Jerusalem-forum@wanadoo.jo

History of Palestine

As Napoleon consolidated his foot in Egypt, he began mulling the idea of taking over Palestine and Syria. Accordingly, he left Egypt in the spring of 1799, crossing the desert, thus entering Palestine proper. But before clashing with the Ottoman soldiers and the Palestinian citizens, Napoleon, who declared himself as a Muslim, donning a turban over his head, circulated a leaflet, stating in particular the following excerpt.

“In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

 From Bonaparte, the Amir (Prince) of the French armies, to the all and clerics, muftis and the populations of Gaza, Ramla and Jafa, may Allah protect them. After Assalam (Greetings)— This is written to let you know that we came here for the purpose of evicting the Mamluks and the Askar (soldiers) of Al Jazzar [Ahmad Pasha, the Governor of the Palestinian Fort of Acre], and ending his incursions in Jafa and Gaza, which are not under his rule? For what reason he sent his soldier to El Afresh Fort? In doing so he was encroaching upon Egypt. Thus, his aim is to have war with us, and so we came here to fight him”.

And after Napoleon had reassured the Palestinians on the matters of security for themselves and their families, he went on to say:

“ Our aim is that the Judges don’t relinquish their jobs, whereas Islam is still cherished and well-considered, and the mosques full of prayers and believers. He who demonstrates with affability toward us will succeed, but who betrays us would perish”.

The Palestine’s Expeditionary Force of 13,000- strong was under the command of Bonaparte himself, assisted by five generals, including Kleber, Murat and Dugua.

As Jazzar learned of the approaching French force, he began counter military preparations by the fortification of Jafa, and sending enforcements to Gaza. His forces arrived at the Egyptian town of  El Areesh, but the French occupied the latter after 8-day-siege on February 16, 1799. Thereafter, the French proceeded toward the Palestinian Khan Younis and proceeding later to Gaza. On February 25, the forces of Bonaparte and Al Jazzar engaged in a battle, which was ended by defeating the latter.

On Feb. 28, Bonaparte left Gaza for the conquest of Palestine, taking over the Ramla first, then Jafa (March 6, 1799). The latter was defended by a 12,000-strong mixed force of Al Jazzar and the Mamluks. But Napoleon bombarded the city by his heavy artillery, occupying it and killing at least 3,000 captives without burying them, claiming that they were dishonest and not respectful to the military honor! Thus, their exposed bodies became coveted meals for the vultures.

The people of the land thought that Bonaparte would move towards Jerusalem, which the Turks incarcerated all the followers of the Orthodox Church in the Church of Sepulcher. But he did not show up. When asked if he intended to pass through it, Bonaparte retorted sternly: “ No. Jerusalem is not on my itinerary. And I don’t intend to arouse frictions with the mountains’ people, and to penetrate deeply and get stuck. Moreover, I don’t want to be vulnerable to attacks by numerous horse riders from the other side. I am careful not to face Casius’ fate. As a matter of fact, Bonaparte used to pay attention to the military spots only, and he didn’t view Jerusalem as a significant military site at the time.

According to one story, Bonaparte wrote to the residents of Jerusalem, asking them to succumb to his authority, but they retorted that they are affiliated with Acre, and who manages to take over the latter, he simultaneously controls Jerusalem. Consequently, Bonaparte moved to besiege Acre, the capital of Palestine at the time.

According to the Palestinian historian Ahmad Sameh Khalidi wrote in his book Ahl El Elm Bein Misr Wa Phalasteen, 1947, that Musa Khalidi, a military judge based in the Asetana (Constantinople), wrote to the Jerusalemites, urging them to fight against Napoleon, and they clashed with his troops in many places of Palestine, from Nablus region in particular. Bonaparte moved his troops to Haifa, occupying it and arriving to Acre on March 19,1799. He besieged the city, which Al Jazzar had already entrenched behind its walls. The siege remained 60 days, but Bonaparte failed to capture the city, falling back from it after his troops were ravaged by plague, which killed many of them, including some generals. Moreover, certain developments in France compelled Bonaparte to go home, leaving behind him the botched military expedition of Palestine. Some 3,500 French soldiers lost their lives in the vicinity of Acre’s walls, as 1,000 more vanished in their way out of the country. He arrived Egypt, on his way home, on May 1799.

Bonaparte was a military genius, but he lost a lot of his prestige during his two-month adventure in Palestine.