The 1948 massacre at deir yassin revisited by matthew hogan. Local holocaust denial group deemed a hate organization the. On april 9, 1948, members of the underground jewish terrorist group, the irgun, or izl, led by menachem begin, who was to become the israeli prime. Apr 09, 2011 the massacre of deir yassin on april 10th was part of this operation. Original picture, photographed right after liberation of. Testimonies from the censored deir yassin massacre. For all these groups, it is important to stress the link between what happened this week 67 years ago in the village of deir yassin and the present day barbarism. Deir yassin massacre 1948 where 110 villagers were slaughtered, some members of the perpetrators were at a later time, absorbed into the idf, one even became pm of israel. I wish to point out that the capture of deir yassin and its holding are one stage in our. What its like to have a jewish terrorist in the family.
Reflections on deir yassin, the nakba, and war crimes. Thus, deir yassin is the child of many deir yassins, and parent to many more. Mar 30, 2017 deir yassin remembered, a local group famous for its weekly protests outside beth israel congregation in ann arbor, has been placed on a list of hate groups compiled by the southern poverty law center under the subcategory of holocaust denial. Apr 12, 2018 april 9 marked the 70th anniversary of the deir yassin massacre, in which jewish militias murdered over 100 palestinian men, women and children as part of a selfdescribed cleansing campaign. Jan 24, 2014 today is the 65th anniversary of the massacre at deir yassin, a village near west jerusalem. Partisans claim that the brutal act, whether it is the massacre at deir yassin, or the massacre of jews in hebron, or suicide bombings, or brutality at checkpoints, is characteristic of their opponents, and proves that they are thoroughly evil and inhuman. The village lay outside of the area to be assigned by the united nations to the jewish state. One of the awful crimes against the palestinians in 1948, the song is trynottocry by yusuf islam and the outlandish the materials are from the site. Uri milstein, one of israels most preeminent historians, has published a book that appears in english, the birth of a palestinian nation the myth of the deir yassin massacre by. Ruins of homes left empty from the deir yassin massacre, 1986.
But the list of victims extends far beyond the 100 to elderly men, women and children who died that day. There was no massacre at deir yassin inside israel. Deir yassin was a palestinian arab village of around 600 inhabitants about 5 kilometers west of jerusalem. Deir yassin was a palestinian arab village of several hundred residents, all muslim, living in 144 houses. Todays violence is a continuation of a long, tragic history of conflict in the middle east. Today marks the 69th anniversary of the deir yassin massacre. May 31, 2018 a tour to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the deir yassin massacre, an event that over the years has become one of the historical symbols of the palestinian nakba. Local holocaust denial group deemed a hate organization. The massacre of deir yasin was not the first by zionist forces in palestine, nor was it the last. The deir yassin massacre took place on april 9, 1948, when around 120 fighters from the zionist paramilitary groups irgun and lehi killed hundreds of. A massacre of arabs masked by a state of national amnesia. Adel manna explores the 1948 fall of the galilee, based on memories of local arab inhabitants. According to the washtenaw jewish news, deir yassin remembered is the only sustained action targeting a.
May, 2004 the deir yassin massacre by william james martin. The deir yassin massacre took place on april 9, 1948, when around 120 fighters from the zionist paramilitary groups irgun and lehi killed hundreds of palestinian arabs in deir yassin, a village of roughly 600 people near jerusalem. Survivors of massacres, including the deir yassin massacre, are gradually dying of old age, and there will come a time when firsthand accounts no longer exist. The following survivor accounts of deir yassin appeared in the dossier 17911017gs and were labeled secret and were the result of an investigation about 4 days after the capture of the village. The village of deir yassin was included on the list of arab villages to be occupied as part of the operation. The massacres historical prominence in such a major conflict has subjected it to. Both arab and jewish testimony point to the same conclusion. The international committee of the red cross reported that there were 400 residents. The open wounds of the conflict owe very much to deir. It was probably not premeditated, but a massacre it was, and it claimed the lives of over a hundred palestinians. It is a nonsense to have two articles, one about the deir yassin massacre openly stating that it did happen, and offering historical evidence and another, this one, that is supposedly about the deir yassin village, but ends up curiously trying to deny that that very event happened or at least it tries to reformulate it from a zionist perspective, clearly not npov. But it was located on high ground in the corridor between tel aviv and jerusalem and one plan, kept secret until years afterwards, called for it to be destroyed and the.
Early in the morning of friday, april 9, 1948, commandos of the irgun, headed by menachem begin, and the stern gang attacked deir yassin, a village with about 750 palestinian residents. The fact of their existence will become as fragile as a scent in wind, and. What impact did massacres like this one have on the success of the. The deir yassin incident was part of the middle east war of 1948, variously.
