The Politics of Denial
Israel and the Palestinian
Refugee Problem
Masalha Nut
STERLING, VIRGINIA LONDON
Historians' 'New Israel's
2
Critique Nakba: A the and
Discourse of Zionist
combined
been
has
1948 of
history a the of
rewriting the of
Much
with
scholars,
Palestinian and Israeli several by
undertaken effort
historiography,
revisionist This outsiders.
from contributions
minor
small
by initiated group
1990s, early a
by the acclaimed was critically
period following
immediate
the researchers in
and
historians Israeli of
by the partly
Stimulated
Lebanon. of invasion Israeli
1982 the
revisionism
historical
national consensus, Zionist the of
shattering
and the
archives
Israeli
of opening by
the
huge boost
given
a was
then,
1
Since
documents. of astonishing
new array
of discovery
an
Palestinian by
contributed
been also
have 1948
works major
on
Kana'ana Sharif
Khalidi, Rashid
Khalidi, Walid including
authors,
and
Palestinian
memory central
to nakba is 1948 2 myself.
The
and
exodus
1948
the of although
the issue
However, today. of society
the
small
only
history, Palestinians'
a the
point in
turning
critical
is
a
investigated
have
academics and
historians Palestinian of
number
debate
the
ironical since
rather 3
is
This
and
actual roots
causes.
its
the reflected in
also exodus is
of the
and circumstance
the causes
over
problem.
refugee the
proposed solutions
to of
array
1991
and
1988
published
was between articles
I
of
number
In
a
of the
assessment
critical
provide
historian
to Arab a
first
the
fact in
draw and exodus
to
refugee
historiography' the of
Israeli 'new
on.4
phenomen scholarly
this of
significance
the new
attention to
1948
the
debates
the historiography'
on
are 'new this Central
to
of
impact flight),
the
(expulsion
exodus versus refugee Palestinian
societies,
(Yishuv) Jewish
and Arab Palestinian
mandate British
the
on
regional
the 1940s,
and 1930s
the
of alliance Zionist-Hashemite
the
Zionist of questionable
nature
the 1948, in of
balance
power
the and
partition resolution, new
UN 1947 the
of
acceptance
Arab and
Israeli
between negotiations
early
about
peace revelations
other
each against
league
in leaders Arab while 1948, were leaders. In
Israelis
the
were
Palestinians,
the
assisting in interest little had and
state's
Jewish
beyond the far
conquests
their consolidating
new
from
that
picture emerges The UN.
envisaged by the
boundaries as 49
50
The
Politics
of
Denial
Israel's 'New Historians' and theNakba 51
the
1948
for
example,
Israeli
war,
'new historian'
Shlaim
Avi as
has books
challenged that
accepted
the
Israeli of version 1948 the War.
shown,
is mythical the
(still
not
repeated by
Israeli orthodox
one
books, these In
accused expelling Israel
of
indigenous the
we
historians
spokespersons) and
of
Israel standing
alone
against the population destroying of and
the villages Palestinian
neigh-
and
might
combined
of
the entire Arab
world.
It
rather is of bourhoods. Although
early
one works hesitant
and
cautious,
our
were
between
the convergence
interests
of
Israel
those and
Hashemite of
and
mine translated Hebrew,
not into
possible still it
were
even
was
Transjordan
against
other
members bickering
the of
coalition,
Arab
gather
them
from
Jewish the
that State to
built the
ruins
was
on
especially and
against Palestinians.S
the
indigenous the of people
of whose livelihood,
houses,
The
Israel
rise
in influential,
of though
controversial,
'new an his- cultures land had and systematically been destroyed. 8
toriography'
phenomenon. remarkable On the was whole, a the
the of
terms
debate
history
early the
of the
Israeli on
the
and liberal state
A interpretation Zionist
phenomenon,
the of
however,
is
birth
of
the Palestinian
refugee
question have
been
transformed by found Refugees
Palestinian and in
the
Middle (1993) East
Peace
Process
the works
of the
Israeli historians', 'new
including
Benny Morris,
by
Peretz, leading Don
Jewish
American
the Palestinian expert
a
on
Flapan, Simha Segev, Tom
Avi Papp6 Ilan
and Shlaim.
Containing refugee problem, who
that concluded the •revisionist'
Israeli
remarkable
revelationsbased
Hebrew
and archival material, these highlighted historians on the
Israel's of
'shared issue accountability
for
closely works
the
scrutinised
conduct
(Labour of the
Zionist) [refugee] flight'. the 9
also Peretz believes
that the
of issue moral
founding
fathers
of
the
Israeli
thus contributing
state,
responsibility the
refugee tO for the
1948 exodus has majorramifications
for
demolition
of long-held
of
the misconceptions
surrounding some refugee the including
question, 'right
the
of
return', compensation
Israel's
birth.
Several foundational
myths surrounding property.!° 1948 have
and of restitution
been
examined discredited
and
being
of Israeli disinforma-
part By the as history mid-1990s the an debate great Israel, remorselessly in
campaign. tion
highly of Most
these
innovative
works appeared
aired in
Hebrew the media, in had
divided generations
driven
and the
late the
1980s
early
and 1990s,
sparking
internal debate
within guard old
of establishment academics an better defence their of
turf
to
a
Israel
well
keen
interest
worldwide.
as
also
It as became
a against the encroachments of the
'new historians'. soon
latter The
were
that historiography' the
Israeli apparent 'new
the of described part much 'self-hating
Jews', subjected and was relentless
abuse and
to
as
phenomenon wider
development of the
of
perspectives, critical
personal attacks,
resembling often They new witch-hunts. accused
were
encompassing
disciplines
several
within
the
social sciences,
with of history rewriting the of Zionism image the
of
in
con-
its and enemies
tributions long
from
list
of authors,
of
whom teaching held dedicating
a most themselves the destruction of the
by to of
Israel state
positions
Israeli
in
universities.
