The vibes are off in the world of historical interpretation this week. Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian Ambassador to the U.K., is catching heat for claiming that the Bible is a "Palestinian book" and suggesting that Jesus, by extension, was a Palestinian.
The argument
Zomlot dropped these comments on September 3 at the University of Bradford during a chat with the former First Minister of Scotland, Humza Yousaf. He told the audience he once told the late Queen Elizabeth II, "Jesus is our gift to you," while arguing that the Bible has been "rewritten" to be used against his people. He also claimed that the original Christians and saints all came from "my land."
The pushback
Real talk, not everyone is buying it. Pastor John Hagee, who leads the massive organization Christians United for Israel, went off on the comments, calling them "contemptible." Hagee pointed out the obvious chronological issue: the term "Palestinian" wasn't even a thing when the Bible was written. He compared the claim to calling Dr. Phil Cherokee just because he was born in Oklahoma—lowkey a wild comparison, but it gets the point across.
Ze’ev Orenstein, who works for the City of David Foundation, also weighed in. He noted that Jesus was Jewish, observed Jewish laws, and lived in Judea—not a country called Palestine. Orenstein went as far as to call the rhetoric "identity theft," arguing that it’s an attempt to rewrite the historical foundations of faith.
Why it matters
This isn't just about theology; it's a proxy battle for political legitimacy. Critics say the Palestinian Authority is trying to shape international narratives via the U.N. and UNESCO, often by re-labeling historical Jewish sites. With tensions already high, this "who owns the history" debate is highkey becoming the main character in current international discourse. Say less.
