A series where I use history to debunk common misconceptions about the Middle East conflict.
Charles Harbutt was an American photojournalist who died last year. He was in Israel during the Six Day War, and really captured the feeling and mood at the time.
His piece in National Geographic in December 1967 is an absolute gem – and I have reproduced it below, along with sections I marked for your special attention. Note the following:
- Mention of the actions leading to the war, again debunking claims we were the aggressors who initiated hostilities
- The compassionate and respectful conduct of our soldiers, which Charles witnessed
- The soldier who felt he could finally defend the Jews after the horrors of the Holocaust
- The mention of a Bethlehem merchant as “Jordanian” – not “Palestinian.” Again, no prizes for guessing why.
- How Israelis rushed to their redeemed holy sites and the feeling of emotion
Note: I cannot provide a link to the full article since it is only available to those who have purchased a National Geographic subscription. But I have provided the screenshots. As usual, click on the screenshots to enlarge.
