1948 Arab-Israeli war

[earth_as_one]

The news reports the violence in the middle east, but its intent is to manipulate opinion rather than inform. I have noticed many people on this website don't know many well documented historical facts.

I would like rational informed debate on middle east affairs. This wikipedia article is about the best I've seen on the middle east:

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1948 Arab-Israeli War

The 1948 Arab-Israeli War, referred to as the "War of Independence" (Hebrew: מלחמת העצמאות) or as the "War of Liberation" (Hebrew: מלחמת השחרור) by Israelis, is the first in a series of armed conflicts fought between Israel and its Arab neighbors in the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict. For Palestinians, the war marked the beginning of the events they refer to as "The Catastrophe" ("al Nakba", Arabic: النكبة‎). After the United Nations proposed to partition the territory of the British Mandate of Palestine into two states, Jewish and Arab, the Arabs refused to accept it and the armies of Egypt, Syria, Transjordan, Lebanon and Iraq, supported by others, attacked the newly established State of Israel which they refused to recognize. As a result, the region was divided between Israel, Egypt and Transjordan.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Arab-Israeli_War

This Wikipedia entry is pretty complete, accurate and objective. If more people knew the history, they might understand Palestinians a little better:

...At that time (1922) the population of Palestine consisted of approximately 589,200 Muslims, 83,800 Jews, 71,500 Christians and 7,600 others (1922 census}.[1] However, this area gradually saw a large influx of Jewish immigrants (most of whom were fleeing the increasing persecution in Europe). This immigration and accompanying call for a Jewish state in Palestine drew violent opposition from local Arabs, in part because of Zionism's stated goal of a Jewish state, which many Arabs believed would require the subjugation or the removal of the existing non-Jewish population.

Palestinians did fight in the 1948 war, but they weren't a significant factor:

There was no national military organisation in the Arab Palestinian community. There were two paramilitary youth organizations, the pro-Husayni Futuwa and the anti-Husayni Najjada ("auxiliary corps"). According to Karsh, these groups had 11,000–12,000 members,[34] but according to Morris, the Najjada, which was based in Jaffa and had 2,000–3,000 members, was destroyed in the run-up to the 1948 war, during Husayni's attempt to seize control of it, and the Futuwa never numbered more than a few hundred.[35] At the outbreak of the war, new local militia groups, the National Guard, mushroomed in towns and cities. Each was answerable to its local Arab National Committee.[36]
In December, Abd al-Qadir Husseini arrived in Jerusalem with 100 combatants who had trained in Syria and that would form the cadre of the Holy War Army. His forces were joined by a few hundred young villagers and veterans of the British army.[37]
The equipment of the Palestinian forces was very poor. The British confiscated most of their arsenal during the 1936–39 rebellion and World War II[38] A report of 1942 by the Haganah intelligence service assessed the number of firearms at the disposal of the Palestinian at 50,000 (...) [but] this was probably an overestimate[39] or even "highly exaggerated".[40]

In contrast this wikipedia entry is frought with misinforamtion:

The Palestinian exodus (Arabic: الهجرة الفلسطينية al-Hijra al-Filasteeniya) refers to the refugee flight of Palestinian Arabs during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. It is called the Nakba (Arabic: النكبة), meaning "disaster" or "cataclysm", by Palestinians.
During the war of 1948, many fled or were expelled from their homes in the part of the land that would become the State of Israel to other parts of the land or to neighbouring countries.
The UN estimates their number at 711,000 [1] while the Israeli estimate of the refugees is 420,000 and the Palestinian estimate is 900,000. The degree to which the flight of the refugees was voluntary or involuntary is hotly debated. Some cases of expulsion are well-documented, such as in Lydda and Ramle. So is the attempt by some Jewish leaders in Haifa to stem the flight [2], and that some Arab leaders called for evacuation of civilian Arabs from the war zone. How much each factor has contributed is disputed...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakba

This topic has much to debate, discover and learn and its unfolding as I post.

 

[CDNBear]

As you stated and confirmed, the UN, a Globally recognised body, created the Jewish state of Israel. The Arabs objected completely, and attacked Israel without Israel actually provoking this attack, other then its mere presence.

