2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the “Nakba”, the ethnic cleansing of Palestine. In May 1948, Israel was declared a “Jewish state” despite the fact that the majority of the indigenous population consisted of Palestinian Arabs, Christians and Muslim. Zionist leader David Ben Gurion instituted “Plan Dalet” in order to change the demographic make-up of historic Palestine and secure physical control over the territory. As a result, thousands were killed and approximately 75% of the total Palestinian population, over 780,000 people, was expelled and dispossessed of their homes and land. More than 530 Palestinian villages were depopulated and/or completely destroyed, either bulldozed to the ground or bombed by air. And the world’s largest and longest-standing refugee population was created.

To date, Israel continues to refuse the right of the refugees to return home, in violation of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194, and legitimizes the dispossession of Palestinian lands, houses, property and businesses offering no compensation for what was lost in 1948.

Recommended Further Reading:

Pappe, Ilan (2007) The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine. Oneworld Publications Limited, UK.