More than any single incident in palestinian memory, deir yassin continues to stand out, not because of the bloodshed or gruesomeness of this particular massacre but because of the depth of its injury. My grandmother was nine years old at the time of the deir yassin massacre and every day since she has lived with a steadfast commitment to never forget. They piled bodies and burned them a young fellow tied to a tree and set on fire. Four things to know about the deir yassin massacre youtube. By april 12th, the zionists had expelled about 15,000 arab villagers from this corridor10. It begins with the internal, leftright israeli controversy during 196971 about the alleged massacre and then describes and analyses what really happened at deir yassin on the basis of the israeli and, to. On april 9, 1948, just a few weeks before israel was created, armed jewish militias attacked the palestinian village of deir yassin, killing at least 100 people. Deir yassin had a peaceful reputation and was even said by a jewish newspaper to have driven out some arab militants. Between 9 and 11 april 1948, over 100 arab townspeople were massacred by jewish paramilitaries in deir yassin near jerusalem in the british mandate of palestine. Based in san francisco, brett wilkins is editoratlarge for us news at digital journal. News world middle east a massacre of arabs masked by a state of national amnesia sixty years on, the true story of the slaughter of palestinians at deir yassin may finally come out. Deir yassin declared its neutrality during the 1948 palestine war between arabs and jews.
Barbarism by an educated and cultured people dawayima massacre was worse than deir yassin. The deir yassin episode was unique throughout the entire war, not because of the alleged massacre but because its pattern of housetohouse fighting did not recur on a similar scale. The massacre of palestinians at deir yassin is one of the most significant events in 20thcentury palestinian and israeli history. Deir yassin, rightly or wrongly, became synonymous with jewish atrocities against arabs, and it is important to ascertain whether in fact a massacre took place at deir yassin and whether or not arab corpses were mutilated. Is it possible to shout about deir yassin and be silent about something much worse. It was several weeks before the end of the british mandate.
Apr 09, 2018 the deir yassin massacre took place on april 9, 1948, when around 120 fighters from the zionist paramilitary groups irgun and lehi attacked deir yassin, a palestinian arab village of roughly 600. Holocaust memorial day and deir yassin remembered by rabbi mark l. These documents leave no room for doubt that the irgun and lehi units that attacked the palestinian village of deir yassin on 9 april 1948 committed a massacre. Pa tv presents image of nazi camp victims as taken from.
Deir yassin massacre april 9, 1948 occupied palestine. Palestinian sources, combining israeli military archives with oral histories, list. Thursday, 8 april, ended like any other in the small, quiet village. Transcribing the vivid details of the account engraved into the fabric of her memory, i am transfixed by all that shes held onto for 65 years. Seventy years after the horrors of deir yassin, it is more necessary than ever to ensure that, like the nazi genocide of jews, we never forget the brutal massacre of that peaceful village or the wider catastrophe it sparked. After watching our video and this video of famous historian, benny morris, debate what the events at deir yassin should be called is it possible for two people to have very different accounts of what happened. Apr 14, 2018 seventy years after the horrors of deir yassin, it is more necessary than ever to ensure that, like the nazi genocide of jews, we never forget the brutal massacre of that peaceful village or the wider catastrophe it sparked. One day after deir yassin, the haganah exploited its capture. The deir yassin massacre took place on april 9, 1948, when around 120 fighters from the zionist paramilitary groups irgun and lehi attacked deir yassin near jerusalem, a palestinian arab village of roughly 600 people. Survivors remember the loss of innocence that every generation to come would possess as result of the slaughter that was committed in deir yassin. The following is general information about the deir yassin massacre.
Deir yassin massacre 1948 early in the morning of april 9, 1948, commandos of the irgun headed by menachem begin and the stern gang attacked deir yassin, a village with about 750 palestinian residents. Dyr archives donated to the palestine museum us pdf. Nov 22, 2017 two recent books make an important contribution to the study of the palestinian nakba. As jerusalem expanded, the land of deir yassin became part of the city and is now known simply as the area between givat shaul and the settlement of har nof on the western slopes of the mountain. History of a lie march 9, 1998 introduction for fifty years, critics of israel have used the battle of deir yassin to blacken the image of the jewish state, alleging that jewish fighters massacred hundreds of arab civilians during a battle in that arab village near jerusalem in 1948. For fifty years, critics of israel have used the battle of deir yassin to blacken the.
This week marks the 70th anniversary of the deir yassin massacre, in which jewish militias murdered over 100 palestinian men, women and children as part of a selfdescribed cleansing campaign to expel indigenous arabs to make way for the nascent state of israel. Deir yassin were reported to have received pensions. Deir yassin remembered, in the news deir yassin massacre. Probably no single incident is more referenced as an example of sadistic and intentionally genocidal zionist brutality toward arab palestinians than the april 9, 1948 massacre at deir yassin. There was no massacre at deir yassin new book meticulously documents battle of deir yassin. Deir yassin remembered is an international organisation whose aim is to build a memorial to the victims of the deir yassin massacre of april 9th 1948. Pa tv presents image of nazi camp victims as taken from deir yassin massacre. The massacre at deir yassin is one of some two dozen documented massacres of palestinian civilians by zionist forces seeking to transform palestine into a jewish state. There are many different accounts and interpretations of what happened on 9 april 1948 at deir yassin, a small village on the west side of jerusalem. The open wounds of the conflict owe very much to deir yassin. A mythical massacre toms perspectives by thomas ice hank hanegraaff is an advocate of christian palestinianism. Deir yassin remembered, a local group famous for its weekly protests outside beth israel congregation in ann arbor, has been placed on a list of hate groups compiled by the southern poverty law center under the subcategory of holocaust denial. After watching our video and this video of famous historian, benny morris, debate what the events at deir yassin should be called.
