The Saga of Survival: Armenian Palestinians, the British Mandate and the Nakba

by Varsen Aghabekian

The book depicts the life of the Armenian community during the British Mandate in Palestine. It contributes to the overall narrative about the political and socioeconomic aspects prior to the Nakba and the fundamental changes which have occurred to the indigenous and the uninterrupted presence of Armenians in Palestine. It sheds light on the challenges of the period especially in the year 1948,touching upon Armenian Palestinian’s human and material loses, and the long standing impact on the Armenian presence in the Holy Land, enormously affected by a second time refuge to many Armenians.It highlights the Armenian contribution towards protecting and safeguarding the Armenian Patriarchate and the Armenian Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem, recreating the scene through the experiences of those who lived the period or through their descendants.

226 pages, Paperback

Published June 22, 2023

Reviews

[Anya Merzikian · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25
As an Armenian, this book was extremely interesting and shocking in the best way. Armenians and Palestinians share one very important thing in common: resilience. We only wish for peace, and will not lose hope. Every Armenian needs to read this book.

[Randy Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Armenian friend found a copy of this book on Amazon but remarked that it was hard to locate. Because it focuses on the Armenians in Palestine mostly after the genocide of the Armenian people by the Turks during World War One, and Nakba, I decided to read it.

First off the book is focused on Armenians in Jerusalem and two migrations, the first happening nearly 1700 years, earlier these were the Kaghakatsi, and then after 1915 those having escaped after the genocide called the Zuwwar. We learn about the ancient roots of the Kaghakatsi and the longstanding Patriarchate, the religious leadership that had kept the Jerusalem Armenians mostly secure and prosperous during their long history there.

Then with the genocide everything changes and the immigrants become a majority and they struggle to integrate and become successful in this established community. Then it is the Nakba of 1948 and the Armenian sector is attacked by both Palestinian Arabs and Israelis but most violently by the Israelis attempting to seize control and dominance which they achieve.

The book details the ongoing struggle of this small community, at most ten thousand Armenians in Jerusalem at the height, and how they persevered despite the Nakba and the ongoing struggles between Arabs and Jews. While the Armenians weren’t the direct subject of Nakba, but they were certainly collateral damage, subject to frequent bombings and the scattering of individuals around the world as a result.

There is still pride the 1,200-1,800 Armenians still living in Jerusalem and that many Jerusalem Armenians have made big contributions in many arenas. This book isn’t strong on argument and analysis but it is important documentation of a strong but small community that can testify to the efforts of the Israelis to dominate other populations in what is a holy land for many people. This is important testament to Armenians
everywhere who are resilient people with a vibrant and rich culture.