These
Israeli authors
legitimacy. sapping guard not The its old the turned Israeli are
media a
to
to
monolithic
they
from the liberal group; Zionist 'post- the range public mobilise
to opinion
by the against manipulating 'traitors'
public
Zionist',
from
good old:fashioned the
positivist
historian
fears the 11 apprehensions. and
attacks The to them only involved
not
on
'post-modernist'
6 relativist.
orthodox
historians and partisans labour of
(Shabtai many Zionism
The Palestinian
nakba, however,
become has
central
the Teveth,
Shapira, Anita Shlomo to Aharonson,
Rabinowich, Itamar new
Israeli
discourse
only
1948
of
contributors on
among Efraim the
Karsh, Gelber) Yoav some but to popular also
and
writers
some
historiography'. Israeli
'new
Papp6,
Ilan for
instance,
provides (Aharon journalists Megged,
Bar-Tov, Hanoch lz David Bar-Ilan). a
critical
an•d of
the
'old historiography assessment Israeli new'
Karsh, of particular, the
responded by
in waging bitter campaign
against
a
refugee
by
exodus
noting
Benny
in
contrast Morris the historians', 'new that to designed which (in the
Benny of words
was
expulsion
dominant
feature
of the Palestinian Karsh 1948'.•3• nakba was
a
Morris) and
'refabricate
and other to orthodox academics
7 experience
the
Papp6
1948.
in
had
this
in to article accused
entitled: say 'new recent destroying historians' :of a the
foundations
of the
'Demons
the of
Nakbah':
threatening of Israel legitimacy. and state its old guard, The
themselves responsible for the foundational myths, demanded
a
academics,
For short
while the
of
end 1980s, the at
a several
(Zionist)
'committed'
scholarship; to return
the
their
contrary, a
on
including
myself, caught public
publishing by attention scholarly
(especially Benny Morris) argued, opponents precisely it because was
52
The
Politics of
Denial Israel's Historians' 'New and the Nakba 53
Israel
had
of
enough strong right
and its age, by large, really come historians,
because 'Israel's and exist was old to
not
now
were
by recognised
Arab
its enemies, that 'non-ideological'
history produce historians, reality they history. real
and did In new, a not
were
14
born. '17 apologetic. was chroniclers,
often this 'old' and Morris examines
Ideological
(Zionist)
mobilisation always has
presented historiography ond Israeli social opening official the orthodox of 1948 in
essay
scientists historians and professional
with and
ethical
After, dilemmas. referring produced and the historians who three it
to
over
Faced the with competing demands
professions of their is candid', 'misleading'. and the decades after 1948 'less 'deceitful' and As
as
requirements
the of Zionist-Jewish
examples, provided by (ret.) created state the he Lieutenant-Colonel the state rains cites
accounts a on
Palestinian of society Israeli
academics opted have (IDF) Often, for Elhanan the former officer Defence Force Israel many
at
a
'committed' (Zionist)
scholarship
'official' and City), History of (On Branch, Baderech el Road the versions Ha'it the It his in
events. to
a
hardly
surprising, therefore, is that both political academic published by Operation Dani, and detailed the
estab- of IDF Press in account
lishments historiography' reacted the 'new dismay. They Hakomemiyut to (History with 1976, Toldot and Milhemet of the of War did
everything
they could
early these stifle Staff/History signs Independence), produced by Branch, to of General self- Israeli the
as
the and recognition Israel's of role the Yisrael Hamehudeshet Medinat Palestinian Ben-Ourion's well 'histories'
in awareness
as own
catastrophe. Departments Yisrael.19 Middte of Eastern Studies Behilahem Israeli and at
continued
universities and
having academics mainstream myself first, examined Israel order have here: in Two remarks in to
many are
Clea
the Palestinian nakba
discouraging a.historical 'old' chronicles, the
that quite of Hebrew and official it is event, erase to as r
me new
scholars material and challenging academics from always of the this using overall live his claim denialand Morris does in not to up
conclusions.
manner of suppression catastrophe Palestinian the in doubts place which his took this For
the critical and casts
on
a
Problem,
instancel
is world their ivory outside ofi Refugee Palestinian Birth Morris quotes The the towers, in
uncritically from political drew 'major conclusions' Ben-Gurion the
the
reconcile
departure effort Haifa and makes little the from Arab to CRITIQUE
A OF BENNY MORRIS
uncritical
Also, chronicle
with reliance 'deceitfulness' of such it.
on
a
Benny Morris having predominantly, the generally speaking, investigating mid-1980s himself and spent what based the led to
refugee the of problem, Palestinian creation publishing frequently Israeli uncritically, archival non-archival off official and Birth The
on
analysis
Refugee Palestinian the Problem, description 1947-1949 of such controversial material, and Since then Morris's 1987. has he in
a
shortcomings.
