Book casts doubt on Jewish heritage

Press, 15 August 1984, Page 22

Book casts doubt on Jewish heritage

NZPA-AAP London A yet to be published book has sparked controversy in Europe with claims about the Old Testament that could mean Israel’s Jews are living in the wrong country.

Israel stakes its claim to Palestine on the basis of Old Testament kingdoms, but according to a respected Lebanese professor the events of the Old Testament happened in south-west Saudi Arabia, not in Palestine.

Kamal Salibi, a professor of history at the American University in Beirut, puts his theory in “The Bible Came From Arabia,” to be published soon by the West German magazine, “Der Spiegel.” News of the book has been broken in Britain by the “Sunday Times” newspaper which reported that Professor Salibi’s claims had caused a storm in West German academic circles.

The newspaper, which had a copy of the book, said Professor Salibi did not dispute that by the time of Jesus, Jewish history had

become firmly rooted in Palestine.

“Nor does he deny that there was a Jewish presence in Palestine, even in Old Testament times,” the “Sunday Times” said.

But, the newspaper added, Professor Salibi claimed the Old Testament related a story which unfolded in the fertile coastal hills of western Arabia, now the ‘ Saudi provinces of Asir and the southern part of Hejaz. Professor Salibi, a 55-year-old Christian, said it was there that the origins of Judaism, Christianity and Islam should be sought. The “Daily Telegraph” quoted Professor Salibi as

saying, “if somebody proves me wrong I will yield gracefully.” The professor has written several highly regarded books on the history of Lebanon, Syria, and Arabia.

He said he came across his theory by accident when he set out to discover the origins of pre-Arabic place names in the west of the region where many towns, villages and local features still bear ancient names.

To anyone who doubted his theory, Professor Salibi asked: “Why then are there so few Biblical names in Palestine and why are nearly all of them in southwest Arabia?”