Lies and Truths

Qumsiyeh: A Human Rights Web



"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored". -- Aldous Huxley


Compiling Zionist lies and distortions is by necessity a work in progress. It obviously can be rather lengthy since the lies and mendacity of those who either participated in or still participate in the ethnic cleansing of Palestine goes back for 100 years. I listed below common lies and links to debunk them as a beginning (to prompt more). Please send me your contributions and/or additions, whether in other lies not mentioned here or in further quotes and data on the listed lies, to qumsi001@hotmail.com .

Suggested use for the data as it accumulates as a handy place for finding information for sending to chat rooms, listserves, editors, politicians and others who could benefit from knowing factual responses to the myths. For an example, to the extent of lies used by Zionists see the video at http://www.terrorismawareness.org/what-really-happened/ .


The Israeli newspaper Haaretz (7/15/01) reported that: "... giving his audience (Likud leaders) a bit of advice on how to deal with foreign interviewers (Bejamin Netanyahu said): 'Always, irrespective of whether you're right or not, you must always present your side as right'". http://www.haaretzdaily.com/htmls/kat17_2.htm

We are all familiar with the incredible PR repeated ad nauseum about Israel. From "security" to "terrorism" to "wanting peace", we are inundated in corporate media with these images that are divorced from reality. I plan to start collecting glimpses of these proven lies with glimpses of reality. Send me more to build this webpage; email your contribution to qumsi001@hotmail.com .

As Nathan Chofshi wrote in the Jewish Newsletter: "We came and turned the native Arabs into tragic refugees. And still we have to slander and malign them, to besmirch their name. Instead of being deeply ashamed of what we did and trying to undo some of the evil we committed ... we justify our terrible acts and even attempt to glorify them." {New York, 9 February 1959, cited in Erskine Childers, 'The Other Exodus' in Spectator, London, 12 May 1961}


Common Zionist Lies

Common Zionist lies are listed below. For articles and data debunking these lies, see http://www.qumsiyeh.org/liesandtruths/ .


* Palestine was a land without a people for a people without a land.

* Israel made the desert bloom / Palestine was destitute.

* Innocent Jews wanting to "return home" were rejected from the start by local Arabs for no good reason.

Ahad Ha-Am (Asher Ginsberg) wrote the following in 1891: "In all things it is our custom to learn nothing from the past for the future. There is certainly one thing we could have learned from our past and present history: how careful we must be not to arouse the anger of other people against ourselves by reprehensible conduct. How much more, then, should we be careful, in our conduct toward a foreign people among whom we live once again, to walk together in love and respect, and needless to say in justice and righteousness. And what do our brethren in Eretz Israel do? Quite the opposite! They were slaves in their land of exile, and they suddenly find themselves with unlimited freedom, the kind of wild freedom to be found only in a country like Turkey. This sudden change has engendered in them an impulse to despotism, as always happens when 'a slave becomes a king', (Proverbs 30:22) and behold they walk with the Arabs in hostility and cruelty, unjustly encroaching on them, shamefully beating them for no good reason, and even bragging about what they do, and there is no one to stand in the breach and call a halt to this dangerous and despicable impulse. To be sure our people are correct in saying that the Arab respects only those who demonstrate strength and courage, but this is relevant only when he feels that his rival is acting justly; it is not the case if there is reason to think his rival's actions are oppressive and unjust. Then, even if he restrains himself and remains silent forever, the rage will remain in his heart and he is unrivaled in 'taking vengeance and bearing a grudge'. (Leviticus 19:18)" "Emet Me-Eretz Yisrael" (Truth from the Land of Israel), 29 May 1891, 21 Iyyar 5651, Translated by Alan Dowty.


* Ben Gurion (who became Israel's first Prime Minister) and Zionist leadership before 1948 war had no intention to drive the native Palestinians out.

As early as 1917 (when Palestine was 96% Christian/Muslim and 3% Jewish), Ben Gurion stated "Within then the next twenty years, we must have a Jewish majority in Palestine". (Shabtai Teveth, page 43)

In 1936 he stated that the future Israel must "become a force, and the Arabs respect force ... these days it is not right but might which prevails. It is more important to have force than justice on one's side." (Shabtai Teveth, page 191)

In 1937 "The compulsory transfer of the Palestinian Arabs from the valleys of the proposed Jewish state could give us something which we never had ... MORE than a state, government and sovereignty - this is national consolidation in a free homeland". (Righteous Victims, page 142)

In 1938, he wrote "With compulsory transfer we would have vast areas ... I support compulsory population transfer. I do not see anything immoral in it. But compulsory transfer could only be carried out by England ... Had its implementation been dependent merely on our proposal I would have proposed; but this would be dangerous to propose when the British government has disassociated itself from compulsory transfer ... But this question should not be removed from the agenda because it is central question. There are two issues here : 1) sovereignty and 2) the removal of a certain number of Arabs, and we must insist on both of them." (Expulsion of the Palestinians, 117)

In February 1948 "The war will GIVE us the land. The concept of 'ours' and 'not ours' are only concepts for peacetime, and during war they lose all their meaning". (Benny Morris, page 170 & Expulsion Of The Palestinians, page 180)

And in early May 1948, Ben-Gurion approved establishing the "Transfer Committee" to oversee "the cleaning up nikui in Hebrew of the Palestinian Arab settlements, cultivation of Arab fields and their settlement by Jews, and the creation of labor battalion to carry out this work". (Benny Morris, page 137)

Yitzhak Rabin wrote in his diary soon after Lydda's and Ramla's occupation on 10th & 11th of July 1948: "After attacking Lydda later called Lod and then Ramla ... What would they do with the 50,000 civilians living in the two cities ... What is to be done with the population?, waving his hand in a gesture which said: Drive them out! 'Driving out' is a term with a harsh ring ... Psychologically, this was on of the most difficult actions we undertook". (Soldier of Peace, page 140-141 & Benny Morris, page 207)

David Ben Gurion also recognized that "The (upcoming) war will give us the land. The concept of 'ours' and 'not ours' are only concepts for peacetime, and during war they lose all their meaning". In his diaries he said regarding Palestinian refugees "We must do everything to ensure they never do return", and to the Sunday Times "The old will die and the young will forget". Under Ben Gurion's direction, Transfer Committee was officially set up to effect ethnic cleansing.

