(Believe it or not, there were several paragraph divisions in my previous comment before I submitted it. Where they went, I do not know. Perhaps into Suha's bank account?)
Unfortunately, I don't think you can prove anything by comparing the treatment of the Arab refugees from Israel and the Jewish refugees who came into Israel. The Arabs had their reasons for keeping their refugees in limbo, as you said, but the Jews too had reasons for integrating theirs: they wanted Jews to immigrate to Israel all along. It was a basic component of their ideology, and a larger citizenry was practically beneficial too, whatever the short-term difficulties. So maybe both parties acted selfishly and did what was in their best interests, however different the outcomes were. One could contend that were the Jews in the Arabs' position, they might have done the same thing.
A better comparison might be to the present-day Jewish refugees from Gaza. While their poor living conditions are being milked by many to attack the government, has even the most gung-ho Zionist said that they should be kept in poor living conditions until the day of their triumphant return? If so, I haven't heard it. On the other hand ... what about the people in the government right now who refuse to act on the problem, the people who support them, all the people who originally supported and carried out the disengagement, even though it was clear beforehand that the government was not serious about helping its victims, and even the masses of people who STILL want to vote in the next elections for the political parties responsible for the mess? It's not in the same active, exploitative way or to the same extent as the Arabs have, but haven't all of these Jews sacrificed their brothers' happiness and dignity for their own political ends?
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Other reader comments on this article
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Date
Mr. Hillel Halkin
The New York Sun
Re: Losing Battle For Sderot ( May 22,2007 )
Although I fully agree with your... [MORE]
Dov Gilon
May 27, 2007 09:04
There are some major misconceptions going around about the Arabs and how Israel should approach them. To the poster who... [MORE]
Josh
May 23, 2007 16:19
I agree with Mr. Halkin on most points, but would amend his plan slightly. If the Kassam rockets are effectively... [MORE]
Scott Baker
May 22, 2007 12:04
It's unfathomable to me that certain militant Palastinians simply shoot rockets into civilian cities hoping to kill innocent Israili citizins.... [MORE]
Chip
May 22, 2007 09:42
Every reasonably human person should be sympathetic to the plight of Sderot's people, just as we should be to the... [MORE]
David Irby
May 22, 2007 05:05
So at first the Palestinians are removed from their lands.
Next they are enclosed in enclaves that have no direct access... [MORE]
Aaron Hart
May 22, 2007 04:02
The German army in WWII used to slaughter a village if one of their men was shot. I don't remember... [MORE]
Gene Machina
May 22, 2007 03:51
Hard to believe there are people who stil reason this way after four years of 'liberating' Iraq. Sure, it's easy... [MORE]
Cohen
May 22, 2007 03:35
It would seem to further undermine Israel's legitimacy as a Jewish state if it were to set aside "eye for... [MORE]
Andrew
May 22, 2007 02:42
Your statement, "Several hundred Palestinian irregulars, who may or may not be taking orders from a central command" is incorrect.... [MORE]
Jo Jobson
May 22, 2007 02:28
How about Israel stops occupying Palestinian land, stop controlling there borders, stop controlling there airspace, stop collecting there taxes, give... [MORE]
Green
May 22, 2007 02:12
Excuse me, that's ostensibly why Israel abandoned Gaza -- to let them build a nation. And in the two years... [MORE]
Ellen
May 22, 2007 17:12
Halkin lays out a scenario that may not be popular with the UN or the Main Stream Media, but it... [MORE]
Tennisman
May 22, 2007 02:04
Iran today threated Israel's destruction again, saying that in the event Israel attacks Lebanon the entire Arab world will turn... [MORE]
Dave Levy
May 24, 2007 15:44
"Reasonably prosperous" is an odd and uncalled-for description of Sderot. It is a 'development town' backwater with a high rate... [MORE]
Avi Katz
May 22, 2007 01:47
First of all, I would advise JOSH, who, in my opinion, submitted a very good analysis of Hillels article, to... [MORE]
Joe Zionist
May 25, 2007 20:13
Just today, Hamas has warned that the captured Israeli soldier will not be freed or heard from again, if Israel... [MORE]
Dave Levy
May 26, 2007 15:44
(Believe it or not, there were several paragraph divisions in my previous comment before I submitted it. Where they went,...
Josh
May 26, 2007 20:16
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