Clarifying the facts

VI don’t think I have read for a long time such a virulent, biased and prejudiced anti-Israel missive as that from the CEO of Amnesty International UK (Falsehoods, Letters, 15 April).

What joyful reading this must have made for the enemies of Israel.

To clarify matters, the Arabs of Palestine were mainly invited to leave, taking their possessions and valuables with them, so that the invading Arab armies could wipe the new Jewish state off the map, after the British departed in 1948.

Thank God this did not happen, and Arab plans to return and plunder what had been left by the Jews came unstuck.

Since then, as we all know, the Arab states never integrated any of the 650,000 of them and kept them in refugee camps, funded by UNWRA at great expense, as pawns in the ever continuing political “war” against Israel.

On the other hand, 850,000 Jews in Arab countries were expelled, in just the clothes they stood up in, losing their possessions and valuables.

Israel integrated them and today they and their offspring are making a significant contribution to Israeli life.

What a contrast, and what a pity more is not made of Jewish refugees from Arab lands.

By contrast, when India divided into India and Pakistan, there was a massive population exchange.

We don’t hear of the Moslem Indians who went to Pakistan holding a so-called nakba day!

It would be interested to learn from a Jewish international legal expert whether the descendants of those Arabs who left in 1948 can still be called refugees.

Clive Rosen former Hon Officer of JNF UK and the Zionist Federation

VWhat a relief to read the categorical denial of the CEO of Amnesty International UK that their report said that Israel is an apartheid state.

Apparently, it only said that the “systematic elements of Israel’s policy...constitute the crime of apartheid”.

It reminded me of a heated debate at a board meeting many years ago, at which one the directors suddenly stood up, gather his papers and began to walk out of the room.

The chairman exclaimed: “Cyril! Stop! Where are you going?” Cyril replied “You just accused me of being a parrot. I’m not staying here and being called a parrot” The Chairman responded “Don’t be silly! I did not call you a parrot.I said you sounded like a parrot!”. At which point, Cyril said “Oh! Alright then” and sat down. The meeting continued.

Who says a sense of the ridiculous isn’t helpful?!

Gerald Rothman

London NW8