Jews can be categorized into three genetic groups, all tracing their origins back to the Middle East. These genetic roots are common with both Palestinian and Druze populations.
Amidst the historical backdrop of conflicts and wars that have perennially characterized the Middle East, a frequently cited Zionist argument supporting the establishment of a Jewish state in Israel revolves around the assertion that Jews inhabited this land two millennia ago, in contrast to the Arabs.
However, recent scientific research has delved into the genetic connections between Jewish and Palestinian populations, offering a unique lens through which to understand their shared ancestry. In the midst of political complexities and historical disputes, these studies, particularly focusing on paternal lineage and genetic markers, provide a compelling narrative that transcends the divides imposed by conflict. Beyond the headlines of the region’s tumultuous history, exploring these genetic relationships reveals a shared human heritage and common ground that often remains obscured amid the challenges of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Recent genetic studies have found that Jewish people and Palestinians are connected through their family lines, especially on the father’s side. These studies show that Jews and Palestinians are more closely related to each other than to the people in the countries where they currently live. The Y chromosome, which carries certain genetic markers, is similar in both Arabs and Jews, though not exactly the same.
In a study from 2010 called “The genome-wide structure of the Jewish people,” researchers discovered that Palestinians have genetic similarities with Bedouins, Jordanians, and Saudis. This suggests they might all have come from a commonplace, the Arabian Peninsula. Another study in the same year found that Palestinians, along with Bedouins, Druze, and some southern European groups, are the closest genetic neighbors to most Jewish populations.
Another study found that there’s a lot of genetic similarity among Israeli/Palestinian Arabs and Jews. The researcher suggested that many Muslim Palestinians might be descended from local people, like Christians and Jews, who converted to Islam after the Islamic conquest in the seventh century.
A more recent study in 2020 looked at ancient DNA from Canaanite (Bronze Age southern Levantine) populations. This study found that people in the area today, including Palestinians, Druze, Lebanese, Jordanians, Bedouins, and Syrians, as well as different Jewish groups, like Ashkenazi, Iranian, and Moroccan Jews, share more than half of their ancestry with these ancient Canaanite/Bronze Age populations. There’s also evidence of a European influence since the Bronze Age, with an average of about 8.7%. Ashkenazi Jews, who have ties to Europe, have a higher European-related ancestry of around 41%.
In simple terms, these studies suggest that Jews and Palestinians have common family roots, especially on the male side, and share a lot of their genetic history. While present-day groups in the region may not directly come from people in ancient times, they have similarities with those who lived in the Middle East a long time ago. The studies also show that there have been additional influences on the region’s genetics since ancient times, and this helps us understand more about the history of the people in the area.
These genetic studies not only bridge the gap between Jews and Palestinians but also contribute to a broader understanding of the historical complexities in the Middle East. Shared genetic roots, especially on the paternal side, underscore the commonality between these communities, offering a perspective that goes beyond political and cultural boundaries. While these findings bring clarity to the historical connections, they also emphasize the need to recognize the diverse influences that have shaped the genetic landscape of the region over time.
The lingering question then arises: when the Pro-Zionist faction asserts their entitlement to the land based on their Jewish heritage, does this not imply an equivalent right for the Palestinians? Does one forfeit their claim to the land upon converting away from Judaism? If so, how do non-religious Jews, a substantial population in Israel, substantiate their connection to the land?
Regardless of the justifications for the land’s colonization, it remains a fact that Palestinians have a legitimate right to it. This right is grounded not only in their recent expulsion from the land, a mere 75 years ago compared to a span of 2,000 years but also in the shared genetic markers that Zionists often cite as the foundation for their land claim.
A common response from Zionists to these discoveries is the claim that there is no historical record of Palestinians before the twentieth century, which is erroneous. The earliest clear usage of the term “Palestine” to denote the entire region between Phoenicia and Egypt dates back to the 5th century BCE in ancient Greece when Herodotus mentioned a “district of Syria, called Palaistinê.” Moreover, ancient Roman texts also referred to portions of the Levant and what is now Palestine as “Syria Palestina.”
Another contention put forth by the pro-Israel camp is the assertion that there never existed a Palestinian state. However, aside from the questionable nature of this argument, dismissing it as disingenuous and counterproductive, the mere absence of an independent state does not nullify the indigenous people’s rightful claim to their ancestral land. Whether it was under Ottoman, British, or Israeli control, the fundamental truth persists: the people possess a legitimate entitlement to their homeland.
Ultimately, this scientific exploration adds an understanding of the Middle East’s rich and interconnected history. It reaffirms that Palestinians have a legitimate historical claim to their land, a right that is presently being denied to them.
The charts presented above depict the relative frequencies of specific alleles across various populations. Directing attention to Graph A, the red bars represent the European population, while the brown bars signify the Jewish population. The blue bars represent “non-Jewish citizens of Israel” (i.e., Palestinians), and the pink bars represent North Africans (Arabs and Berbers). It is evident from the data that Palestinians form a distinct group separate from their Arab counterparts and share a closer genetic relationship with Jews. The presence of Jewish genetic markers is observable in every Palestinian, indicating that a significant portion of the Palestinian population is, to some extent, descended from Jews who historically resided in Palestine. This observation introduces an additional layer of complexity to the overall context
