Myths & Facts - Index of Myths

Israel’s Roots
The Mandatory Period
Partition
The War of 1948
The Road to Suez
The 1967 Six-Day War
Between the Wars
The War of Attrition, 1967-1970
The 1973 Yom Kippur War
Boundaries
Israel and Lebanon
The Gulf Wars
The United Nations
The Refugees
The Treatment of Jews in Arab/Islamic Countries
Human Rights in Arab Countries
Human Rights in Israel and the Territories
The Palestinian Uprisings
Jerusalem
U.S. Middle East Policy
The Peace Process
Settlements
The Arms Balance
The Media
Canada-Israel Relations
Online Exclusives

Israel’s Roots

• “The Jews have no claim to the land they call Israel.”
• “Palestine was always an Arab country.”
• “The Palestinians are descendants of the Canaanites and were in Palestine long before the Jews.”
• “The Balfour Declaration did not give Jews a right to a homeland in Palestine.”
• “The 'traditional position' of the Arabs in Palestine was jeopardized by Jewish settlement.”
• “Zionism is racism.”
• “The delegates of the U.N. World Conference Against Racism agreed that Zionism is racism.”
• “The Zionists could have chosen another country besides Palestine.”
• “Herzl himself proposed Uganda as the Jewish state as an alternative to Palestine.”
• “All Arabs opposed the Balfour Declaration, seeing it as a betrayal of their rights.”
• “The Zionists made no effort to compromise with the Arabs.”
• “The Zionists were colonialist tools of Western imperialism.”
• “The British promised the Arabs independence in Palestine in the Hussein-MacMahon Correspondence.”
• “The Arabs fought for freedom in World Wars I and II.”*
• “Israeli policies cause anti-Semitism.”^#
• “Supporters of Israel only criticize Arabs and never Israelis.”^#

The Mandatory Period

• “The British helped the Jews displace the native Arab population of Palestine.”
• “The British allowed Jews to flood Palestine while Arab immigration was tightly controlled.”
• “The British changed their policy after World War II to allow the survivors of the Holocaust to settle in Palestine.”
• “As the Jewish population in Palestine grew, the plight of the Palestinian Arabs worsened.”
• “Jews stole Arab land.”
• “The British helped the Palestinians to live peacefully with the Jews.”
• “The Mufti was not anti-Semitic.”
• “The Irgun bombed the King David Hotel as part of a terror campaign against civilians.”

Partition

• “The United Nations unjustly partitioned Palestine.”
• “The partition plan gave the Jews most of the land, and all of the cultivable area.”
• “Israel usurped all of Palestine in 1948.”
• “The Palestinian Arabs were never offered a state and therefore have been denied the right to self-determination.”
• “The majority of the population in Palestine was Arab; therefore, a unitary Arab state should have been created.”*
• “The Arabs were prepared to compromise to avoid bloodshed.”
• “The Soviet Union vigorously opposed partition.”*

The War of 1948

• “The Jews started the first war with the Arabs.”
• “The Bernadotte Plan was a viable alternative to partition.”
• “The United States was the only nation that criticized the Arab attack on Israel.”
• “The West's support of Israel allowed the Jews to conquer Palestine.”
• “The Arab economic boycott of Israel was imposed after the 1948 war.”

The Road to Suez

• ?Arab governments were prepared to accept Israel after the Suez War.”
• ?Israel's military strike in 1956 was unprovoked.”
• “Israel had no reason to attack Egypt; it went to war to advance the imperialist interests of France and Great Britain..”
• ?The United States’ blind support for Israel was apparent during the Suez War.”

The 1967 Six-Day War

• “Arab governments were prepared to accept Israel after the Suez War.”
• “Israel's military strike was unprovoked.”
• “Nasser had the right to close the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping.”
• “The United States helped Israel defeat the Arabs in six days.”
• “Israel attacked Jordan to capture Jerusalem.”
• “Israel did not have to shoot first.”
• “Israel viewed the territories it captured as conquered lands that were now part of Israel and had no intention of negotiating over their return.”
• “Israel expelled peaceful Arab villagers from the West Bank and prevented them from returning after the war.”
• “Israel imposed unreasonable restrictions on the Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.”
• “During the 1967 War, Israel deliberately attacked the USS Liberty.”

Between the Wars

• “After the 1967 war, Israel refused to negotiate a settlement with the Arabs.”
• “According to Security Council Resolution 242, Israel's acquisition of territory through the 1967 war is 'inadmissible.'”
• “Resolution 242 requires Israel to return to its pre-1967 boundaries.”
• “Resolution 242 recognizes a Palestinian right to self-determination.”
• “The Arab states and the PLO accepted Resolution 242 whereas Israel rejected it.”
• “The Palestinians were willing to negotiate a settlement after the Six-Day War.”

The War of Attrition, 1967-1970

• “Israel was responsible for the War of Attrition.”
• “Egypt terminated the War of Attrition, and sought to reach some accommodation with Israel, only to have Jerusalem spurn these initiatives.”
• “Egypt repeatedly expressed a willingness to begin peace negotiations with Israel from 1971 to 1973. Israel's rejection of these initiatives led to the Yom Kippur War.”

The 1973 Yom Kippur War

• “Israel was responsible for the 1973 war.”
• “Egyptian President Anwar Sadat had agreed to U.S. peace proposals and did not seek war.”
• “Egypt and Syria were the only Arab states involved in the 1973 war.”
• “Israel mistreated Arab soldiers captured during the 1973 war.”
• “Israeli troops deliberately destroyed the town of Kuneitra prior to their withdrawal from the area in June 1974.”

