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Reuven Spero's avatar

The attack on Deir Yasin is probably one of the most controversial events in the weeks before Israel proclaimed independence. While I would dispute your reading of the event, so much is lost in myth that it is hard to separate truth from fantasy. I will not go point by point.

I will say this though: while it is true that of the approximately 100 Arab deaths, there were a number of civilian casualties, but the Irgun commander denied that non-combatants were targeted. Much akin to the present situation n Gaza, combatants and non-combatants were intermingled, though in the case of Deir Yasin, I do not believe there was any desire to use civilians as human shields. It seems to me to be the result of house to house fighting in a populated village.

However, the atrocity stories of rape and mutilation were, according to Arab survivors of Deir Yasin, fabrications of the Arab Higher Committee designed to induce surrounding Arab states to join the fight against the Jews. It seems, however, that the atrocity stories had the unintended effect of inducing Arabs to leave their villages for larger Arab population centers that were seen as safer. While this was not the only cause of the Arab refugee problem, fear generated by stories of Deir Yasin was certainly a significant element.

For the PLO, recognition of Israel was always provisional. Arafat's own speeches in Arabic from that period attest to that. His refusal to change the PLO Covenant attest to that. Most importantly, his actions attest to that.

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Reuven Spero's avatar

Interesting article. A few points for discussion:

The definition of a terror group or an act of terror: it's normally defined as an act of violence targeting civilians or military and civilians indiscriminately for political or religious ends. As far as I know, none of the Jewish undergrounds that you mentioned targeted civilians and according to this definition, should not be labelled terror organization but militias or insurgents. I believe there are exceptions - such as the terror bombing at the Jaffa Gate - but as a rule these three groups held to that policy. AFAIK.

While I think it is correct to say that the PLO recognized the existence of the state of Israeli in 1993, they have never recognized the right of Israel to exist, a not insignificant difference. They never amended the PLO covenant that calls for the destruction of Israel, still pays out for terror attacks against Israelis, and has not condemned terror attacks, including the Oct. 7 massacre.

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