In 1917 the Balfour Declaration was issued promising the Jews a Jewish national home in Palestine. This is the root of all the trouble. Palestine is not a land without a people to be given to a people without a land. It has its own indigenous population, the inhabitants of Palestine. Many of its men took part in the Arab revolt in World War I on the side of the Allies and therefore were entitled to their freedom and independence as friendly allies and not as enemies whose country could be disposed of without their knowledge or consent. Fadel Jamali
When the Balfour declaration was issued, the Arabs formed 93% of the population of Palestine. The Declaration ignored Palestine’s right to self-determination. Hamid Frangie
This is our country, including the Arabs who are in it. ... If we are invaders, then we have no right. Ben Gurion
The Jews were expelled from the land at the beginning of the Christian era. To found their claim on their dispersion from Palestine after a period of approximately 2,000 years, whatever religious sentiment may be attached by them to the land occupied by their Prophets, appears to me as groundless as anything can be. Sir Abdur Rahman (India)
No self-respecting people in the world can permit aliens to be introduced into their country by force and with the intention of dominating it while they have no say in the destiny of their own country. Fadel Jamali
As compared with the colonizing activities of other peoples, our impact on the Arabs has not produced very much worse results. Chaim Weizmann
Zionist money and economic pressure cannot make wrong right. Fadel Jamali
Both want an independent state, and both want a democratic state. The only difference between the Arabs and the Jewish people on this point is that the Arabs say establish that independent state now; whereas the Jewish people say don’t do it now, but wait until we have a majority in the country. Nasrollah Entezam (Iran)
Only after the return of the Jews to Palestine, the Messiah may arrive. Rabbi Fishman
Palestine is the sole refuge for our dispersed nation, whilst for the Arabs it is a negligible part of the vast Arab territories. Ben Zevie
The United States, Canada, Australia, all possess vast areas of land but no one speaks of imposing immigration on these countries without their consent. Fadel Jamali
We have our parties who say that partition talk is all rot; what the Jewish people require is Palestine on both sides of the Jordan River – and some go as far as the Euphrates River. Judah Magnes
From the Nile to the Euphrates. That is what the terrorists say today. Fadel Jamali
Now, gentlemen, just look at the situation we are confronted with. There are 600 to 700,000 Jews in Palestine, and there are 1,200,000 Arab Christians and Moslems. Would you really not consider the formation of a Government composed of these two peoples? ... It would not be possible to create a Jewish State without a very large Arab minority. Moreover, there is no reason why Arabs, who are a majority in the whole State, should be reduced to a minority. ... The leaders of the country must work for a divorce of race and religion from politics and cease to think in terms of religious persuasion when dealing with affairs of state. Sir Abdur Rahman (India)
This selection of statements by Jewish and Arab representatives to the United Nations and its Special Committee on Palestine in 1947, and the analysis by the committee member from India Sir Abdur Rahman in favor of a single state, are of enduring relevance today. Readers of politics, religion, and history willing to challenge their beliefs will find much of interest, as will the general reader who may be wondering why Palestinian youths are still throwing stones at Israeli soldiers.
Daniel Sochor, BA, JD, is an American lawyer.
