The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine

Key Takeaways

1. Zionism's Core Aim: An Exclusively Jewish State

‘The Arabs will have to go, but one needs an opportune moment for making it happen, such as a war.’

Ideological Roots: Zionism, born in late 19th-century Europe, sought a national revival for Jews, eventually focusing on Palestine as the desired location. This vision, however, was not merely about a safe haven; it was about creating an exclusively Jewish state, both in its socio-political structure and ethnic composition. This desire for a homogenous Jewish presence was a driving force behind the events of 1948.

• Early Zionist thinkers like Leo Motzkin advocated for the "resettlement of the Arabs of Eretz Israel in areas outside the country."
• The secularization of Judaism transformed the religious concept of Eretz Israel into a secular nationalist project.
• The idea of an "empty" land, or one occupied by "strangers," fueled the drive for repossession.

Military Preparations: The Zionist movement, under leaders like David Ben-Gurion, understood that achieving this goal required military strength. The Hagana, initially a defense force, was transformed into a military arm, learning tactics from British officers like Orde Wingate. This militarization was not just for defense but also for the eventual takeover of Palestine.

• Wingate taught the Hagana combat tactics and retaliation methods.
• The Hagana gained experience through participation in the Arab revolt and World War II.
• The creation of the Palmach, a commando unit, further enhanced military capabilities.

The Village Files: A systematic effort was made to gather detailed intelligence on Palestinian villages. This included topographic data, economic information, and social structures. These "village files" were not merely academic exercises but were designed to facilitate future military operations and the eventual expulsion of the Palestinian population.

• The Jewish National Fund (JNF) played a key role in this data collection.
• The files included details on village leaders, political affiliations, and "hostility" levels.
• This information was later used to target individuals and plan military operations.

2. Systematic Planning: The Blueprint for Ethnic Cleansing

‘The military campaign against the Arabs, including the “conquest and destruction of the rural areas” was set forth in the Hagana’s Plan Dalet’.

The Consultancy: A small group of Zionist leaders, known as the "Consultancy," was formed to devise and implement the plan for ethnic cleansing. This group, which included military officers and experts on Arab affairs, met in secret to finalize the details of Plan Dalet.

• The Consultancy included figures like Yigael Yadin, Moshe Dayan, and Ezra Danin.
• They met in the "Red House" in Tel Aviv to finalize the plan.
• The group's goal was to create a purely Jewish state by removing the Palestinian population.

Plan Dalet: This was the final blueprint for the systematic expulsion of Palestinians. It outlined specific methods for forcibly evicting people, including intimidation, siege, bombardment, arson, demolition, and the planting of mines to prevent return.

• The plan was a culmination of earlier schemes (Plans A, B, and C).
• It was a response to the end of the British Mandate and the perceived threat of Palestinian resistance.
• The plan aimed at the destruction of both rural and urban areas of Palestine.

Methods of Cleansing: The plan detailed a range of tactics to be used against the Palestinian population. These methods were designed to create an atmosphere of terror and force people to flee their homes.

• Large-scale intimidation and siege tactics were employed.
• Villages and population centers were bombarded and set on fire.
• Homes, properties, and goods were destroyed, and mines were planted to prevent return.

3. UN Partition: A Catalyst for Conflict

‘The native people of Palestine, like the native people of every other country in the Arab world, Asia, Africa, America and Europe, refused to divide the land with a settler community.’

UN Resolution 181: The United Nations Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP) recommended the partition of Palestine into two states, one Jewish and one Arab. This plan, adopted as UN Resolution 181, was a major turning point.

• The UN ignored the demographic reality of Palestine, where Palestinians were the majority.
• The plan allocated 56% of the land to the Jewish state, despite Jewish ownership of only 5.8% of the land.
• The resolution was seen as unjust and illegal by the Palestinians and the Arab world.

Palestinian Rejection: The Palestinian leadership rejected the partition plan, viewing it as an attempt to dispossess them of their homeland. They boycotted the UN proceedings, which allowed the Zionist leadership to dominate the diplomatic game.

• The Palestinians saw the plan as a violation of their right to self-determination.
• They argued that the UN was granting half of Palestine to a settler community.
• The Arab League also rejected the plan, further isolating the Palestinians.

Zionist Acceptance and Exploitation: While the Zionist leadership accepted the plan, they did so strategically, viewing it as a stepping stone to a larger Jewish state. They used the Arab rejection as a pretext to expand their territorial claims and implement their plans for ethnic cleansing.

• Ben-Gurion saw the UN plan as a starting point, not a final solution.
• The Zionist leadership aimed to create a state with a Jewish majority, even if it meant using force.
• The rejection of the plan by the Palestinians and the Arab world provided the perfect context for the implementation of Plan Dalet.

4. From Retaliation to Expulsion: The Shift in Zionist Strategy

‘The Zionist policy was first based on retaliation against Palestinian attacks in February 1947, and it transformed into an initiative to ethnically cleanse the country as a whole in March 1948.’

Early Retaliation: Initially, Zionist policy focused on retaliation against Palestinian attacks. This was a response to clashes with local militias and was used as a pretext for more aggressive actions.

