Ilan Pappe

Nothing, neither rocks nor Palestinians, was to stand in the way of the national ‘redemption’ of the land the Zionist movement coveted.

sense of a looming danger, indeed a catastrophe, settled in among the more intellectual sections of the elite,6 but it was never translated into proper preparations for the existential danger awaiting their society.

moment British Foreign Secretary Lord Balfour gave the Zionist movement his promise in 1917 to establish a national home for the Jews in Palestine,10 he opened the door to the endless conflict that would soon engulf the country and its people.

Zionist preparations for the eventuality of taking the land by force, should it fail to be granted to them through diplomacy, included the building of an efficient military organisation – with the help of sympathetic British officers –

of armed aggression were an effective deterrent against the possible resistance of the local Palestinians

decided actively to encourage the Jewish settlers and started teaching their troops more effective combat tactics and retaliation methods against the local population.

decided actively to encourage the Jewish settlers and started teaching their troops more effective combat tactics and retaliation methods against the local population.

Founded in 1901, the JNF was the principal Zionist tool for the colonization of Palestine.

Founded in 1901, the JNF was the principal Zionist tool for the colonization of Palestine.

we shall see, in 1948 these last bits of information fuelled the worst atrocities in the villages, leading to mass executions and torture.