You've definitely heard the most powerful story out there: a small, ancient people scattered by tragedy and rising up to reclaim their ancestral home. It’s the ultimate comeback story, right? For decades, that inspiring narrative has dominated the Western mind.
But here's the thing about powerful stories: they often leave out huge chunks of history. Our goal today is simple — we’re going to look closer and find out where the true, complex history of this land actually began.
So let’s get into the evidence and investigate the question: Who came first — Palestine or Israel?
What Are the Origins of the Palestinian People? Who Came First, Palestine or Israel?
If you want to know who came first, Palestine or Israel, you have to go back — way back. The story of the Palestinian people is one of deep, continuous presence in the Levant, stretching back thousands of years.
Here are the key historical layers that form the foundation of Palestinian origins:
3000 BC — The Canaanites
The Canaanites were already the established civilization. They weren’t just settlers; they were farming the land, cultivating fields, building trade routes, and establishing fortified cities that shaped life in the Levant.
1800 BC — The Jebusites
A local Canaanite tribe that ruled the high ground that eventually grew into Jerusalem.
1200 BC — The Philistines
A seafaring people from the Aegean region who settled along the coast. And here’s a crucial fact: Dr. Roy Casagranda notes that the name Palestine came from these Philistines, whose presence gave the region its enduring identity.
Are Palestinians Arabs? The Answer Is in History
A common question comes up: Are Palestinians Arabs?
This is where the story requires nuance.
After the ancient era, the land passed through many empires — Babylonians, Greeks, Romans. But one thing stayed constant: the local people remained.
Over the centuries, the population shifted faiths — first widely to Christianity, and after the 7th century, to Islam.
With Islam came the adoption of Arabic language and culture.
So Palestinians today are primarily the genetic descendants of the ancient Canaanites and Philistines, unified later by Arab language and culture. They are not recent arrivals from the Arabian Peninsula.
This long history of continuous presence also destroys the myth that Palestine was “a land without a people.”
Archival records like the British survey of 1871–1877 documented more than 13,000 named towns and villages, proving the land was a thriving, populated society before modern conflicts began.
Uncovering the Roots: What Do Israeli Origins Actually Reveal?
Now, let’s examine the origins on the other side to answer the question: Who came first, Palestine or Israel?
Many people assume a simple, direct line between the biblical Israelites and the modern state of Israel. But when we investigate Jewish ancestry, history and genetic science reveal a far more complex story.
The Genetic Challenge
Modern genetic studies — including those by Israeli-American geneticist Dr. Eran Elhaik — show that today’s Jewish communities are not a single, homogenous group descending solely from biblical Israelites. They are diverse populations shaped by migrations, conversions, and major historical shifts.
One of the most significant pieces of evidence points to the Khazars.
- The Khazars were a powerful Turkic kingdom in Central Asia (modern-day Ukraine and Russia) during the 8th and 9th centuries. Around that time, their ruler, King Joseph, converted to Judaism — and much of his kingdom followed.
This event is documented in the Khazar Correspondence (954–961 AD), where King Joseph openly stated that the Khazars were not descendants of Shem (the biblical ancestor of the Hebrews) but had adopted Judaism by choice.
Author Arthur Koestler, in The Thirteenth Tribe, argued that many European Jews trace their roots to the Khazars, not ancient Israel. After the empire collapsed, the Khazars dispersed across Europe, forming a major part of the ancestry of Ashkenazi Jews — the group that later led the modern migration to Palestine.
Do Palestinian Origins Contain Ancient Hebrew Roots?
Professor Roy Casagranda puts it clearly:
“If you look at Jews living in Europe, they look European. Jews in India look Indian. They’re still Jewish because identity isn’t about DNA — it’s about culture.”
Identity is shaped by faith, culture, and continuous life in a place — not just genetics.
And here is the historical irony: when modern European Zionists began calling to “return” to their homeland, the people they found already living there — Palestinians who had remained on the land for millennia — were, in many cases, genetically closer to the ancient Hebrews than many of the Ashkenazi Jews who migrated there.
Watch the Full Episode on YouTube
We’ve started a full educational series where we break down the story of Palestine from A to Z — clear, honest, and grounded in evidence. This article is part of Episode 2. You can watch the full episode now on our YouTube channel to see the complete visual breakdown.
Rajaeen: Crafting a Future of Hope and Heritage
The story of Palestine is not just history — it’s a living struggle for justice, dignity, and identity. Decades of displacement and inequality have not silenced the Palestinian voice.
At Rajaeen, we believe that preserving heritage goes hand in hand with building a better future. By supporting skilled artisans and digital creators among Palestinian refugees, we’re not just sharing products — we’re amplifying voices, reviving traditions, and creating real economic opportunities.
Join us at Rajaeen. Stand with Palestinian refugees, support their craft, and be part of a movement that turns tradition into lasting impact.
