Lena Khan’s piece on Israeli Independence day
(“Celebration attempts to erase tragic history,” May 3)
is so full of falsity and distortion that I hardly know where to
begin.
Khan cites the expulsion of hundreds of thousands of
Palestinians in 1948 as proof of Israeli cruelty, yet fails to note
there wouldn’t be a single refugee if not for the surrounding
Arab nations, who immediately invaded and tried to destroy the
nascent state of Israel.
She ignores the calls Arab leaders made for Palestinians to
leave the area for a time so Israel could be wiped from the face of
the earth. Iraq’s Prime Minister said, “We will smash
the country with our guns and obliterate every place the Jews seek
shelter in. The Arabs should conduct their wives and children to
safe areas until the fighting has died down.” Syrian Prime
Minister Haled al Azm likewise admitted in his memoirs that
“we ourselves are the ones who encouraged (the refugees) to
leave.”
Khan then makes the startling assertion that before 1948
“the land now known as Israel belonged to the
Palestinians.” That must be news to hundreds of thousands of
Jews in Jerusalem today, as Jews have comprised a majority of that
city since at least 1864, according to British consular sources
cited on UnitedJerusalem.com.
Throughout history, Jews have attempted to return to their
ancestral homeland and settle in cities like Safed and Hebron,
although they attempts were prevented at times by imperial
expulsions.
Next, Khan points to a security barrier as the apotheosis of a
horrific military occupation. Yet the only reason a security fence
has been built is to prevent waves of Palestinian suicide bombers.
Is the fence unfortunate? Absolutely, but blame the true culprits,
such as Hamas; not Israel.
Finally, Khan notes the sad story of an 11-year-old and his
brother killed as bystanders in a targeted assassination. Israel
targets leaders of Hamas and other terrorist groups. If a child
dies in a U.S. missile strike that kills Osama bin Laden, it would
be unfortunate collateral, but a legitimate military operation.
So let all conscientious people celebrate with the free and
democratic state of Israel.
David Keyes is an alumnus and former Daily Bruin
columnist.