Boundaries

• “The creation of Israel in 1948 changed political and border arrangements between independent states that had existed for centuries.”
• “Israel has been an expansionist state since its creation.”
• “Israel has long sought to conquer Arab lands stretching from the Nile to the Euphrates. There is even a map hanging in the Knesset documenting this.”
• “The West Bank is part of Jordan.”
• “Israel seized the Golan Heights in a war of aggression.”
• “The Golan has no strategic significance for Israel.”
• “Israel has refused to offer any compromises on the Golan Heights while Syria has been willing to trade peace for land.”
• “Israel illegally annexed the Golan Heights in 1981, contravening international law and UN Resolution 242.”
• “Israel can withdraw from the West Bank with little more difficulty than was the case in Sinai.”
• “The Gulf War proves that Israel's demands for defensible borders are unrealistic in an era of ballistic missiles and long-range bombers capable of crossing vast amounts of territory in minutes.”
• “Israel ‘occupies’ the West Bank.”
• “The demographic threat to Israel posed by Arabs in the West Bank and Gaza is overrated and therefore Israel need not make territorial compromises.”^#

Israel and Lebanon

• “Israel cannot claim that its 1982 invasion of Lebanon, launched against an ill-equipped PLO, was a defensive war.”
• “The PLO posed no real threat to Israel. When Israel attacked, the PLO had been observing a year-long cease-fire agreement.”
• “The PLO treated the Lebanese with dignity and respect.”
• “Israel's operation to end the PLO threats to northern Israel resulted in 10,000 deaths and 600,000 homeless in south Lebanon.”*
• “The PLO was willing to leave Beirut in the summer of 1982 to save the civilian population from further attack, but Israel made this impossible.”
• “Israel was responsible for the massacre of thousands of innocent Palestinian refugees at Sabra and Shatila.”
• “Israel's 1978 and 1982 invasions of Lebanon proved its aggressive intentions.”
• “Israel still has not satisfied the UN's requirements to withdraw completely from Lebanon because of its illegal occupation of Shebaa Farms.”
• “Israel launched an unprovoked attack on UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon.”
• “Syria has been a force for stability and good in Lebanon. It has always respected Lebanon's sovereignty and independence.”
• “Syria has done everything possible to prevent terrorists in Lebanon from threatening regional peace.”
• “Syria intervened in Lebanon only because it was asked to do so by the Arab League.”
• “The Syrians and Lebanese have treated captured Israeli soldiers well and allowed the Red Cross to visit them.”
• “Israel's kidnaping of Sheikh Abdul Karim Obeid in 1989 prolonged the hostage crisis. It also caused the death of Lt. Col. William Higgins, a hostage who was later executed by his captors in retaliation.”*
• “Israeli attacks against Lebanon demonstrate Israel's aggression and determination to hold onto Lebanese territory.”*

The Gulf Wars

• “The 1991 Gulf War was fought for Israel.”
• “Israel's low profile in the Gulf War proves it has no strategic value to the United States.”
• “Israel benefitted from the Gulf War without paying any price.”
• “Israel did nothing to protect Palestinians from Scud attacks.”
• “Iraq was never a threat to Israel.”
• “Saddam Hussein was never interested in acquiring nuclear weapons.”
• “The PLO was neutral in the Gulf War.”
• “The Gulf War demonstrated why Arab states need more U.S. weapons.”
• “Iraq ceased to be a threat to Israel after the 1991 Gulf War.”
• “American Jews goaded the United States to go to war against Iraq in 2003 to help Israel.”^#

The United Nations

• “The United Nations has long played a constructive role in Middle East affairs. Its record of fairness and balance makes it an ideal forum for settling the Arab-Israeli dispute.”
• “The Palestinians have been denied a voice at the UN.”
• “Israel enjoys the same rights as any other member of the United Nations.”
• “The United Nations and its affiliate institutions are critical of Israeli policies, but never attack Jews or engage in anti-Semitic rhetoric.”
• “The 1991 repeal of the resolution libeling Zionism proves that the UN is no longer biased against Israel.”
• “Even if the General Assembly is biased, the Security Council has always been balanced in its treatment of the Middle East.”
• “The United States has always supported Israel at the UN and can be counted upon to veto any resolutions that are critical.”
• “America's Arab allies routinely support U.S. positions at the UN.”
• “Israel's failure to implement UN resolutions is a violation of international law.”
• “The United Nations has demonstrated equal concern for the lives of Israelis and Palestinians.”^#

The Refugees

• “One million Palestinians were expelled by Israel from 1947-49.”
• “The Jews made clear from the outset they had no intention of living peacefully with their Arab neighbors.”
• “The Jews created the refugee problem by expelling the Palestinians.”
• “The Arab invasion had little impact on the Palestinian Arabs.”
• “Arab leaders never encouraged the Palestinians to flee.”
• “The Palestinian Arabs had to flee to avoid being massacred as were the peaceful villagers in Deir Yassin.”
• “Israel refused to allow Palestinians to return to their homes so Jews could steal their property.”
• “UN resolutions call for Israel to repatriate all Palestinian refugees.”
• “Israel blocked negotiations by the Palestine Conciliation Commission.”
• “Palestinians who wanted to return to their homes posed no danger to Israeli security.”
• “The Palestinian refugees were ignored by an uncaring world.”
• “The Arab states have provided most of the funds for helping the Palestinian refugees.”
• “The Arab states have always welcomed the Palestinians and done their best to resettle them.”
• “Millions of Palestinians are confined to squalid refugee camps.”
• “Israel forced the Palestinian refugees to stay in camps in the Gaza Strip.”
• “Refugees have always been repatriated, only the Palestinians have been barred from returning to their homes.”
• “Had the Palestinian refugees been repatriated, the Arab-Israeli conflict could have ended.”*
• “Israel expelled more Palestinians in 1967.”
• “UNRWA is purely a humanitarian organization that bears no responsibility for the terror and incitement that originates in the refugee camps.”