Thus starting the whole situation.

Arab aggression, not Israeli, started this.

 

[earth_as_one]

I disagree. I don't think its as simple as that.



The UN resolution creating Israel was unfair and rejected by Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. In practice, Israel also rejected the plan and intended to seize as much of Palestine as possible.

A minority of "Palestinians" were granted domain of a majority of Palestine's most arable land.

By the time Israel's neighbors attacked, Israel had already started its ethnic cleansing campaign and was attacking non-Jewish residents throughout Palestine.

[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Population of Palestine 1947 TOTAL 1,845,000[/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]67% [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]non-Jewish[/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=-1][FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]( 1,237,000 )[/FONT][/SIZE]

[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]33%[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1] Jewish

[/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=-1][FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]( 608,000 )[/FONT][/SIZE]


...

In practice, Zionists did not accept the UN Partition Plan. Zionists seized areas beyond the proposed Jewish State and did not recognize the International Zone. Using force and terrorism months before May 1948, Jews seized land beyond the UN proposed borders. The UN Plan was used as a pretense for taking over most of Palestine.

NOTE: This is a critical fact often omitted when the history is presented and this leads to a very distorted view of what happened in 1948. The misleading story often told is that "Jews declared Israel and then they were attacked." The fact is from November 1947 to May 1948 the Zionists were already on the offensive and had already attacked Arabs. In the months before Israel was declared, the Zionists had driven 300,000 non-Jews off their land. In the months before Israel was declared, the Zionists had seized land beyond the proposed Jewish State. SEE Sources or this blog entry: Sources for the Israeli/Palestinian situation 1947-1948

http://www.representativepress.org/IsraelHistory.html

From the very start, Palestinians were attacked and invaded by foreigners. From a Palestinians viewpoint, Syrians, Egyptians, Joradanians, Lebanese and most Israeli's were foreigners. The first post describes the Palestinian forces at the beginning of the war. They were more victims, than belligerents.

 

[CDNBear]

Since you have brought my heritage into this in the past.

100% of North America belonged to the Indeginous Peoples. From the Northern Pole to nearly the Sourth.

If i could find a map that represented the space we once roamed and the space we are subjigated to now I would post it. I can not so you will have to use your imagination. But I would guess it to be roughly the same size as Ohio, if that.

That is an injustice.

Displacing people, ostensably squating on the original home lands of the Israelites, is hardly an injustice. A terrible act, but hardly worth the blood shed on either side.

 

[earth_as_one]

An injustice is an injustice. This debate is about the Arab-Israeli conflict, not about European colonization of North America.

The history of this area is full of examples of people changing faiths and intermarrying.

As a result, not all Jews descend from people who inhabitated Palestine 2000 years ago. Some Jews descend from Europeans, Africans, Asians...

Also, not all Palestinians descend from people who immigrated from somewhere else.

Genetics tell a story that not all Jews left Palestine 2000 years ago. Some stayed and remained Jewish, others converted to Islam and Christianity.

Jews Are The Genetic Brothers Of Palestinians, Syrians, And Lebanese
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/05/000509003653.htm

Most likely many Palestinians descend from people which predate the period when Jews dominated Palestine.

...Bar Kochba revolt
After the failed rebellion of Bar Kokhba in the Second Century CE, the Roman Emperor Hadrian determined to wipe out the identity of Israel-Judah-Judea, and began using the name "Palastina" to describe all the land of Israel. At the same time, he changed the name of the city of Jerusalem to Aelia Capitolina. The Romans killed many Jews and sold many more in slavery; many Jews departed into the Jewish diaspora, but there was never a complete abandonment of the Land. There was never a time when there were not Jews and Jewish communities, though the size and conditions of those communities fluctuated greatly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judea#Bar_Kochba_revolt

 

[earth_as_one]

You would think that a 2000 year old land claim would be invalid by now. Also other people dominated this region before and after the period dominated by Jews. Don't these people have a legitimate claim too?

How many generations does it take before someone goes from being a "squattor" to owner? Isn't 2000 years long enough?

 

[Curiosity]

earthasone

I think the countdown should be from the "reassignment" in 1948 by the U.N. post WWII rather than 2000 years don't you?

Also why have you not also addressed the fact that none of the Arab nations (or other middle eastern sects) set about aiding Palestine in its plight living with Israel?

They use the Palestinians as their worthless relations keeping the western nations in conflict as to the legitimacy of Israel in the Holy Land .... when the the Arab nations could have removed the Israeli people bodily some time during the past fifty years....or worse....wiped them from the face of the earth.

Haven't you wondered if that whole situation is a distraction and cause which is perpetuated to keep the anger level high and you are falling into the trap of finger pointing.

 

[MikeyDB]

Interesting idea Curiosity.

If you demand this kind of clarity of thinking from the Arab states, what is the flavour of clarity you'd expect of your own government when it comes to sanctioning violence?

 

[MikeyDB]

Perhaps if the United States Canada and a few other international "movers-n-shakers" minded their own business and didn't keep Israel supplied with money and arms, the Arab states might just end this conflict once and for all.

If Canada and the United States wanted to end this conflict, there'd be a resolution in the U.N. prohibiting the supply of money and military materiel to the involved parties. No Russian arms, no German arms, no Bradley's or Patriot missiles etc...

But that's never happened and it's not ever going to happen...

There's simply too much money at stake for the arms industries and eletoral systems dependent on securing votes to make any kind of advance in the ME that would simply let the natural course of history proceed.

 

[CDNBear]

You would think that a 2000 year old land claim would be invalid by now. Also other people dominated this region before and after the period dominated by Jews. Don't these people have a legitimate claim too?

How many generations does it take before someone goes from being a "squattor" to owner? Isn't 2000 years long enough?

Hey, it was you that stated that I should feel for the Palestinians because of my back ground. Now that you opened the door, it's hardly fair that you dimiss it, because the truth of the matter does not suit you.

 

[CDNBear]

Perhaps if the United States Canada and a few other international "movers-n-shakers" minded their own business and didn't keep Israel supplied with money and arms, the Arab states might just end this conflict once and for all.

If Canada and the United States wanted to end this conflict, there'd be a resolution in the U.N. prohibiting the supply of money and military materiel to the involved parties. No Russian arms, no German arms, no Bradley's or Patriot missiles etc...

But that's never happened and it's not ever going to happen...

There's simply too much money at stake for the arms industries and eletoral systems dependent on securing votes to make any kind of advance in the ME that would simply let the natural course of history proceed.

So you are suggesting that we stop supporting Israel to the point that Arab nations could complete the genocide, they so wantingly wait for?

And you call me a nazi? Wow pot. This kettle just got cleaned.

 

[earth_as_one]

earthasone

I think the countdown should be from the "reassignment" in 1948 by the U.N. post WWII rather than 2000 years don't you?

Also why have you not also addressed the fact that none of the Arab nations (or other middle eastern sects) set about aiding Palestine in its plight living with Israel?

They use the Palestinians as their worthless relations keeping the western nations in conflict as to the legitimacy of Israel in the Holy Land .... when the the Arab nations could have removed the Israeli people bodily some time during the past fifty years....or worse....wiped them from the face of the earth.

Haven't you wondered if that whole situation is a distraction and cause which is perpetuated to keep the anger level high and you are falling into the trap of finger pointing.

According to international law, refugees have the right to return to their homes of origin, receive real property restitution, and compensation for losses and damage. The UN UN Resolution 194 these rights and proposed two primary solutions for Palestinian refugees:

-the right to return to their homes and receive real property restitution and compensation for losses and damages;

-and assistance for resettlement in a host state or a third country and real property restitution and compensation for losses and damages.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UN_General_Assembly_Resolution_194

Israel's acceptance into the UN was on condition it would abide by UN Resolution 194. Since Israel still hasn't met these conditions, some states argue, Israel should not be recognized by the UN.

