Expulsion of the Palestinians: The Concept of "Transfer" in Zionist Political Thought, 1882-1948

by Nur Masalha

In this meticulous work, based almost entirely on Hebrew archival material, Nur Masalha examines the Zionist concept of "transfer," or the expulsion of the Palestinian population to neighboring Arab lands. Masalha establishes the extent to which "transfer" was embraced by the highest levels of Zionist leadership, including virtually all the Founding Fathers of the Israeli state.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Middle East, Politics, Israel

236 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2012

About the author

Professor Nur Masalha is a Palestinian historian and formerly Director of the Centre for Religion and History at St. Mary's University, Twickenham. He is Editor of “Journal of Holy Land and Palestine Studies”: http://www.euppublishing.com/journal/hls, published by Edinburgh University Press. He is the author of many books on Palestine-Israel. His current work focuses on religion and politics in the Middle East, oral history and social memory theory, subaltern studies, new Palestinian and Israeli historiography, the Bible and Zionism, Holy Land toponymy, Jerusalem archaeology, theologies of liberation in Palestine and Life-Long Learning in Palestine.

Reviews

[Arthur Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devastating. Belongs on the Mount Rushmore of Israel/Palestine books.

[Safwat Safi · Rating 5 out of 5]

دراسة رائعة يضعها في هذا الكتاب البروفيسور نور مصالحة، في قسمها الأول يطرح الافكار والخطط التي كانت مطروحة للتخلص من أكبر عدد ممكن الفلسطينيين وإخلاء البلاد تماما منهم إن أمكن ذلك، وكيف أن المطروح كان أكبر بكثير مما حدث (لحسن الحظ)، وأن موضوع الترحيل القسري لا زال قائما في وجدان الصهاينة إلى هذا اليوم.
في القسم الثاني يقدم توثيقا للمجازر التي ارتكبتها العصابات الصهيونية بين شهر كانون الأول ديسمبر ١٩٤٧ وآخر آذار مارس ١٩٤٨، وما تلاها من عمليات طرد من مختلف المناطق.
دراسة رائعة وكتاب يجب اعتماده مرجعا لمعرفة ما حدث في فلسطين قبل وأثناء النكبة.
مأخذي الوحيد على الكتاب بنسختيه العربية والإنجليزية أن الهوامش كان من الممكن وضعها في صفحاتها بدل وضعها في المصادر آخر الكتاب.

[Bob Mobley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting and very fascinating examination into the history of the Zionist Movement and their leadership's vision for an independent state without any Arabs living within its borders. Dr. Masalha will stir up tremendous controversy and conflicting claims and debates with his well written and documented book. His book shows clearly the vision, designs and goals that were the driving forces within the Zionist Movement. I learned and discovered new "facts" surrounding the history of the creation of Israel. This is not a comfortable story. It is however, a story well worth reading and thinking about in order to try and understand the dynamic forces at work today across the entire Middle East. One insight I found to be of great interest is the role played by General Orde Wingate in helping the Jews in Palestine develop their self defense forces that would become today's outstanding Army, the IDF. Wingate is considered the Father of the Israeli Army.

[AHW · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent, careful scholarly history of the concept of forced or financially coerced mass expulsion of Arabs from Palestine, from its appearance in Theodor Herzl’s diaries and letters, through decades of its advocacy within Zionist circles and its influence on David Ben Gurion, to its advocates’ influence on Israeli forces’ expulsion of Arabs in 1948. This book is concrete scholarly proof that ethnic cleansing has been at the heart of Zionism from day one.

[Jasper Sendler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent account of the PLANNED expulsion of the Palestinians.

[Guillaume Dohmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tragic story

This book relates the detail of the Zionist policy to clear Palestine of its Arab population. It often reminds one of Hitler’s plans for Lebensraum. It shows clearly that many human beings learn nothing from the past but quit happily imitate the most inhuman policies even if they themselves have suffered under them.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well documeented

[Richard Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Already in 1919, Winston Churchill predicted that Zionism implied the clearing of the indigenous population, he wrote:
There are the Jews, whom we are pledged to introduce into Palestine, and who take it for granted the local population will be cleared out to suit their convenience.
Page 15.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkable work. It completely dismantles any argument that the Zionist leadership had no intention of expelling the indigenous population of Palestine. It therefore makes untenable the claim that the Nakba was the spontaneous result of Arab flight. If I could only recommend one scholarly volume on the genesis of this conflict, this would be it.

[Isra&Ink · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

[Jean-luc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remarkably neutral, even academic style, which helps the rhetoric. Nothing to argue with here - all archival quotes.

[Juli · Rating 4 out of 5]

3’5⭐️

Bastante necesario este libro

[Roland Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Professor Masalha presents an extensive review of primary source material here

[Bicho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libro centrado específicamente en el plan sionista de expulsar a los palestinos de su propia tierra. Una investigación necesaria, pienso yo, porque arroja luz sobre esta cuestión que no es menor en el marco del conflicto árabe-israelí, poniendo en evidencia que existió un plan sistemático de expulsión y que el mismo viene de muy larga data.