The Treatment of Jews in Arab/Islamic Countries

• ?Arabs cannot possibly be anti-Semitic as they are themselves Semites.”
• ?Modern Arab nations are only anti-Israel and have never been anti-Jewish.”
• ?Jews who lived in Islamic countries were well-treated by the Arabs.”
• ?As ‘People of the Book,’ Jews and Christians are protected under Islamic law.”
• “Muslim schools in the United States teach tolerance of Judaism and other faiths, and promote coexistence with Israel.”
• The Situation Today

Human Rights in Arab Countries

• “The governments of Arab states grant basic human rights to their citizens.”
• “Women's rights are now protected in the Arab world.”
• “Freedom for Palestinians in the Palestinian Authority includes the right to sell land to Jews.”
• “Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians is blocking reform in the Middle East.”
• “The Palestinian Authority held a free, democratic election in 2005.”^#
• “Unlike other Arab women, Palestinian women are not killed for dishonoring their families.”^#

Human Rights in Israel and the Territories

• “Israel discriminates against its Arab citizens.”
• “Israel discriminates against Israeli Arabs by barring them from buying land.”
• “Israeli Arabs are discriminated against in employment.”
• “Arabs held in Israeli jails are tortured, beaten and killed.”
• “Israel uses administrative detention to imprison peaceful Arabs without trial.”
• “Israel has long sought to deny residents of the West Bank and Gaza their political rights.”
• “Israel is stealing water from Arabs in the territories. Israel allows Jews to drill wells, but prevents Arabs from doing so.”
• “Israel's use of deportations violates the Fourth Geneva Convention.”
• “Israel's treatment of Palestinians is similar to the treatment of blacks in apartheid South Africa.”
• “Black African nations cut relations with Israel because of its racist policies toward Palestinians.”*
• “Israel is pursuing a policy of genocide toward the Palestinians that is comparable to the Nazis' treatment of the Jews.”
• “Israel’s policies in the territories have caused a humanitarian crisis for the Palestinians.”^#
• “Israel’s complaints about Palestinian terrorists hiding among civilians are just an effort to justify their murder of innocent people.”^#
• “Israel demolishes homes in the Rafah refugee camp as part of its campaign to oppress the Palestinians.”^#
• “Yasser Arafat is directing the Palestinian Authority’s resources to the health and welfare of the Palestinian people.”^#
• “Israel is a theocracy and should not be a Jewish State.”^#
• “Israeli textbooks are just as bad as those in the Palestinian Authority, filled with stereotypes, historical inaccuracies, and a failure to acknowledge alternative political views..”^#
• “Israel poisoned Yasser Arafat.”^#
• “Israel is persecuting Christians.”^#
• “Israel is killing Palestinians with radiation spy machines.”^#
• “Palestinians living under ‘occupation’ have the lowest standard of living in the Middle East.”^#
• “Israeli checkpoints are unnecessarily preventing Palestinians from receiving medical attention.”^#
• “The Palestinian Authority protects Jewish holy sites.”^#

