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June 21, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels May 22, 2004 As always the victim blamed A number of years ago a European stranger raped Palestine. A recent forum writer (May 1) would have one believe that the criminal attacker is entitled to a "divorce settlement" with continuing conjugal rights and full custody of the offspring of the assault. It is encouraging to read mention of Palestine on the opinion pages of local newspapers. Unfortunately, many writers regurgitate myths and falsehoods rejected long ago as propaganda. One of the greatest myths is that Israel has repeatedly defended itself in wars begun by Arab states. On May 15, 1948, when Arab armies "attacked" Israel after the end of the British mandate, Jewish militias and terrorists groups had already been attacking and occupying Palestinian villages in the International Zone (Deir Yassin, April 9; West Jerusalem, April 30) and the Arab Zone (Tell Rish, Yazur, Salameh, April 25-30; Jaffa, May 13). Attacks against Arab villages began much earlier and were coupled with a propaganda campaign that included radio broadcasts in Arabic urging Arabs to flee. By May 3, an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 refugees were fleeing Jewish forces. Arab radio broadcasts (recordings of which exist in the BBC archives) urged Palestinians to stay calm and remain in their homes. No battles of the 1948 War were fought in the "Jewish Zone" as defined by the U.N. Partition. No Arab troops invaded Israel - 1948 was not a war begun by Arabs. And how ludicrous it is to read that the 1956 seizure of the Suez Canal by Israel, Britain and France was a war begun by Arabs! The 1967 War myth is much more subtle as it is posited as a "pre-emptive" war. Apparently, Egypt, with most of its armed forces involved in the Yemeni Civil War, was an imminent threat to Israel. Photos of dozens of burnt out Egyptian tanks testify to the imminent threat - they all face West, away from Israel. Even Israeli generals who planned the war tell historians that there was nothing pre-emptive about it - but still the myth lives on. The Yom Kippur War of 1973 was the only war against Israel ever begun by Arabs. It was also the only war they ever won. Egypt and Syria successfully recovered parts of the Sinai Peninsula and Golan Heights occupied by Israel in its 1967 aggression. Historical fiction has its place as entertainment, but should not be the basis for political views that support the oppression of millions of innocent flesh and blood human beings. Today, Palestine continues to be raped, and, as it is so often in these cases, it is the victim that is blamed. Dane Coefer Ashland DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams