Avi Yemini | October 26, 2025 | News Analysis
For decades, activists worldwide have repeated the claim that Palestinians are oppressed by Israel. When Tommy Robinson walked through Jerusalem’s Old City with me, this narrative began to collapse—not through speeches or debates, but through a single question: “Where would you rather live—here under Israel, or in Ramallah under the Palestinian Authority?”
We entered the Old City via the Muslim Quarter, a densely populated area historically tied to Jewish life. Our guide explained how this region once hosted 1,299 Jewish families, 21 synagogues, and six learning centers before conflicts reshaped the city. Today, Israeli security investments protect Jewish residents returning to live here.
Amid the political and religious tensions of Jerusalem, Tommy’s question cut through the noise. Local Muslim residents, many identifying as Palestinian, were asked if they preferred life under Israel or the Palestinian Authority. Their responses defied expectations: “Here,” one man said instantly. Another added, “Much better here.” Others praised safety, opportunities, and freedom under Israeli governance.
A man shared he had never faced discrimination. Another highlighted his ability to walk freely as a Muslim alongside Jews and Christians. An Ethiopian Jew in the area rejected claims of Israel being an “apartheid state,” stating, “We can go and do whatever we want.”
In Western media and campuses, the narrative persists that Palestinians in Jerusalem are victims of systemic oppression. Yet locals described coexistence, livelihoods, and safety. One man urged, “People should come to Israel and see for themselves—the news doesn’t say the truth.”
Tommy noted these responses contrasted sharply with anti-Israel rhetoric in Britain. These were not government figures but ordinary residents speaking openly in their neighborhood.
Over the coming days, Tommy and I will visit areas under Palestinian Authority control—Ramallah and Hebron—to compare life there. Will residents express the same confidence and freedom? We’ll find out.
One truth is clear: the world has been fed a selective story about Israel. The reality on the ground challenges the “Free Palestine” narrative, revealing a more complex and inconvenient truth.
Tommy Robinson’s visit to Israel, invited by its Minister for Diaspora Affairs, aims to highlight these contradictions. Unlike mainstream media, Rebel News reports without government influence, relying on viewer support to fund investigations.
This story matters because the truth matters.