The events of deir yassin are regarded by the palestinians as the beginning of. We must never forget the massacre in deir yassin the. My research of the affair puts to rest any serious questioning of whether there was, or was not, a massacre at deir yassin. This article describes israeli and arab historiography concerning the events in the arab village of deir yassin in april 1948, during the first israeliarab war, of 1948. Friday, 9 april 1948, a day of infamy in palestinian history. Apr 10, 2015 for all these groups, it is important to stress the link between what happened this week 67 years ago in the village of deir yassin and the present day barbarism. Early in the morning of april 9, 1948, commandos of the irgun headed by menachem begin and the. The testimonies collected by filmmaker neta shoshani about the massacre in deir yassin are difficult to process even 70 years after the fact. He has argued the same in his many books and lectures. Barbarism by an educated and cultured people dawayima. Opinion what its like to have a jewish terrorist in the family.
If the import of catastrophes were gauged only in numbers of people. One of the perpetrators of war crimes against palestinians that accompanied israels creation was my relative, mordechai benuziyahu, who participated in the deir yassin massacre. Pa tv presents image of nazi camp victims as taken from deir yassin massacre original picture, photographed right after liberation of nordhausen, edited to. Should what happened at deir yassin in 1948 be called a massacre. The village was razed after a massacre of around 107 of its residents on april 9, 1948, by the jewish paramilitary groups irgun and lehi. Reflections on deir yassin, the nakba and war crimes. What do you think was the goal of the deir yassin massacre. The deir yassin remembered blog this blog is for news and opinions related to the 1948 deir yassin massacre and the struggle for peace and justice in palestine.
The massacre of deir yassin, by no means the worst or the last in the history of palestine, symbolized what was so unique about the palestinian plight. The assault occurred as jewish militia sought to relieve the blockade of jerusalem by palestinian arab forces during the civil war that preceded the end of british rule. Remembering the massacre at deir yassin middle east monitor. Two recent books make an important contribution to the study of the palestinian nakba. Professor eliezer tauber, a former dean in barilan university, israel, is an expert on the emergence of arab. Many terrible incidents have occurred, but one that is persistently cited, particularly by antiisrael propagandists, as an example of the zionists hostility toward the palestinians is the 1948 battle of deir yassin. Eliezer tauber, head of the institute for the study of underground movements at barilan university and former dean of the faculty of jewish studies at the university, examines the events of that day in.
Document b the 1948 war deir yassin massacre deir yassin massacre 1948 early in the morning of april 9, 1948, commandos of the irgun headed by menachem begin and the stern gang attacked deir yassin, a village with about 750 palestinian residents. Long shadow over palestine killing world news the guardian. The book, published in hebrew in 2007, accuses the leadership of the. Massacre means the premeditated slaughter of defenseless human beings. They were not made generally available for 25 years so it is difficult to assume it was made for antiirgun propaganda purposes at the time. Girls lined up against a wall and shot with a submachine gun. The following day haganah commander david shaltiel wrote to the leaders of the lehi and irgun. Early in the morning of 9 april 1948, around 120 members of the underground jewish militia groups, the. The authors grandmother, fatima radwan right and her younger sister sakeena at the dar altifl school four years after the deir yassin massacre. Unless otherwise noted, the views expressed on this blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of deir yassin remembered, inc. In 1948 the group took part in the infamous deir yassin massacre, an important trigger for the flight of. Deir yasin massacre was the first of at least another 17 massacres committed within the framework of plan dalet. Each year when israel celebrates its independence day, this issue repeats itself, a myth, an antiisraeli myth. In the blood libel of deir yassin the black book, he claims that the deir yassin massacre was a myth created by the israeli left to prevent the irgun from forming an independent unit inside the idf and keep menachem begin out of the first national unity government under david bengurion, and that begin and the irgun themselves went along.
Apr 10, 2018 on april 9, 1948, just a few weeks before israel was created, armed jewish militias attacked the palestinian village of deir yassin, killing at least 100 people. Hanan ashrawi marks the 69th anniversary of the deir yassin massacre on april 9, 1948, more than one hundred innocent men, women and children of the palestinian village of deir yassin in jerusalem were brutally murdered by armed members of the zionist terrorist organizations, the irgun and the stern gangs. The deir yassin massacre took place on april 9, 1948, when around 120 fighters from the irgun zevai leumi and lohamei herut israel zionist paramilitary groups attacked deir yassin near jerusalem, a palestinianarab village of roughly 600 people. How israel was absolved of deir yassin and all other. According to arab claims, verified by most scholars, the mere mention of deir yassin brought about mass flight or hasty surrender. Educators guide deir yassin unpacked for educators.
368 546 491 1256 786 680 401 688 464 875 1205 397 1133 563 1008 1172 507 1549 114 408 590 1401 523 553 130 253 550 682 455 626 756 587 97 1206