Israel Matzav

This is rich: Radical Left holds conference highlighting North Tel Aviv's past as a 'Palestinian' village

One of the deep, dark secrets of Israel's Left is that most of North Tel Aviv, the swankiest part of the country with the possible exceptions of Herzliya's Kfar Shmaryahu and Savion, and the most Leftist part of the country with the possible exception of Red Haifa, is largely built on the remains of a 'Palestinian' village called Sheikh Munis, which was abandoned by the 'Palestinians' in 1948. A radical Leftist NGO called Zochrot plans to hold a conference at the Land of Israel Museum in Tel Aviv in September, to address "practical aspects of the Return of Palestinian refugees." Yes, of course, the Land of Israel Museum sits on land that belonged to the 'Palestinians' of Sheikh Munis. Will the residents of North Tel Aviv return to Russia, Germany and Poland? Or will they just leave their homes to the 'Palestinians' and live in the streets?

The invitation states that the conference, named "From Truth to Redress," wishes to discuss the "practical aspects of the Return of Palestinian refugees grounded in the transitional justice principles of acknowledgment, accountability and a joint Jewish-Palestinian process of redress."

"The issues discussed in this conference will focus on the implication of Return for the country's physical, cultural and economicspace [sic], on the nature of its future society, the status of Palestinians and Jews living here, the nature of its regime, and last but not least, the practicalities of returning property after 65 years of refugeehood and the destruction of Palestinian life on the one hand, and the establishment of a Jewish State and the resulting new reality on the other," the invitation states. 

It also says the "objective of the conference is not to argue whether the Palestinian refugees have a right to return, but to see how this right can be realized." 

The invitation also includes (in Hebrew) the location of the conference as "Al-Shaykh Muwannis -- E.I. Museum." 

According to Zochrot director Liat Rosenberg, "To hold a conference that addresses the issue of refugee return, which is taboo, in the heart of Tel Aviv of all places, is a statement in and of itself. The fact that the conference will be held at the Eretz Israel Museum, which is built on the remains of the village of Al-Shaykh Muwannis, also has symbolic value. To hold a discussion on the return of refugees specifically in a place from which refugees were expelled is very appropriate." 

It should be noted that one of the group's members is Noa Shaindlinger, who a few months ago expressed joy at the deaths of IDF helicopter pilots in a training accident.

Likud MK Ofir Akunis plans to ask the museum to cancel the event, but the museum says that it's completely legal and that anyone acting legally can rent the museum's hall.

But don't worry. If push ever comes to shove, the rich Leftists of Ramat Aviv Gimmel, Tzahala and Afeka aren't going anywhere. They're not really going to cut off their noses to spite their faces. Giving land to the 'Palestinians' is only for the lesser lights like the 'settlers.'

What could go wrong?

Labels: Judea and Samaria, Palestinian refugees, right of return, Tel Aviv

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:53 PM