A few, non antisemitic questions about the formation of Israel?

Show all answers

Annt Hu DeShalit

The answers to your questions are well known and are supplied by some of the answerers (except for Clyde, whose "facts" are not). But in addition, since you ask, there are some facts that you probably did not know.

Once the partition of Palestine was approved by the United Nations on November 29, 1947, the violence against the Jews intensified. The equivalent of a Red Cross medical convoy comprising non-combatants -- including doctors, nurses and university faculty and students -- was ambushed by Arabs in the Sheikh Jarrah section of Jerusalem.

Although The British High Commissioner and the British Secretary of State personally gave their assurances that these convoys would be protected by British troops and police, seventy-eight Jews were murdered by the Arabs.

The attack, which lasted seven hours, began at 9:30 a.m. and took place less than 600 feet from the British military post. The British watched from the sidelines. Jewish appeals for help were ignored until mid-afternoon. But by then the Jews had either been burned alive in buses or shot. There were 28 survivors, only eight had no injuries.

Among the dead were the founders of the new faculty of medicine, a physicist, a philologist, a cancer researcher, the head of the universityâ€™s department of psychology, and an authority on Jewish law. A doctor who waited four years to marry the nurse he loved was killed when he went to say good bye to his patients before leaving on his honeymoon.

One victim, a doctor, treated the Arab peasants in the village of Isawiyyeh on Mount Scopus two weeks prior to the attack. Yet Arabs claimed that the ambush was a heroic act, and the British had no business intervening even at the last-minute: They did not want a single Jewish passenger to remain alive.

Thousands of furious Jews attended the funeral and lined the streets of the procession. British indifference was responsible for this loss of life. Official Arab response was that they had heard that Jewish gangs were assembled near Hadassah Hospital and Hebrew University.

R.M. Graves, the British appointed Chairman of the Jerusalem Municipal Commission, said â€œâ€¦the Arabs do not realize that the killing of doctors, nurses and university teachers was a dastardly outrage.â€

Despite this sad and bloody piece of history, Hadassah has endured through hundreds of terrorist attacks and always has been there for the health of Jews and Arabs in the region.

And the Arabs who are treated there get the best medical care in the Middle East, despite their terrorist leanings, affiliations and crimes.

.

The First Dragon

1] Before Israel was founded, the region loosely called Palestine was not a nation or even a province or administrative district. It belonged to the Ottoman Empire and had no government(s) of its own.
When the Ottoman Empire fell in WWI, there was no local authority to ask, so the League of Nations/UN appointed the UK to rule it and get it ready for self-government. It was naturally assumed that it would become a Jewish homeland because of the concentration of Jews in the region, and the fact that historically it had been the Jewish homeland. They called it the British Mandate of Palestine. It had not been called Palestine during 400 years of Ottoman rule.
Although it was thought that the M of P would become a Jewish homeland, in fact more than 75% ended up being used to form the country now called Jordan.
2] The region had no coherent government after the Ottoman Empire fell, so there was no way to ask the people what they wanted in an organized way. That is why the UK was put in charge, to make the region ready for self-rule.
3] Israel, when formed, invited all Arabs in the land to stay on as full Israeli citizens. Many did. But neighboring Arab countries made war on Israel because they objected to a Jewish state. They told the Israeli Arabs to leave Israel while they went in and conquered it, and they could come back when Israel was under Arab rule. But Israel won the war and continued to exist. It didn't allow the traitor Arabs to return. But those who had stayed, were indeed full Israeli citizens.
2] Since Israel did not force Arabs to move out, but many moved out at the behest of Israel's enemies, Israel had no obligation to compensate them. I'd say that the foreign Arabs who lured them out by promising them part of the booty, are the ones who owe them compensation. But they have not been forthcoming, and allowed the Arabs from Israel to languish in refugee camps without helping them.

Soccer Darling

1) There were Palestinian Christians and Muslims and also Jews who were living peacefully together on that land. It was called The British Mandate of Palestine, or Palestine for short (Falasteen or Flisteen in Arabic.)

2) I'm not sure, but if they did ask, they probably didn't care about the people's answers or opinions.

