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In November 1947, the United Nations voted to partition Palestine into a Jewish state, an Arab state, and a UN- administered international zone of Jerusalem. The Jewish state included 51 percent of Palestine, the Arab state 44 percent, and Jerusalem 5 percent. The Jews rejoiced over the creation of a state, while the Arabs expressed outrage at the division of their homeland. On May 14, 1948, the British left Palestine, and Zionist leader David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the independence of the state of Israel, the Jewish name for their new homeland.
The next day, Arab troops from Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia invaded Palestine and attacked Israel. By the end of 1948, Israel had captured much of the UN-proposed Arab state. In all, over 900,000 Palestinian Arabs fled the fighting and became refugees. Many went to Gaza Strip, controlled by Egypt, while others escaped to West Bank (of the Jordan River), controlled by Jordan.
Israel immediately began occupying former Palestinian villages and resettling them with Jews, thousands of whom were immigrating into Israel from other Middle Eastern countries and Europe. Palestinians demanded that they either be allowed to return to their homes or be compensated for lost land and property. Israel claimed that most Palestinians chose to leave the land and that the Israeli army had rightfully won the land in a war after the Arabs had attacked the state of Israel.
Palestine, 1948. Refugees return to their village after surrendering in the war against Israel.
Situation 1948: You are a member of the United Nations. Which of the following responses to the 1948 war do you think most fairly addresses the concerns of all groups involved?
CHOICE A: Pass a resolution demanding that Israel, Egypt, and Jordan return land to Palestinian refugees so they can form a Palestinian state.
CHOICE B: Do nothing, because the Israelis were attacked and simply struck back at the aggressor Arab nations. The Palestinians must suffer the consequences of losing.
CHOICE C: Set up a fund to support Palestinian refugees with food and shelter.
CHOICE D: Pass a resolution demanding that Israel compensate Palestinian refugees for lost land and property.
Discuss with your group to make a collective decision. The editor will write down your group's the justification in the Google Form, card holder will reveal your group's decision when polled, and the presenter will prepare to discuss your group's response to the class.
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