Love of the Land: Arabs became refugees following leaders' promise: "A week, two weeks... and you'll return to Palestine"

Arabs became refugees following leaders' promise: "A week, two weeks... and you'll return to Palestine"

Itamar Marcus/Nan Jacques Zilberdik
Palestinian Media Watch (PMW)
15 February '10

An Arab refugee in Lebanon described in an interview on Palestinian Authority TV how he and other Arabs left for Lebanon from Israel during the 1948 war, after Arab leaders said their absence would be temporary:

"They [Arab leaders] said: 'A week, two weeks, approximately, and you'll return to Palestine,'" said Sadek Mufid.



This refugee's testimony is yet another example of how Palestinian leaders, writers and refugees themselves have begun to speak out in recent years and openly blame the Arab leadership for the creation of the Arab refugee problem. Mufid describes a large departure to Lebanon from Israel, which led to the creation of "11 or 15 refugee camps." He does not place the blame on Israel.

(Read full story)

Love of the Land: Arabs became refugees following leaders' promise: "A week, two weeks... and you'll return to Palestine"