3) My grandmother is Palestinian and she was from a city called Jaffa (Yafa). Everyone from Jaffa was forced to leave their city and only take a few belongings with them. Afterwards, they reached a checkpoint and any valuables that they had on them (such as jewelry) were taken away. My grandmother ended up moving to Lebanon.

4) They were forced to move out, but my grandmother's family wasn't compensated. Like I said, they were only allowed to take a few belongings and their valuables were stripped away at the checkpoint.

I don't care if the Jews wanted to come to Palestine and live there. The only thing that makes me angry is that they forced so many people out of their homes and out of their country and now, the Palestinians are oppressed as a result.

EDIT: If the Palestinians were not forced out of their homes as some people here think, then WHY else would they leave their homes to live in refugee camps and lead a life of humiliation living as second-class citizens in different countries?

Shay p

The mandates for Mesopotamia, Syria and Palestine were assigned by the Supreme Court of the League of Nations at its San Remo meeting in April 1920. Negotiations between Great Britain and the United States with regard to the Palestine mandate were successfully concluded in May 1922, and approved by the Council of the League of Nations in July 1922. The mandates for Palestine and Syria came into force simultaneously on September 29, 1922. In this document, the League of Nations recognized the "historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine" and the "grounds for reconstituting their national home in that country."

The Council of the League of Nations

Whereas the Principal Allied Powers have agreed, for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of Article 22 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, to entrust to a Mandatory selected by the said Powers the administration of the territory of Palestine, which formerly belonged to the Turkish Empire, within such boundaries as may be fixed by them; and

Whereas the Principal Allied Powers have also agreed that the Mandatory should be responsible for putting into effect the declaration originally made on November 2nd, 1917, by the Government of His Britannic Majesty, and adopted by the said Powers, in favour of the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, it being clearly understood that nothing should be done which might prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country ; and

Whereas recognition has thereby been given to the historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine and to the grounds for reconstituting their national home in that country; and

Whereas the Principal Allied Powers have selected His Britannic Majesty as the Mandatory for Palestine; and

Whereas the mandate in respect of Palestine has been formulated in the following terms and submitted to the Council of the League for approval; and

Whereas His Britannic Majesty has accepted the mandate in respect of Palestine and undertaken to exercise it on behalf of the League of Nations in conformity with the following provisions; and

Whereas by the afore-mentioned Article 22 (paragraph 8), it is provided that the degree of authority, control or administration to be exercised by the Mandatory, not having been previously agreed upon by the Members of the League, shall be explicitly defined by the Council of the League of Nations;

Confirming the said mandate, defines its terms as follows:

Article 1.

The Mandatory shall have full powers of legislation and of administration, save as they may be limited by the terms of this mandate.

Article 2.

The Mandatory shall be responsible for placing the country under such political, administrative and economic conditions as will secure the establishment of the Jewish national home, as laid down in the preamble, and the development of self -governing institutions, and also for safeguarding the civil and religious rights of all the inhabitants of Palestine, irrespective of race and religion.

Article 3.

The Mandatory shall,so far as circumstances permit, encourage local autonomy.

Article 4.

An appropriate Jewish agency shall be recognised as a public body for the purpose of advising and co-operating with the Administration of Palestine in such economic, social and other matters as may affect the establishment of the Jewish national home and the interests of the Jewish population in Palestine, and, subject always to the control of the Administration, to assist and take part in the development of the country.

The Zionist organisation, so long as its organisation and constitution are in the opinion of the Mandatory appropriate, shall be recognised as such agency. It shall take steps in consultation with His Britannic Majesty's Government to secure the cooperation of all Jews who are willing to assist in the establishment of the Jewish national home.

Article 5.

The Mandatory shall be responsible for seeing that no Palestine territory shall be ceded or leased to, or in any way placed under the control of, the Government of any foreign Power.

Article 6.

The Administration of Palestine, while ensuring that the rights and position of other sections of the population are not prejudiced, shall facilitate Jewish immigration under suitable conditions and shall encourage, in co-operation with the Jewish agency. referred to in Article 4, close settlement by Jews, on the land, including State lands and waste lands not required for public purposes.

Article 7.

The Administration of Palestine shall be responsible for enacting a nationality law. There shall be included in this law provisions framed so as to facilitate the acquisition of Palestinian citizenship by Jews who take up their permanent residence in Palestine.

Article 8.

The privileges and immunities of foreigners, including the benefits of consular jurisdiction and protection as formerly enjoyed by Capitulation or usage in the Ottoman Empire, shall not be applicable in Palestine.

Unless the Powers whose nationals enjoyed the afore-mentioned privileges and immunities on August 1st, 1914, shall have previously renounced the right to their re-establishment, or shall have agreed to their non-application for a specified period, these privileges and immunities shall, at the expiration of the mandate, be immediately re-established in their entirety or with such modifications as may have been agreed upon between the Powers concerned.

Article 9.

The Mandatory shall be responsible for seeing that the judicial system established in Palestine shall assure to foreigners, as wen as to natives, a complete guarantee of their rights.

Respect for the personal status of the various peoples and communities and for their religious interests shall be fully guaranteed. In particular, the control and administration of Wakfs shall be exercised in accordance with religious law and the dispositions of the founders.

THERE ARE 19 MORE READ FOR YOURSELF
IT EXPLAINS IT ALL !!!!!

http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace+Process/Guide+to+the+Peace+Process/The+Mandate+for+Palestine.htm

Cher JPA

1. Britain & before that for a long time, the Ottoman empire. It was always a part of Syria region under Ottomans.

2. Yes, all of the Arab nations voted in the UN as members. A number of nations were formed out of the region, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, etc.. The only one formed for Jew - who'd lived there for over 3000+ years - was Israel.

3. Everyone, Jewish, Arab Muslim, Arab Chritian, Armenian ect. were invited to stay. In most instances Arab Muslims left because their own leadership asked them to "in order ot make it easier to push the Jews into the sea." In a few towns, the Jews tried to scare them out with noise, etc.. It was the ARAB leaders who spread stories of rape & assault to scare out the Arabs - because it would be easier to fight. They were promised to defeat the Jews & come home in a few days. Within the next few years before & after, a larger number of Jewish Arabs (Jews living in ME) left their homes in various Arab countires. Most were kicked out without their belongings.

4. Compensation's been talked about as part of recent settlements. It needs to go both ways.

Also, MANY, MANY of the PA Arabs came AFTER the Jews. This part of history, the Arabs don't tend to say because it's not in their interests. However, almost all of the PA Arabs are from Syria or Egypt or Jordan...and came to where the Jews were becaue the economics were better. Some came before '48 & on, some even after '67. Arafat was Alegrian or Egyptian - not Palestinian. The area was barely settled & nomadic.

Basically the Arab complaint from '48 was that when the Ottoman empire was defeated & Britian was handing out countries, their saw visions of a greater Arab empire in the Middle East, particularly a greater Syria. Various tribes & organizations how various views on which arrangment they wanted. It's in the literature of the time. THAT's been what the conflict is over. That's why a tiny sliver for self-rule for a non-Muslim non-Arab state is such a problem. It's also why the Kurds are having such a difficult time getting self rule! (The Kurds reference the Jews when talking about their problems.)

As part of this regional empire, the Arabs have worked very hard to create a history that supports their goals. Therefore, there are two versions of the history. Some of it is different perspectives, but a lot of it is the use of history & storytelling to FIGHT the war with false statements. There never was a "Palestine." Before '67, the JEWS were called Palestinians (see any regional paper) & the Arabs were called Arabs. Their own charters such as the PLO's, say they are brethen as an Arab community. Jerusalem was majority Jewish - before '48.

So this idea of indigeous people is part of the PR invention of the war machine. The area was mixed population of all sorts, belonged to no one because it was a backwater nothingness. Cairo, Beruit & Damacus were the settled areas. The Jews were laughed at for thinking they could make a country out of that barren bit of rockiness. The green line is a literal concept. It was labeled because as you drove from Arab to Jews areas, the land went from brown to green - where they'd irrigated & built it up. The first electricity was built by Jews in Ashkelon in '21-22,

A major reason to fight Israel, was the Arab dictatorships were heavily threatened by a democracy (it's a secular democrcay with Arabs having voting rights & representatives in Knesset too.) THEY worked are to keep the PA Arabs at gunpoint (literally in Gaza & Lebanon) & they aren't allowed to immigrate into any Muslim country except Jordan. And they were fed the idea that Israel was the cause of all suffering...but their brethren rich from oil didn't help them. Israel's made mistakes, but the problem isn't about Israel. It's about the Arab Muslim community deciding whether to stick with their older ideology of purity in the region & domination, or whether to move to the future. Some are ready, but the media & too many people buy into the hype & support what is ultimately the radical right or moderate right war ideology. Which does nothing to support those who do want peace & solutions.

To answer to whether both can be right - no not really. Here's one instance that can be used to project to the rest of it. In Jenin there were cries of a "massacre" of 500 Arabs. They claimed bodies everywhere. The NEXT DAY, two NGO's went in to investigate & found around 50 people from other sides were killed, & most were military. The newspapers around the world printed in small articles, ops, there was no massacre. Meanwhile, not only the world believes them when they cry, Jenin...they believe themselves. It's false, but they seriously believe it. They also in majority in the ME think Israel did 9/11. There was a Lebanon newspaper (radical leaning) that published a conspiracy theory at Israel & it spread like wildfire. Never mind that Osama took credit & threatened more & we know who bordered those planes. There are videos of funerals where the dead PA Arab falls of the funeral pier, then gets THEMSELVES back on. (I can provide those.) So while there's always bias to news.... However, there is in this case, news being used as part of the war by the PA Arabs. So, it much harder to get to facts than with most situations.

I'll stop there, but I hope you find this useful.

======
Deir Yassin is something Israelis are taught as something to be ashamed of. Yet, when survivors are interviewed, it turns out many there were men in women's clothing with guns underneath. It's been used as a twisted attack at Israel. The real story is mild for a war situation. It's also a practically singluar incident - which is very striking.

Proof on goals: Jews were offered at one point a tiny country basically around Tel Aviv (a JEwish built town). Jews hesitated but agreed. It was the Arabs that wouldn't allow even that.

Add:
You may not have meant Arabs by indigenous, but they're the one's trying to push a myth around it. Jews aren't using the term- it's too PR & manipulative for us to go for, even though we were the oldest group there still alive. It detracts from what's really meant by the term & those cultures in other countries that deserve to use it. So, you can see how politicized everything little thing is.

Simple Simon

You obviously expect certain answer, because your questions are base on certain assumptions.
Although your assumptions did sound correct, they are are wrong.

1. Who was previously occupying the land? Which country did it belong to?
There is Turkish census os 1900. According to this census about 350,000 People lived in Palestine, including East Palestine, which is today called Jordan. In West Palestine ( Israel, West Bank ang Gaza) lived about 200,000 people. 80,000 of them were Jews and 120,000 Christians and Muslims. In Jerusalem alone were about 35,000 Jews. Many say that total number Jews was about00,000 since many of them were not Ottoman citizens.

2. Did the U.N. ask the indigenous population permission to make a new country in the land?

Again you assume that all Arabs were indigenous to the land. That not true. Jews did not come alone to the land. Together with Jews, investments, development, jobs and 500,000 Arabs came to Palestine. So about half of the people, that you call indigenous are not indigenous at all. And UN did ask local people. King Faisal represented Arabs in 1919, not 1948 as you think, Because officail descision to create Israel was in 1922. That was condition of the British mandate.

3. What happened to the indigenous population after the country was formed? Were they forced to move out? Did they do so voluntarily?

Again 50% of them are not indigenous. And not all of them forced to move by Jews. Some of them did it voluntary in order to make room for Arab armies to attack Israel.

4. If they were forced to move out, how were they compensated?

Good question. About 600,00 Arabs lmoved out from Israel. And about 900,00 Jews moved from Arab counries. Jews are relativelly rich. Why Arabs did not compensate Palestinians using Jewsh property?

âœ¡

http://www.frontpagemag.com/media/pdf/BigLies.pdf

There was a very few Jews and Southern Syrians at the time. All were offered the right to stay and be Israeli citizens.
The Arab nations declared an attack and told them to run for their lives. Many did.
They can't go back. The ones that stayed have lived good lives in a productive democracy and many have thrived.
There is plenty of info on the subject but a history book is always the best source.

â€ Thorae â€ is Pro-Israeli

1. Who was previously occupying the land? Which country did it belong to?
Palestine was formerly a part of the Ottoman Empire which was destroyed in WWII. The UK took over the area known as the "Palestinian Mandate".

