Middle East“Palestine” does not exist “because [Arabs] can't pronounce the letter ‘P’': Israeli MP

Published 11 February 2016

Israeli politicians who oppose the creation of an independent Palestinian state have found a new argument to support their position: The fact the Arabic does not have the letter “P.” Linguists and Middle East scholars expressed surprise at this line of argument, noting that in Arabic, the name of the people – and their country – begin with the letter “F,” not “P.” In Arabic, “Palestine” is pronounced “Falastin.”

Israeli politicians who oppose the creation of an independent Palestinian state have found a new argument to support their position: The fact the Arabic does not have the letter “P.”

Dr. Anat Berko, a Member of the Knesset (parliament) from the right-wing Likud Party, has caused outrage – and ridicule – for insisting, in a speech at the Knesset, that the Palestine, and the Palestinian people, do not exist, and cannot possibly exist, because Arabic does not include the “P” sound.

The Jerusalem Post reports that Berkosaid in the Knesset: “I want to go back to history, what is our place here, about Jerusalem, about Palestine, when like we said, Arabic doesn’t even have ‘P,’ so this loan-word also merits scrutiny.”

Tamar Zandberg of the left-wing Meretz party responded: “What? Did everyone hear this? Are you an idiot?”

Berko responded: “These are the facts. I’ll send it to you, everything’s alright.”

Linguists and Middle East scholars said the Berko was right that Arabic does not have the sound or letter “P,” but expressed surprise that an individual with her credential would be ignorant of the fact the in Arabic, the name of the people – and their country – begin with the letter “F,” not “P.”

In Arabic, “Palestine” is pronounced “Falastin.”

The Post notes that Dr. Berko is a former Lieutenant Colonel in the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) and has served as a visiting professor at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Her resume says that her academic specialty is in counterterrorism and suicide bombings.