Palestinians

Towards end of article on Arab-Israeli conflict:

The Palestinians oppose the claim that if they had accepted partition, they wouldn't have lost even more of their territory in the war by quoting Eamon De Valera, the president of Ireland, who declared it was impossible. To one visitor who had solicited his support for partition he replied: "I read the Old Testament many years ago. I am afraid I have forgotten many things I read; but one passage I recall clearly. It is the story of Solomon's judgement of the two women who desired the same baby. I remember how when Solomon ruled that the baby be divided the real mother screamed, "No! No! Give the baby to the other woman!" That is my answer to partition. The rightful owners of a country will never agree to partition." >>>>>> However, Israelis would point out that the real mother in the story of Solomon's judgement preferred that her own baby be raised by the false mother just so that the baby she loved should live and thrive. Therefore, De Valera should have said, "The rightful owners of a country are those that prefer to share the land they love with a false owner rather than subjecting it to devastation and neglect."

In >>>>>>> addition, as Israelis claim...

Arab historical statements on the creation of Palestinian refugees

"We have been evacuated from our beloved homeland with the hope to return in a few days, yet we reaped but bitterness. Hopeful tears have given way to tears of despair".

Quote from Arafat's Fateh Party website, citing an early Fateh document. URL: http://www.fateh.net/e_public/refugees.htm