2. Did the U.N. ask the indigenous population permission to make a new country in the land?
There was going to be two states, but the Arabs refused and didn't get a state.

3. What happened to the indigenous population after the country was formed? Were they forced to move out? Did they do so voluntarily?
They were forced to leave by the Arab countries who said they could come back after they "pushed the Jews into the ocean". The indigenious population inclued Muslims, Christians, and Jews. There is no way you can get an unbiased percentage of each.

Here is a quote that proves that the Arabs forced the refugees out.
"Since 1948 it is we who demanded the return of the refugees... while it is we who made them leave.... We brought disaster upon ... Arab refugees, by inviting them and bringing pressure to bear upon them to leave.... We have rendered them dispossessed.... We have accustomed them to begging.... We have participated in lowering their moral and social level.... Then we exploited them in executing crimes of murder, arson, and throwing bombs upon ... men, women and children-all this in the service of political purposes .... [36]"
-- Khaled Al-Azm, Syria's Prime Minister after the 1948 war

4. If they were forced to move out, how were they compensated?
Some just stayed in Israel, some live in refugee camps in "Palestinian territory" which makes no sense considering they could be integrated into the population. They weren't really compensated.

momw

To the Palestinians 2They did not. 3 Some were ran out of their homes in the middle of the night.I know one Pharmacist who lost his home his business and all his belongings in 1958.It's easy for me to understand the anger they still have.Do you realize that there are still refugee camps for the Palestinian people?

Clyde

1. Who was previously occupying the land? Palestine was owned, not occupied, by several Semitic White peoples,Arabs being the VAST MAJORITY THEN AND NOW. This from the Bible:-"the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites." Of all these people, only the Palestinians whom are considered Canaanites, are still around.

Except for Iran and Israel(formerly part of Arab Palestine), Arabs own all of what was Canaan. Which country did it belong to? At some point, the Arabs acquired all of it with less than 5% the population being Jewish and living peacefully among their Arab hosts right up to 1922.

According to Hebrew law, ALL of Abraham's inheritance belongs to his FIRST born,Ishmael(Arabs), NOT, the SECOND born Isaac(Jews)-Sarah assisted Isaac in hoodwinking God somehow, and stealing Ishmael's inheritance.This aside, Arabs were first, and, MAJORITY. Arabs were there at least as long as the Jews. Abraham was from Babylon, INSIDE the Arabian Peninsula, and could very well been Arab. Additionally, God states,"On that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abraham, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates. (Genesis15:18)"-
Arabs and Jews are descendants of Abraham.

*According to Alexander Scholch, GERMAN JEW AND PROFESSIONAL HISTORIAN, the population of Palestine in 1850 had about 350,000 inhabitants, 30% of whom lived in 13 towns; roughly 85% were Muslims(Arabs), 11% were Christians and 4% Jews.Scholch, 1985, p. 503.

Palestinian Demographics Link up to 1948
http://www.mideastweb.org/palpop.htm

In 1922, the Arab Palestinian armies threw off the Ottoman Empire(no Jews participated). The UN assigned British occupation(not ownership) of Arab Palestine. The Jews then became belligerent, demanding a homeland, carved out of Arab Palestine and started attacking their Arab hosts. The British than created the British Mandate ASSIGNING POLITICAL BORDERS, NOT LAND BORDERS ona UNITED PALESTINE(Majority Arab), to appease the belligerent Jews and opened up part of Palestine to FOREIGN JEWISH immigration with LITTLE OR NO ties to the Middle East, much of it, ILLEGAL, exceeding set quotas.The Arab Palestinians became alarmed. The Jewish population soared to 35%, formed murderous Jewish terrorist groups-ACTUALLY labeled as such by the British, most notably, the Stern Gang and Irgun(now democratically elected Likud). These terrorist groups attacked and KILLED their Arab hosts, stealing(NO ENUMERATION) their land. The Arab armies were depleted by the Ottomans and spread too thin to fight back. The Jewish terrorist groups, spear headed by the Irgun continued on their land thefts and killings of their Arab hosts. The UN attempted to decree POLITICALborders for Arabs and Jews-of course, the Arabs objected to giving up control of their land to making room for MORE murderers and land thieves.The belligerent Jews demanded land as well as POLITICAL borders. By 1947 the UN was on the verge of approving borders and actually rolling back what the Jewish terrorists had stolen (MORE than approved by the UN). The Jews disagreed, stole even more land and killed more Arab Palestinians. In 1948, they created Israel WITHOUT UN approval. The UN washed their hands of the monster they created, and, ratified Israel AFTER the fact.

2. Did the U.N. ask the indigenous population permission to make a new country in the land?No, they stated that the Jews would have a greater share of Arab Palestine, against Arab protests.

3. What happened to the indigenous population after the country was formed? Were they forced to move out? Did they do so voluntarily?The terrorist groups, Irgun, in particular, told the Arab Palestinians LEAVE(NO ENUMERATION) or be KILLED-they proceeded to kill the Arab Palestinians that stayed. It became obvious the Arab armies were too weakened to protect them and encouraged them to leave because the Jewish terrorist groups would kill them. The Arab Palestinians were forcefully expelled or were killed by the Jewish terrorist groups..

4. If they were forced to move out, how were they compensated?The Arab Palestinians were FORCEFULLY expelled or KILLED. NO ENUMERATION.

The promise that is the basis of the term "promised land" is contained in Genesis 15:18-21 of the Hebrew Bible:

"On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abrham and said, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates - the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites."

The verse is said to describe what are known as "Borders of the Land" (Gevulot Ha-aretz). In Jewish tradition these borders define the maximum extent of the land promised to the descendants of Abraham through his son Isaac(2nd born-the Jewish lineage and Ishmael the 1st born and the Arab lineage) and grandson Jacob.Even according to Jewish customs, the oldest son, which is Ishmael, is entitled to the father's inheritance, but because Sarah despised Ishmael, she wanted Isaac to get the inheritance and had Abraham exhile Ishmael. Neither is Ishmael illegitimate but the legal son of his SECOND wife Hagar-Genesis 16: "And Sarah Abraham's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abraham had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abraham to be his WIFE(my emphasis).

The promise is made to Abraham and the descendants of his son Isaac, and Isaac's son Jacob, Abraham's grandson as they are all given promise that their descendants will be given a territory from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates river.No where does it say the Israelis/Jews OWNED the land, nor were they to take it from, and, kill the Palestinians. The Israelis/Jews were given a land ONLY to reside in as many Jews already had among the Palestinians.God clearly states whom the land belongs to-"the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites." Of all these people, only the Palestinians whom are considered Canaanites, are still around. Except for Iran and Israel(formerly part of Arab Palestine), Arabs own all of what was Canaan.

BOTTOM LINE: FEW facts stand undisputed-Arabs(Ishmael) were FIRST in Palestine, Arabs, were, and, are the MAJORITY, and, the Jews are the ones expanding territory and killing Arabs to do it. Does ANYONE see the Palestinians doing this? NO WHERE in the Bible does it say the Jews are to steal land from the Arabs and kill them to do it .Nor, did they have OWNERSHIP, just RESIDENCY.

Thumbs down, these are facts and you are in self denial.

Miss Sarah

1. The Palestinians were not occupying the land. They were legally living on that land, and owned every inch of it. There is no village/city/town today that did not have a former Arab population. It belonged to Palestine, the borders set by the British and Ottoman Empire.

2. They did not ask.

3. 800 000 were displaced, NOT voluntarily. Thousands more were ethnic cleansed. Thousands of houses were demolished, and hundreds of villages were destroyed. Holy places (Churches and Mosques) were vandalized.

4. They waren't. But Arab countries displaced around another 800 000 Jews, and they didn't gain anything. Only Israel and Mossad gained. Today, over 4.25 million Palestinians are refugees outside of Palestine.

P.S. You will be called anti-Semitic because your questions are too hard to answer for people not wanting to face the truth that Israel is just a littleeeee tiny winy bit CRUEL!

m i

1. Before Israel was formed about 1/3 of the people living in Palestine were European Jewish colonists or immigrants, who had arrived with the help of the British over the objections of the native people, now known as Palestinians but then known as Palestinian Arabs. The remaining 2/3 were Palestinians.