• Retaliatory operations were used to intimidate Palestinian communities.
• These actions were often disproportionate and targeted civilian populations.
• The British, still responsible for law and order, did little to stop the violence.

The Shift to Expulsion: By early 1948, the Zionist leadership shifted from retaliation to a more proactive policy of ethnic cleansing. This shift was driven by the desire to create an exclusively Jewish state and the realization that the British were about to leave.

• The concept of "transfer" became central to Zionist thinking.
• The leadership began to see the Palestinian population as an obstacle to their goals.
• The focus shifted from responding to attacks to initiating the expulsion of Palestinians.

The Role of the Consultancy: The Consultancy played a crucial role in this shift, moving from a policy of retaliation to one of intimidation and expulsion. They recognized that the Palestinian population was not going to leave voluntarily and that force was necessary to achieve their goals.

• The Consultancy began to use the term "initiative" to describe their new strategy.
• They planned to destroy Palestinian infrastructure and livelihoods.
• The goal was to make the Palestinian population "at their mercy."

5. Plan Dalet: The Master Plan in Action

‘These operations can be carried out in the following manner: either by destroying villages (by setting fire to them, by blowing them up, and by planting mines in their debris) and especially of those population centers which are difficult to control continuously; or by mounting combing and control operations according to the following guidelines: encirclement of the villages, conducting a search inside them. In case of resistance, the armed forces must be wiped out and the population expelled outside the borders of the state.’

Implementation of Plan Dalet: Once finalized, Plan Dalet was put into action, with military orders dispatched to units on the ground. The plan was implemented systematically, with specific targets and methods for each operation.

• The plan included the destruction of villages and the expulsion of their inhabitants.
• Military units were given lists of villages to target.
• The plan was implemented with a clear understanding of its objectives.

Early Operations: The first operations under Plan Dalet targeted both rural and urban areas. These operations were characterized by violence, intimidation, and the forced expulsion of Palestinians.

• Operation Nachshon was the first major operation under Plan Dalet.
• The operation targeted villages along the road to Jerusalem.
• The massacre at Deir Yassin was a key event that terrorized the Palestinian population.

Systematic Expulsions: The implementation of Plan Dalet led to the systematic expulsion of Palestinians from their homes. This was not a spontaneous event but a carefully planned and executed operation.

• Villages were surrounded, attacked, and destroyed.
• Palestinians were forced to flee, often with little or no warning.
• The goal was to create a purely Jewish state by removing the Palestinian population.

6. The Urbicide of Palestine: Targeting Cities and Towns

‘The Palestinians [in Haifa] were from December onwards under siege and intimidation.’

Targeting Urban Centers: The ethnic cleansing operations were not limited to rural areas. Major cities and towns with significant Palestinian populations were also targeted.

• Haifa, Jaffa, and Tiberias were among the first cities to be attacked.
• These attacks were designed to create chaos and force Palestinians to flee.
• The British, who were still present, did little to protect the Palestinian population.

Methods of Urbicide: The attacks on urban centers involved a range of tactics, including shelling, sniper fire, and the use of explosives. These methods were designed to create an atmosphere of terror and force people to leave.

• Jewish forces used barrel bombs and ignited oil to terrorize Palestinian neighborhoods.
• They also targeted key infrastructure, such as transportation and businesses.
• The goal was to make life in the cities unbearable for Palestinians.

The Fall of Haifa: The fall of Haifa is a prime example of the urbicide of Palestine. The city's Palestinian population was subjected to a campaign of terror, which led to their mass exodus.

• The British withdrew their forces, leaving the Palestinians defenseless.
• Jewish forces shelled and attacked Palestinian neighborhoods.
• The city's Palestinian population was forced to flee to the port, where they were then expelled.

7. The Nakba's Legacy: Occupation, Denial, and the Ongoing Struggle

‘Ethnic cleansing is a crime against humanity, and the people who perpetrate it today are considered criminals to be brought before special tribunals.’

Occupation and its Aftermath: The ethnic cleansing of Palestine led to the occupation of Palestinian lands and the creation of a refugee crisis. Those Palestinians who remained were subjected to military rule and systematic discrimination.

• Palestinians were forced into prison camps and labor camps.
• They were subjected to abuses under occupation, including looting and desecration of holy sites.
• The occupation was designed to entrench the new Jewish state and prevent the return of refugees.

Memoricide and Denial: The Israeli state has actively sought to erase the memory of the Nakba. This has involved the destruction of Palestinian villages, the rewriting of history, and the suppression of Palestinian narratives.

• The JNF has played a key role in this process, planting forests over destroyed villages.
• The official Israeli narrative denies the forced expulsion of Palestinians.
• The term "Nakba" itself is often marginalized or ignored in Israeli discourse.

The Ongoing Struggle: Despite the efforts to erase their history, Palestinians continue to struggle for their rights, including the right of return. The Nakba remains a central part of Palestinian identity and a driving force behind their ongoing resistance.

• The refugee issue remains a key obstacle to peace.
• Palestinians continue to demand recognition of their suffering and their right to return.
• The struggle for justice and equality continues to this day.

Last updated: January 24, 2025

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