Palestinian ambassador to the UK: Despite Israel’s efforts, Palestinians are going nowhere

Despite Israel’s efforts, Palestinians are going nowhere

By: Husam Zomlot*

Over the weekend, I was fortunate to spend some precious hours with my father, listening to his childhood memories and the stories told to him by his parents. My father was born in Simsim, a flourishing Palestinian village on the south coast of Palestine near the historic city of Majdal (Ashqelon).

In 1948, Simsim’s entire population was expelled by Haganah militia forces, which would later form the core of the Israeli military. Prevented from returning and with their homes destroyed, my family and their neighbours became refugees in the Gaza Strip.

Imagine my surprise, then, the very day after my father’s reminiscences, to read Sammy Stein’s article (The Times Scotland, July 20) in which he claimed that none of this ever happened that my father, and every other Palestinian family with a similar history, is lying.

His argument that the word “Nakba” was also used to criticise West Bank annexation plans are an attempt to rewrite history Arab governments at the time is neither here nor there. Palestinian refugees, scholars everywhere, as well as a growing number of Israeli historians, have all attested to the reality of al-Nakba (the “Catastrophe”), when hundreds of towns were depopulated, looted and destroyed. Overall, more than half the population of Palestine was expelled. This is what Mr Stein refers to as “Israel’s success”.

The actions of Haganah forces in Simsim are documented by the Israeli historian Benny Morris, who used official archives to describe how its inhabitants were “driven out”. But the Nakba is not just about events in 1948. The Israeli displacement of our people and colonisation of our land continues today. Current Israeli plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank are a further attempt at rewriting history.

Thankfully, leaders in Westminster and Holyrood have added their voices to those of other statesmen, diplomats and human rights groups in opposing Israel’s annexation plans.

Our people have withstood decades of efforts to erase our presence and deny our identity. We are not going anywhere. It is incumbent on all those who believe in true peace based on justice to reject ahistorical distortions and the dehumanisation of our people, and to affirm instead the shared values we hold dear and strive to achieve: liberty, self-determination and equality before the law.

*Husam Zomlot is head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK

Source: The Times
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