Second, be
subject the authority ultimate the exodus
West the in
Palestinian have to serious the come seen
as as
on
Of
description Israeli fhe by Palestinian Indeed, exodus of 1948. the 'new' historians- his works has Morris's work contributed
to
works demolishing
long-held by 1948
(at of the scholars non-Zionist
least while the West) ignoring the Israel and
in recent some on
impression
gives that
basically
surrounding misconceptions the subsequent these the Israel's birth. discourses His collection rise to are
After: unfortunately, of which, Zionists 1948 and has little
(1990), Israel Palestinians of debate and the revisits essays, outcome among
a
ground of the The covered Refugee the Palestinian Birth themselves. Problem, do the Palestinians in with to
bringing
light expounded the thesis, The Birth material first
discovered central he in himself Morris's as which to ol
new
or
following only became Refi2gee completion available Problem, after the summed the in first the Palestinian of is book. passage up
belongs historiography'. After: Morris's the work Despite Israeli from 1948 and 'new to
his passionate and, Zionism right- his the conversion to recent worse,
16
Israel, Jewish
wing between the contribution his real lies somewhere scholarship the what occurred 1948 in in in
to cause
new
state'
'systematically forcefully phenomenon the and [i.e., and political of which had considerable 'robber of
creation and to state
a a
scholarly population'] significance explanations. acknowledged. widely expelled 'Arab the orders' the has been and Arab himself Morris
including leaders, historiography, does like Yishuv's 'revisionist' mid-1930s the of the While from the because not it in part term most
'conjures up' Jewish establish images
without Arab the Ben-Gurion, of wanted Revisionist of Movement state Zionism Zeev to in
a an
possible, and
minority Jabotinsky,
Arab
with small
minority,
thus 'confusion'. and further He eschews the term as as an causes or
Nal;ba 55 the and Historians' Israel's 'New
of Denial The Politics 54
1948]
the [in
his
instructions di.scussio;ns;:•in to
internal
men
In
problem,
the Yishuv supported
this minority
solution'
'transfer
to
a
be
would position:
It
clear demonstrate4a [Ben-Gurion]
Old Man
expelling
plan the for
with the 1948 War
did
master not enter
a
should
remain possible in
of Arabs
number
few
that better
as
a as adopt political
military such leaders Arabs,
did its
a
ever or
nor
zl
[Jewish]
the of
state, territory
the
largely haphazard of happened
and result plan. What master a was
Haganah/IDF expulsions
of communities, Arab
the There
were
war.
Arab p.16) the
Afl-ter, 'was that it
and 1948
(in
claims
Morris
approval
facto of
with the post of them the initiative
at
or
some
'transfer'. forcible intended always
had
Yishuv
the
that
contention
Staff
General with and
defense minister, cabinet the ..: the most
or
Contention',
Arab
figment of Perhaps,
merely 'Arab
a
Is or it
an Dumeira Miska expulsions and Ad in
from
such the sanction
as
completely
points
adduces
to
imagination? Morris evidence
the
Yet a
Lydda
and Huj May; Qubeiba, and from Zarnuqa,
in April; A1 from
Morris Haaretz,
article
traces in
May 1989
9 In his picture.
different
Iqrit, A1 (Kafr Bir'im,
July; border Lebanese
from the Ramie in
area
thinking'
the from Ben-Gurion's
idea in
transfer growth
of the
'the
early Rubin) November. Suruh, and Nabi in Tarbikha,
Mansura,
writes, doubt',
Morris
'There is 1930s:
the half of
second
no
z°
expulsion, policy grand of
design, blanket
there But no was no
submitted]
the
proposal
.:•
Peel [the
the was moment
that
from
expulsions
Haganah/IDF part'
only 'smaller words,
other in
In
were
that
reside
supposed in
minority,
to Arab
problem the of
dictated
by
ad hoc impromptu, and
carried these
out
measures
were
[prospective
Yishuv'•s
the
began Jewish]
to preoccupy
state,
deflects
conclusion that serious military
circumstances, the respon-
a
seeing justified future the
in They obsessively.
leadership
were
leadership. his
But
the Zionist sibility exodus from the 1948 for
can
fifth
Jewish
prospective state
the
danger minority a
great
to
as a
expulsion policy 1948
design
and in transfer
that there claim
no
was
transfer
viewed
The
idea..,
column. military, was
political,
even or
plan'
for
'master
fact that there sustained?
the Does
be
tho•e was no
days the best
the leaders in Yishuv the of
majority as
by
responsi-
leadership of absolve the Zionist
expelling Palestinians the
problem.
the
solution
to
psychological warfare campaign of alia, bility, its given, inter
precipitate Arab
designed others)
(documented by and
Morris Problem
to
In
that
(p.25) shows
Morris
Re,gee
Palestinian
ofl
the
Birth
The
categorical
there
stating that
in
be evacuation? How Morris
his
so
can
Haaretz
In
1937. transfer
'compulsory' in
advocated
Ben-Gurion
carefully
work
policy
expulsion when his
rests Israeli
on
own
no
was
Ben-Gurion's
idea transfer 'growth in of the
the of
article he
writes
files Israeli of the when partial and documentation released
many
UN
the days before
few 1947, November
thinking' that
and in
a
classified
and remain
subject still relating the
and documents
to
are
emerged
the
at
resolution,
partition
Assembly's consensus
General
a
policy
'transfer'
such
inconceivable that
researchers?
Is
it closed a
to
giving of favou many in
Executive
Agency Jewish r as
of the
meeting
his and understanding Ben•Gurion between
based
an on was
prospective
citizenship the
of
possible
Jewish
the stareas
Arabs
in
writes
blueprint?
himself in
Morris
than rather
lieutenants
an
a
on
living.
they would be
Jewish
where
the state of than
rather
Arab
state
Old
Historiography
and the
(entitled: 'The New
Haaretz article
in
the
rationale
explained in
the
Ben-Gurion Morris,
According
to
transfer notion discusses the he 1989) which Propagandists', May 9 in
following
terms:
1948: role Ben-Gurion's in and
Arab
Palestine and the
Jewish
the state
between breaks
If
out
a
war
the that Ben-Gurion's of greatness hallmarks
of the
man
One
was
'Fifth
be would
Jewish
the state
minority a in
Arab
the
state,
circumstances; certain
in and what
what
not to
knew
say to
say
the
of
they be
preferable citizens
that
hence, it Column':
was
preferable
and what
is
to
recorded
allowed
be
what paper is
to
on
hostile, and, if
breaks
the War
that, out if
Arab Palestine state
so
orally hint.
in
convey
or
they
citizens if And expelled' Arab the state. were they 'would be to
them'.
