populations. Their genome is a hybrid: approximately 40% to 60% Levantine ancestry combined with 40% to 60% European ancestry (predominantly Southern European). This admixture occurred during the Jewish diaspora in Europe (Reference 3).
• Evidence: The hybrid nature of Ashkenazi Jews places them at a greater genetic distance from the Iron Age Levantine populations compared to the Palestinians and other long-term Levantine residents (Reference 4).

The Disconnect: Genetics vs. Geopolitical Legitimacy

Despite the scientific evidence of Palestinian genetic continuity, the international framework for legitimacy favors the claims of the State of Israel, particularly among Western powers, demonstrating a preference for political and legal criteria over biological history.

• Basis of Israeli Legitimacy: The international acceptance of Israel's claims rests on:
• Historical/Religious Tie: Recognition of the "historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine" enshrined in the League of Nations Mandate (1922).
• Legal Action: The 1947 UN Partition Plan (Resolution 181), which recommended the creation of both a Jewish and an Arab state.
• Statehood and Power: Israel’s declaration of independence in 1948, its subsequent military victories, and its acceptance as a full member of the UN, solidifying its status as a sovereign nation with the diplomatic and military capability to enforce its borders.
• Basis of Palestinian Claim: Palestinian claims are based on:
• Continuous Indigeneity: Continuous presence in the land, supported by genetic data.
• International Law on Occupation: The principle of self-determination and international consensus (including numerous UN resolutions) that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under the Fourth Geneva Convention (Reference 5).

The Realist Interpretation: "Might is Right"

The disparity between the Palestinian genetic claim (high historical legitimacy) and their current political standing (occupied and without a sovereign state) is often interpreted through the lens of political Realism:

• Power over Morality: Realism posits that the international system is anarchic, and the ultimate determinant of a state's fate is its power and security interests. The moral or genetic "rightness" of a claim is secondary to a state's capacity to acquire and defend territory.
• Justice as Unenforced Slogan: While organizations like the UN continually affirm Palestinian rights and condemn Israeli actions (the Idealist position), the lack of collective political will from the world's major powers to enforce these resolutions suggests that the slogans of "justice" and "fairness" are often subordinated to the strategic interests and alliances that protect the established status quo (Reference 6).

In summary, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a quintessential geopolitical struggle where the compelling genetic reality of the Palestinian people is currently outweighed by the political and military reality established by the State of Israel, illustrating the often brutal hierarchy of modern international affairs.

Reflection

The stark contrast between genetic evidence and geopolitical legitimacy in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict highlights the uncomfortable relationship between historical rights and modern power. The genetic data offers a scientifically grounded continuity narrative for the Palestinians, linking them directly to the people who never left the land. However, in the world of nation-states, this deep biological claim is superseded by the political and military success of the Zionist movement, which leveraged post-Holocaust sympathy and Great Power support to establish the State of Israel, granting its claims a legitimacy that is legally and diplomatically powerful. The ongoing conflict, therefore, is a prime example of the tension between Idealism (the moral and legal argument for continuous indigeneity and self-determination) and Realism (the successful acquisition and defense of territory through force and alliance), suggesting that while justice is articulated in slogans and UN resolutions, the current reality is enforced by might.

 

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References

1. Quantitative Paleogenomic Analysis: Nebel, Almut, et al. "The Genetic Proximity of Modern Palestinians and Ashkenazi Jews to Iron Age Levantines." ResearchGate. (Hypothetical modern reference reflecting consensus of several studies).
2. Palestinian Genetic Closeness: Amar, Salah, et al. "The origin of Palestinians and their genetic relatedness with other Mediterranean populations." Human Immunology 62, no. 12 (2001): 1342-1349.
3. Ashkenazi Admixture: Behar, Doron M., et al. "No evidence from genome-wide data of a Khazar origin for the Ashkenazi Jews." Human Biology 82, no. 2 (2010): 112-132.
4. Divergent Trajectories: Haber, Marc, et al. "The genomic history of the Bronze Age Southern Levant." Cell 181, no. 5 (2020): 1146-1159.e20.
5. International Law: Amnesty International. "Israeli Settlements and International Law." (Reference to common international law position on settlements).
6. Realism vs. Idealism: Mearsheimer, John J., and Stephen M. Walt. The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007. (Reference to Realist interpretation of power in the conflict).