Maybe Israel just needs to acknowledge Palestinian pain

This idea has been floated before, and it makes so much sense. Let's get started...

"The Secretary General of the Arab League, Azzam Pasha, assured the Arab peoples that the occupation of Palestine and of Tel Aviv would be as simple as a military promenade..Brotherly advice was given t. o the Arabs of Palestine to leave their land, homes, and property to stay temporarily in neighboring fraternal states, lest the guns of invading Arab armies mow them down." --Al Hoda (a New York-based Lebanese daily) June 8, 1951 "The 15th May, 1948, arrived...On that day the mufti of Jerusalem appealed to the Arabs of Palestine to leave the country, because the Arab armies were about to enter and fight in their stead."-Cairo`s Akhbar el Yom, 10/12/63. The Arab states which had encouraged the Palestine Arabs to leave their homes temporarily in order to be out of the way of the Arab invasion armies, have failed to keep their promise to help these refugees." The Jordanian daily Falastin, Feb. 19, 1949.

you need to know the role of perfidious albion in adminstrating its mandate for ajewish state before misquoting history ! try 1920 as your start and get an eductaion before shooting srrows at bison !

...yourself? Eli and Cari are claiming the well-worn milk and honey and struggle narrative of Israel as fact when it clearly is not. Try Tom Segev and Benny Morris. Try the Israeli archives on for size. Perhaps you should trouble yourself to actually learn the history of the nation instead of the myth and narrative that makes it all sound so... nice. Irgun, Stern Gang, Kind David Hotel, Jewish terrorism in the first part of the last century, the Haganah, Bibi's Party's roots, the current Likud Charter and on and on, lest I bring up the U.S.S. Liberty, get thee off these talkbacks and go to a public library, and learn the facts that those in the halls of power know and not the fantasy crap that someone has filled your head with.

...yourself? Eli and Cari are claiming the well-worn milk and honey and struggle narrative of Israel as fact when it clearly is not. Try Tom Segev and Benny Morris. Try the Israeli archives on for size. Perhaps you should trouble yourself to actually learn the history of the nation instead of the myth and narrative that makes it all sound so... nice. Irgun, Stern Gang, Kind David Hotel, Jewish terrorism in the first part of the last century, the Haganah, Bibi's Party's roots, the current Likud Charter and on and on, lest I bring up the U.S.S. Liberty, get thee off these talkbacks and go to a public library, and learn the facts that those in the halls of power know and not the fantasy crap that someone has filled your head with.

...to hungry Gazans. While you sit at your computer and type nonsense, those tunnels are a vital lifeline, *the lifeline*, that have held the Israeli imposed Gaza Ghetto together. It's a damn shame that LIVESTOCK has to be roped in and hauled through a tunnel to feed Gaza civilians because Israel has decreed that Gaza should become the modern equivalent of the Gaza Ghetto. The Goldstone Report has authoritatively put an end to Israel's denials. Israel's crime against humanity, the siege of Gaza, continues right now just as the Goldstone Mission reported. Collective punishment is mentioned in the report eighteen times.

I too read Golda Meir's autobiography many years ago. She reports how she was on the beach in Haifa pleading with the Palestinians not to flee. A very dramatic and memorable account. The only problem is that it is only half true at best. Ilan Pappe reports in "The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine" that the Palestians were being shelled by Israelis as they were trying to escape by boat from the harbor area. Oh yes, while this was going on a car with loudspeakers was circulating, urging Palestinians to stay. Rather a mixed message, wouldn't you say? I repeat what I wrote earlier, unless Israelis are willing to acknowledge the real story of the founding of their country, there is no hope of any reconciliation.

It is hard to accept the fact that you are being used. The tunnels brought in money weapons, No food or medicine.Children woman used as human sheilds. Ammunitiin and firing of guns in populated areas. That not only hurts, humalates but shows what your leaders really think of you

. "The Secretary General of the Arab League, Azzam Pasha, assured the Arab peoples that the occupation of Palestine and of Tel Aviv would be as simple as a military promenade..Brotherly advice was given to the Arabs of Palestine to leave their land, homes, and property to stay temporarily in neighboring fraternal states, lest the guns of invading Arab armies mow them down." --Al Hoda (a New York-based Lebanese daily) June 8, 1951 "The Arab states which had encouraged the Palestine Arabs to leave their homes temporarily in order to be out of the way of the Arab invasion armies, have failed to keep their promise to help these refugees." -- The Jordanian daily Falastin, Feb. 19, 1949 "The 15th May, 1948, arrived...On that day the mufti of Jerusalem appealed to the Arabs of Palestine to leave the country, because the Arab armies were about to enter and fight in their stead."-Cairo`s Akhbar el Yom, 10/12/63. In listing the reasons for the Arab failure in 1948, Khaled al-Azm (Syrian Prime Minister) notes that "the fifth factor was the call by the Arab governments to the inhabitants of Palestine to evacuate it and leave for the bordering Arab countries. Since 1948, it is we who have demanded the return of the refugees, while it is we who made them leave. We brought disaster upon a million Arab refugees by inviting them and bringing pressure on them to leave.-Khaled el-Azm, after the 1948 War in his 1972 memoirs.

on deaf ears hear, there are number on this blog who have no interest in history as it actually happened, jsut their sad, twisted version of events purposefully half-blind to reality

Go a google of Jonathan Freedland Israel. This guy is a radical anti Israel hater. He basically wants 2 Palestinian states.

There were US arms embargoes on Israel in both 48 and 67. And US aid- in all its dubious forms- makes up no more than 3.5% of Israel's annual budget. Wishing you every success in breaking up the US/Israel friendship- its brought us 15 years of unilateral concessions greeted by violence and terrorism. With friends like the US, who needs enemies.

...and fables. You are simply pushing the same sorts of religious extremism that radical Islamists believe. Guess what that makes you Robert? In spite of your self-imposed ignorance, Israel was created in 1948. The PLO recognized Israel in 1993. This is 2009, there is no invisible skydaddy that hands out land deeds and there never was, not for Muslims, not for Jews. These days, given the extremism from all religions, including Judaism, it's more clear than ever that religions must be kept out of governmental affairs.

doris loves a terrorist and used to praise arafat the thief of bagdad! no matter how many times she was told he would lead his arabs to complete disaster !

