Jewish Newsletter, Volume 12, Number 17, September 3, 1956 Page: 6 of 6
6 p. ; 28 x 21 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
An Arab Refugee State
By E. Alvin Fidanque
Leader of Jewish Community in Panama
Your suggestion of a token repatriation of 40,000 Arab Refugees
to Israel, if accepted, would be a fine humanitarian gesture which
would be of invaluable service to Israel by creating a better climate
for peace negotiations with the Arab people. But it is not a solu-
tion for the Arab Refugee problem. That problem is, unfortunately,
too big and too complicated to be solved by public relations moves,
or by fine dramatic gestures. The problem is primarily political
and can be solved only by political means. In my opinion, the
Jewish Newsletter has now performed a truly important service, by
bringing this fundamental issue, without a solution of which there
can be no peace in the Middle East, to a free public discussion
for the first time in an American Jewish publication. I should like
to avail myself of this opportunity by presenting an alternative
plan for a political solution of this painful problem.
As I see it, two parallel lines of action are open to Israel in
waging an effective and determined peace offensive. The first re-
quires that Israel should concentrate all its energies and efforts to
influence and make friends with the individual Arab, especially the
refugees in Transjordania and the Gaza strip. By using every mod-
ern method of communication and propaganda, Israel could convince
the world of its determination to consider and settle legitimate
claims for expropriated Arab property; and of its willingness to
admit a certain number of carefully screened Arab refugees for
resettlement in specific areas. These two actions would effectively
translate present protestations of good intent into concrete deeds.
Thus, the word would be transformed into flesh.
A More Radical Step Needed
Another, more radical, step is for Israel to offer to under-
take the resettlement of the Refugees in the territory origi-
nally intended to be formed into an independent Palestinian
Arab State (now part of Jordan). Possibly by publicly advo-
cating the creation of such a State in the territory annexed
by the Kingdom of Jordan, Israel could exert considerable
diplomatic and tactical pressure on Jordan. If the mere
threat of the creation of such a State were not enough, Israel
could actively encourage the formation of a "government-
in-exile" until such time as the State was born. Such an
independent Palestinian Arab State federated with Israel, and
assisted by Western powers would solve the refugee prob-
lem; and could serve as a balance between the Bagdad and
Cairo powers.
At the same time, Israel could suggest and work for the creation
of a Middle Eastern Colombo Plan under UN sponsorship for the
development of the entire Middle East area. An educational cam-
paign on the individual Arab level should prove effective in bring-
ing about the cooperation of the Arab governments. Such a reori-
entation of policy would also demand a complete re-examination
of Israel's present and future role in the Jewish world. Israel would
accept its fate as a small state in the midst of a predominantly
hostile world and give up its grand idea of being the Center of
the Diaspora and leader of the Jewish world. Israel would also
have to rid itself of its present slavish dependence on the wealth
and influence of Diaspora Jewry; and would have to subordinate
security pacts and arms parity to the imperative necessity of liv-
ing peacefully with her Arab neighbors. In the last analysis, Israel
can be saved as Jews have always been saved, by their own self-
reliance, utilizing their own humane, spiritual, psychological and
material resources.
Proposal Amended
By Edwin S. Rauh, Baltimore
Your "Unique Proposal" in the article, "An Opportunity for
Israel", in the July 2nd issue of the Newsletter, is in my
opinion, an inspired one. But I am very skeptical that it will
be adopted. May I offer an amendment to your proposal, namelythat the Arab refugees, which the State of Israel will be asked
to repatriate-as well as other Arabs already in Israel-be
granted full and first-class citizenship. This too, would be a
step toward the creation of a better climate for peace and
would also make Israel more nearly a democracy which it is
not now-despite the claims of its ecstatic supporters,-to
say nothing of the justice of such a move.
Moral Climate Not Opportune
By An American Jew
Your suggestion that the government of Israel permit some 40,000
Palestinian Arabs to return to their native homes, is a fine, humani-
tarian proposal in the best spirit of Jewish and American principles
of social justice and democracy. It reminded me of the last words
of Dr. Judah L. Magnes who said a few months before his death
in 1948: "Some effective alleviation of the distress of Arab Refugees
would do more than anything else to create the climate in which a
solution of the political problem might be found". Even though you
and I are Jews who profoundly sympathize with the unfortunate
members of the Jewish people, we cannot also but feel deep sym-
pathy for the 900,000 Palestinian Arabs who were replaced by an
approximately similar number of Jews who have entered Palestine
since 1948 when the State of Israel was carved out. The exiled
Arab refugees only yesterday owned their own homes, tended their
fields, gardens and cattle, lived in what they considered their father-
land, poor and rich, but at home in an ideal climate; and are now
starving and scorching in the waste deserts around Jericho and Gaza,
across the border of what was only eight years ago their own
country for centuries. The repatriation of a small number of these
unfortunate people, would be only an act of elementary justice
and civilization.
Unfortunately, I am afraid that the Israelis and Zionists in their
present mood under their present sabre-rattling leadership will
not even consider a proposal like yours, still less do something to
implement it. The tragedy of the Jewish people of our period is
that a considerable section of it - the Zionists - have deliberately
discarded the ethical principles of prophetic Judaism-brotherhood
of man, universal peace, and justice for all -in favor of an aggres-
sive tribalism and political nationalism of the pre-Prophetic period
of Jewish history. Had Hillel's teaching, "Do not do unto your
fellow man what you do not want to be done unto you" prevailed
among us, the present tragic situation would not have come about.
But instead of following the principles of the Prophets, Zionists
have chosen to follow Ben Gurion and Menachem Beigin. This
cannot be changed overnight without a moral revolution in Israel
and in the Zionist world. And without such a revolution, yours and
similar proposals which are based on principles of morality, will be
dismissed by those in power in Israel as that of cranks, madmen,
if not of traitors. As I see it, the only possible way in which Israel
can now be saved from sure destruction in another "second round",
or world war, is for the United Nations to call at once, a special
session to solve the problem in the Middle East and impose a
peace with justice, even by force of arms if necessary. Neither the
Ben Gurions nor the Nassers, left to themselves, will do anything
but increase the tensions and bring the world nearer to a world war.
Repatriation No Risk to Israel
By Edwin Samuel
The writer is the son of Viscount Herbert Samuel, first Palestine
High Commissioner, and a great authority on Palestine.
"Personally, I think that, without undue risk to Israel's secu-
rity or economy, she could take back some Arab refugees. It
would cost a great deal to resettle them in Israel, their villages
having mostly been razed and their lands and town buildings
taken over by new Jewish settlers. But if 40,000 to 50,000
Arabs were re-admitted, the Arab population of Israel would
still not exceed 250,000 by the time the Jewish population
reached 2,500,000 (largely by further Jewish immigration). The
proportion of 10 per cent would thus not be disturbed."
(Commentary, May 1955)6
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Zukerman, William. Jewish Newsletter, Volume 12, Number 17, September 3, 1956, periodical, September 3, 1956; New York City, New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1490935/m1/6/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rosenberg Library.