In all the narratives of the so called Nakba I have never heard mention of the 800,000 Jewish refugees forced to flee Arab lands in 1948 who like all other refugees of war have now over 60 years later have made a new life for themselves. It is only the so called Palestinians that continue to be used as a political tool by there Arab brethren by not allowing them to move forward. Furthermore, in 1948 the UN called for 2 states an Arab (not Palestinian as the Palestinians were not a distinctly different group at this time) and a Jewish state. The Jews accepted gratefully and moved and the Arabs declared war.The war began by the Arab countries attacking the newly formed state of Israel. The true Nakba is that the Palestinians have been offered a state many times and not accepted it.

Aaah dear old Neve Gordon at it again.

For anyone who wants to understand the psyche of the Neve Gordon types I strongly recommend Howard Jacobson's Booker Prize-winning novel, "The Finkler Question".

See: http://www.amazon.com/The-Finkler-Question-A-Novel/dp/1608196429/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0

One of the books' protagonists, Sam Finkler, is the founder of "Ashamed Jews". He is a milder version of Neve Gordon.

Jacobson's almost clinical dissection of the Gordon types and their non-Jewish groupies is both hilarious and deadly accurate.

Dear Steven,

There is nothing wrong about feeling shame for what deserves shame. In fact, it is a virtue to do so.

Are you implying that the only reason for not wanting to remain Jewish is shame? What for example about disgust, once uncovering the web of lies that holds Judaism together? Or what about simply wanting to have a life? Or what about seeking a religious path that leads to God rather than to nationalism in a disguise of religion?

The tragedy is that there will always be others who do not care what you think and what you feel - if you were born an Israeli, then even if you stand on your head, the only thing which matters to the surrounding people is that you are not a Muslim (and in the case of Hitler, even converting to Islam was of no use).

I find Neve Gordon a genuine sensitive person who tries to contend honestly with his complex predicament.

Like most countries in the West, until very recently Israel did not engage in deep public reflection about or acknowldgement of many painful aspects of her history. Like the displacement of 750,000 Palestinian Arabs OR indeed, as SC, says, the displacement by the surrounding Arab countries of approx 800,000 Jews and Israel's initial failure to integrate them with respect or dignity. Israel has moved on and now acknowleges both: certainly in the teaching of history in schools and in public debate in its media, academic and social forums. Neve Gordon as an Israeli academic expresses himself freely on the subject of the Nakba constantly, paid to do so by the Israeli taxpayer.

It is indeed time that justice was served, both to the forgotten Jewish refugees - full acknowledgement of their suffering and dispossession and economic compensation by the Arab governments who caused them - and to the Palestinan Arab refugees. To them also, full acknowledgement of their suffering and dispossession and economic compensation by the Israeli government who caused them and the Arab governments who encouraged at least 250,000 of them to leave (see for example, Palestine's Tragedy http://standpointmag.co.uk/counterpoints-april-2010-palestine%27s-tragedy-efraim-karsh-palestine and The truth should be taught about the 1948 war http://www.haaretz.com/misc/article-print-page/the-truth-should-be-taught-about-the-1948-war-1.368167?trailingPath=2.169%2C2.225%2C2.227%2

Leah. Your second post..Haaretz will not open. Try again please?
SC. You reveal an untold element of the historic narrative! Thank you.
Yuyutsu... Very thoughtfull.. Balanced. To study further.. Cheers.

Thanks Prompete, try this: http://www.haaretz.com/misc/article-print-page/the-truth-should-be-taught-about-the-1948-war-1.368167?trailingPath=2.169%2C2.225%2C2.227%2C