| Ghandi is wrong. Not only was there always a Jewish presence in Palestine, but according to Ottoman censuses, most of the Palestinian Arabs had emigrated to the area during the 19th century, just as the Jews were building up their presence, both under established rules. Thus, most Palestinians were not indigenous. Furthermore, the Jews did not rob them of land, but bought or rented what land they owned at independence. When the Jews were emigrating to Palestine, most especially under the British mandate, there was no self- conscious Palestinian people, but Arabs who happened to occupy former Ottoman territory. It was Arab hostility to Israel that created the Palestinians. Finally, although it may be that elements of the Irgun, the more militant paramilitary organization among the Zionists, used the attack on Israel in '48 to despoil some villages, it is generally acknowledged that the main cause of Palestinian flight during that war was the advice of the Arab League to get out of the way while the Arab Powers drove the Jews into the sea. Subsequently, the refugees were regarded as a potential 5th column, and, in any case, could rarely prove title to claimed land........ |
