How ignorant are the soldiers!

How ignorant are the people! They are willing to forfeit their possessions, honor, wealth, property and even life in the path of their country, but unwilling to perform any sacrifice in the path of God. The battlefields of the world have been crimsoned with the blood of millions of soldiers, all to no purpose. Today no one knows their names. But when one soul sacrifices his life in the path of God, his name becomes eternal. Consider how precious is the blood of the martyrs!

-Abdul Baha, Extract from Ahmad's Diary, July 5, 1914

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Deliberate policy, not to carry on missionary activity in Israel

Jewish Post & Opinion, a New York City newspaper, recently ran an article entitled “Missionary Agitation in Israel,” referring to efforts to convert Jewish children and adults in the Holy Land. The article included this statement: “A splendid positive example is set by the Bahá’í Faith. Although their world center is in Israel, this religion has made it a matter of deliberate policy not to carry on missionary activity here and not even to accept converts within Israel, in recognition of the hospitality which the Bahá’ís enjoy here.”

(Baha'i News, May 1963)

https://bahai.works/Bahá’í_News/Issue_386/Text

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his attitude toward the Jews was always excellent

He ('Abdu'l Baha) especially excelled in his tolerance for all religions, and his attitude toward the Jews was always excellent.

(Yeshayahu Karniel, Dar Hayom, 1921)

https://benyehuda.org/read/22503

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Most of the village of al-Nuqayb was purchased by Bahá’u’lláh and sold by Shoghi Effendi to the Jewish National Fund.

In his book All That Remains: The Palestinian Villages Occupied and Depopulated by Israel in 1948, the historian Walid Khalidi details the history of many of these Palestinian villages and how they were depopulated. For example, he notes that in the 1880s most of the village land of al-Nuqayb was purchased by Bahá’u’lláh, with the villagers continuing to farm as tenant farmers. In the 1920s, this land was sold by Shoghi Effendi to the Jewish National Fund.

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Shoghi Effendi on Palestine

We are assured that the Jews will get all of Palestine; Abdu'l-Bahá mentioned this in "Some answered Questions"; also, the British Secretary Balfour in his declaration mentioned it. The Jews are establishing their home in Palestine. The word "Israel" means "Hastening to God." "Isra" means "hastening" and "el" means "God." The Jews suffered for 2,000 years for persecuting Christ, "The Son of God," for 3 years; the Moslems and the Arabs persecuted Bahá'u'lláh, "the Father," for 50 years, so they will suffer more and endure greater sufferings. The time of banishment is now over for the Jews. They will return to Palestine and Palestine will be their home forever. The Moslems and Arabs will be scattered. The Arabs suffered severe defeat because they did not respond to the call of Bahá'u'lláh. One million Jews came into Israel and one million Arabs went out of Israel in 1948 and 1949. The Jews will get all of Palestine because the Arabs will make trouble with the Jews and the Jews will drive them out. The standard of Israel must be raised...

(Haifa Notes by Ramona Brown - May 2, 1954)

https://bahai-library.com/brown_haifa_notes

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One disenchanted Baha'i explains the relationship between Baha'is and Israel

I learned a lot about the history of the Baha'i faith in that region. The Guardian of the Baha'i faith once wrote a letter to the United Nations as a Palestinian. However, today, the only Palestinian Baha'is are labeled as "covenant breakers." It seems that the Baha'i community has taken a side in this conflict. I encourage you to read more about the history of the Baha'i faith in Israel; it can be quite enlightening.

I know some Baha'is who want an end to the violence in the region. However, I have also heard some Baha'is speak about Palestinians in a way that dehumanizes them. This shows that not everyone in the Baha'i community thinks the same way as the Universal House of Justice (UHJ). There is a diversity of opinions among us. Nonetheless, as an organization, a significant decision was made to fully support Israel. Throughout my life, I was told that we needed to ensure the safety of those who are exiled, particularly Persians and those working in Haifa, which justified our alignment with Israel. Yet, seeing many Israelis and American Jews advocate for the rights of Palestinians and call for peace without apartheid makes me realize how naive I was when I accepted everything as an unquestioning Baha'i.

Both Baha'u'llah and Abdul Baha wrote extensively about "covenant breakers." They believed that such individuals should be removed from the community, stripped of their land, and their descendants now identify as Palestinian. Reading their writings is both sad and shocking to me.

While Baha'is often share quotes about the need for Zionists to live in peace, they tend to overlook the strong language of hatred directed towards their own family members. I wish I had taken the issue of "covenant breakers" more seriously in the past. It makes me question why it is acceptable to sever ties with family in such a manner and still call it a religion.

The reason the Baha'i faith does not publicly speak out against Israel is clear: their holy sites exist with the permission and cooperation of the Israeli government, so they cannot criticize them. While that might be understandable, I have witnessed many Baha'is in my American community go beyond that and express outright hatred.

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large tract of land was purchased and registered in the name of Mirza Husayn-‘Ali (Baha’u’llah

When Baha’u’llah and the Master set afoot the movement of the exiles from the immediate environs of ‘Akka, land was purchased in the Jordan Valley near the Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret). At four sites Baha’is settled, making their homes.

South of the hamlet called Nugayb, on the eastern shore of the lake below the Golan heights, Mirza Muhammad-Quli and his family occupied rich farmlands. The original large tract of land was purchased for an endowment of the Faith and registered in the name of Mirza Husayn-‘Ali (Baha’u’llah). Later, portions were disposed of by the Master.

(Door of hope - a century of the Baháʻí faith in the Holy Land - Ruhe, David S (David Sieger), 1914-2005 George Ronald)

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In 1948, the Baha'is congratulated David Ben-Gurion on the establishment of the State of Israel.

In 1948, the Baha'is congratulated David Ben-Gurion on the establishment of the State of Israel, but also made sure to mention their neutrality (although they sometimes emphasized that the Jewish state was established in the Baha'i period, not the Christian or Muslim one). Israel approved the establishment of the Baha'i Temple in Haifa and its ongoing expansion. The Baha'is do not spread their religion in Israel and actually refrain from establishing a Baha'i community there. They avoid the concentration of believers in the world center of religion. There is no doubt that this approach suits the Israeli sensitivity to the activities of non-Jewish religions in the country.

The peak of this tolerance and partnership between Israel and the Baha'is was in the early 1950s. At that time, Israel faced the demands of the Palestinian refugees, the Arab world and various mediators such as the United States and the United Nations - to return to the refugees the property they abandoned in 1948. Israel did not return this property, and its actions, especially the establishment of new settlements on abandoned lands and the introduction of new immigrants into the refugee homes , established irreversible facts. However, the Israeli government acted consciously to return the Baha'is to their abandoned property.

https://www.haaretz.co.il/misc/2001-06-08/ty-article/0000017f-e091-d75c-a7ff-fc9d65530000

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Baha'u'llah and Mirza Musa's properties in Palestine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCBenVHiXVY

Baha'u'llah and Mirza Musa's properties in Palestine and Abdul Baha selling these lands to Jewish Colonization Association (JCA) in 1903 and to other Jewish organizations. 

Starts from 15 mins 20 Sec.

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You know, before 'Abdu'l-Bahá passing away, it was on a Friday, we went visit the mosque in Haifa, Friday morning.

You know, before 'Abdu'l-Bahá passing away, it was on a Friday, we went visit the mosque in Haifa, Friday morning. That day return from mosque, He had to walk up the step. He says "I am tired," went into the room. Then Friday, Saturday, Sunday! Three days. Sunday night, He passed away. Those days we had many American pilgrims there. That Mr. and Mrs. Hoagg, Boschs were there. I heard the cry, deafening noise. So immediately I went up this gate, there's many collected and mourning, the Eastern believers very demonstrative, you know. I said "What is it?" "It's 'Abdu'l-Bahá has passed." So immediately I come back to Pilgrim House, informed them. And some of them come out, come now. That day. It's one o'clock, and all the family are all together there. Can't help. Doctor just left, Dr. Habib, that Christian Arab, that's their family doctor. Then from that room we had after few days, the day in Mount Carmel. I went there myself, making a place. ( ) called, ah, Ramatullah, he's very strong man, he carried casket way down. Ramatullah lived a long time ago, he was caretaker, gardener, very nice man. He had a big family, but years ago.

All the notables from Haifa and Jerusalem, all were collected here, ah, for funeral. Even Herbert Samuel, walked right up, passing Master.

(Interview of Sachiro Fujita by Sylvia Ioas, 1975)

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Baha'u'llah laments being surrounded by the Jews of Israel

"This Holy Land hath been mentioned and extolled in all the sacred Scriptures. In it have appeared the Prophets of God and His chosen Ones. This is the wilderness in which all the Messengers of God have wandered, from which their cry, "Here am I, here am I, O my God" was raised. This is the promised Land in which He Who is the Revelation of God was destined to be made manifest. This is the Vale of God's unsearchable decree, the snow-white Spot, the Land of unfading splendor. Whatever hath come to pass in this Day hath been foretold in the Scriptures of old. These same Scriptures, however, unanimously condemn the people that inhabit this land. They have, at one time, been stigmatized as the "generation of vipers." Behold how this wronged One is now, whilst surrounded by a "generation of vipers," calling aloud and summoning all men to Him Who is the world's Ultimate Desire, the Summit and Day Spring of Glory. Happy is the man that hath hearkened to the voice of Him Who is the Lord of the Kingdom of Utterance, and woe betide the heedless, they that have strayed far from His truth."

https://bahai-library.com/writings/bahaullah/gwb/164.html

"generation of vipers" is a reference to Bible verses such as this:

“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”

-Matthew 3:7

Clearly the generation of vipers is the Jews.

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Abdul Baha's prophecy about Israel

In the afternoon of February 13th, the American pilgrims held a special memorial meeting, for the departure of Mirza Abul-Fazl, at the holy threshold of the Bab, on Mount Carmel. Abdul-Baha attended the meeting and spent that night at the home of Abbas Kuli, near the blessed tomb. In the morning of February 14th, Abdul-Baha went to the hospice (the home of the pilgrims) close to the tomb of the Báb and sat in the parlor, facing the tomb of Baha'o'llah. He said: "The view from this hospice is very beautiful, especially because it faces the tomb of the Blessed Beauty and Acca. In the future it will all be built up between Acca and Haifa. Acca and Haifa will be joined together and will take the first place in the world. Now, as I glance into the future, I see the greatest port in the world here. This semi-circular bay will be a large harbor for ships, so that the entering boats may be protected from the waves and winds of the storm. This harbor will be filled with ships of the nations. All of these regions will be decorated by buildings and lofty palaces. Many gardens and flower beds will be made. There will be electric lights and from here to Acca will be flooded with them. It will be a wonderful sight, especially at night, for those who come from the sea or who look from the summit of the mountains. From all of these regions, the cry of 'Ya-Baha-el-Abha!', (O Thou Glorious of the Most Glorious!) shall rise. All the souls will come in a state of supplication, imploring and chanting the communes. In every town, the melodies from the Mashrak-el-Azkar on this Mount Carmel, will be most pleasing to the ears.

"It is wonderful! Consider where this Cause was at first and where it is now! And where is Shiraz, Teheran, Bagdad, Roumelia, Constantinople and Acca! These events took place only for the fulfillment of the prophecies of the prophets. God's ways are wonderful. For 2,000 years, he has made the Cause travel here and there, until it reached the spot in which it would fulfill all the prophecies. God will, unquestionably, declare openly the Prince of Peace, of whom he spoke, through the prophets, and he will not erase a single letter."

(Star of the West, Volume 9 - Issue 3)

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Baha'i properties in Israel

The startling fact is that until 1952 the Baha’is held no land contiguous to the Shrine, thereby frustrating any hope of development or beautification. When Baha’u’llah ascended, the Mansion was surrounded by small buildings, dependencies of the Mansion itself; which were owned by various Baha’is: one of the believers made a gift of his home for the burial of Baha’u’llah. It was ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s poignant desire to beautify the surroundings of the Shrine but all the property was owned by the Baydun family, Muslims who were close friends of the Covenant-breakers. ‘They were determined that the Baha’is would never own an inch of their land, the parents binding the children in a promise never to sell land to the Baha'is.

[…]

During the lifetime of Baha’u'llah, ‘Abdu’l-Baha had bought some properties at His direction near the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River. In one of His Tablets Baha’u’llah, in referring to these properties, speaks of them as forerunners of “noble and imposing structures” to be dedicated “to the worship and service of the one true God”.’ One of the properties was an area of 140 dunams (a dunam being one fourth of an acre) registered in the name of Zikrullah (Dhikru’llah), a descendant of Baha’u’llah’s faithful brother Musa. ‘Abdu’l-Baha told him never to parcel out or sell this land because one day it would be a holy place. Zikrullah left the property to his eldest son, also a trusted Baha’i.

During the war between Israel and the surrounding Arab states that followed the declaration of statehood, the Jewish forces were able to withstand the invading armies. When a truce resolution was adopted by the United Nations, more than half a million Arabs fled the land and settled outside Israel. Among those who fled was the Baydun family whose abandoned property eventually reverted to the State.

The Zikrullah property near Galilee happened to be on the immediate border of Syria with Transjordan in the demilitarized zone, and the State of Israel was very anxious to acquire that land. Officials approached the Zikrullah family to buy their property, but when the Guardian was asked, he said no, the Master told you to keep the land; it cannot be sold. Then someone had the idea of trading this property for the Baydun land around the Shrine of Baha’u’llah. The Guardian approved of this being done and Larry Hautz, the first American to come on pilgrimage after a ten year hiatus due to the troubled conditions in the country, remained in the Holy Land to begin the negotiations. On his departure, Leroy carried the lengthy transaction to its conclusion.

The trade of land was finally accomplished, the Baha’is transferring 140 dunams of land in the city of Ein Gev in the Galilee in exchange for some 160 dunams of land surrounding Baha’u’llah’s Shrine. The head office of the land development department was in Tel Aviv and there, on November 12, 1952, at nine in the morning, Leroy signed the contract for the land with the Government.

[…]

In his message the following year to the Intercontinental Conference in Chicago, Shoghi Effendi again spoke of this precious land: “The stupendous process of the rise and consolidation of the World Administrative Center has been accelerated through the acquisition, in the Plain of ‘Akka, of a one hundred and sixty thousand square meter area, surrounding the Qiblih of the Baha'i world, permitting the extension of the Outer Sanctuary of the Most Holy Tomb — to be designated henceforth the Haram-i-Aqdas . . .” This is when the term came into Baha’i usage.

There is a building alongside the Mansion of Bahji in which the worst remnant of the Covenant-breakers lived. On one of the Master’s darkest days caused by this man’s scheming, ‘Abdu’l-Baha told him that he would live to see the collapse of everything he had done. When the Baydun land was transferred, he still lived on as the Master had predicted, nearly one hundred years old, paralyzed, unable to speak, but looking out as the Guardian’s handiwork took form: the magnificent gardens, the great park, all of it illuminated at night because the Guardian associated light with the Baha’i Manifestations.

[…]

Second only in importance to the acquisition of the Baydun land was the purchase of the twenty thousand square meter site for the future Mashriqu’l-Adhkar on the crest of Mt. Carmel. “It is truly in an imposing position”, wrote the International Baha’i Council in 1955.

[…]

A few days later the Guardian called Leroy over to the Master’s house and said he wished to go up and look at the land for the Temple. During their drive up the mountain the Guardian said: This is a historic day because today we are going to select the site for the Temple. He walked over the entire area, indicating which plots were essential and which were not. He chose the most difficult area to acquire, on the highest point of the mountain, and indicated the exact spot where the heart of the Temple should be; Leroy marked it with a large stone. Today a marble obelisk has replaced the stone. They returned to the car and drove back. Now, the Guardian said, you must get busy and buy that land.

It took two years of effort to acquire it. During the protracted negotiations there was not one person who thought it could be done; everywhere he went, Leroy was told it would be impossible. (Shoghi Effendi once asked, What do you think, Leroy, when these people say you cannot have something you want? Leroy answered: When I know Shoghi Effendi wants it, I just don’t hear their “no”.)

Investigation revealed how involved the question of ownership was. In fact Leroy felt this might facilitate its acquisition, as only God could disentangle such a web. The property had been owned by the Carmelite Order for nine centuries, but during the Mandate the British War Office wanted it for military purposes as it commanded the whole harbor. The Carmelites sold the land to the British with the understanding that they could one day reclaim it. When the Mandate ended, the British agreed to resale of the property but the Carmelites could not pay in hard currency so the contract was never concluded, and both claimed ownership. The State of Israel also claimed ownership through a law that returned to the State any land registered in the name of the British that had not been transferred. Finally, the Israeli defense ministry requisitioned the land stating ownership was immaterial, they needed it, no doubt for the same reasons the British had.

…the defense department occupied the land and difficult negotiations continued with them for many months. One branch of the services was adamantly opposed to relinquishing the land and Leroy requested a meeting in the Defense Minister’s office. ‘The Minister was out of town but a brilliant young deputy chaired the meeting, who, as it turned out, had attended a seminar at Harvard University with one of Leroy’s long-time railroad colleagues. A warm relationship was immediately established and Leroy left the meeting with a letter of intent favorable to releasing the land to the Baha’is. But three persons still objected and it took more lengthy negotiations before they would agree to the release. When it was thought everything had been decided, the official representing the State Domain stood in the way of final settlement, as he would not agree to include the essential plot on which the Guardian had centered the Temple.

Leroy had what he called a “spirited discussion” with him. It centered on two points. One, the suggestion that you put “your building” somewhere other than the area Shoghi Effendi had designated for it. What is so particular about this spot? he asked; we just will not give it to you. Leroy said this is the spot we must have because it 1s a holy place. Leroy asked him why they didn’t move their Wailing Wall [in Arab-held East Jerusalem] over to New Jerusalem; why didn’t they use a wall of the King David hotel? You won’t do it, Leroy said, because the ‘Temple of Solomon was built right there and the Wailing Wall is one of the walls of the Temple. This is our holy place and we don’t move a holy place any more than you do.

Then came the reaction that “because you have dollars” you feel you can buy anything you want, but I am going to prevent the sale of this piece of land to you. Leroy answered that yes, he had dollars, but the Baha’is don’t use money to force people to do things. What have the Baha’is forced you to do? We are building parklands and gardens for you, we are erecting beautiful buildings for you, we use money to serve society. You are a Jew, Leroy said, and if ever a people in history learned what the hand of God can do, it is the Jewish people. I tell you that we are going to have this land because God wants us to have it and no force on earth can stop it.

[…]

…the property was registered in the name of the British War Office it had to be transferred from them to the Carmelites, who then transferred it to the attorney, who then-transferred it to the Baha’is. The Government agreed to a single transfer, so the property was finally passed from the British War Office directly to Shoghi Rabbani in a single transaction.

After the land had been acquired Milly Collins one night asked the Guardian if in future the Temple land and the Shrine properties, two kilometers distant, would not be joined together with gardens. The Guardian said yes, and we will have our own road between the two, but we have to purchase the intervening land where houses are now built.

(Leroy Ioas - Hand of the Cause of God by Anita Ioas Chapman)

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no one in Israel can marry a non-Baháʼí

I can remember an example of a girl in Haifa who I was very fond of. She was a child of a local person and she wanted to marry a non-Baháʼí, and the Guardian had had a great deal of difficulty with marrying non-Baháʼís and finally said no one in Israel can marry a non-Baháʼí because it never works out, all it does is to bring infinite headaches to the World Center of the Faith. So she came and she said she wanted to marry this non-Baháʼí and I went and asked the Guardian. And he said, "No. That is absolutely impossible." If she wants to marry him, she must go away from Israel. She must migrate. It was Palestine in those days. And I went and conveyed this message and she promised that she would do it. But when I told Shoghi Effendi, he said she will not, she will disobey. Oh, I said, "Shoghi Effendi, she's such a good girl and I know her, I see her all the time in the feasts. And she chants so beautifully. And she has such a nice spirit and I assure you, believe me, she will obey. It will be alright. I'm sure it'll be alright." He said, "Alright, I accept. Let her go away from this country and marry him abroad. But you will see in the end she will disobey. She will come back and she will have to be put out of the Cause." Well, I was distressed but I thought, "I'm sure that she will be alright." So I went downstairs and I told her this. And she went away and she married. And she stayed away for some months, I don't remember how long. And then one fine day the maid came and told me so and so is sitting downstairs in the tea room and my heart just turned over and I thought, "Now, you see? God help you. There she is and what Shoghi Effendi said is just coming true." So I went downstairs and saw her and I said, "You know, you can't stay here. You promised that you would go and stay away. And now you're back again." Well, of course, to make a long story short, there was more assurances and promises and she said, "No, we're only here for a visit" and so on and they were there for good and they became covenant breakers and that took care of that.

Rúhíyyih Khánum speaking at the closing session of the Bahá’í World Congress in London, 1963

https://bahai.works/Transcript:Ruhiyyih_Khanum/Speech_at_close_to_Bahá’í_World_Congress,_1963

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The World Center is a guest in Israel

One ex-Baha'i wrote:

The World Center is a guest in Israel and guests can be asked to leave. In light of what is happening in Gaza and the West Bank, any sustained criticism of Israel from within the Baha'i faith will result in bulldozers leveling the site and the expulsion of any Bahai's in the country. With all the money invested in this project there is no way Baha'i leaders could ever turn against their landlord.

https://old.reddit.com/r/exbahai/comments/1c5mp0o/bahai_speaking_out_on_s_genocide_in_gaza/

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Sir Ronald Storrs and Abdul Baha

Sir Ronald Storrs was a British colonial administrator and diplomat who served as the first British governor of Jerusalem during the British Mandate period in Palestine. He was known for his pro-Zionist views and his close relationship with prominent Zionist leaders, including Chaim Weizmann and David Ben-Gurion.

Storrs was sympathetic to the Zionist cause and believed in the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. He played a key role in promoting Jewish immigration to Palestine and supporting the development of Jewish institutions and infrastructure in the region. He worked closely with them to advance their goals in Palestine during his time as governor of Jerusalem.

In his memoirs (page 337) he states:

I renewed in Haifa my friendship with Abbas Effendi Abd al-Baha’ and his Bahai followers, whom I had last seen imprisoned in Acre on my visit in 1909. I found him sitting in spotless white, noble as a prophet of Michael Angelo. He placed at my disposal the training and talents of his community, one or two of whom I appointed to positions of confidence which they still continue to deserve.

at other place in the same book (page 328) he writes:

Many of the leading merchants, realizing how greatly the future prosperity of Jerusalem depended upon its preservation as Jerusalem (and not an inferior Kieff, Manchester or Baltimore), subscribed liberally to our funds; and in Egypt, England and America, Moslems, Christians and Jews, suspicious of any creed, culture or policy other than their own, gave gladly to a Jerusalem which represented all three. I realized then the power of the name of Jerusalem; I realized it even more afterwards when appealing for other countries or causes. I became, I am happy to believe, a convincing and successful Schnorrer. (Yiddish for a professional beggar.) My subscription list, of cheques ranging from £3 to £600, included from Cairo the names of Smouha and Btesh, the Syrian Community, and the editor of the Mokattam; in Jerusalem the Anglo-Egyptian Bank, Sir Abbas Effendi Abd al-Baha, the Mufti, several Jewish firms, the Imperial Ottoman Bank, the Crédit Lyonnais, the Anglo-Palestine Bank, the Banco di Roma, the 51st Sikh Regiment, the Zionist Commission, the Municipality, and the Administration; in Europe and America, Lord Milner, Sir Basil Zaharoff, Lord Northcliffe, Sir Alfred Mond, Mrs Holman Hunt, Mrs Carnegie, Messrs Pierpont Morgan, and Messrs Kuhn, Loeb. I found institutions more generous than individuals, and (especially in America) men than women.

He also mentions and writes about Ruhi (Husayn Ruhi) as "My Bahai Persian secret agent." in his other book "Lawrence of Arabia - Zionism and Palestine".

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none of the Baha’is would teach their Faith to anyone in ‘Akka

Baha’u’llah had undertaken that none of the Baha’is would teach their Faith to anyone in ‘Akka or the surrounding countryside while they were exiles and prisoners.

(Day of Glory, The Life of Baha’u’llah, by Mary Perkins, George Ronald, p 133)

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Baha'is must seek UHJ's permission before visiting the Holy Land for any purpose

It has been a long-standing requirement that no Bahá’í may come to the Holy Land for any purpose without the permission of the Head of the Faith. This provision dates back to the time of Bahá’u’lláh Himself. The principal task of the Faith in the Holy Land is building its World Centre and administering the work of the Cause at the international level. To have believers visiting the country without the proper guidance pertaining to their specific circumstances may give rise to problems that could hamper the work carried out here, and this would have an adverse effect on the progress of the Faith throughout the world.

... Bahá’ís must seek its permission before visiting the Holy Land—which also includes the West Bank and Gaza—for any purpose, whether it be for a brief visit to the Bahá’í World Centre, pilgrimage, studying in the country, visiting family or relatives, business purposes, employment, or any other reason.

(The Universal House of Justice, Department of the Secretariat, 1 February 2024)

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'Abdul-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi had closer relations with British settlers and Zionists.

'Abdul-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi had closer relations with British settlers and Zionists, and due to this fact, they managed to get many advantages and benefits with the Israeli government.

On February 23, 1914, at the eve of World War I, 'Abdu'l-Bahá had hosted Baron Edmond James de Rothschild, a member of the Rothschild banking family who was a leading advocate and financier of the Zionist movement, during one of his early trips to Palestine. (Star of the West. Vol. 9) an article in the "Star of the West" quoted 'Abdu'l-Bahá praising the Zionist movement, proclaiming that "There is too much talk today of what the Zionists are going to do here. There is no need of it. Let them come and do more and say less" and that "A Jewish government might come later." in the 1880s most of the village land of al-Samra was purchased by Bahá'u'lláh, with the villagers continuing to farm as tenant farmers. In the 1920s, this land was sold by Shoghi Effendi to the Jewish National Fund. On April 21, 1948, the Arab village of al-Samra, where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had owned land and grown grain, was depopulated. It was registered in the "All That Remains: The Palestinian Villages Occupied and Depopulated by Israel in 1948"

"Sir Arthur Wauchope (administrator sympathetic to Zionist aspirations), Colonel Symes (the British colonial Governor of the Palestine North District from 1920 to 1925) and Keith-Roach he British (Colonial administrator during the British mandate on Palestine, who also served as the governor of Jerusalem from 1926 to 1945) had a personal liking for Shoghi Effendi and who, one suspects, understood how heavy the burden was that rested on the shoulders of the young man who was the Head of the Bahá'í Faith. It was during the period of his administration that some of the greatest victories in winning concessions from the authorities took place, the most important of these, next to the right of the Community to obey some of its own laws governing personal status, being the exemption from taxation of the entire area surrounding the Shrine of the Bab on Mt. Carmel." (Priceless Pearl - Ruhiyyih Khanum; Chap.10)

ALL closer personal relations made by 'Abdul-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi were drawn with British settlers and supporters/investors of Zionist movement as the Rothschild family, but despite of that, the Bahá'í Faith do not take sides on the Israel-Palestine conflict, right??? LOL

https://www.reddit.com/r/exbahai/comments/wpxwai/leftist_exbahais_do_you_not_see_the_parallels/ke47cki/

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Descendants of Baha'u'llah gradually integrated themselves into Islamic society.

In 1948 a fierce political upheaval erupted in the Holy Land. The State of Israel was founded, bringing an end to the British Mandate. War broke out between Arabs and Jews and a great many Arabs fled the country. During this period Shoghi Effendi remained in Haifa and, in the face of great dangers and severe difficulties, carried on his work as usual, including the building of the superstructure of the Shrine of the Bab. But the rest of the family, who were Covenant-breakers, allied themselves with the Arab community and fled the land. Among them were the family of Mirza Jalal Shahid, which included Ruha Khanum, the daughter of 'Abdu'l-Bahá; Tuba Khanum, another daughter of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and her son Ruhi, his wife Zahra and his brother; three cousins of Dr Farid; and Nayyir Afnan, his wife Ruhangiz (sister of Shoghi Effendi) and their children. Others who fled to Lebanon were Badi'u'llah (next in command to the Arch-breaker of the Covenant) and his relatives, together with those Bahá'ís who were disloyal to Shoghi Effendi. As time went on these people, who were already cut off from the Holy Family by virtue of their association with the enemies of the Faith, integrated themselves into Islamic society.

(Adib Taherzadeh, The Child of the Covenant)

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