Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians
A Zionist apologist recently asked me for proof of the Israeli ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians in 1948. Of course, it is quite obvious to all but the obtuse that this is precisely what took place. Regardless, in this blog entry, I have decided to honor his request by providing irrefutable proof.
Ethnic cleansing is defined (in my dictionary) as “the practice of mass expulsion or killing of people from opposing ethnic or religious groups within a certain area.”
The claim, that the Zionists didn’t do that, is flatly contradicted by none other than Yitzhak Rabin.
The following is an excerpt from his memoir, which was translated and leaked to the New York Times, and appeared in the October 23, 1979 edition (page A3) Click here to view PDF . The Israeli government had censored this portion, and so it appeared under the Headline: “Israel Bars Rabin from relating 48 Eviction of Arabs”.
This next part is really kind of humorous, when one thinks about it:
Oh, the great suffering which war criminals have to endure – not the victims, but the perpetrators!
At any rate, the story was leaked by Rabin's translator, a man named Peretz Kidron, who was apparently overtaken by a a desire to provide proof to the world of what actually happened, in spite of the action by the Israeli ministerial committee - which had censored the account. Mr. Rabin subsequently did not deny the veracity of the admission (a xeroxed copy of his manuscript was kept), only confessed to having neglected "field security" by entrusting the manuscript to someone who might leak it.
This is a first hand account from a future chief of staff, and Prime Minister of the state of “Israel” regarding an order of expulsion from the then Prime Minister.
It is confirmed by the following order, which was found in the Palmach archives and published by Benny Morris in “Operation Dani and the Palestinian Exodus from Lydda and Ramle in 1948,” The Middle East Journal, 40 (1986) 82-109.
This is just what happened in Lod and Ramleh. The Palestinians in different areas may have been driven out in a slightly different manner, and not every region in which the Palestinians were evicted has such good and irrefutable accounts, but it is incontestable that approximately 80% of the non-Jewish population of the territory which became the “Jewish state” were made refugees.
This was of course consistent with the Zionist Plan Dalet (section 6.b.4).
It should be noted that the armed force must be destroyed, but the population must be expelled.
Lastly, the bizarre argument which so many Zionists make, that “since many of the Palestinians fled in panic, it really isn’t ethnic cleansing,” is absurd.
It doesn’t really make a whole lot of difference whether someone was forced out at gunpoint, or whether he left because a group of people who commit massacres and mass evictions were attacking the area in which he lived, and he wanted to avoid getting shot. The critical question is whether he is allowed to return to his home– which the Zionist government has steadfastly prevented, because the Palestinian refugees are not of the desired ethnic group.
.
.
Ethnic cleansing is defined (in my dictionary) as “the practice of mass expulsion or killing of people from opposing ethnic or religious groups within a certain area.”
The claim, that the Zionists didn’t do that, is flatly contradicted by none other than Yitzhak Rabin.
The following is an excerpt from his memoir, which was translated and leaked to the New York Times, and appeared in the October 23, 1979 edition (page A3) Click here to view PDF . The Israeli government had censored this portion, and so it appeared under the Headline: “Israel Bars Rabin from relating 48 Eviction of Arabs”.
"While the fighting was still in progress, we had to grapple with a troublesome problem, for whose solution we could not draw on any previous experience: the fate of the civilian population of Lod and Ramle, numbering some 50,000.
"Not even Ben-Gurion could offer any solution, and during the discussions at operational headquarters, he remained silent, as was his habit in such situations. Clearly, we could not leave Lod's hostile and armed population in our rear, where it could endanger the supply route to Yiftach [another brigade], which was advancing eastward.
"We walked outside, Ben-Gurion accompanying us. Allon repeated his question: 'What is to be done with the population?' B.G. waved his hand in a gesture which said 'Drive them out!'.
"Allon and I held a consultation. I agreed that it was essential to drive the inhabitants out. We took them on foot towards the Ben Horon Road, assuming that the legion would be obliged to look after them, thereby shouldering logistic difficulties which would burden its fighting capacity, making things easier for us.
"'Driving out' is a term with a harsh ring. Psychologically, this was one of the most difficult actions we undertook. The population of Lod did not leave willingly. There was no way of avoiding the use of force and warning shots in order to make the inhabitants march the 10 to 15 miles to the point where they met up with the legion.
"The inhabitants of Ramle watched and learned the lesson. Their leaders agreed to evacuate voluntarily, on condition that the evacuation was carried out by vehicles. Buses took them to Latrun, and from there, they were evacuated by the legion.
This next part is really kind of humorous, when one thinks about it:
"Great suffering was inflicted upon the men taking part in the eviction action. Soldiers of the Yiftach brigade included youth-movement graduates, who had been inculcated with values such as international brotherhood and humaneness. The eviction action went beyond the concepts they were used to.
"There were some fellows who refused to take part in the expulsion action. Prolonged propaganda activities were required after the action, to remove the bitterness of these youth-movement groups, and explain why we were obliged to undertake such a harsh and cruel action."
Oh, the great suffering which war criminals have to endure – not the victims, but the perpetrators!
At any rate, the story was leaked by Rabin's translator, a man named Peretz Kidron, who was apparently overtaken by a a desire to provide proof to the world of what actually happened, in spite of the action by the Israeli ministerial committee - which had censored the account. Mr. Rabin subsequently did not deny the veracity of the admission (a xeroxed copy of his manuscript was kept), only confessed to having neglected "field security" by entrusting the manuscript to someone who might leak it.
This is a first hand account from a future chief of staff, and Prime Minister of the state of “Israel” regarding an order of expulsion from the then Prime Minister.
It is confirmed by the following order, which was found in the Palmach archives and published by Benny Morris in “Operation Dani and the Palestinian Exodus from Lydda and Ramle in 1948,” The Middle East Journal, 40 (1986) 82-109.
Dani HQ to Yiftah Brigade, 13.30 hours, 12 July 1948:
1. The inhabitants of Lydda must be expelled quickly without attention to age. They should be directed towards Beit Nabala. Yiftah must determine the method and inform Dani HQ and 8th Brigade HQ.
2. Implement immediately.
This is just what happened in Lod and Ramleh. The Palestinians in different areas may have been driven out in a slightly different manner, and not every region in which the Palestinians were evicted has such good and irrefutable accounts, but it is incontestable that approximately 80% of the non-Jewish population of the territory which became the “Jewish state” were made refugees.
This was of course consistent with the Zionist Plan Dalet (section 6.b.4).
Mounting search and control operations according to the following guidelines: encirclement of the village and conducting a search inside it. In the event of resistance, the. armed force must be destroyed and the population must be expelled outside the borders of the state.
It should be noted that the armed force must be destroyed, but the population must be expelled.
Lastly, the bizarre argument which so many Zionists make, that “since many of the Palestinians fled in panic, it really isn’t ethnic cleansing,” is absurd.
It doesn’t really make a whole lot of difference whether someone was forced out at gunpoint, or whether he left because a group of people who commit massacres and mass evictions were attacking the area in which he lived, and he wanted to avoid getting shot. The critical question is whether he is allowed to return to his home– which the Zionist government has steadfastly prevented, because the Palestinian refugees are not of the desired ethnic group.
.
.
