Israel Must Recognize Its Responsibility for the Nakba, the Palestinian Tragedy

[Igel]

28. It's not "either/or."

Yes, there were Palestinian Arabs driven out by Israeli forces.

There were also those driven out because they simply feared fighting.

And there were those who were told to evacuate before the fighting started, that they'd be protected by Arab forces, their lands liberated, and the common folk would be able to return shortly.

When there's a confrontation--"all the Palestinians were driven out by Israeli forces"--you're often forced into a corner and to make extreme statements to keep it simple. "Some were" would be an admission of guilt, of responsibility, and all listening to the end of the sentence, "... but most weren't" would cease. Eventually you believe the absolutist statements because, well, it's better to be innocent than partly guilty.

It would have been best not to have been confronted with a false accusation, but that's not how some cultures work. Better a strong offense and absolute denial of any wrong-doing than to consider the facts.