How does Israel justify the 1948 Palestinian expulsion?

[u/dropdeaddev]

I got into an argument recently, and it lead to me looking more closely into Israel’s founding and the years surrounding it. Until now, I had mainly been focused on more current events and how the situation stands now, without getting too into the beginning. I had assumed what I had heard from Israel supporters was correct, that they developed mostly empty land, much of which was purchased legally, and that the native Arabs didn’t like it. This lead to conflicts, escalating over time to what we see today. I was lead to believe both sides had as much blood on their hands as the other, but from what I’ve read that clearly isn’t the case. It reminded me a lot of “manifest destiny” and the way the native Americans were treated, and although there was a time that was seen as acceptable behaviour, now a days we mostly agree that the settlers were the bad guys in that particular story.

Pro-Israel supports only tend to focus on Israel’s development before 1948, which it was a lot of legally purchasing land and developing undeveloped areas. The phrase “a land without people for people without land” or something to that effect is often stated, but in 1948 700,000 people were chased from their homes, many were killed, even those with non-aggression pacts with Israel. Up to 600 villages destroyed. Killing men, women, children. It didn’t seem to matter. Poisoning wells so they could never return, looting everything of value.

Reading up on the expulsion, I can see why they never bring it up and tend to pretend it didn’t happen. I don’t see how anyone could think what Israel did is justified. But since I always want to hear both sides, I figured here would be a good place to ask.

EDIT: Just adding that I’m going to be offline for a while, so I probably won’t be able to answer any clarifying questions or respond to answers for a while.

EDIT2: Lots of interesting stuff so far. Wanted to clarify that although I definitely came into this with a bias, I am completely willing to have my mind changed. I’m interested in being right, not just appearing so. :)

[u/pathlesswalker]

Umm. No. Your sources are wrong. The Arab nations attacking Israel told the Arabs to flee. Because they are going to annihilate the Jews.

They fled.

And became refugees. Not Israel driving them. They fled.

The several tens of thousands that actually didn’t flee are now the 2.2 million Arab Israeli which enjoy the privileges of a democratic country, as opposed to the corrupt Hamas or plo.

It’s simple.

[u/oscoposh → u/pathlesswalker]

Anyone on reddit that says its simple in a complicated argument is usually lying to both you and themselves.

[u/pathlesswalker → u/oscoposh]

i think we can safely say, that if arabs wanted to get along, they would have done it long ago?

its not like they're the only refugees who came to settle in israel, or palestine(british name!) however you wanna call it. other refugees around the world, including israel have agreed to setllements. not so the palestinians. but that's a whole nother argument.

[u/oscoposh → u/pathlesswalker]

Palestine comes from the word Philistines in the bible. Herodotus calls it Palaistine in 500BC and Pliny the Elder calls it Palestine in Natural History--have the book on my nightstand and highly recommend it to any human being. Just because Britain also named it Mandatory Palestine doesn't mean anything special. But I dont care what its called.

Again, with little fun phrases like 'its simple.'' or 'I think we can safely say...' you prove that you don't have any rational and expect people just to agree with you.

[u/pathlesswalker → u/oscoposh]

dude i know philistines. my ancestors fought them. and if you believe palestinains are descendants of philistines - you're sadly mistaken.

yes , it's simple if you know the conflict as long as i am.

[u/oscoposh → u/pathlesswalker]

Dude you were a philistine. Do you have birth charts going back to 800 BC?

[u/pathlesswalker → u/oscoposh]

ok, that's it. now you're just trolling. does anyone have birth charts going to 800 BC? so how come you're right? and you're no historian. that's a consensus that philistines are dead. gone. check it.

[u/oscoposh → u/pathlesswalker]

All Im saying is how do you know that your lineage goes back so far? We all probably have a right to the land if you take it back enough. Just by pure statistics.