I'm all for finding ways to allow Arabs who once lived here to live here once again. But the addressing the individual stories of pain will not bring peace, because this conflict was never about how many Arabs live here. It is about which nation fundamentally has a stronger claim to the Holy Land. Every attempt at peace that ignores this question is doomed to end in failure. And I'll go a step further: Every attempt at peace that doesn't acknowledge the truth that the Holy Land is the eternal inheritance of the Jewish People will end in failure.

Irresponsible one sided article missing critical facts, sadly written by a Jew. In my opinion it is a Jewish responsibility to report honestly. In 1948 the Arab refugees were encouraged to leave Israel by Arab leaders promising to purge the land of Jews. The Jewish refugees were forced to flee from Arab lands due to Arab brutality, persecution and pogroms. The number of Arab refugees who left Israel in 1948 is estimated to be around 630,000. The number of Jewish refugees from Arab lands is estimated to be the same. Arab refugees were INTENTIONALLY not absorbed or integrated into the Arab lands to which they fled, despite the vast Arab territory. Out of the 100,000,000 refugees since World War II, theirs is the only refugee group in the world that has never been absorbed or integrated into their own peoples' lands. The only country Jews can live in the Middle East is Israel. Two state solution already exists --Jordan which does not allow ANY Jews to live.

What a bunch of idiots you are at Haaretz. What about JEWISH PAIN? and I suppose arab mothers have pain when they send their kids to be blown up? You're all full of BULL. "Hamerachem al achzarim sofo le hitachzer al bnei rachmanim." I pity them NOT!!!

Actually many Americans fought for Israel in 48 and in 67 and in 73 there were even volunteeres who fought in Lebanon for Israel in 06 But more importantlt Americans send Trillions of dollars

The Jews got a state and that is their compensation so the refugee issue is a case closed. And the arabs have 22 states to choose from so they got 22 times the compensation so the arab refugee issue is a case closed. Glad your side is in agreement, that is one step closer to peace!

Thanks Eli for your efforts but i think this is a waste of time and energy. In the end the responsabilty of Israel has been well established. I do not need to argue with you.

Eugenio's logic fascinates."..75 percent of the pop in Jordan are Palestinian? and why can't they absorb their brethren..." He sounds like the typical imperialist. If only all Palestinians would leave their land and go to Jordan, end of Israeli problem. What utter contempt.

Is Golda Meir objective, Petra? If you weren't so dim you'd be funny. "( BYW, who other than arabs would rape their women? Ever seen one? OY!)" Petra Ever seen a picture of Golda Meir, Pera? Apparently not. Oy, if ever a face needed a veil...

I think this is an excellent article. However, I think what would be most fruitful would be a mutual acknowledgement of pain on both sides. Palestinians and other Arabic peoples need to understand, be cognizant, and acknowledge the pain Jewish people have felt throughout history - the rampant prejudice, expulsions, pogroms, the Holocaust, etc., the historic connection to the land (as evidenced by archaeological finds), and the establishment of the State of Israel. Israelis and Jews, however, must understand, be cognizant of, appreciate and acknowledge the great pain and fear that was caused to the Palestinian inhabitants of the area that became Israel (hence their 1948 war response). With a mutual recognition of each other's pain -people of good will, on both sides, could find a reasonable compromise and move forward, rather than be mired in hostility, animosity and unending war.

After Gaza, 87% percent of them supported their government's action. That should tell the world why this conflict has to be taken out of their hands and the US and returned to the UN--where it should be. Enough of this complicity also. People want to move fighting & war and supporting Israel unconditionally. It's wrong. Dutch

...Israel should be added to the list of state terrorism sponsors and all money, aid and domestic funding should be stopped immediately until Israel mends its terror exporting and arms proliferating ways and humanitarian rights abusing ways. Israel's actions contributes nothing to the world other than the spread of terrorism worldwide and American and Israeli flags burned together in all corners of the globe. Since your allegiance lies with this treacherous country that would trash the likes of Richard Goldstone in order to try and cover up the most egregious of crimes, go there, go there and agitate for them to attack Iran. Prove the courage of your convictions. Get on those frontlines and fend your true homeland!

Because as I recall, no US or UN troops joined the Israeli soldiers in battle in 1948. If the Cambodians are strong enough to defeat Israel and create a Cambodian state, then they would have a Cambodian state in Israel. We're not playing the Jewish victim card- we're playing the 'what do you plan on doing about it, you western colonialist hypocrite' card.

No, I wouldn't be flippant if the Arabs won the war. I'd be dead. Because they weren't invading Israel with the intention of leaving any "refugees" behind. Just take a look at the Hamas charter. Nor do I support a "two-state solution". As I said- they lost the war, and accordingly- their right to create a state (they never actually had a state). Either they accept Israeli sovereignty or leave- their Arab brethren can absorb them. And if not- life's tough. I guess that's a little lesson we picked up from the cattle trains to Auschwitz.

...the archives and the new historians have long cracked the reality of the ethnic cleansing of the indigenous population of Palestine by the then nascent Israelis. It's not a game. The fact is, more than 700,000 were ethnically cleansed and more than 450 Arab Palestinian villages were destroyed. You mutering "game over" cannot change those facts.

So simple, yet so impossible - a simple apology, a mere recognition. An acceptance that there are no innocents on the planet, even in Israel - just words, really...and yet... read some of the comments here and you'll see what the problem is: had israel been a sane country with rational goals (which I assume is peace and security, or so they say) then what's a little recognition between friends, indeed? but alas, israel as a collective has stopped being a rational entity, no matter what rational people like you prescribe. No matter that there is [still] a sizeable fraction of rational Israeli citizens. A poison has sipped into the soul of the israeli collective. It'll ruin everything....just you wait. You see, for what's now an israeli majority, any apology makes them fryers. And that in their book is the greatest sin of all. Which is why there'll be no admission of an original sin. And no recognition of the suffering of others. just a nervous shuttle abroad by the best and brightes

...they got a state, that is their compensation, case closed.

"Over 1 million Jews fled or were expelled from Israel following its creation in 1948" I presume you meant to say expelled or fled from Arab nations, NOT Israel! Nonetheless these two episodes are NOT equivalent. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=329736

In her book, she tells how Israeli's almost begged the Pals to stay and help build the land. She documents the arabs broadcasting on radio telling their 'brothers' that the Jews would rape their women in hopes of their fighting the Jews. What did they do? They split. ( BYW, who other than arabs would rape their women? Ever seen one? OY!) The veils to cover the butt ugly. Grow up, read a bit of history and find out why Israel smashes her enemies like a bug. The Pals are neo Nazi's who never got the message, you and they lost. Meanwhile, each day, Israel grows stronger and has the very best military and military minds in the ME. You have no soul. You haven't even gotten the facts.

they are the cause of Israeli's pain since before 1948. They deserve to have pain, lots of it. Who else sacrifices their own kids to become suicide strap bombers? they're as worthless as tits on a boar.

In the posts of people trying to justify, rationalise the apalling treatment meted out to the indigenous Palestinians, I can smell the embarrassment, taste the shame. The numbers of people in the world demanding justice for these victims of Zionism is growing day by day. no longer a handful of loonie lefties, harder hearts don't fall for the jewish victim card every time. Quite a few Cambodians suffered at the hands on the Pol Pot regime, do you have room [maybe 55%] for then in Tel aviv?

flippant about game over. You did keep up your flippancy for two thousand years---right. No my friend it is you that is being absurd. Dont forget to condemn the illegal settlers who will be part of the new State of Palestine that the game is over for them, if they continue burning olive groves and shooting at Arab Palestinians. That is assuming you are for a two state solution???.

flippant about game over. You did keep up your flippancy for two thousand years---right. No my friend it is you that is being absurd. Dont forget to condemn the illegal settlers who will be part of the new State of Palestine that the game is over for them, if they continue burning olive groves and shooting at Arab Palestinians. That is assuming you are for a two state solution???.

Few Jews are capable of feeling anyone else's pain but their own. That's what Christ's message was all about.

Exactly right Yoram ( #70)! It really is extraordinary that any serious journalist really maintains that articulation of such kind words is what the Peace process has been lacking..and what a breakthrough in the Peace process will be predicated upon. Such fantasies beggar belief and are pure obfuscation - when the best minds in the world have been battling with how to break the impasse for years. Shame on you, Jonathan!

"Such a man won't realize that what the woman wanted most was to be heard, for her sorrow to be acknowledged. " What that woman really wants, Friedland, is for the man to admit that he's responsible for her pain. All this fixing starts to look like evasiveness. To her. Just sayin'

And what did you get banned for, impersonating me? The enemies of Israel have never considered honesty important. Not Nazis, not Persians, Not The Inquisition, Not Arabians, Not the Czars, not the Communists and not their Inheritors of Today. They did not start to call themselves Palestinians, until Palestinian Jews traded in the name for Israeli. As soon as the walls started to go up, across the Ottoman Empire, those Nomads, forced to settle down, picked the most inconvenient place imaginable, to try and "Return" to and they picked that place Deliberately. Forty years later, these are the only refuges in the world, who came from a country that never existed and are trying to get back to, someplace they never even saw.

What a joy to read such an intelligent, reflective, humanitarian piece of writing! I heartily agree with Jonathan's sentiments and find it refreshing to find articulacy in reporting after having to plough through the drivel that passes for journalism in most of the so-called popular press. Let's hope this sane voice will be heard and noted. Thank you for the daring perspective, Jonathan

The point made by Eli is 100% correct. The Palestinians were encouraged to leave by Arab leaders who were leading troops into Israel. Had they won, Israel would be under Arab control. There would be no "palestinian state", or "palestinians". However, because they lost the war, suddenly "palestinians"-- who don't differ culturally from other Arabs in any way whatsoever- want the right to come back to the state they sought to destroy? the right to their own statehood? NEWSFLASH: Israel fought for statehood and won. Game over.

I can easily extend my utmost sympathies to the Palestinians for the majority of their suffering, but the refugee issue pushes the envelope. Over 1 million Jews fled or were expelled from Israel following its creation in 1948, very much in the same way the Palestinians Exodus occurred. I see no problem with allowing them to rightfully allow them to establish a nation in Gaza and the West Bank, but the refugee controversy is an attempt by Palestinians to win back their self respect from failing the political battle of the early 20th century.

Indeed very good answer, Eli. And this is a small abstract of what the Arabs archives are authorized to make public. Imagine what you will not find hidden in Amman, Damascus, Cairo.

The root of the problem is, of course, 1880 and could not be different. After years of suffering and expulsion and influenced by European nationalism, how not to expect a Jewish State to be created? Which people with money, influence and brains would not fight for it? The Curds are trying, but they have no power. The Sarawis are desperetely trying, but Morroco is occupiying their lands. The true is that Israel was born as any other country. Or do you think that the Arabs arrived in South Spain asking "would you mind if I enter"? The sole difference is that the wounds are still open. On the other side, the Arabs would never, as any other people, accept an invasor out of the blue. That's why both narratives have their value and both are true. The Jews accepted the Peel proposal which would concentrate the Jewish State in a narrow strip of Galilee. The Arabs rejected. Now it is enough time to Pals realize that they will never get Historic Palestine again and accept Israel.

your ignorance does run riot all of the time ! in 1948 arab villagers were armed and part of the irregular forces attacking the new state . so when they retreated or were beaten they fled . eye witnesses also told me long ago that arabs who were their neighbours just disappeared overnight and abandoned their homes and land . the same witnesses said they were guarded by british soldiers because the local arabs took potshots at them on their way to school.

tactic. Argue this on the basis of those Palestinians right to return to their homes regardless of the circumstances under which they left. Eli and all the others who try to make this argument would not agree to such conditions applied to them when they go on vacation or whatever.

the subject of the expulsions is dealt with remarkably thoroughly in book "The Gun And the Olive branch" by David Hirst. First published in 1977. Lots of quotes from Israeli leaders---but none to Eli,s taste. Don,t suppose Harris will be exerting too much energy sussing out this book. It,a logistical thing I guess.

