In Israel, Arabs can pursue their dreams

THE word ‘Palestinian’ is thrown around casually (News, June 2). Until 1920, there was no place called Palestine , hence no Palestinian people.

In 1918, after the First World War, Turkey lost the Ottoman Empire. The Allies carved it up in the Sykes-Picot Agreement, creating boundaries for favoured chieftains and leaving little areas for Christians (Lebanon) and Jews (Palestine).

As Zionists began migrating in the 1880s, Arabs from neighbouring countries followed. They moved for the employment the Jews created. Until 1948, only Jews were called ‘Palestinians’. Then, in 1964, the KGB and Egypt created the PLO, mandated to liberate Palestine from the Jews through armed struggle.

Palestinian Arabs deserve international protection from Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Iraq, who have kept them confined to refugee camps since 1948.

The United Nations and the Arab League are also guilty of perpetuating this injustice. Only in Israel have Arabs found the freedom to pursue their dreams.

LEN BENNETT By email

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