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The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine: A History of the Nakba

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The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine is a comprehensive history of the Nakba, the forced displacement of Palestinians from their homeland in 1948. The book provides a detailed account of the events leading up to the Nakba, the expulsion of Palestinians from their homes, and the destruction of their villages and towns.

The book is based on extensive research, including interviews with survivors of the Nakba and archival research. The author, Ilan Pappe, is a leading historian of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a professor at the University of Exeter.

The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine

by Clifford Geertz

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	935 KB
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The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine is a powerful and moving account of one of the most tragic events in recent history. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Causes of the Nakba

The causes of the Nakba are complex and multifaceted. However, there are a few key factors that played a major role in the displacement of Palestinians.

The rise of Zionism: Zionism is a political movement that advocates for the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine. The Zionist movement began in the late 19th century, and it gained momentum in the early 20th century. Zionists believed that Palestine was the rightful homeland of the Jewish people, and they sought to establish a Jewish state there.
The British Mandate: After World War I, Palestine was placed under a British Mandate. The British government promised to establish a Jewish state in Palestine, but it also promised to protect the rights of the Palestinian people. However, the British government failed to keep its promises to the Palestinians. Instead, it allowed the Zionists to establish a de facto state in Palestine, and it turned a blind eye to the Zionist violence against Palestinians.
The Arab-Israeli War of 1948: The Arab-Israeli War of 1948 was a major turning point in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The war began when Arab states invaded Israel after the United Nations voted to partition Palestine into a Jewish state and an Arab state. The Israeli army defeated the Arab armies, and it expelled hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes.

The Expulsion of Palestinians

The expulsion of Palestinians from their homes was a brutal and systematic campaign of ethnic cleansing. The Israeli army used a variety of methods to expel Palestinians, including massacres, forced evictions, and the destruction of villages and towns.

One of the most infamous massacres of the Nakba was the Deir Yassin massacre. In April 1948, Israeli forces attacked the village of Deir Yassin and killed over 100 men, women, and children. The massacre shocked the international community and helped to galvanize support for the Palestinian cause.

The Israeli army also used forced evictions to expel Palestinians from their homes. In many cases, Palestinians were given only a few hours to leave their homes. They were not allowed to take any of their belongings with them, and they were often forced to walk long distances to refugee camps.

In addition to massacres and forced evictions, the Israeli army also destroyed hundreds of Palestinian villages and towns. The destruction of these villages and towns was a deliberate attempt to erase the Palestinian presence from the land.

The Consequences of the Nakba

The Nakba had a devastating impact on the Palestinian people. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were expelled from their homes, and they became refugees in neighboring countries. The Nakba also led to the destruction of Palestinian society and culture.

The Nakba is a major turning point in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It created a deep sense of injustice and grievance among Palestinians, and it has been a major obstacle to peace in the region.

The Nakba is a reminder of the importance of justice and human rights. It is a reminder that we must never forget the victims of ethnic cleansing and that we must work to prevent such atrocities from happening again.

The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine

by Clifford Geertz

4.8 out of 5