The Palestinian Uprisings

• “The intifada was a spontaneous uprising, resulting solely from Arab anger at Israeli atrocities.
• “The intifada constituted passive resistance. At its worst, it involved nothing more than children tossing stones at heavily armed soldiers.
• “Media coverage of the intifada was fair and balanced.
• “The PLO had no role in fomenting intifada violence.
• “The Palestinians who died in the intifada were all killed by the Israelis.
• “Israel closed West Bank schools during the intifada to deprive Palestinians of an education.
• “The outbreak of violence in late 2000, dubbed by Arabs the ‘al-Aqsa intifada,’ was provoked by Ariel Sharon's visit to the Temple Mount.”
• “A handful of Israelis have been killed in the uprising while thousands of innocent Palestinians have been murdered by Israeli troops.”
• “Violence is an understandable and legitimate reaction to Israel's policies.”
• “The al-Aqsa uprising has been conducted only in the disputed territories and has had no impact on Israel.”
• “Israel uses excessive force to respond to children who are just throwing stones.”
• “The Palestinian Authority is acting to prevent violence by arresting terrorists and confiscating illegal weapons.”
• “The shooting of a child being protected by his father shown on TV proves Israel does not hesitate to kill innocent Palestinian children.”
• “Israel uses rubber bullets to maim and kill unarmed Palestinians.”
• “The Mitchell Report made clear that Israeli settlement policy is as much to blame for the breakdown of the peace process as Palestinian violence and that a settlement freeze is necessary to end the violence.”
• “Israel's use of F-16 fighter jets typifies the disproportionate use of force applied by Israel against innocent Palestinian civilians.”
• “Arafat can't control militant Palestinians.”
• “Israel has consistently refused to take any steps to calm the situation, and its unrelenting attacks provoked Palestinian violence.”
• “Israel has no justification for withholding tax monies due to the Palestinian Authority.”
• “Palestinians attack Israeli forces in spontaneous outbursts of frustration.”*
• “The Palestinians have observed the cease-fire negotiated by CIA Director George Tenet.”
• “Israel's policy of assassinating Palestinian terrorists is immoral and counterproductive.”
• “Israel indiscriminately murders terrorists and Palestinian civilians.”
• “Israel's use of American-made weapons in retaliatory attacks against the Palestinians is illegal.”
• “Israel perpetrated a massacre in the Jenin refugee camp in April 2002.”
• “Israel opposed an investigation by the United Nations because it wanted to conceal the crimes it committed in Jenin.”
• “Israel prevents Palestinian ambulances from taking sick and injured Palestinians to hospitals.”
• “Israeli forces in ‘Operation Defensive Shield' set out to destroy the Palestinian Authority and reoccupy the West Bank.”
• “Israel closed three colleges in the Palestinian Authority in January 2003 to punish and humiliate the Palestinians.”^#
• “Israel uses checkpoints to deny Palestinians their rights and humiliate them.”^#
• “Israel’s complaints about Palestinian terrorists hiding among civilians are just an effort to justify their murder of innocent people.”^#
• “Palestinian women are joining the ranks of suicide bombers only because of their commitment to 'liberate' Palestine.^#
• “Rachel Corrie was murdered by Israel while she was peacefully protesting against the illegal demolition of a Palestinian home.”^#
• “Palestinians interested in peace and preventing terror are respected and allowed freedom of speech by the Palestinian Authority.”^#
• “Israel’s policy of assassinating terrorists is illegal and rejected even by Israelis, as evidenced by the refusal of Air Force pilots to carry out the policy.”^#
• “The Palestinian Authority is cooperating in the investigation of the terrorist ambush that killed three Americans in Gaza.”^#
• “Palestinians do not encourage children to engage in terror.”^#
• “Israel created Hamas.”^#
• “Israel is illegally, and without justification, destroying Palestinian homes in the Gaza Strip.” ^#
• “The ‘al-Aqsa intifada’ has helped win support for the Palestinians and forced Israel to capitulate to their demands.” ^#

Jerusalem

• “Jerusalem is an Arab City.”
• “Jerusalem need not be the capital of Israel.”
• “The Arabs were willing to accept the internationalization of Jerusalem. The Jews opposed the idea. Because of their intransigence, Israel illegally occupies the entire city today.”
• “Jordan accepted internationalization.”
• “From 1948 through 1967, Jordan ensured freedom of worship for all religions in Jerusalem.”
• “Jordan safeguarded Jewish holy places.”
• “Jordan strove to improve conditions in Arab East Jerusalem. By contrast, Israeli authorities bulldozed hundreds of Arab homes in that part of the city, leaving many Arab residents homeless.”
• “Under Israeli rule, religious freedom has been curbed in Jerusalem.”
• “Israel denies Muslims and Christians free access to their holy sites.”
• “Israeli policy encourages attacks by Jewish fanatics against Muslim and Christian residents and their holy sites.”
• “Israel has restricted the political rights of Palestinian Arabs in Jerusalem.”
• “Under UN Resolution 242, East Jerusalem is considered 'occupied territory.' Israel's annexation of Jerusalem therefore violates the UN resolution.”
• “East Jerusalem should be part of a Palestinian state because because all its residents are Palestinian Arabs and no Jews have ever lived there.”
• “The April 1990 move of 20 Jewish families into St. John's Hospice ? a building in the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem, located near the Church of the Holy Sepulcher ? is an example of Israel's intent to drive non-Jews from their parts of the city.”*
• “In an unprovoked attack, Israeli police murdered 17 Arab worshippers on the Temple Mount in 1990.”*
• “The United States does not believe Jerusalem should be the united capital of Israel.”
• “The Temple Mount has always been a Muslim holy place and Judaism has no connection to the site.”
• “Israel should not be allowed to control the Temple Mount because it denies Muslims access to their holy places.”
• “The Palestinians have been careful to preserve the archaeological relics of the Temple Mount.”
• “When Israel excavated the Western Wall tunnel, it threatened the integrity of the Temple Mount and al-Aqsa Mosque, and was therefore condemned by the UN Security Council.”
• “Internationalization is the best solution to resolve the conflicting claims over Jerusalem.”
• “Israel tried to burn down the al-Aqsa mosque in 1969.”

U.S. Middle East Policy

• “The creation of Israel resulted solely from U.S. pressure.”
• “The United States favored Israel over the Arabs in 1948 because of the pressures of the Jewish lobby.”
• “Most Americans oppose a close U.S. relationship with Israel.”
• “U.S. policy has always been hostile toward the Arabs.”
• “The United States has supported Israel automatically ever since 1948.”
• “The U.S. has always given Israel arms to insure it would have a qualitative edge over the Arabs.”
• “U.S. aid in the Middle East has always been one-sided, with the Arabs getting practically nothing.”
• “The U.S. has always given Israel billions of dollars without expecting repayment.”
• “Israel continues to demand large amount of economic aid even though it is now a rich country that no longer needs help.”
• “Israel boasts that it is the fourth strongest nation in the world, so it certainly doesn't need U.S. military assistance.”
• “U.S. military aid subsidizes Israeli defense contractors at the expense of American industry.”
• “U.S. loan guarantees provided Israel with billions of dollars from American taxpayers that was used to build settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to house Soviet Jews.”
• “Israel was never believed to have any strategic value to the United States.”
• “Israelis are able to live comfortably because of American aid, and they see no reason to reform their country's economic system.”
• “Israel takes protectionist measures that create impediments to American trade.”
• “The employment of Jonathan Pollard to spy on the United States is proof that Israel works against American interests.”
• “Israel tricked the United States into selling arms to Iran in exchange for hostages, and helped divert the profits to the Contras.”
• “U.S. dependence on Arab oil has decreased over the years.”
• “The major American oil companies never take positions on the Arab-Israeli conflict.”
• “The United States and Israel have nothing in common.”
• “America's support of Israel is the reason that terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and Pentagon on September 11, 2001.”
• “The hijacking of four airliners in one day, on September 11, was an unprecedented act of terror.”
• “Groups like Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, Hamas and the PFLP should be excluded from the U.S. war on terrorism because they are freedom fighters and not terrorists.”
• “Israel's Mossad carried out the bombing of the World Trade Center to provoke American hatred of Arabs.”
• “Mohammad Atta, the terrorist who flew into the World Trade Center, blew up a bus in Israel in 1986. At that time Israel arrested, tried, convicted, and jailed Atta, but was persuaded by the United States to release him as part of the Oslo peace accord.”*
• “American universities should divest from companies that do business in Israel to force an end to Israeli 'occupation' and human rights abuses.”
• “Advocates for Israel try to silence critics by labeling them anti-Semitic.”
• “Arab-Americans are a powerful voting bloc that U.S. presidential candidates must pander to for votes.”^#
• “The United States must be ‘engaged’ to advance the peace process.”^#

The Peace Process

• “Anwar Sadat deserves all of the credit for the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty.”
• “Egypt made all the concessions for peace.”
• “At Camp David, during the Carter Administration, Israel agreed to halt the construction of settlements for five years. Within months, Israel had violated the accords by establishing new settlements on the West Bank.”*
• “The Palestinian question is the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict.”*
• “If the Palestinian problem was solved, the Middle East would be at peace.”
• “A secular, democratic Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip is the solution to the conflict.”*
• “A Palestinian state will pose no danger to Israel.”
• “Israel has no right to be in the West Bank. Israeli settlements are illegal, and an obstacle to peace.”*
• “Israel is provocatively settling Jews in predominantly Arab towns, and has established so many facts on the ground that territorial compromise is no longer possible.”*
• “Israel must evacuate all Jewish settlements before a final peace agreement can be achieved with the Palestinians.”*
• “Israel has not acknowledged Palestinian claims to Jerusalem ”
• “Any agreement on Jerusalem would require Israel to give up sovereignty over the Temple Mount.”*
• “Peace with Syria has been prevented only by Israel's obstinate refusal to withdraw from the Golan Heights.”
• “Israel's continued occupation of Lebanese territory is the only impediment to the conclusion of a peace treaty.”
• “All the Palestinian refugees have the right to return to their homes; this is a prerequisite for a final settlement.”
• “Following the Oslo accords, the Palestinians have been educating their children about Israel and a future of coexistence with Israeli Jews.”
• “The Interim Agreement called for the creation of a Palestinian police force and that is precisely what the Palestinian Authority created.”
• “The Palestinians have fulfilled their commitment to arrest and prosecute terrorists.”
• “Palestinians are justified in using violence because the peace process has not allowed them to achieve their national aspirations.”
• “Israel has a surplus of water and its refusal to share with its neighbors could provoke the next war.”
• “The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) is a force for moderation in the territories. It advocates Muslim-Jewish harmony and reconciliation.
• “Israel withdrew from all of the Sinai to achieve peace with Egypt, withdrew to the international border with Lebanon and has offered to withdraw from the entire Golan Heights in a peace agreement with Syria; therefore, Israel should withdraw from 100 percent of the West Bank and Gaza Strip to make peace with the Palestinians.”
• “The Palestinians have never been offered a state of their own.”
• “Yasser Arafat rejected Ehud Barak's proposals at Camp David and the White House in 2000 because they did not offer the Palestinians a viable state. Palestine would have been denied water, control of its holy places, and would have been divided into cantons surrounded by Israelis. Israel would have also retained control of Jerusalem and denied refugees the right to return.”
• “The members of the Arab League signed an antiterrorism pact and oppose any form of terrorism.
• “Israel illegally took over the District Governor's Compound and the Palestinians' offices in Orient House, and has reoccupied territory in Jerusalem that was given to the Palestinians.”
• “The Palestinians joined the rest of the world in condemning the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.”
• “The Palestinian Authority has seized illegal weapons and fulfilled its other obligations under the Oslo agreements to restrict the possession of arms to the authorized police force.”
• “Palestinian terrorists only attack Israelis; they never assault Americans.”
• “Israel's opposition to the creation of a Palestinian state is the cause of the present conflict.”
• “The Palestinian Authority is abiding by its commitments and preventing illegal arms from being smuggled into areas under its control.”
• “Hundreds of Israeli soldiers are refusing to serve in the territories. This proves that Israel's policies are unjust.”
• “A fence is being constructed to separate Israel from the Palestinian Authority. This will not solve any problems and will lead to the racist creation of a Palestinian ghetto.”
• “The demolition of Palestinian homes is an example of the barbaric policies of Israeli oppression.”
• “The Palestinians have given up their maximalist dream of destroying Israel and reconciled themselves to the establishment of a state in part of the West Bank and Gaza Strip that will peacefully coexist with Israel.”
• “The Arab League peace plan of March 2002 represents a dramatic new vision in which the Arabs are for the first time giving up their maximalist demands.”
• “Arab leaders have condemned suicide bombers and other acts of terrorism since September 11, and responded to President Bush's call to take steps to fight terrorism.”
• “Israel is making specious comparisons between Palestinian resistance and the September 11 attacks on the United States in the hope of generating sympathy for its policies.”
• “Palestinians are driven to terror by desperation.”
• “Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians are part of a legitimate armed struggle; they are not terrorism.”
• “Ariel Sharon has made clear that he does not want peace and no deal is possible as long as he is Prime Minister.”
• “Israel's presence in the West Bank is the cause of terrorism.”
• “Palestinians are living under the oppressive control of Israeli military authorities.”
• “Yasser Arafat condemns terrorism and leading Palestinian moderates signed a public statement saying terrorist attacks against Israel are immoral.”
• “Saudi Arabia is a force for peace and moderation that does not sponsor terror.”
• “Yasser Arafat is the democratically elected leader of the Palestinian people and Israel must negotiate with him.”
• “The PA was prevented from holding elections by Israel.”^#
• “Most Palestinians do not support terror, but are helpless to stop the militants.”^#
• “The Palestinian Authority is bankrupt and the people are starving because the world does not care about the plight of the Palestinians.”^#
• “Palestinian terrorist groups agreed to a cease-fire until Israel launched attacks against them.”^#
• “Palestinians have no need for propaganda because the truth about Israeli behavior makes clear their barbarity.”^#
• “Israel and the Palestinians were on the verge of reaching a peace deal during negotiations at Taba in 2001, but Ariel Sharon’s election torpedoed the agreement.”^#
• “Israel’s assassination attempt on a leader of Hamas was aimed at derailing the peace process laid out in the road map.”^#
• “The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) is a non-violent human rights organization that opposes terrorism and supports a two-state solution.”^#
• “Israel is required to release Palestinians in Israeli prisons as a condition of the road map.”^#
• “Palestinian terrorist groups agreed to a cease-fire to advance the peace process envisioned by the road map for peace.”^#
• “The Palestinians are being asked to accept only 22% of Palestine for their state while Israel keeps 78%.”^#
• “Israel's so-called security fence is just like the Berlin Wall.”^#
• “The Palestinian Authority is helpless to dismantle Hamas and Islamic Jihad because the terrorist groups are too powerful and popular.”^#
• “Releasing Palestinian prisoners is a good way to build confidence for the peace process without endangering Israeli security.”^#
• “Periods of quiet are results of the Palestinian Authority’s crackdown on terrorists and would continue if not for Israeli military actions.”^#
• “Israel should be replaced by a binational state where Jews and Palestinians live together.”^#
• “The International Court of Justice should decide whether Israel is justified in building a security fence.”^#
• “The Arab world's commitment to peace is reflected by its abandonment of the boycott against Israel.”^#
• “Israel’s Supreme Court ruled that the security fence is illegal and a land grab by the Sharon government.”^#
• “Yasser Arafat will be succeeded by a democratically elected leader who is interested in peace with Israel.”^#
• “Israel must help Mahmoud Abbas improve his standing among Palestinians to facilitate the peace process.”^#
• “Israel is building the security fence as part of a land grab to control the West Bank and prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.^#
• “The disengagement plan is a trick to end the peace process and allow Israel to hold onto the West Bank.^#
• “Palestinians no longer object to the creation of Israel.^#
• “Israel has moved the border so it will not withdraw completely from the Gaza Strip.^#
• “Israel evacuated Gaza, but turned it into a prison by preventing the movement of people or goods.^#
• “Hamas should be permitted to participate in Palestinian Authority elections.^#
• “Israel's disengagement from Gaza was a victory for terror.^#

Settlements

• “Israel has no right to be in the West Bank. Israeli settlements are illegal.”
• “Settlements are an obstacle to peace.”
• “The Geneva Convention prohibits the construction of Jewish settlements in occupied territories.”
• “Israel is provocatively settling Jews in predominantly Arab towns, and has established so many facts on the ground territorial compromise is no longer possible.”
• “Israel must evacuate all Jewish settlements before a final peace agreement can be achieved with the Palestinians.”
• “At Camp David, during Jimmy Carter's presidency, Israel agreed to halt the construction of settlements for five years. Within months, Israel had violated the accords by establishing new settlements on the West Bank.”
• “U.S. loan guarantees provided Israel with billions of dollars from American taxpayers that was used to build settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to house Soviet Jews.”*
• “Israel has no right to build homes in Har Homa because it is part of Arab East Jerusalem and is yet another settlement project that will impede peace.”*
• “The Mitchell Report made clear that Israeli settlement policy is as much to blame for the breakdown of the peace process as Palestinian violence and that a settlement freeze is necessary to end the violence.”*
• “Anyone who defends settlements is rationalizing the perpetual occupation of the Palestinian people and their land.”
• “The peace agreements Israel signed with the Palestinians prohibit settlement activity.”
• “The Red Cross has declared that Israeli settlements are a war crime.”
• “Israel’s plan to link Jerusalem and Ma’aleh Adumim is meant to sabotage the peace process.”*
  “Israel must dismantle all the settlements in the West Bank or peace is impossible.”*

The Arms Balance

• “The threat from Israel and the withdrawal of the United States' offer to build the Aswan Dam drove Egypt to seek arms from the Soviet Union in 1955. This started the Middle East arms race.”
• “The Arab states have had to keep pace with an Israeli-led arms race.”
• “Israel is militarily superior to its Arab neighbors in every area and has the means to maintain its qualitative edge without outside help.”
• “Iraq's defeat in the Gulf War ensures that Israel will be facing only Syria in any future conflict. Other Arab involvement is of little importance.”
• “The sale of U.S. arms to Saudi Arabia has reduced the need for American troops to defend the Persian Gulf. These weapons pose no threat to Israel.”
• “Israel refuses to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to conceal its nuclear arsenal, and therefore threatens its neighbors.”
• “Arms control in the Middle East is impossible so long as Israel refuses to give up its nuclear weapons.”
• “Egypt is no longer a military threat since signing a peace treaty with Israel.”^#
• “Iran has no ambition to become a nuclear power and poses no threat to Israel or the United States.”^#

The Media

• “Press coverage of Israel is proportional to its importance in world affairs.”
• “Israel receives so much attention because it is the only country in the Middle East that affects U.S. interests.”
• “Western media coverage of the Arab world is equal to that of Israel.”
• “Media coverage of the Arab world is objective.”
• “Journalists covering the Middle East are driven by the search for the truth.”
• “The media lets Israel get away with more because of its alliance with the U.S.”
• “Israel doesn't warrant so much attention because it is not one of America's allies.”*
• “Israel gets favorable coverage because American Jews control the media and have disproportionate political influence.”
• “Arab officials tell Western journalists the same thing they tell their own people.”
• “Journalists are well-versed in Middle East history and therefore can place current events in proper context.”
• “The media effectively captures the danger average Israelis face from Palestinians.”
• “Media coverage of the intifada was fair and balanced.
• “Israelis cannot deny the truth of pictures showing their abuses.”
• “The press makes no apologies for terrorists.”
• “The Palestinian Authority places no restrictions on foreign reporters.”
• “Al-Jazeera is the 'Arabic CNN' providing the Arab world with an objective source of news.”
• “The media carefully investigates Palestinian claims before publicizing them.”^#
• “The media treats terrorist attacks against Israel the same way as it does attacks on other nations.”^#
• “There is a distinction between the political and terror wings of Hamas.”^#

Canada-Israel Relations

• “From the outset, Canadians were sympathetically disposed toward Zionism and Israel, and remain so today”^#
• “The late 1940s marked a positive turning point in Canada's attitude toward Jewish issues and Zionism”^#
• “Canada willingly played an important role in facilitating the adoption of the United Nations partition resolution”^#
• “Canada immediately recognized Israel and supported its admission to the UN”^#
• “External Affairs Minister Lester Pearson became involved in ending the 1956 Suez Conflict because of his personal commitment to Zionism”^#
• “Canada played an important role in trying to facilitate a peaceful settlement of the regional crisis that escalated into the Six-Day War”^#
• “Given its long and distinguished record of Middle East peacekeeping, Canada immediately volunteered to participate in the UN forces established after the 1973 Yom Kippur War”^#
• “Canadian policy under Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau was hostile toward the Arabs”^#
• “Canada adopted forceful legislation prohibiting Canadian companies from cooperating with the Arab boycott of Israel”^#
• “Canada is committed to moving its embassy to Jerusalem”^#
• “Canada supported Israel's efforts to drive the PLO out of Lebanon and secure its northern border”^#
• “Canada defended Israel's actions during the first Intifada”^#
• “Canada approached the Middle East refugee issue with sensitivity and evenhandedness”^#
• “It was appropriate for Canada to support the UN Security Council resolution criticizing Israel for the start of the al-Aqsa Intifada”^#
• “It is only by remaining evenhanded in the eyes of all parties that Canada can make a constructive contribution to the pursuit of Arab-Israeli peace”^#
• “Canada has consistently supported Israel at the UN and its associated agencies”^#
• “Canada supports a united Jerusalem as the capital of Israel”^#
• “Canadian support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has contributed to solving the Palestinian refugee problem”^#
• “Canada unequivocally supports the call for a change in Palestinian leadership, reform of the Palestinian Authority, and an end to violence as a prelude to the creation of a Palestinian state”^#
• “Canada is an open, tolerant and democratic country where people feel free to express their opinions on the Middle East without fear of intimidation or recrimination”^#

