Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, the supposed “moderate” voice among the leaders of the Palestinian people, penned an op-ed in the New York Times yesterday about “The Long Overdue Palestinian State.”
In the piece, he recalls being a 13-year-old Palestinian boy ousted from his home in Safed and forced to flee to Syria with his family after the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. Referring to his younger self in the third person, he writes, “Sixty-three years ago, a 13-year-old Palestinian boy was forced to leave his home in the Galilean city of Safed and flee with his family to Syria … Though he and his family wished for decades to return to their home and homeland, they were denied that most basic of human rights.”
Shortly after this piece was released, Jeffrey Goldberg, national correspondent for The Atlantic, pointed out some discrepancies between this version of Abbas’ boyhood and stories that have published previously.
This statement creates a couple of impressions. One subtle impression is that a certain group of people can’t seem to help but oppress little boys from the Galilee. The second, clearer impression that it was the Zionist army that “forced” Abbas’s family to leave Safed. This does not seem to be true. On other occasions, Abbas has stated that his family left Safed out of a general fear that Jews would seek “retribution” against the Arabs of Safed for an earlier slaughter of Jews by Arabs. Here is his 2007 recounting of his family’s self-exile from Safed:
When Abbas was 13, “we left on foot at night to the Jordan River… Eventually we settled in Damascus… My father had money, and he spent his money methodically. After a year, when the money ran out, we began to work. “People were motivated to run away… They feared retribution from Zionist terrorist organizations – particularly from the Safed ones. Those of us from Safed especially feared that the Jews harbored old desires to avenge what happened during the 1929 uprising [Muslim pogroms instigated by the Grand Mufti Haj Amin al-Husseini, known later for his Nazi sympathies]. This was in the memory of our families and parents… They realized the balance of forces was shifting and therefore the whole town was abandoned on the basis of this rationale – saving our lives and our belongings.”
There is no particular reason to hope for a successful peace process when the leader of the Palestinians is selling a false history of Israel’s independence.
Indeed. And, as the Palestinians prepare to push for statehood at the U.N. in September, let’s hope that the leaders of the free world — and particularly the leaders of the U.S. and Israel — keep this in the forefront of their minds.
What do you think?
7:44 am
I would also like to apologize for Pres. Obama’s speech. He does NOT speak for real Americans. Real Americans do NOT treat our friends that way. Israel has already compromised too much for a peace that the Arabs/Paletinians will NEVER agree to. I pray for Israel and all the Jews, wherever they are. They have been unfairly persecuted and lied about by vicious, evil people; it has got to stop!!!
4:19 pm
An American Citizens Personal “Apology Tour”…
I am a private, unknown, middle class, American citizen. I would like to apologize to the State of Israel and the Jewish people for the President of th
2:35 pm
It seems that Abbas as well as many others do not know history. In 1948 the Syrian Airforce spread leaflets all over the land asking the arabs to leave, so that they would be able to throw the Jews easier in to the sea. Than all Arabs could go back to their land. To bad for them the 600’000 Jews together with the Allmighty, won the war against all Arab armies. Abbas is a liar like all other PA and Gaza leaders.
2:34 pm
It seems Abba’s has a partner in Washington one who is his helper and friend. Yes we were promised change and that is what we are getting; sadly it is not the change that so many were seeking.
10:12 am
Abbas, can’t tell the truth because of his father, the Devil. The devil was a liar from the beginning and the father of it. Israel should not ever expect anything from the PA, but lies and deception, They have never lived up to any of the treaties they have signed. They are no better than Hamas, Islamic Jihad, or any other terrorist organization. Their aim is the same as that of Adolf Hitler, the absolute annhilation of the Jewish people. May Israel be blessed by Adonai Elohim.
8:22 pm
Mahmoud abbas has always lied to his people and the u.n.they have one goal and that is to take more land from ISRAEL.they don;t desreve to become a statehood especially in JERUSALEM.
6:37 pm
Do not trust Abbas,the Palestinians could have had peace at anytime.God Bless Israel and the Israeli People…….