WHY DID PALESTINIANS LEAVE THE LAND?

In the last census taken by the British in 1945, approximately 1.2 million permanent Arabs lived in all of Palestine. In 1947, a total of 809,100 Arabs lived in the same area. This meant that no more than 650,000 Palestine Arabs could have become refugees. A report by the UN Mediator on Palestine arrived at even a lower figure of 472,000. However, many Arabs claim that 800,000 to one million Palestinians were displaced when the State of Israel was established in 1948. Palestinians refer to this displacement as the Nakba, Arabic for catastrophe.

But why did they leave their homeland? Palestinians left their homes between 1947 and 1949 for a variety of reasons. Thousands of wealthy Arabs left in anticipation of a war. Thousands more responded to calls from Arab leaders to leave, because of advancing armies. A handful was expelled. Some had a disinclination to live under Jewish control. It is believed that most Palestinians simply fled to avoid being caught in the crossfire of a battle, intended to prevent the establishment of the Jewish state. On the other hand, the Jews hoped to gain control over the territory allotted to them by the United Nations.

About the same time, Jews who lived in adjoining Arab countries were forced to leave. For instance, thousands of Jews lived in Iraq – formerly Babylon. About 120,000 of these Iraqi Jews were dislocated between 1949-1951. They were required to leave as a precondition for obtaining Iraqi citizenship. Exiled Jews were forced to leave their homes and properties without compensation. These exiled Jews relocated to the new State of Israel.

In 1948, there were about 200,000 Jews living in Iran (Persia). Today, there are about 10,000 Jews living there. Throughout the 19th century, Jews were persecuted and discriminated against. Sometimes whole Jewish communities were forced to convert to Islam. Jews from Iran, Iraq and other Arab countries migrated, and started life all over in the new State of Israel.

Palestinian guerrilla attacks on Israel from bases in Syria led to increased hostility between the two countries. Syria feared that an invasion by Israel was forthcoming and appealed to Egypt for support. Israel, surrounded and fearing an Arab attack was imminent, launched what it felt was a pre-emptive strike against the three Arab states on June 5, 1967. Israeli forces captured the Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank of the Jordan River, Old City of Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights. As a result of this conflict, about 300,000 more Palestinians fled, mainly to adjoining Jordan. When added to the 1948 displacement, some believe Palestinian refugees and their descendants now number about six million.

Although uncomfortable, no one wants to talk about Jews displaced from Arab countries. Between 1948 and 1972, about 820,000 Jews were repatriated, against their will. Most of these Jews resettled in Israel, without any offer of compensation from Arab governments, who confiscated their possessions.

As of March 2023, Israel's population stood at approximately 9.73 million. Jews make up the majority at 73.5%. The Arab community, spanning various religions excluding Judaism, accounts for 21%. In Palestinian territories, about 86% of the population is Arab. In these territories, about 13% are Jewish.

Displacement continues to be the major bone of contention between Arabs and Israelis. Displaced Palestinians are considered refugees and are deprived of opportunities for personal enrichment in their host countries. Displaced Jews have integrated and assimilated in the State of Israel and are productive. Palestinians who chose not to leave Israel, are equally productive. Unfortunately, as citizens of Israel, many have been deprived of opportunities to realize their full potential. 

Working together in Israel, Palestinians and Israelis have achieved much. Geographically, although one of the smallest countries in Asia, Israel looms big on the global scale.

■ Israel is the fifth-most educated country in the world;

■ Israel ranks sixth in the 2022 World Index of Healthcare Innovation;

■ Israel is in third position in the world for start-up industries;

■ Israel is ranked the fourth most successful economy among developed countries;

■ Israel is renowned for its outstanding success in managing its water resources;

■ Israel is a world-leader in agricultural technologies and

■ Israel (2023) has placed fourth in the World Happiness rankings.

The data is overwhelming, Jews are twice as likely to go to college than non-Jews, and five times more likely to be admitted to an Ivy League School. Jews are over-represented in the field of science by 231%, in Psychiatry by 47%, in Law by 265%, in Dentistry by 299% and in Mathematics by 283%. According to a former professor of mine, “… the very terms of their exceptionalism have fostered scholarship and achievement in order to survive, but these have made them susceptible to jealousy and resentment”.

Of the 965 individual recipients of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences between 1901 and 2023, at least 214 have been Jews or people with at least one Jewish parent, representing 22% of all recipients.

Unfortunately, Jewish achievements have made them arrogant and conceited. Only 30% of Israelis claim to be religious. Within that group, 2% claim to be Christians. Their disdain for a biblical faith is alarming. Israel proudly sees itself as a secular state. Very few Jews would attribute their success to anything mystical or spiritual. Jewish history has been punctuated with this spiritual apathy. Many Palestinians have suffered because of that condition. Unless the Jews repent for corporate arrogance and indifference, they will never experience the national healing God promised His people (2 Chronicles 7:14).