Madam, - Raymond Deane (February 11th) deduces that in the absence of blanket broadcasts, the 1948 exodus could only have been the result of a Zionist-instigated expulsion. Such a conclusion is so simplistic that it belies a complete misunderstanding of the conditions of Palestine in 1947-48, and a total disregard for the historical record.
One must take historical context into account. By 1947, Arab Palestine was a deeply fragmented society; national leaders were in exile, and morale had crumbled consistently since the crushing defeat by the British in the 1936-39 revolt.
Following the passing of UN Resolution 181, the Arab upper and middle classes started to leave voluntarily. By December 1947, 100,000 were gone, leaving the urban and peasant class rudderless and despondent.
The Irgun massacre at Deir Yassin was a crucial factor, of which Arab command took full advantage by broadcasting grossly exaggerated casualties (in some cases, as high as 3,000). Yet, instead of galvanising resistance against Jewish forces, it precipitated a massive flight of Palestinians: between 200,000-300,000 fled in fear, victims of classic Arab opportunism, which has since been attested to by the Palestinian intellectual Sari Nusseibeh.
Expulsions by Zionist forces began in July 1948, when the Hagana went on the offensive and began uprooting remaining communities, notably at Ramle and Lydda. But this constituted an overall minority of the total flight.
It is interesting that Mr Deane quotes Benny Morris to further his case, when it was in fact Morris who reached the accurate conclusion that the Palestinian exodus was "born of war, and not by design". A "war", it must be remembered, that was started by the Arabs. - Yours, etc,
STEVEN CORCORAN, Lawrence Grove, Clontarf, Dublin 3.