The period of time during and after World War II called for mass migrations and movements of people all over the world. These forced migrations of thousands of people created a system of narratives and differing opinions forming about the reasons for said movements. The relocation of people in and out of Palestine in the late 1940s caused strife between those being pushed out of their homes and those being pushed into them.
Narratives from families all over the areas surrounding Palestine emerged as towns were being depopulated and repopulated again. One of these towns with a narrative existing alongside it is Haifa, Ghassan Kanafani in Returning to Haifa describes the thoughts and feelings of an Arab couple returning to their home after having to leave 20 years prior, they narrate that “the miracle the Jews talked about was nothing but an illusion” (p. 160). This brings up the idea that “Palestine was nothing more than a stage set adapted from an old legend” (p. 167), which pushes further the discourse between those removed and those placed in Palestine.
Another narrative shed a more positive light on Palestine. Ahmad H. Sa’di and Lila Abu-Lughod in their chapter in Nakba, Palestine 1948, and the Claims of Memory describe the account of a respected Arab scholar who has a more optimistic return to his homeland. This scholar viewed the relocation of Palestinians as a “forced exodus of 1948” (p.91) and worked to preserve the light of what was left of his homeland and those still living in Palestine so that they would not lose their history.
Abed Abdi – My Father, Against the Background of the Expulsion from Haifa on April 22nd, 1948
This painting included another narrative from the same period of time. This painting shows an older man who is the artist’s father, and in the background is the events that took place as the people of Haifa were being relocated by the Zionist movement.
“What is a homeland?” (Kanafani, 184), this phrase brought upon a great deal of confusion and sadness to those involved with these movements. These narratives shape the way we view the past and the authors and artists utilize a storytelling technique to share the stories of this tense postwar period. Both of these authors outline the thought process of those being displaced from their homeland and illustrate the right to return to one’s homeland; with good or curious intentions.
It’s interesting that you characterize Abu-Lughod’s chapter as positive. I guess you’re right though if you look at her father, who was indeed optimistic about his chances at reestablishing himself in Palestine. My takeaway was that Abu-Lughod herself was bitter and pessimistic about the fate of Palestine and her father though.
I like the picture you provided, it does a great job of illustrating just how large of a scale the displacement was in Haifa. I sympathize greatly for these Palestinians, and wonder if there is any way to have them return to their homeland in a satisfying way for them (though I suspect there is not). It’s a shame that this is the way the creation of Israel turned out, as it feels like we basically removed an entire countries people and culture in the name of creating a haven for a historically oppressed group of people. I feel like a big first step would be Israel acknowledging that they perhaps have wronged the Palestinians and try to work with them to find a solution that could at least begin to work for both sides, but sadly I don’t see this happening.
I like your choice of painting the huddled mass of people does of good job of portraying the mass exodus. I liked your focus on Palestine and Israel being an illusory place somewhere everybody wants to be perfect but is actually a source of chaos and heartbreak.
I think that the painting that you chose to use for your artifact is especially interesting. The image certainly draws the reader in and makes them curios, due to the design and nature of the painting. I think the message of the painting and manner in which you went about relating the information to the information of your post was excellent, good job.