imprison
possible
(only) be •to would
'it Jewish
of the state
Bar-Zohar biographer Michael states: admiring Ben-Gurion's
56 Politics The of Denial
Historians' Israel's 'New and the Nakba 57
Does
this
that show the leaders Yishuv's not entered 1948
the
rid of habits' could 'old at themselves Zionists and the put war pressure
on
least with
transfer desire
mind-set?
a Mandatory or authorities forced
removal. 'We have stick
to out to carry
Morris approach that
emerged
1948 the in argues
a conclusion', this new
among Ben-Gurion
wrote, to
ruling Party Mapai
leaders, presided by Ben-Gurion, in support
over
of
transfer
'solution'
demographic the
'Arab
problem':
to a
grabbed
Declaration, Balfour the
the in than way same
we more
that, grabbed
the
have Zionism itself. in We insist
to way
same we
Ben-Gurion
changed understood..,
that everything;
different [and it] push determination, with full war this conclusion
power a upon
of
'rules' apply. had
Land could set
be and would to
the from hearts come and assumption We uproot
conviction
must out
conquered
retained;
demographic and there changes. would be
thing possible. that be done. the It is
not can
This approach explicitly emerged Ben-Gurion's in address the at
Mapai meeting
of the February:
Council
Jerusalem's
Western 7
Ben-Gurion ourselves 'We on note: went must to to prepare carry
on
Arab
districts
had
been similar, evacuated and 26 permanent few,
out' the transfer. also convinced that Ben-Gurion
if
a
any, was
demographic
change expected could be much of
the
in willing country themselves of the Palestinians would be transfer
to as
22 spread.
the
'voluntarily', 'compulsory' which the provisions war would have in case
16-year-old be effect. In letter his
important into put to to
son
an
prominent
Mapai Other
leaders
(Hacarmeli), such Eliahu
Lulu expel Amos, 1937, dated October Arabs Ben-Gurion 'We 5 as must wrote: a
Jerusalem
leader,
branch
Lavi, Shlomo
and
influential Kibbutz
places dispossess and take their and if have force
an
to not to we use
leader,
approach. echoed
the
internal debate In movement Transjordan, Negev the and but same
of Arabs the
guarantee to
an
our
own
Mapai
July the Centre background 1948,
24 against held
the at '27 disposal. right places then force
settle those have It on to
at
we our
expulsion of the of the Lydda of Palestinian Ramle, and explicit clearly that the transfer had become associated towns this letter is in
2. Shlomo 'the
Lavi stated that transfer Arabs the of of reflecting expulsion country thinking. with Ben-Gurion's such In out in
on
things the just, of in
moral is and that breaking oL expulsion enlargement through, and most my eyes correct and the eventual one can
thought have '23 be done. this for Lavi's language borders, force, views used partition the Peel Ben-Gurion the Of many years.
were
by
Mapai backed leader, prominent another Avraham Katznelson: strength. increasingly predicted armed counting Zionist He also
on
nothing there moral,
'more
from the viewpoint is universal human of by neighbouring decisive which the Palestinian Arabs aided
in
war a
ethics, the emptying than Jewish of the State
of the 28 Arabs and their by Haganah. Arab would be mid-1930s defeated the From the states
'2zt [the of] transfer elsewhere This requires Contrary force. repeatedly advocacy onwards he stated his transfer. of use to
nothing claims, what Morris approach there
about this of Po'alei The debates of World the Convention of Ihud the
Tzion new was
merely
transfer', 'forcible did the blue of it result political highest out emerge as'a' forum of dominant Zionist world labour the nor
outbreak of the hostilities of 1948. in Congress August Zurich 20th revealed and the 1937 in movement-
pursued Yishuv's The
leaders schemes from mid-1930s transfer the Lulu, of transfer. Eliahu
instance, Zionist for in support
consensus a
obsessively.
almost onwards by Transfer Committees
the had this the debate of Ihud Po'alei set Tzion convention:
up to at were say
Jewish Agency between 1937 1942 and and transfer number of
a
c•rried
thorough
schemes formulated
discussion of A in these through compulsion secret. transfer, This be
if it were to out
were even
Expulsion of schemes found Concept book
is Palestinians: the in The through compulsion all moral carried will enterprises my
out
are
of
'Transfer'
Thought, Shortly Zionist Political (1992). in 1882-1948
justified right transfer, And be all if all
.in negate to
senses. we we
publication after the of Commission Peel
the which endorsed everything report, would have done until the
need negate to
we now:
idea, transfer (12 the diary July Ben-Gurion 1937): his 'The in al-Hawarith] [Wadi Shean, Hefer transfer Emek from wrote from Belt
to
Compulsory
valleys proposed transfer Arabs from the of the of plain] the Ephraem [coastal Mountains the Sharon the transfer to etc.,,
something Jewish
could
give had.., which
29 Galilee
moral, logical, state just, and humane
all is in us
never a
we programme a senses.
1937 '2s population. Arab Already free of believed he that the in
58
The
Politics
of Denial
Israel's 'New Historians' and the Nakba 59
During
the
debate,
Shlomo
Lavi
expressed
similar same 'The
view:
He further
a right 'if the
denial of the of
form
of
notes: return
was a
demand
that the Arabs should
and
place
the
for evacuate
move 'expulsion', villagers
us,
then
who
had great their waited
many
a near
they because
have
sufficient place
to just itself
to in is move
villages
very the battle for before die down trying
home
to
to
return
can
'30 and
moral. There
of very Zionist leaders who were,
course,
34 'expelees'. be considered
'voluntary'
supported
transfer,
but
does
Morris suggest to
that the
as
straightforward Plan (now Dalet document
is both accessible
in
a
of 'forcible notion
merely transfer'
is
'Arab
contention'
that
it
an
English), Hebrew and
generated which or has histori- deal of
great
a
only
1948 Mapai that in
leaders
such
Ben-Gurion
adopted was the
ographical as debate
Palestinian Israeli and historians. Yet,
among
radical approach
of
using force
transform
Palestine's new
to
conclusion,
Morris's contrary has Dalet Plan by been described to
demographic
reality
misrepresentation
is
facts, of the of
which a leading
historian', Papp4, Israeli another 'new Ilan
as
Morris be
must
aware.
Morris's Is
that conclusion
transfer/expulsion
possible. expulsion
Zionist
policy
a plan
for the master of
Palestinians was
many
a
as
as
formulated borne
of the
evidence
he adduces out never
The Birth
in
Moreover, legitimized, plan priori, the
of
the
a some
more
of
the
Refugee Pales•nian Problem
and
After? 1948
in
and The In
Birth
horrendous by Jewish committed
soldiers. In atrocities
cases, some
of
the Refugee Palestinian
Problem
Morris
describes
how
the Yishuv
particularly
north, the under the
of command the in in Moshe
area
military
establishment,
presided by
Ben-Gurion,
formulated
in
Carmel, over
destroy,' order the also 'to
kill off local the
to meant
early and
began March 1948
implementing
early
April in Plan
Dalet
population.
responsible Hence, those for Deir the
Yassin
massacre
(Tochnit Dalet)
anticipation military
in
of
Arab
According operations.
legitimized by referring could
their have D, almost Plan action
to
as
Morris,
the
to
village
Jerusalem the of vicinity
considered in
every as was an
3s base.
enemy
essence
plan the of clearing the of potentially hostile and was
hostile forces
of
the interior the of
prospective out
territory
of the
However, if; for the sake of
that argument,
accept
to
even were
we
Jewish
State
the
irregulars Arab As
based
quartered
and
in blueprint political
plan' Dalet Plan were
'master for
nora
or was
a
a
villages,
the
and
the villages militias
of
participat-
as expulsion many blanket population, plan Arab
of the
and were the 'was if
even
ing the
hostilities, anti-Yishuv
in
Haganah
the
regarded
of the by governed military most considerations',
how
his Morris
square
can
villages
Arab actively
31 potentially
hostile.
as explanations or
with conclusion that his existed there own
no
'plan' Haganah/IDF policy
expel decision Arabs from the to
or
Morris explain Plan that
'constituted to Dalet goes strategic- on state? Jewish prospective
a
ideological
anchor
expulsions basis and by
for front,
district, brigade Furthermore, 'decision-making' the of 'transfer' and in
context
battalion and
(who
commanders
argued military each
in policy, Morris shows
his 'Yosef Weitz Transfer case and the in
essay
necessity)
and commanders,
facto, it formal,
post persuasive gave
Committees, 1948-49', Jewish how Weitz the National a Fund
covering
explain
32
their
actionsq note to After, In 1948 and Morris
charge acquisition of land distribution and executive in its
among
states:
Jewish settlements and ardent advocate of
Arab transfer since mass an
Agency'.s (he Jewish the
1930s the
Committees Transfer
was on
conformity In
(Plan with Tochnit Dalet D), Haganah's the 1942)
between master 1937 and
plan
Haganah The cleared completely various of Arab areas
villages
Jerusalem the
corridor,
Mishmar around Haemek,
placed [in 1948] decision-making shape influence well and area an
to
was
plain. the and
coastal
But expulsion
in orders most
regarding
population the cases, level
Arab the and national
were to
on
oversee
the already inhabitants had
fled, of fear
unnecessary;
implementation out 36 policy the of the local level.
or as a
on
result Jewish of attack. In several Israeli commanders
areas,
successfully
psychological
used ploys
warfare
Arab obtain
began exploit to early 1948,
expel From the Weitz conditions of
to
to
war
(as Valley,
the Upper 33 Hula May). Galilee, evacuation in in in villagers tenant-farmers, Arab cultivated lands whom of and some
60 The Politics Denial of Israel's and 'New Historians' the Nakba 61
by
Jewish owned
important know, This moral future institutions. is personally He supervised not to want to
local or our
many
during being
evictions
early who the facts? the facts creating created
the And orders. frequently is months of the with the
are on.
war,
line commanders) [there
Haganah be] local of assistance
of expropriation of z of and action Moreover, explains: to appears Morris
a
39 by emptying the land force. of Arabs
Everyone,
military level of political decision-making, and at
every
is
evidence
difficult, understood using It Jewish that Morris's evidence
other and large without Arab minority would state a own
a
by produced
be historians', Palestinian historians and Israeli 'new stronger and militarily viable both politically. not and The
more
mainstream tendency
military of labour the of the leaders of
local Zionism de 'nudge' part commanders to Palestinians
to see on into
a
facto, flight forcible, policy
transfer 1948.
increased
in the
Jewish
far went atrocities
as
war on. more
Palestinian
widespread catastrophe analysis by Morris's of the
than also flawed the is histories old have (there
let
on massacres were
treafment
largely
historical his of the Palestinian exodus Dawayima, Arabs of and Ad in Eilaboun, Jish, Safsaf, Maid at Kurum,
al
an
political
vacuum, (in Lebanon), without with Hule Saliha, Zionism. intrinsic connection Sasa, and besides Lydda Deir Yassin and any
Although
does Zionist from the emerging he refer the places) other and significantly to also 38 contributed the consensus exodus.
to
population, transferring mid-1930s of the Arab he in support
sees
expulsions
brings connection between
this and the of 1948. This explanation how the above 'decision-making' regarding cannot no
see
underlying explanatory
the framework work: the
Morris's be
reconciled with to Morris's policy. denial of transfer
Does us can it a
leadership's ideological-political disposition
for Zionist the policy end in actually whether such formulated, matter
a
was or
transferring/expelling
'security' (the
Arabs resulted from threat
the
facto whether just clearly de it and understood of level
was
at
every
population posed column') Jewish 'fifth the Arab the The military
political decision-making? to and state.
presented
hand,
earlier,
facts show the other that the basis the revelations, On of documentation, the and factual on
indigen0us 'volUntary/compulsory'
transfer of the Arabs findings brought by light Morris, other historians' Israeli 'new to was and
Prefigured
Zionist
time ideology long
before 1948 the
the in myself (in Expulsion of Concept Palestinians: the of 'Transfer' The a war
in
and 'obsessively' leadership by advocated broke the Zionist from Thought, Political Zionist out 1882-1948), traditional the Palestinian
Consequently,
the mid-1930s the onwards. of
the resistance
there that
contention
Zionist the question of
was a consensus on
in
to
population indigenous before and Arab 1948 Zionism emanated finding
demographic the 'solution' problem' 'Arab
-the
to
a
goal establishing Jewish precisely of that
from the Zionist Arabs, state Palestinian 1947, still in constituted of two-thirds the a
even
dependent
marginalise
best, would, small, Palestinians
the population through of at 'transfer'/expulsion Palestine of as a Arabs
to
homeland,
and, and
their eradicate
minority the worst,
in outside at Jewish prospective barring and their state, own
return to areas
'security' posed by 'transferred' 'transfer' them. The threat the villages their and corroborated. is Zionist all parties towns, of shades
villages and resulted from
inhabitants of the Patestinians the of towns opinion exception with the muted, of from internal
criticism
a
ideological political agenda, premises and Zionist movement's
few Mapam members of Mapai the and parties basic
in
were
ethnocratic, Jewish namely of exclusionist
the establishment desirability state. about utilising the need and agreement the of 1948 an
war
historiography,
perspective Morris's 'new' there the of From
enlarged Jewish establish
population small with to was no Arab state
an
as an
'transfer' of the Palestinians link
the and the inherent between possible. relatively Sprintzak, Yosef secretary-general liberal the of as
long-
lands acquisition the hand and Zionism's
of their
Histadrut, the
policy, of the forcible transfer critic on had this one
to a say
accommodating Jewish
millions
advocated of imperative of
July
the Mapai 1948 meeting 24 Centre, days the after at at ten
some
Jewish the other. The
the immigrants he in Lydda-Ramle expulsion: state nearest the on comes
hinting following: the such connection is to at a
feeling faits accomplis There being
that is created The a
are
enlarge
afforded the Yishuv historic the opportunity
The
to
question whether the
Arabs will is The war a
not
return not return.
or
things
Jewish and,
turned borders state's
out, state create to [being been] expelled question as a
Arabs whether the. is have are or
The 62 of Politics Denial
Israel's 'New Historians' Nakba and the 63
large without
minority. Arab
The
the would solve
very
a
war important It
that is by expressed similar
views note Morris
to
were
Yishuv's problem
land, lack of
of
which
properly
to
necessary
was early
the discussed
1990s
in 43 and critique 1991 of
in
Morris.
my
were
absorb expected and settle the Jewish
40 influx of immigrants.
despite Moreover, the evidence of mountains about Israel's
culpability,
from
'revisionist of historians', its
Morris
some even
Would have Zionism fulfilling
succeeded
in imperative of
its
that Israel•should with
pre-emptive suggests
continue
its of strategy
absorbing large the Jewish influx of
immigrants
allowing while
the
refusing
legal
responsibility moral and
accept for the to
creation
any
indigenous population
situ? in
If remain could the to Zionist not,
refugee problem. of the
objective 'transferring'
of from the Arabs Palestine have
been
carried
Morris
of fact the of proposed the that is
solutions
to range aware
'voluntarily'
peacefully, and without Palestinian out the
resistance
or
refugee
problem the
the would reflect
debate
the
and over causes destruction of society their 1948?
in
acknowledging exodus. of the circumstance
While 1948
the
findings constitute Morris's
landmark and
major
a
are
a
between the Israel
of
connection
birth of
and the creation the
knowledge contribution
they because to show the that
our
problem,
refugee
clearly Palestinian
believes
he that
Zionist
hundreds of thousands of evacuation a result Palestinians of of
was a
defence; offensive best form of the blames he strategy the is victims, direct attacks,
fear intimidation, attacks, of psychological
warfare
denying
wrongdoing
major historical injustice; Zionist whispering (e.g., any campaign) any the outright and or expulsions
sometimes
wider 'right also he return', refugee of denies Palestinian and of restitution by Haganah/IDF ordered a leadership. the explanatory Yet, and
responsibility
culpability and Israel's moral property for the framework theoretical Pales.tinian Can within catastrophe which the or
refugee problem. Morris, of the Israel should creation For
properly be sought understood be atone elsewhere. must never
44
refugees the Palestinian and should gain
restitutions. Morris's reflects work nuanced Israeli of the 1948 view never events.
a
catastrophe both Palestinian 1948 the
historiography However, of of and the typic.al example his of of the is year narrative year was
a
'independence', triumph well-organised, triumphalist, Israel's of of the the colonial victor: Zionist project comprehen- well-written and
remains historiography history (ideological) ought of and anchored Moreover, Israel. and sive. His narrative rise Zionist its to not
provide moorings, exclusively mainly, by which also
politics They the be the written, wider for Israel' be victors. should to context s or
of denial. daily clear As Morris made
dialogue
with the tools for initiating used in Hebrew cooperation and interview the an as across
(and
Yedi'otAharonot November 200I his in historiogra- Guardian article the in national divide. The in nakba Palestinians still need
'new
a
that firmly
February of
2002) he 21 believes Arabs phy' 1948 started the history: of rewriting and
the their does that attempt
own
one
themselves
therefore, only and, have blame
for the creation objectively to determine the the academic critical war in
events to most
problem. refugee 41 of the
Palestinian
article, In
entitled: history they fashion; recent also but need critical nakba that re-examines a a
Chance') 'Peace? No Morris had this to marginalised say: perspective their of of the nationalist and and narrative
historians, This should of the be the role progressive victim.
My conclusion, angered which
Israelis and undermined
many
Interpreting Palestinian, history the
Israeli and others.
of the
historiography,
refugees Zionist of the that
most
was
were a
Holocaust has been endeavour
towards which
many
common a
product
military and, of Zionist of Israeli smaller action
in
measure,
Germans, Europeans Israelis,
Americans have and contributed. It
is
expulsion
urgings orders and Arab leaders' orders
out. to
move
or
by
of Israeli historians' the be carried in interest 'new
not to
away
subsequently
findings Critics of Israet
those latched that
on
triumphalism,
expanding but task of rather the
concentrate to
on
highlighted responsibility
Israeli the fact the ignoring while
knowledge.
common
our
problem
direct
of the the that Palestinians consequence was a war
surrounding wake, and their the Arab had launched. in
states
NOTES
explained problem had of the 'almost that the creation was
inevitable', given Jewish Zionist of creating the
aim
in
state
a a
of Refugee
Benny Morris, Problem, The the Palestinian
Birth 1. 1947-1949
largely populated by
land Arabs given
Arab
and the
resistance
to
(Gambridge: Cambridge 1987);
Benny University Morris, Press, also
see
42
enterprise.
Zionist
Historiography: Past', Tikkun Israel Confronts 'The New 6 its
The Politics of Denial 64 Israel's 'New Nakba Historians' and 65 the
of pp.14-23; Flapan, 1988), Israel: November-December Simha The Birth State', the of the Israeli Middle Over
East Studies Bulletin
Roots Association
Segev, (New 1987); Books, Myths Realities Pantheon 1949: York: and Tom (1998), 32, pp.15•19 no.l'
1986);
(New Collusion Press, Shlaim,
The Israelis York: The Free First Avi
Refugees
Peretz, Don 9. Middle Palestinian and the
Process,
East Peace
1996);
Shlaim, University
(Oxford: Jordan Press,
Oxford the Avi Across
(Washington, 1993),
p.6. States Institute of
DC: United Press,
Peace
1921-i951
of
Abdullah, Palestine,
King Partition: the and Politics The Zionists
p.6.
Ibid.,
10.
Kimmerlingl
Papp•, Making of
1990);
The the
University
(Oxford: Press, Ilan
Oxford
'Shaking
Censorship Foundations', 11. Bamch Index
the 24,
on
Eugene (London: 1992); Conflict,
Tauris, L.
Arab-Israeli 1947-1951 I. B.
(May/June
1995), Kimmerling, pp.47-52;
no.3 Baruch 'Between
of for
(eds), Rewriting History
Palestine: Rogan the
and Shlaim
The War
Avi
Independence Celebration of
Commemoration of and The AI-Nakbah:
2001). Cambridge
(Cambridge: Press, University
1948
Controversy
the Roots
State', Over Of Israeli Middle the East Studies
(ed.)
173-99; Expulsion of Khalidi
Palestinians, Walid
Masalha,
the
Nut
pp.
(1998), pp.15-19. Association Bulletin 32, no.1
Depopulated by Shapira, Occupied Villages
and The Palestinian
All That Remains:
historians' found Attacks the 'new also 12. Anita 'Politics
in
on are
1992); Studies,
(Washington, for Palestine DC: Israel 1948 Institute
in
Memory: Israel', Collective Debate the "New and The
Historians"
in
over
Conquest Palestine',
of Plan for the
Khalidi, 'Plan Dalet: Master
Walid
History pp.9-10; (1995),
Memory Rabinovich, The 7, and Road
no.1 Itamar
pp.4-19; 1988),
Rashid
(Autumn of 18, Studies Journal Palestine no.1
Early Negotiations
(New
Arab-Israeli York Not Taken: Oxford and Oxford:
Failure', of Underlying
1948: The Causes
Khalidi, Palestinians and
'The
University
1991);
Press, Gelber, Escape War, Palestine 1948:
and the Yoav
for Kana'ana, 12-36; Sharif
Palestine,
Shlaim, The Rogan and War
in
pp.
Refugee (Brighton: Emergence of
Problem the Palestinian
Sussex Academic
(Ramallah:
of 1948
the Palestinians in. Vacation! The Eviction
Still
historians' on
guard 2001).
Press, between debate the old and the A 'new
is
Childers, 1992);
Centre-Shaml, Erskine Refugee
and Diaspora
Palestinian
articles
co!lection
found of Hebrew entitled:
major Ben Hazon Le- in in
a
Spectator, May Exodus', 1961.
The 12 Other 'The
Historiyografyah
Revizyah: [Between
Tziyonit
Meah Shnot Vision and
Nazzal,
al-'Arif,
EliasShoufani, Nafez Khalidi, Walid 'Arif
These include
Hundred
Historiography
Zionism Revision: of of Yehi'am A Years Weitz
myself.
Sanbar, and Kana'ana, Elias Khalid, Sharif Rashid
@d.)
'Critique 0emsalem: 1997). Masa!ha, Centre,
Zalman See Shazar of
for the
and Israeli Sources Hebrew Masalha, 'On
Recent Nur-Eldeen
pp.90-97;
Masalha, Benny Morris', Revisited', '"1948
Nut and After"
(Autumn of
18,
Journal Studies no.1 1948-49',
Palestine Exodus
Palestinian
R0gan
of pp.90-95; (Summer Journal 1995), 4 24, Studies and Palestine
no.
Vivekananda, 'Israeli
pp.1.21-37; Revisionist
and Masalha E 1988), Nut
Nell
of for History (eds), Rewriting Palestine: 1948; the Shlaim The
War
1948',
Palesrinian.Exodus of
Israel and
Historiography Birth of its of the
Studi¢s
of
Journal Caplan, Historians"', 24, Palestine 'The "New
no.4
1990), (March Development 9,
of Alternatives no.1
Journal
Scandinavian
Fabricating (Summer Masalha,
pp.96-103; 1995), of
Nut Israeli Review
of Journal Morris', Palestine critique
Benny of
pp.71-9; Masalha
'A Nur
The
of Journal History: by Historians',
Karsh,
'New Middle Efraim British
n
pp.90-97. 1991),
(Autumn 21,
Studies no.1
(1999),
pp.346-50.
26, Studies Eastern no.2
Sb_laim,
and Rogan 1948', Coalition Arab in in 'Israel and the
Shlaim,
Avi
5o
See
'Refabricating of 1948', Journal
Benny
Morris, Palestine Studies
13. 27
pp.79-103 Palestine, for
The War
(1998),
pp.81-95.
Masalha, •"1948
pp.90-97; Morris,! Nut
Benny Critique Masalha, of 'A See
Kimmerling, 'Shaking
Foundations', pp.47-52.
the
14.
1995), (Summer
24, of Journal Palestine Studies Revisited', no.4 After" and
Papp•, Weekly Nakbah', Online,
no.586, AI-Ahram 15. Ilan 'Demons of the
no.1 Agenda', 7, Memory and History Papp•, 'Critique and pp.90-95; Ilan
May 2002. 16-22
of Celebration
Kimmerling, 'Between Baruch pp.60-90;
(1995),
Responsible":
Benny
Benny Morris, '"The Arabs Post Zionist Historian
16. Are Controversy The of A1-Nakbah: Independence
Commemoration and
Yedi'otAharonot,
Thesis', Clarifies with 23 November
Morris His interview Bulletin
Studies Association State',
Middle Israeli
East
of the
the Over Roots
Guardian, Chance', Benny February
2001; 'Peace? the No 2002. Morris, 21 for Palestine: (eds), The War
pp.15-19; Shlaim
(1998), Rogan
and 32, No.1
Refugee Problem, of p.6. Palestinian Morris, The Birth the 17. Journal Historians"', Caplan,
of 'The "New Nell 1948; History Rewriting
the
After: Benny (Oxford: Israel and Palestinians the Morris, 1948 18. and Masalha, pp.96-103; 1995), Nut (Summer of 24, Studies no.4
Palestine
1990), p.3. Press, Clarendon Karsh, by Historians', Efraim History:
Fabricating The 'New Israeli
of Review
Ibid, pp.2-5. pp.346-50. 19. (1999), of 26, Studies no.2 Journal Middle Eastern British
in
Ibid., p.17. Historiography 20. and Expelled? History,
Papp•, The They 'Were Ilan
Bar-Zohar,
p.703. Ben-Gurion, 2, and 21. Vol. Problem', Ghada Karmi Refugee in Palestinian
of the
Relevance
andAfter, p.40. (Reading: Morris, 1948 22. Ithaca Exodus, 1948-1988 (eds), The Palestinian Cotran
Eugene
p.43. Ibid.,
23. pp.37-61. 1999), Press,
Weekly
May Ibid., pp.43-4. Online, no.586, 16-22 24. Nakbah', AI-Ahram of the 'Demons
[Memoirs], (Tel 'Oved, 7, no.1 Memory and 'Am Agenda', History Ben-Gurion, David Zichronot Vol. 4 Aviv: Papp•, 25. 'Critique and Ilan 2002;
of Kimmerling, pp.297-9. Celebration 1974), 'Between pp.60-90. Bamch also (1995), See
Controversy The Ibid., p.299. of A1-Nakbah: Independence 26. and Commemoration
Denial of The Politics 66
(Oxford: Oxford Teveth, and the Palestinian Arabs Ben-Gurion Shabtai 27.
original p.189). 1985), further discussion of University the Press, For
Chapter 1, 36. of this Hebrew version quote, note see
28. Ibid.
(c.s), Mediniyotenu: Shel Ihud Po'alei Tzion Din Mo'atzah 'Olamit 'AI Darchei 29.
[A July-7 (1937) the World August Report Full about Vehesbon Male 21
Tzion] (Hebrew). p.122 (Tel Aviv, 1938), Po'alei of Ihud Convention
p.100. Ibid., 30.
Refugee Problem, of p.62. Palestinian Birth the Morris, The 31.
p.63. Ibid., 32.
Ibid., p.21. 33.
p.343, Ibid, 7. 34. note
of Conflict, p.94. Papp•, Making the Arab-Israeli The 35.
After, p.91. and Morris,
1948 36.
pp192-8. Ibid., 37.
p.22. Ibid., 38.
pp.42-3. Ibid., 39.
pp.39-40.
Ibid., 40.
Zionist'Historian Responsible': Benny Arabs Are Benny Morris, 'The Post 41.
Yedi'otAharonot, November Thesis(, with 23 Clarifies His interview Morris
February Guardian, Chance', 2002. 'Peace? the Benny 21 2001; Morris, No
February Chance,' Guardian, 2002. 'Peace? Benny the 21 Morris, No 42.
Transfer], (1993), [Zionist 'Transfer Tzioni' Benny Svivot 31 Morris, 43,
Morris'i pp•90-97. Critique Benny Masalha, pp.67-75; of 'A
'restitution', Aruri, of 'atonement' and Naseer further discussion 44. For see
Restitutions?• gain Palestinians Israel Atone? Will the 'Will at:
ever
http://www.tari.org/will_israel_ever_atone.htm (accessed December 28 on 2002).