Israeli's who promote ethnic cleansing, base their claim on 2000 year old religious transcripts, not international law. According to international law, the UN Charter and many UN resolutions, Israel's removal of Palestinians and confiscation of their property was illegal.

Arab countries never voted in favor of the unfair UN resolution which gave a majority of the land to a minority of the people. Shouldn't the countries which voted in favor of this resolution be responsible for the consequences?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1947_UN_Partition_Plan

Arab countries did not forcibly remove 800,000 Palestinians from Palestine. Israel violated the UN charter, international laws and conditions for its acceptance into the UN when it resorted to rape and murder to ethnically cleanse Palestine of Palestinians. Shouldn't Israel be responsible for the consequences of its actions?

http://www.logosjournal.com/morris.htm

Arab nations should be held responsible for their actions, not the actions of others. Those nations which expelled Jews or failed to protect Jews from crimes resulting from hostility related to Israel's ethnic cleansing should be held responsible for that action.

 

[CDNBear]

You missed this line I guess.

"Many of its articles have been largely ignored by all involved parties to this day"

From your link.

 

[THE GALILEAN]

ZIONISM
the Most Brutal Ethnically Cleansing of The Palestinians People

who is the Terrorist those in Green or those in White ?
http://www.ccmep.org/delegations/maps/palestine.html#2

how did that happend ?

YOU MUST See this Video: what the world should know

Former U.S Attorney General Ramsy Clark says:"We`ve had 50 years of assault on Palestine Rights
i think they are the most terrorized at least with the iraqi people...
They`re the most terrorized people on earth and have been for so many years,
Practically every Palestinian lives in constant harassment, threat of violene humiliation,
it`s been that way for a long long time".

VIDEO: Who's the terrorist now?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6tBgmRCumM&mode=related&search

VIDEO: Brief History of Israel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTM67iEIvos&mode=related&search

VIDEO: Where are these people from versus those they displace?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzHq1SISJu0&mode=related&search

VIDEO: Occupation 101 Intro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UX40f3EnMUU&mode=related&search

VIDEO: OCCUPATION 101
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWdEjGrbcPQ&mode=related&search

VIDEO: Occupation 101 new trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuoKwAHmJo4&mode=related&search

VIDEO: Occupation 101 Trailer 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpHP5W0_Vjs&mode=related&search

VIDEO: Occupation 101 Christians in Palestine

VIDEO: Life in Palestine

VIDEO: Occupation 101 Conditions in Gaza
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp2ym1cgQSc&mode=related&search

VIDEO: Gaza and West Bank, 1992

VIDEO: Palestine - with the background song of Palestine by 786, the very brutal reality of the occupied land
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as8rfnwWJQI&mode=related&search

This film is base on the works of Harun Yahya:
The philosophy of zionism and Israel

Rabbi Against Israel (Zionism)-"we the jews are exiled by God and we should not have a state , we should be living amongs all the nations as the jews were doing for 2000 years as loyal citizens, people who are serving God, it says and Torah says says clearly if we will attempt to breach this Oaths of God we will just bring death and destruction and catastrofic results to the jews "

Occupation 101 Hystorical Myths of Plaestine - Palestine was not Empty

what really happend in Palestine
http://www.palestineremembered.com/

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the world’s major sources of instability. Americans are directly connected to this conflict, and increasingly imperiled by its devastation.
http://www.ifamericansknew.org/

The Nakba (Catastrophe)of Palestine
http://nakba.sis.gov.ps/english/index.html

Trailer - If Americans Only Knew

Sands of Sorrow - Gaza Strip, 1950 pt 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA0OeEDDbI4&mode=related&search

Sands of Sorrow - Gaza Strip, 1950 pt 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BXonMbQNH0&mode=related&search

Sands of Sorrow - Gaza Strip, 1950 pt 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeMDAD7maIQ&mode=related&search

VIDEO: U.S. taxpayers funding to Israel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhvALuyT_2c&search=israel

 

[THE GALILEAN]

A very IMPORTANT MAP showing the massive destruction of Palestinian villages and cities (English)

http://www.palestineremembered.com/Acre/Maps/Story1261.html

why my messages is being removed ? are people afraid ?