"Proof of Palestine"? The Shocking Truth Behind the Viral Plane Photo

In recent dase, a vintage black-and-white photo of an airplane emblazoned with "PALESTINE AIRWAYS LIMITED" has gone viral on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter). Pro-Palestinian activists frequently share it as "evidence" of a sovereign Palestinian state predating the establishment of Israel in 1948. For instance, one user posted the image with the caption:

"Palestine Airways 1934. Years before the Rothschilds invented Israel."

Another claimed:

"Palestine Airways, 1934. Proof that Palestine was thriving long before the Zionist project carved it up."

And a third declared:

"Palestine Airways circa 1935. Long Before Israel arrived (by boat)."

Even accounts dedicated to Palestinian culture have shared it, like:

"Proof that Palestine existed: Palestine Airways... All of these are older than 'Israel'."

But the historical truth is far removed from this narrative. The photo doesn't prove the existence of an Arab Palestinian state; instead, it highlights the Jewish-Zionist context of the era. Let's break down this claim step by step and see why it's not just inaccurate, but utterly ridiculous.

Historical Background: What Was "Palestine" in the 1930s?

First, it's essential to understand the context. In the 1930s, "Palestine" wasn't a sovereign state - neither Jewish nor Arab. It was the name of a territory under the British Mandate, established in 1920 by the League of Nations (the precursor to the UN). The Mandate aimed to create a "national home for the Jewish people" in the Land of Israel, as promised in the 1917 Balfour Declaration.The term "Palestine" was an ancient Roman relic, adopted by the British as the official name for the region encompassing modern-day Israel, Judea and Samaria, and Gaza. Residents - Jews, Arabs, and Christians - were geographically called "Palestinians," but this didn't denote a distinct Arab-Palestinian national identity. In fact, until the 1960s, "Palestinian" primarily referred to Jews in the area. Examples abound: The Palestine Post was a Jewish newspaper (now The Jerusalem Post), the Palestine Symphony Orchestra was the precursor to the Israel Philharmonic, and the Palestinian national football team was Jewish.

Who Founded "Palestine Airways" and Why?

Now, to the plane itself. Palestine Airways Limited was founded on December 18, 1934, as a private company in London by Pinhas Rutenberg - a Jewish-Zionist engineer from Russia and a key figure in the Zionist movement.Rutenberg, who also founded the Palestine Electric Corporation (which became the Israel Electric Corporation), collaborated with the Histadrut (the Jewish labor federation) and the Jewish Agency—both prominent Zionist institutions.

Commercial flights began on August 11, 1937, with routes between Haifa and Lydda (now Ben Gurion Airport), but this line was discontinued due to Arab riots and safety concerns in Arab areas.By 1938, the base moved to Tel Aviv's Sde Dov Airport, with daily flights to Haifa, expanded to Beirut and Larnaca, and charter services to Egypt. The fleet included Short Scion aircraft (initially two), de Havilland Dragon Rapide, and Short Scion Senior.

The airline operated until August 1940, when its planes were requisitioned by the British Royal Air Force for World War II.

The Inscription on the Plane: "Land of Israel Airways"

Here's the most absurd part: The plane's lettering isn't just in English and Arabic - it's also in Hebrew: "Netivei Avir Eretz Yisrael Ltd." (נתיבי אוויר ארץ ישראל בע"מ), meaning "Land of Israel Airways Limited," with "(E.I.)" for "Eretz Israel." This wasn't accidental - the airline was Jewish from inception, and the Hebrew name emphasized its ties to the Land of Israel. The Arabic script? Common in the multilingual British Mandate, but it doesn't make the company "Palestinian Arab." It simply reflects the era's mixed population under British rule.

Why the Claim Is Ridiculous: Ignoring Facts and Rewriting History

The assertion that this photo proves a sovereign Arab Palestinian state before 1948 is ridiculous for several reasons:

1. No Link to an Arab Palestinian State: No such state has ever existed in history. Arab Palestinians identified as part of the broader Arab nation until the 1960s, when they adopted a distinct Palestinian national identity. A Jewish-Zionist airline isn't "proof" of an Arab state.

2. The Name "Palestine" Was British, Not Palestinian: It was used for everything in the Mandate - from currency to passports. Jews used it because it was official, but they always emphasized "Eretz Israel."

3. The Airline Was Part of Zionist Infrastructure: Rutenberg and the Jewish Agency built it as preparation for a future Jewish state. It's like claiming the Palestine Electric Corporation (also founded by Rutenberg) proves a Palestinian state - but it became Israeli.

4. Ignoring the Hebrew Inscription: Many posts crop out or overlook the Hebrew, which reveals the Jewish identity. As one user noted: "You literally posted a Jewish Zionist airplane and claimed it was your national airline."

Israeli activists and supporters on X have repeatedly exposed this truth. For example, Hananya Naftali wrote: "Pro-Palestine activists are posting this image to 'prove' that Palestine existed before Israel... The Hebrew on the plane literally says 'Land of Israel Airways.' History is not their strongest side." And Yoseph Haddad (via Amir Tsarfati) laughed: "This idiot didn’t notice that the plane has the Hebrew name... Yes, it’s a Jewish airline founded in 1934 by Pinchas Rutenberg."

Real History vs. False Narrative

The photo of the Palestine Airways plane isn't evidence of a Palestinian state before Israel - it's proof of Zionist development under the British Mandate. This claim relies on historical ignorance, fact omission, and disinformation. Instead of inventing history, it's better to study it: The "Palestine" of then is the Land of Israel of today, and this plane was part of the path to establishing the State of Israel. If anyone still believes otherwise, history clearly isn't their strong suit.