Self-inflicted nakba

The next time your hear or read the phrase nakba, remember this: Israel didn't cause "The Catastrophe;" the Arabs inflicted it on themselves. They voluntarily left their land based on the hope that the Jews would be annihilated by Arab armies.

There is no right of return where the premise for leaving is ethnic cleansing. That right is forfeited.

Internet goodness:

• Arab leaders are responsible for refugee problem
• Arab leaders caused refugee problem
• The world's collective amnesia

Jawad Al-Bashiti, Palestinian journalist in Jordan:

"Remind me of one real cause from all the factors that have caused the 'Palestinian Catastrophe' [the establishment of Israel and the creation of the refugee problem], and I will remind you that it still exists... The reasons for the Palestinian Catastrophe are the same reasons that have produced and are still producing our Catastrophes today.
During the Little Catastrophe, meaning the Palestinian Catastrophe, the following happened: the first war between Arabs and Israel had started and the 'Arab Salvation Army' came and told the Palestinians: 'We have come to you in order to liquidate the Zionists and their state. Leave your houses and villages, you will return to them in a few days safely. Leave them so we can fulfill our mission (destroy Israel) in the best way and so you won't be hurt.' It became clear already then, when it was too late, that the support of the Arab states (against Israel) was a big illusion. The Arabs fought as if intending to cause the 'Palestinian Catastrophe.'"

[Al-Ayyam, May 13, 2008]