Did Most Palestinian Arabs Refugees in 1948 Come from Lands Assigned to Arabs or Jews by the UN Partition Plan?
The Context of 1948
When 1948 saw the establishment of the state of Israel and the subsequent Arab-Israeli conflict, Palestinian Arabs faced a complex and tumultuous period. Many were indeed guest workers in what would become Israel. When several Muslim nations attacked Israel on its founding day, these workers and many others responded to the call to arms, leaving to join the Arab or Egyptian forces opposing the newly formed state.
Arab/Israeli Conflict and Refugee Dynamics
The displacement of Palestinian Arabs was often associated with the broader Arab/Israeli conflict, particularly with the concept of ethnically cleansed areas. This term refers to regions where non-Jewish populations were forced to leave due to a mix of military force and policies aimed at creating a homogeneous Jewish-majority state.
Are There Specific Details About the UN Partition Plan?
The UN General Assembly Resolution 181, known as the UN Partition Plan, aimed to provide a blueprint for the creation of independent Arab and Jewish states. However, it did not explicitly mention population transportation. The plan included provisions for citizenship and the ability for individuals to choose their nationality, albeit with some restrictions based on residency and side.
Citizenship and Option for Nationality
According to the UN Partition Plan, Palestinians residing in Palestine outside of Jerusalem would automatically become citizens of the state where they resided. This included both Palestinian citizens and Arabs and Jews who did not hold Palestinian citizenship but resided in the area. Upon the declaration of independence, these individuals would have the right to opt for citizenship in the other state within a year. This option would include the resident’s wife and children under eighteen years of age.
Key Provisions of UN Resolution 181
Article 11 of the resolution states:
“Citizenship. - Palestinian citizens residing in Palestine outside the City of Jerusalem as well as Arabs and Jews who do not hold Palestinian citizenship and reside in Palestine outside the City of Jerusalem shall upon the recognition of independence become citizens of the State in which they are resident and enjoy full civil and political rights. Persons over the age of eighteen years may opt within one year from the date of recognition of independence of the State in which they reside for citizenship of the other State providing that no Arab residing in the area of the proposed Arab State shall have the right to opt for citizenship in the proposed Jewish State and no Jew residing in the proposed Jewish State shall have the right to opt for citizenship in the proposed Arab State. The exercise of this right of option will be taken to include the wives and children under eighteen years of age of persons so opting.
Challenges in Documentation and Geography
There are many challenges in tracing the origins of the refugees due to historical inaccuracies and the complexity of geography. For instance, the maps of districts proposed by the UN and the actual political borders did not always align. This makes it difficult to trace exactly where a person originally came from, especially if they lived just outside the borders of a structured area.
Conclusion
While the UN Partition Plan provided a framework for the establishment of two states, it did not mandate population transportation. However, the reality of the situation in 1948 saw significant displacement of Palestinian Arabs, influenced by both military and political actions on both sides.
The issue of Palestinian Arab refugees remains a complex and contentious topic in the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the broader geopolitical landscape. Understanding the nuances of the UN Partition Plan and the challenges in tracing the origins of these refugees is crucial for comprehending the historical context and its ongoing impact.