I don't understand your optimism. "Why should the Arabs make Peace? If I was an Arab leader, I would never make terms with Israel. That is natural; we have taken their country." {Ben Gurion in 1956 Quoted by Nahum Goldman, former President of World Zionist Congress, in "The Jewish Paradox" Weidenfeld and Nicholson, 1978, page 99}


* Palestinians want/ed to drive Jews and Israel into the sea.


* Tiny Israel fended off large Arab armies in 1948.

* Land was purchased, Palestinians were not ethnically cleansed.

* There was an exchange of population, Jews came from Arab Countries to Israel in exchange Arabs left Israel.

* Israel respects holy sites of other religions.

* Jerusalem "reunification" let people be treated equal regardless of religion. Variant: Israel is not judaicizing Jerusalem / Freedom of religion.

* The US is an "honest broker".

"Israel's dependence on the United States is far Greater than suggested by the sum of $3 billion. Israel's physical existence depends on the Americans in both military and political terms. Without the US, we would not be equipped with the latest fighter planes and all other advanced weapons. Without the American veto, we would long have been expelled from every international organization not to speak of the UN, which would have imposed sanctions on us that would have paralysed Israel's international trade, since we cannot exist without importing raw materials. For the same reason, it is wrong to divide the American money up into military aid of $1.8 billion and civilian aid of $1.2 billion. What we are getting is really unmarked dollar bills." {Nehemia Stressler, Haaretz, May 12 1989}


* Islam is intent on taking over the world.

* "Israel's centraity in Jewish life" manifest by the creed developed and advocated by Zionists "Am Yisrael Chai" meaning the People of Israel (= the Jews) live.

* Israel had a positive influence on world affairs.

* The 1967 war was a defensive war by Israel against enemies who wanted to destroy it.

* The Interational Solidarity Movement support violence.

* The Road Map is an international effort for peace in the Middle East and Palestinians reject it.

* Palestinians send their kids to be killed for propaganda purposes.

* Arabs only understand the language of force.

* Zionists teach peace and democracy, Palestinian society teaches hate.

* Palestinians don't use nonviolent resistance but instead blow themselves up with innocent civilians.

* Israel takes great care not to harm civilians and never targets them / Israeli army is most ethical army.

* Israel attacks infrastructure only if it is linked to terrorists.

* The Deir Yassin Massacre (one of hundreds committed duing the ethnic cleansing of 1947-1949) was committed by rogue elements and not mainstream Zionists.

* The massacre of Sabra and Shatila in 1982 in Lebanon was not the responsibility of the Israelis.

* The lies and distortions about the Lavon affair.

* Israel was trying to save Arab Jews.

* Palestinians and other Arabs largely rejoiced after 9/11 attacks.

* Barak Made a generous offer at Camp David, Arafat rejected it and went back and started a bloody intifada.

* Christians, Jews and others should support Israel because of the Promised land / Bible issues.

* The people of the West Bank benefited from Israeli rule.

* Jews of Iraq and Arab countries were persecuted and expelled.

* Iran's President is a Jew-hating, Holocaust-denying, Islamo-fascist who stated he will "wipe Israel off the map".

* Zionists did not push for the war on Iraq, and the conflict with Iran is also about US security not Zionist perceived self-interest.

* Israel is beneficial to US interests in the Middle East.

* Israel accidentally attacked the USS Liberty in international waters because it was mistaken for an Egyptian ship.

* Rachel Corrie was accidentally killed while protecting the house of terrorist.

* Mohammed Al-Durra was killed by Palestinians or killed in "cross-fire".

* Israel did not deliberately attack a UN compound in Qana, Lebanon.

* The "security barrier" Israel is building is not a land grab and is about security.

* Israel demolishes homes for security.

* Israel only imprisons those responsible for terrorism.

* Israel does not use weapons of mass destruction.

* Israel complies with international law and International obligations.

* Arabs in Israel are treated equal. Variant, Israel is a democracy.

* Israel does not torture Palestinian Prisoners in violation of the Geneva Conventions.

* Zionists believe in and allow free speech.

* Zionism was a response to anti-Semitism.

* Israel is not an apartheid regime.

* Muslims cannot assimilate in Western countries.

* Jihad and Mujahideen refers to violence against infidels / non-muslims.

* Israeli academics are generally liberals who support human rights.

* Israel seeks peace with Syria.

* Media has been biased against Israel.

* Boycotts and divestment are immoral and anti-Semitic.

* Zionism represent Jews or at least mainstream Judaism.

* Zionsits have been honest.

* Palestinians (eg, the Mufti of Jerusalem) supported Hitler because they hated Jews.

* Israel attacked Lebanon in the summer of 2006 because Arabs were holding Israeli soldiers captive. These soldiers had never strayed onto Lebanese territory.


http://www.qumsiyeh.org/liesandtruths/



Bill Totten http://www.ashisuto.co.jp/english/index.html