Within the pre-67 borders of Israel, a slight majority of the people were Palestinian Arabs prior to Israel's formation.

Like any of Britain's colonies Palestine was not an independent state prior to Israel's formation. Most of the land was owned by Palestinians, some privately (slightly under 50% of the total was owned privately by Palestinians) and some owned communally (e.g., land owned by villages, religious land), or used traditionally by the native people (e.g. bedouin grazing land) although not formally registered as belonging to them. About 6-7% of the territory of Palestine was owned by European Jewish immigrants.

2. No, the UN didn't ask the permission of the native people. They made the proposal to form Israel from part of the territory to Palestinian negotiators, who adamantly rejected the idea.

3. The native people were forced out, for the most part. The Zionist founders of Israel conducted a well-orchestrated campaign of terror and massacres* to get them to leave. In many cases, the native people were ordered out at gunpoint, the Zionists also laid siege to major Arab towns and urban neighborhoods.

4. They weren't compensated, for the most part. There was a lot of talk about offering compensation, and the UN passed resolution 194 to that effect, and also formed a conciliation commission which estimated the losses which managed to get some of the funds Palestinians had left in bank accounts released. Israel balked however, perhaps at the high cost, or perhaps it didn't want to admit any responsibility.

tambovi

"1. Who was previously occupying the land? "
In 636 arabs under the command of Chalif Umar invaded Palestine and occupied it.

"Which country did it belong to?"

Originally,Palestine belonged to Jews.There were two Jewish kingdoms there:Judea(with the capital in Jerusalem) and Israel(with the capital in Samaria).When Romans conquered Judea,they renamed it into Palestine.
"2. Did the U.N. ask the indigenous population permission to make a new country in the land?"
The indigenous population of Palestine are Jews.UN offered the State to them and to the arabs(it was a mistake;UN had to send arabs to where they came from,to Arabia).Jews agreed.Arabs refused - and started the war against Israel.This was how the confict began.
"3. What happened to the indigenous population after the country was formed?"
The indigenous population,i.e.Jews,remained in their land:Palestine.A part of arabs ran away-and became refugees.Other part of arabs stayed in Israel.Now they are the citizens of Israel.
Those who ran away are not entitled to any compensation because they ran on their own free will,nobody made them run.Those who stayed were not killed or oppressed or persecuted.

Kevin S

1. Who was previously occupying the land? Which country did it belong to?

Jews and Arabs. Jews lived mostly on the west and arabs lived mostly on the east.

2. Did the U.N. ask the indigenous population permission to make a new country in the land?

Yes, an arab and jewish state was proposed 3 times.......once before 1937, once in 37 and once in 48. Jewish autonomy was denied by arabs 3 times. Jews accepted arab autonomy all 3 times. Arabs never proposed what to call the state either, Palestine was not one of the choices.

3. What happened to the indigenous population after the country was formed? Were they forced to move out? Did they do so voluntarily?

After the Jewish state was declared independent of the British Mandate and before, arab violence towards Jews both in the arab state and the Jewish state increased. In 1947 rockets were shelled at Tel Aviv and Haifa at the jewish population. The Haganah and Irgun reacted by taking control of the areas where these rockets/shells came from. As a result, many were forced (300,000) and many left (300,000).

4. If they were forced to move out, how were they compensated?
Those who were forced to move out were at first allowed to return but Ben Gurion argued that since the arabs attacked first there is no point to allow for return if its a security risk. Israel built apartment buildings in Gaza and west bank for refugees but many are out of use now.

I agree these questions are not anti-semitic. The fact that you mentioned they were not speaks volumes of its "anti-semitism".

Cyrus

if you read the bible, and i'm not getting all religious on you, though i am christian. technically the bible is a history book accepted by secular history. the Hebrew Israelites were there before the arabs, as arabs were the descendants of abraham and his servant girl, while the 12 tribes of israel were his descendants with his wife. so technically the israelites have been all over the middle east longer than the arabs have. jerusalem today is where it's been for thousands of years and the borders of israel probably arent too far, but i'm no cartographer so i couldn't say for sure. so i'd say they have rights to the whole middle east. and although people try to say the israelis aren't of hebrew blood, they're full of crap. though there are along of jews of european descent.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: