February 18, 2026
Flight of the Arabs

It is somewhat simplistic to say that the Arabs fled from the part of Palestine assigned to the Israelis voluntarily. The issue is more complex: it is difficult to distinguish what was voluntary from what was driven by coercion or fear.

Certainly, it was the Arab side that did not accept the division into two states decided by the UN almost unanimously, confident that they would win easily. This led to a bitter war in which, I have no doubt, atrocities were committed, as happens in every war.

But what seems to me the essential point is that these are historical facts of the past: it is not as though we still wish to condemn the Germans and the Japanese for the atrocities committed 80 years ago.

What matters is what is happening today: accepting the existence of Israel is the only way to prevent the continuation of tragedies.