While it is undoubtedly the position that some innocent Palestinians were forced to leave their homes, I do not understand that there is any evidence that Israel would have taken these steps had they not been threatened by the Arab world, as you seek to suggest.

If only Israel recognize Palestinians narative then dear oh me everything will be just fine?! The only people that do not want a Palestinian states are the Palestinians themselves... Too busy wanting to invade their neighbor by so called refugee. If Jonathan thinks that all they want is kind words for their plight then he is a very silly boy! The bottom line is only Israel gives concession and guilt ridden plonker like Jonathan think that is normal... Pathetic! Shana tova to all!

"Most Arabs came after Israelis created jobs." This old lie has been debunked by Norman Finkelstein and by Israeli scholars. "The Palestinians were asked to stay." The fact is that Most Palestinians were either pushed out at gunpoint or fled in terror of massacres which were publicized for the precise purpose of terrorizing them. Benny Morris admits to about 2,000 killed in massacres and executions, a number he calls "peanuts". If Israelis refuse to acknowledge the facts about how their nation came to be, there is no possibility of the kind of reconciliation Mr. Freedland advocates.

I am afraid you are wrong. International statutory definition of a refugee does not concern the offspring of a refugee. It is only the Palestinians who have this very extraordinary quality. One can only wonder why they and only they were given this right. Just try to think about it. Do not worry thinking is not painful.

that they are mostly of Jewish descent and then reconvert to Judaism, it would be much easier to resolve the conflict.

I have my doubts if Haaretz will publish this, how ever here we go , not all you said is true, my husband was expelled from his lands Kefer Birem in 1948 and was told that in 15 days they could return, 61 years have passed and still no right of return, the case of Kefer Birem is well documented, and even the supreme court gavethem the right of return, it didn"t happen ,so please be careful what you write.

Freedl writes "acknowledge Palestinian pain" but actually means "acknowledge Zionist responsibility". Please say so straightforward. Ben-Gurion used the war for conquest and expulsion. Simultaneaously, he claimed (e.g. by plan Dalet) that conquests and expulsions were done for defensive purposes. In reality, Ben-Gurion dreamt of reconstituting the Jewish nation in all of Palestine and its environs, and constructed a defensive rationale in order to satisfy the Zionist's desire to see Zionism as a moral project.

The UN because it gave the Jews a home and affirmed the Balfour Declaration? The Arabs because they would not accept a division of the Holy Land? Or the Jews who wanted more land? At the moment, it is irrelevant and will solve nothing. There is only tomorrow.

No, Richard, you are wrong. It is clearly stated in international law that descendants of refugees are also to be considered refugees. Palestinians in exile, even those born while I type, have refugee status.

Mr. Freedland somehow forgot about what refugee means. He constantly speaks about all "Palestinians" outside West Bank and Gaza as refugees. My guess is that there is today less then 200 000 refugees left. All the others are their offsprings born somewhere else without any real claim to the refugee status. They may be entitled to some compensation but nothing else. And that compensation could be easily covered by just part of the property Iraqi Jews left behind in the 40s. So who owes whom and what?

REMEMBER HIM? If one rejects the analysis of 'historians' one is left with the musings of imbeciles on talk backs who are too retarded to bother with history. Some imbeciles do have entertainment value but this should not be considered as an alternative to genuine historical analysis. P.S. However even some imbeciles are aware of the attacks or expulsions re; Qisarya, Tantura, Deir Yassin, Lydda and Ramla.

that Mr. Freedland knows very little about Arab mind and their arguments. For a "logical" westerner admitting mistake does not represent self-delegitimization. For an Arab (or majority thereof) it does. Particularly so if it comes without any reciprocal demand. Where is the Arab acceptance of their part of guilt in bringing about Jewish exodus from their countries? If we do not bring that in the debate any moral self flagellation will be just that - unnecessary pain with no positive effect.

bu the Israeli nationalist wing. 80% of Palestinian civilians either fled or were driven out, viz: According to a report from the military intelligence SHAI of the Haganah (the Jewish army) entitled "The emigration of Palestinian Arabs in the period 1/12/1947-1/6/1948", dated 30 June 1948 affirms that: 'At least 55% of the total of the exodus was caused by our (Haganah/IDF) operations." To this figure, the report?s compilers add the operations of the Irgun and Lehi, which "directly (caused) some 15%? of the emigration". A further 2% was attributed to explicit expulsion orders issued by Israeli troops, and 1% to their psychological warfare. This leads to a figure of 73% for departures caused directly by the Israelis. In addition, the report attributes 22% of the departures to "fears" and "a crisis of confidence" affecting the Palestinian population. As for Arab calls for flight, these were reckoned to be significant in only 5% of cases?' Ethnic cleansing it was and remains.

then he wont quote bilge about jewish attacks . in order for his theory and those of the historians to work the jewish forces in 1948 would have to have been 10 times larger than they actually were !

that this stuff we're talking about here isn't a life or death issue. Iran is a problem but this isn't. Israel needs to figure out how it can become the advocate for the Palestinians. I mean the Israeli Government, not the usual Human Rights Advocates in Israel. There has to be some program put in place to change the way the Secular Arabs and maybe some Religious ones too view the Jewish State. Maybe it will take ten years to accomplish? So what? It doesn't matter if some Arabs and others think they can see right through us and what they might think is the alterior motive. It doesn't matter. Remember that people are people and they will believe more in what they see. So you know when they saw a Gazan baby, with it's skull crushed during Operation Lead, they just assumed certain things. Do we want these people to hate us and Israel perpetually? I don't think so. Let's try to get a good face even if it takes a long time because we need all the friends we can get. Cmon Jews. Let's fix it.

