About 17% of the electorate in Israel is Arab, and Arab parties are represented in the Knesset. Arabs from the territories do not, of course, have a vote, but they often work in Israel, except when security concerns are over- riding. In the middle of the 19th century, about the same number of Jews and Arabs lived in Palestine, which was part of the Ottoman Empire. Although there were, of course, families among the Arabs that had lived there a long time, the majority of Palestinians emigrated into the region around the turn of the century or thereafter, just as the Zionist were increasing Jewish immigration. For a long time, there was peaceful coexistence, and some of the Zionists favored a "binational state". However, with the growth of Arab nationalism, a number of Arabs leaders were pro- Nazi, and alienated the Zionists. Further, the Arab powers committed to attacking the emergent state of Israel. They called for the Arab population to get out of the way, as they proposed to drive the Jews into the sea, and that is what started the outflow of refugees. It is true that factions of the Irgun used the situation to drive out some villages, so the Jews were not entirely free of guilt, but the main problem with the Arab leadership.........
By the way, Arabs can re- claim land or get reparations if they can prove title. Also, the final status of the settlements are up for negotiation if the peace process can ever move forward........ |