Arab leaders may well have implored Arabs to leave in many instances but those historians who have studied this period in some depth recognise that this was NOT the main reason why Arabs did leave. Once Israel opened up part of its archives in the 1980s for investigation by historians, the lie that the flight was mainly caused by Arab leaders was put to rest. Benny Morris, concludes that Jewish military attacks were the main direct cause of the exodus, closely followed by Arab fear owing to the fall of a nearby town, Arab fears of attack, and finally-expulsions. Even the most pro Israeli of historians Efraim Karsh does not differ markedly from the view that Arab exhortations to leave were not a prime cause of the exodus.

I noticed a lot of these hate filled comments that depict the Arabs as savages and people who have no other desire in life except to kill Jews. I just wanted say how typical that was of racist thinking and attitudes to consider the people you victimize as nonpeople with no rights whatsover, even though they were born in the land that became Israel. What a disgrace! Lee

WW 1 ended and many ethnic groups were left under the control of other ethnic groups which mistreated their minorities. This led to WW 2. After WW 2 ended, MILLIONS of people were forcibly moved to new areas so that ethnic minorities were not left under the control of others. This is why there are no Germans now living in Silesia or East Prussia, among other areas. I don't hear the Germans complaining about it. They have moved on and done quite well in my view. The same goes for the Japanese. Only the Palestinians believe that defeat in war entitles them to the victor's spoils. They need to move out and move on.

If you can go back to 1948, why not Balfour, the Turkish Occupation, the Crusades, or the Roman Era? When does the "correct history begin?" The reality is today, and we can not go back to anything but tomorrow.

O.K. we'll apologize. What will that achieve? As has been pointed out millions of ethnic Germans were repatriated to Germany after WWII, so too Moslems & Hindus in 1948 with the establishment of India & Pakistan and a million+ French from Algeria- and all were absorped by a welcoming country.Not to mention the 800,000 Jews from Arab countries. The Arabs speak perpetually about Arab unity. So why not absorp the Paletinian refugees instead of letting them fester like a sore? Truth is Muslims will not accept a non-Islamic entity of ANY size in Dar-Al-Islam and no apology from Israel no matter how sincere is going to change that(see #31).

Israeli's have tried for more than 60 years to be fair, but the ignorant arabs will not accept Jews because of the islamoracist beliefs. Your article is an embarrassment to all Jews and an insult. The blame entirely goes to these a-rabs plain and simple. Quite being an "Uncle Hymie", sir.!!!!

"Pain" is the wrong word to use cultually. If you've noticed, Palestinians like the word "humiliation", as they feel that they, as Moslems, sustained many humiliating losses to Jews, a traditionally subservient,powerless people in Moslem society. Hence the "pain" isn't merely the pain of loss but also of shame and loss of honor which can only be re-gained through violence and revenge. Many Westerners simply don't have any understanding of other cultures.

....I think the word is... MUST.

.. if it does not lead to more Jewish land, I doubt any Israeli will consider it worthwhile.

It wasn't mentioned because it would be equating two very different narratives with less in common than you might think. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=329736

Now Sam, I could probably go on and on and on with these quotes from Arab leaders, Arab Newspapers, British and USA newspapers but its getting tiresome. And of course now is time to play defense, you will, if Haaretz posts my posts, and your replies, probably site Plan Dalet. But of course the sources for Plan Dalet will be from when? During the War or before? Before, so of course your argument will say that a plan existed and but how does that prove its enactment? especially when I have quotes showing what Arab states did. I can prove both the Act and the Intent, you can only prove intent, your source doesn't give you that. But of course, since like you said, "THAT NEVER HAPPENED" brining just 1 quote to support it certainly shakes the foundations. But hey its great work you do, keep it up

"This wholesale exodus was due partly to the belief of the Arabs, encouraged by the boasting of an unrealistic Arab press and the irresponsible utterances of some of the Arab leaders that it could be only a matter of some weeks before the Jews were defeated by the armies of the Arab States and the Palestinian Arabs enabled to re-enter and retake possession of their country." -- Edward Atiyah (Secretary of the Arab League Office in London), as quoted in 'The Arabs', p. 183 (London 1955) "I do not want to impugn anybody but only to help the refugees. The fact that there are these refugees is the direct consequence of the action of the Arab States in opposing partition and the Jewish State. The Arab States agreed upon this policy unanimously and they must share in the solution of the problem." -- Emil Ghoury (Secretary of the Arab Higher Committee), as quoted in the Daily Telegraph, September 6 1948 (Beirut

"The first group of our fifth columnists consists of those who abandoned their houses and business and go to live elsewhere... At the first sign of trouble they take to their heels to escape sharing the burden of struggle." -- Editorial, Ash Sha'ab, January 30 1948 (Haifa) "The Arab streets are curiously deserted and, evidently following the poor example of the more moneyed class there has been an exodus from Jerusalem too, though not to the same extent as in Jaffa and Haifa." -- London Times, May 5 1948. We will smash the country with our guns and obliterate every place the Jews seek shelter in. The Arabs should conduct their wives and children to safe areas until the fighting has died down." -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Said, as quoted by Nimr el Hawari (the former Commander of the Palestine Arab Youth Organization) in his book 'Sir Am Nakbah' ("The Secret Behind the Disaster"), 1952 (Nazareth)

On 6 September 1949, the Beirut Telegraph carried an interview with Mr. Emile Ghoury, Secretary of the Palestine Higher Committee, in which he said: "The fact that there are these refugees is the direct consequence of the act of the Arab States in opposing partition and the Jewish State." The Jordan daily Falastin wrote on 19 February 1949: "The Arab States which had encouraged the Palestine Arabs to leave their homes temporarily in order to be out of the way of the Arab invasion armies, have failed to keep their promises to help these refugees." "The first group of our fifth columnists consists of those who abandoned their houses and business and go to live elsewhere... At the first sign of trouble they take to their heels to escape sharing the burden of struggle." -- Editorial, Ash Sha'ab, January 30 1948 (Haifa) MORE? Ok ... TBC

Khaled al-`Azm, who served as Prime Minister of Syria in 1948 and 1949, wrote in his memoirs (published in Beirut, 1973), that among the reasons for the Arab failure in 1948 was "the call by the Arab Governments to the inhabitants of Palestine to evacuate it and to leave for the bordering Arab countries, after having sown terror among them...Since 1948 we have been demanding the return of the refugees to their homes. But we ourselves are the ones who encouraged them to leave...We have brought destruction upon a million Arab refugees, by calling upon them and pleading with them to leave their land, their homes, their work and business..." (Part 1, pp. 386-387). As late as 12 October 1963, the Cairo daily Akhbar el-Yom, recalled: "15 May 1948 arrived...on that very day the Mufti of Jerusalem appealed to the Arabs of Palestine to leave the country, because the Arab armies were about to enter and fight in their stead..." Oh Just Wait There is More For You Same Part 3 on the way

"Thousands of palestinians born in Jerusalem, Haifa or Yaffa were thrown out of their homes. The israeli propaganda likes to state "arab leaders told them to do so" but this never happened." Is that they are easily overcome with a simple quote. Whenever you make a statement that is that strong, you are then open to a variety of counter arguments that will leave with no position to run to. If you backtrack the statement you lose legitimacy and therefore you're only recourse is to discredit the quote. So When I bring the Following Quotes (TBC) What is your reponse, now that you have binded yourself to your argument that "This Never Happened" Abu Mazen wrote in an article entitled "Madha `Alamna wa-Madha Yajib An Na`mal" published in "Falastineth-Thawra" official journal of the PLO, Beirut, March 1976, "The Arab armies entered Palestine to protect the Palestinians from the Zionist tyranny but instead, the Arab States succeeded in scattering the Palestinian people." TBC

Is Jonathan serious? Peace is now predicated on acknowledgement of Palestinian "pain". What about the pain of all the oppressed majorities and minorities in every "state" in the Middle East? What about the pain of all those subject to Arab and/or Moslem regimes governmental modus operandi he would never countenance as being within his moral orbit? Does he seriously believe the Palestinian "rulers'" approach to governance is anything that would give him faith in reform and peace, once the recognition of "pain" has occurred? And this guy is a serious commentator? Wake up, schmuck!

It is minds like Jonathan Freedland that may find workable solutions.

To Say that Palestinians were guaranteed to have at most 45% of the country is in my opinion false. Why? Because "Palestinians" choice to BOYCOTT the negoiations and talks leading up to the partitions enactment. The partition agreement was negotiated, and negotiated with Palestinians why? because they chose to boycott the process. The plan didn't begin and end at 55% - 45% it was negotiated to that point. Negotiated without Palestinians because they boycotted it from the onset. Boycotting the process and saying no to the final partition plan are two different things, this article seeks to confuse the two. And that is false.

because there no "palestinians" back then...this is a term created by an egyptian called yasser arafat and adopted by the arab world after the catastrophic 67 defeat the arabs suffered where they lost land. There was no talk of palestinians or a palestinian state when arabs owned these swathes of land, it was just another ploy to destroy Israel and continues to be just that so why would Israel give the notion legitimacy by acknowledging it? It was meant to pretend that these arabs have some ties to the land when in fact all they have ties to is the desire to destroy Israel and replace it with an arab state. There will never be peace until arabs give up on the idea of destroying Israel, that is the crux of the problem, not settlements, refugees, likud, or anything else. And if "palestinians" want an apology for their sorrow then they should get it from the source that caused it--their arab brothers and sisters.

Thousands of palestinians born in Jerusalem, Haifa or Yaffa were thrown out of their homes. The israeli propaganda likes to state "arab leaders told them to do so" but this never happened. Palestinians were expelled, clear and simple. My own family lost everything they had in Katamon in Jerusalem. People will say that jews lost their homes in arab countries. Why should I care ? those people now live in other people's houses in Israel ! probably my family house. Israelis should apologize and recognize what they have done to the palestinians before any other recognition from the palestinian side. Palestinians are not responsible for the atrocities done to the jews. Israelis are responsible for the palestinian tragedy. That's the big difference. Memory and history are something palestinians have and that cannot be erased.

..ever live on the same piece of land if we cant even acknoledge that both sides might have pain? why do we always think that our pain is bigger, better, more justified? we cannot build anythig until we can see the other side's point of view. And dont tell me that we cant because THEY cant or dont either. Its clear that we just DONT WANT TO.

"Or we might adapt Truth and Reconciliation proces".sound great,I'm for it. But there is a problem.Truth,which one Hamas's?Fatah's? and reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah is needed before Israel can reconcile with them.

pals and arabs in general did want openly to murder all jews in 48 and since we did not permit that to happen they suffer.there were 340K refugees by end of 48 that became 750K in 49 and 950K in 50. israel did acept tens of thousands in family reunions, some of them were even cnesset members and yes in many cases - not always - jews did beg arabs to stay(haifa). in some cases pals were thrown out - ramle, lod, but not all of them, even today there are alot of them there.

The Palestinians are lucky that we don't acknowledge their pain as they do with others pain.Dancing on roofs top shooting in the air and sharing candis.On 9/11 and every suicide bombing.

There is no ?truth? to be discovered by historians. History is written by the victor. Even the Arabs who lived through the catastrophic events cannot agree as to what actually took place. (Dir Yassin for example.) The issue is not the truth but the perception. The Arabs in pre 1948 Palestine did not want Jews in their country as were demonstrated by their attacks on Jewish settlements throughout the early 20th Century. Muslims will not accept a non Islamic entity of ANY size in Dar-Al-Islam and no apology from Israel no matter how sincere is going to change that. The only way for Israel to exist is to prevent any seed in the Islamic mindset that it is weak enough to destroy. It really is a zero-sum game.

(Can't use my real name- I seem to be banned) The 45% the Palestinians got was more of a percentage of the desirable area than what the Jews were apportioned in the 1948 Partition. The 55% thing is a myth.

have no more interest in peace than Al Quaeda, unless it is on their impossible terms. For those who believe they are G-d's chosen ones, with a biblical right to occupy Palestine, Golan and parts of 3 or 4 other countries, who decry Palestinians as a non-people and Arabs as scum, a Truth and Reconciliation commission is the LAST thing they want. Their ideological aims mean that conflict and landgrab, not peace, is their chosen route. Every nation has its fair share of biblical/nationalist/zealotic wingnuts, it's just that Israel seems to have an awful lot more of them than anyone else, even Pakistan or Afghanistan. Don't forget that 56% of the public voted for Eretz Israel fruitcakes. Until the public comes to its senses and fast forwards two centuries from Hertzl, the idea of addressing the events of 48/49 squarely and honestly is a forlorn hope. The moderates need to go it alone on this one.

If it is true that Jews were expelled from Arab countries then all those Jews and their descendants have legal recourse and rights of return with those specific Arab countries. However, those expulsions were not caused by Palestinians, as Palestinians are not required to be punished for actions done by Syria, Iraq, Yemen, EGYPT, etc. On the flip side, ISRAEL is responsible for the Palestinian refugee problem because it was Israelis who forced Palestinians out.

As part of a pre-existing plan to expel them from the new state of Israel. That's what happened in 1948.

what Freedland says are just facts , history of Palestine and the jewish homeland that became Israel

Mark, what kind of an attitude would you expect the Palestinians to have had after being driven from their homes, after having more than half their land given away by the UN, after being denied the right to return to their homes and land even when UN Res. 194 stated that they must be allowed to return. Mark, if you were thrown out of your home and not allowed to go back while others from around the world who fit the proper criteria could come and live on your land you might not have a very positive attitude toward those who dispossessed you. Do you expect the Palestinians to have just told the Jews that they were welcome to come and that they would leave?

#5 You make the claim Palestinians were asked to remain in 1948. If that is the case and that's what you wanted why not let them back?

Nice sentiment but the article misses the point, any mature conversation has to start with a rational understanding of what occured. In 1948 there was a civil war, the Palestinians lost retreated and has spent the last 61+ years trying to undo that defeat by criminalising the victors and undermining the victory. What good will recognizing the pain of the defeated if the starting point is that we cheated them of victory? The analogy would be like the Southern US states demanding an apology from the North for being defeated? where does that end. If there is blame it is extremely widespread, and I would suggest the Palestinians first seek apologies from thier arab brethern who have never missed a chance to back stab thier aspirations and sell them down the colloquial river at every bend.

The trouble is Jonathan that if you're looking at where the Middle East conflict came from you can't even start in 1948. The problem starts in the 19th century with Zionism created in the image of 19th century hardline European nationalism. The vision was to create a European type state for a Jewish nation in a land that was basically Arab and Muslim. Arabs didn't mind low levels of Jewish immigration to the Holy Land, but once they realised that Zionism wasn't about living in the Holy Land, it was about taking over a chunk of the Holy Land, that's when trouble started. And it's gone on ever since. Israel has a right to exist, but it has to change its simplistic narrative of good Jew constantly being attacked for no reason by evil Arab.

In any conflict resolution recognition and acknowledgement of wrongs done to the other side is part of the healing process. I don't think that this should threaten the right of the state of Israel to exist. I believe that even Hamas will accept the legitimacy of the state of Israel if proper recognition and compensation is provided to the Palestinians who were dispossessed. Just consider how you would feel if you were in the shoes of one of those Palestinians who lost everything in 1948. Whatever the rights and wrongs of the birth of the state of Israel, anyone who lost their home where their family had lived for generations has a genuine greivance which in justice must be fairly addressed.

of course they have pain, but it's the result of their own consistent choices of trying to destroy Israel. They will either change or their pain will grow until nothing remains. It's up to them.

Israel's rebirth as the Jewish homeland caused pain to both Arab and Jew. All birth is painful. Let us all not forget the UN partition was recognised by Israel in 48 and rejected by all Arab states outright who declared war. It is this position of Arab rejection exists on the Arab Street throughout the ME. As human beings, we must understand Israel's part in the plight of the Palestinians but 'just need to acknowledge the pain' is not at the heart of the conflict. It is ideology. In todays London Times, General David Petraeus remarks: allied failure ?would intoxicate terrorists?. Yet Freeland's position asks Israel to basically acquiese and real politik demands Israel cannot afford to be in an environment that is brutal. Or they will, like Petreaus observes, intoxicate those who seek to destroy it. This does not mean they cannot be compassionate to human suffering, as can the Palestinians and Arabs to Israelis.

"1} Poland { Jews lived their since 12 cent.} is ready to cede about 10% of their territory to Israel" Frankly, EW, you miss the point completely. To acknowledge Palestinian grievances DOES NOT imply territorial loss. Freedland is not asking Israel to cede any of its internationally recognized territory (inside the green line). Your examples on territorial concession from Spain, Russia and Germany to Israel because Jews lived there 2000 years ago are even more ludicrous. The only valid point that you bring is the demand that Arab states recognize the pain and injustice inflicted on their Jewish population after Israel was created. I fully support this demand. But notice that this grievance was not caused by the Palestinians.

Peace is a two way street Jonathan.

Shouldn't now be the time when both sides make attempts to forgive? Tis the holiday season for Jews and Muslims. Israelis and Palestinians come from 3 great, clean faiths (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam). Maybe if we loved God more, we'd realize all this bickering and fighting is of no avail.

The Palestinian People are responsible for their misery and they are also responsible for Israel's misery. They are they are the one to be blamed for this violence. They Middle Esat would have been different if the Palestinians had a different attitude.

Dear Mr Freedland. You are wright we need to do it and follow the World that already have begun this historical humanistic process: 1} Poland { Jews lived their since 12 cent.} is ready to cede about 10% of their territory to Israel 2} Arabs countries are more than willing compensate ~700 000 jews who lived there for thousands yr and who were expelled ,not only by territories but by lost properties 3} Spain is ready to negotiate transfer parts of her land to Jews who owned it before Spain existed. 4} Russia is ready to give back some of her borderlands she took with Jews living on them in 18 cent. 5 } Germany is considering giving back to Israel some lands where Jews lived since days of Romans ;6} USA is ready to give each Arab family of Palestine a car to ease its 20 pls mile trip to Jordan and settle there if the family wants to live among relatives. We acknowledge Palestinians pain but they will acknowledge our existance ,including your own existence, Mr Freed-noland.

Very interesting angle BUT it seems to me that as always Israel is the only one who has to be accountable in this equation. The pain is there for both the Palistinians and the Israelis - who is going to address the pain on Israel's side? Why is all this about the "Guilt" of Israel? Who really recognises Israel's right to exist?

very thoughtful and considerate. Just a few things. In the knot of 1948 there is, unfortunately, also a big chunk of antisemitism. Because the main force behind the war against and the denial of Israel as a state, was one El-Husseini who happened to be an admirer of Hitler and a friend of Himmler and an officer of the SS between 1941 and 1945. The Hamas Charta shows that the ghost of El-Husseini is still around. And thta's why the part where the Palestinians should "contemplate in a similar way" is very unlikely. Most of the arab and persian world doesn't seem all too eager to acknowledge the Shoa or the fact that about 800 000 Jews had to leave their arab homelands without any recompensation as well (to the Palestinians at least some recompensation was paid) after 1948. It's trickier than Freedlands article suggests, but I also like to dream of a world where people at least say sorry. And he's right. It wouldn't hurt to try for both sides. Sincerely

Recognizing the responsibility of Israel in the creation of the refugee problem in 1948 does not imply giving green light to million of refugees to "flood" the Jewish state. There is an enormous difference between "recognizing the right of return" VS allowing for a maximalist implementation of this right, against the will of the Jewish population (and a lot of the Palestinians too). In fact, most Palestinians and Arabs know that the solution of this problem simply cannot be imposed: it must be negotiated with Israel. A proof of this are the polls conducted by the Palestinian sociologist Zikiki, in which an overwhelming majority of Palestinian refugees favor settling in a future Palestinian state in the WB over 1000 years of struggle to return to previous homes inside the green line. Finally, by recognizing the responsibility of Israel in this problem Jews and zionists will always get a better communication with Palestinians and Arabs. So, why not try it? what can we loose?

Jonathan - all the elements of 1948 continue today. Palestinians are still having their land and houses taken from them, their houses demolished, their olive trees uprooted, they are 'terrorised' by the settlers and the army, their residency is controlled by Israel and revoked according to Israeli criterea, they are besieged (not only in Gaza), strangled economically, children killed or crippled...The list goes on. I don't know why you think it is justified "morally" to treat others like this. I teach my children to treat others as you would like them to treat you. I suppose you think you're God's chosen and this is why this "was so morally necessary". Morally does not come into it, not in 1948 nor today.

You clearly do not get it, and even more clearly, you do not live here so how can you possibly judge whose pain is greater than anyone else's? Sadly, diehard liberals like you are the Jewish Nation's thorn. The problem is not Israel, nor the founding of Israel, nor the many wars we have been forced to fight. The problem is the JEWS, of which you are one. Palestine prior to '48, you may recall, was home to both Jews and Arabs. The Arabs and their minions did not want us here in the first place, and still today, the Arab world is bent on crucifying (intentional use of word) us at any cost and any lie, which you, sadly, have bought into. It is easy to blame Israel for all the Arab ills, the Jews are expendable no? Fact is, the Arab states in their multitude to this day refuse to absorb "Palestinian" Arabs who fled in 1948 (they were asked to remain, or did you conveniently forget that?). The Palestinian Arabs are their pawns, and have learnt to destruct rather than construct.

15 Million Arabs and Turks have come to live in Western Europe in the last 40 years, but just like those that stayed at home they can't accept that Jewish people returned to rule their homeland. It's the Muslims who are the colonialists and think they have more rights than others.

While Zionists have down played the element of their active explusion of Arabs, the Arabs on their part have ignored the historical roots of Jews to Israel and the intolerable treatment of Jews in Arab lands. Thousands of years before Mohammed, Hebrews lived and developed the land. It might help if both sides came to terms with their denial, but the real challenge is where to go from here, now? Psychotherapy can delve up the traumas of the past, but the individual has to deal with his daily life in a creative way in the present. So yes, let Israelis admit that in 1967 they forced out the residents of the village of Emmaus and ploughed it under and built park Canada, and are trying to seperate Bi'lin from it's farmland and expropriate it for Modiin Elite now with Ehud Barak. But let the Palestinians acknowledge that their denial of history and feeding their children antisemitic poison is tainting their own future as well..

Indeed, I have come to realize that this is exactly what has to be done. Jonathan Freedland has not spelled out the additional twist that in a way, Israelis and Jews see themselves as that sobbing woman, which further delays our mutual ability to see each other, but the idea is correct. Both sides have adjusted history to push their arguments. History that was erased or fuzzed to further political goals has to be restored to the consciousness of ordinary people: the Arab presence and their sufferings in what is now Israel has to be slotted back into its rightful place in the popular Jewish narrative, the Jewish constant pull and link to this region has to be restored to the popular Arab narrative. Both are indelible. Can't thank you enough; Jonathan Freedland, for putting this so clearly.

The 850k refugees from Arab states? Where are they mentioned?

In 1948 there were 900.000 Jews living in the Arab world, second-rate citizens at best. Almost all of them left soon afterwards, 600.000 to Israel, 300.000 to the West. I think that's a more than fair exchange for the Arabs that left Israel. Why is it not mentioned in the article?

Any acknowlegment of Pal pain has always let to more violence.In addition, the Arabs have never recognized the Jewish pain by evicting the same number of Jews. Occupation seems to be the only way of avoiding war crimes accusations.

What about the fact that most Arabs came to "Palestine" after the jews started to arrive during the 1800s looking for work, because they are incapable of creating jobs only destruction and corruption and no, that is not stereotyping it is a reality or else look around Israel - what is their excuse. If it was not for petrol, noone would even talk about the region. All if not most of Israelis are Immigrants and refugies, absorbed by the other Jews creating what is again Israel, but they -the arabs - do not want to absorb the refugies, because that would undermine their stand and would have to live in peace with Israel and that is not acceptable to them - reality check, reporter of this article. Why dont you mention that 75% of the pop in Jordan are Palestinians? and why cant they abvorb their brethren? if Israel is so bad. and why whenever Israel indicates to take away their Israeli citizenship, they all say no. Why is that?, why - there are so many why's that it is not funny.

...but I fear too late. It seems there's a deal afoot.