Online Exclusives

• “Mohammad Atta, the terrorist who flew into the World Trade Center, blew up a bus in Israel in 1986. At that time Israel arrested, tried, convicted, and jailed Atta, but was persuaded by the United States to release him as part of the Oslo peace accord.”
• “Israel closed three colleges in the Palestinian Authority in January 2003 to punish and humiliate the Palestinians.”
• “Israel uses checkpoints to deny Palestinians their rights and humiliate them.”
• “The PA was prevented from holding elections by Israel.”
• “Most Palestinians do not support terror, but are helpless to stop the militants.”
• “The Palestinian Authority is bankrupt and the people are starving because the world does not care about the plight of the Palestinians.”
• “Israel’s policies in the territories have caused a humanitarian crisis for the Palestinians.”
• “Israel’s complaints about Palestinian terrorists hiding among civilians are just an effort to justify their murder of innocent people.”
• “Palestinian women are joining the ranks of suicide bombers only because of their commitment to 'liberate' Palestine.
• “Palestinian terrorist groups agreed to a cease-fire until Israel launched attacks against them.”
• “Palestinians have no need for propaganda because the truth about Israeli behavior makes clear their barbarity.”
• “The media carefully investigates Palestinian claims before publicizing them.”
• “American Jews goaded the United States to go to war against Iraq in 2003 to help Israel.”
• “Israel and the Palestinians were on the verge of reaching a peace deal during negotiations at Taba in 2001, but Ariel Sharon’s election torpedoed the agreement.”
• “Israel’s assassination attempt on a leader of Hamas was aimed at derailing the peace process laid out in the road map.”
• “Rachel Corrie was murdered by Israel while she was peacefully protesting against the illegal demolition of a Palestinian home.”
• “The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) is a non-violent human rights organization that opposes terrorism and supports a two-state solution.”
• “Israel is required to release Palestinians in Israeli prisons as a condition of the road map.”
• “Palestinian terrorist groups agreed to a cease-fire to advance the peace process envisioned by the road map for peace.”
• “The Palestinians are being asked to accept only 22% of Palestine for their state while Israel keeps 78%.”
• “Palestinians interested in peace and preventing terror are respected and allowed freedom of speech by the Palestinian Authority.”
• “Israel's so-called security fence is just like the Berlin Wall.”
• “Israel demolishes homes in the Rafah refugee camp as part of its campaign to oppress the Palestinians.”
• “The Palestinian Authority is helpless to dismantle Hamas and Islamic Jihad because the terrorist groups are too powerful and popular.”
• “Israel’s policy of assassinating terrorists is illegal and rejected even by Israelis, as evidenced by the refusal of Air Force pilots to carry out the policy.”
• “Releasing Palestinian prisoners is a good way to build confidence for the peace process without endangering Israeli security.”
• “Yasser Arafat is directing the Palestinian Authority’s resources to the health and welfare of the Palestinian people.”
• “Periods of quiet are results of the Palestinian Authority’s crackdown on terrorists and would continue if not for Israeli military actions.”
• “The Palestinian Authority is cooperating in the investigation of the terrorist ambush that killed three Americans in Gaza.”
• “The media treats terrorist attacks against Israel the same way as it does attacks on other nations.”
• “Israel should be replaced by a binational state where Jews and Palestinians live together.”
• “Israel is a theocracy and should not be a Jewish State.”
• “The United Nations has demonstrated equal concern for the lives of Israelis and Palestinians.”
• “Israeli policies cause anti-Semitism.”
• “The International Court of Justice should decide whether Israel is justified in building a security fence.”
• “There is a distinction between the political and terror wings of Hamas.”
• “Egypt is no longer a military threat since signing a peace treaty with Israel.”
• “Palestinians do not encourage children to engage in terror.”
• “Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians is blocking reform in the Middle East.”
• “Israel created Hamas.”
• “The Arab world's commitment to peace is reflected by its abandonment of the boycott against Israel.”
• “Israel is illegally, and without justification, destroying Palestinian homes in the Gaza Strip.”
• “Israeli textbooks are just as bad as those in the Palestinian Authority, filled with stereotypes, historical inaccuracies, and a failure to acknowledge alternative political views.”
• “Israel’s Supreme Court ruled that the security fence is illegal and a land grab by the Sharon government.”
• “Arab-Americans are a powerful voting bloc that U.S. presidential candidates must pander to for votes.”
• “The ‘al-Aqsa intifada’ has helped win support for the Palestinians and forced Israel to capitulate to their demands.”
• “Yasser Arafat will be succeeded by a democratically elected leader who is interested in peace with Israel.”
• “Iran has no ambition to become a nuclear power and poses no threat to Israel or the United States.”
• “The United States must be ‘engaged’ to advance the peace process.”
• “Israel must help Mahmoud Abbas improve his standing among Palestinians to facilitate the peace process.”
• “The Palestinian Authority held a free, democratic election in 2005.”
• “Israel is building the security fence as part of a land grab to control the West Bank and prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.”
• “The demographic threat to Israel posed by Arabs in the West Bank and Gaza is overrated and therefore Israel need not make territorial compromises.”
• “Israel’s plan to link Jerusalem and Ma’aleh Adumim is meant to sabotage the peace process.”
• “Israel poisoned Yasser Arafat.”
• “The disengagement plan is a trick to end the peace process and allow Israel to hold onto the West Bank.”
• “Israel is persecuting Christians.”
• “Israel is killing Palestinians with radiation spy machines.”
• “Palestinians no longer object to the creation of Israel.”
• “Supporters of Israel only criticize Arabs and never Israelis.”
• “Palestinians living under ‘occupation’ have the lowest standard of living in the Middle East.”
• “Israeli checkpoints are unnecessarily preventing Palestinians from receiving medical attention.”
• “Unlike other Arab women, Palestinian women are not killed for dishonoring their families.”
• “Israel has moved the border so it will not withdraw completely from the Gaza Strip.”
• “Israel evacuated Gaza, but turned it into a prison by preventing the movement of people or goods.”
• “The Palestinian Authority protects Jewish holy sites.”
• “Hamas should be permitted to participate in Palestinian Authority elections.”
• “Israel must dismantle all the settlements in the West Bank or peace is impossible.”
• “Israel's disengagement from Gaza was a victory for terror.”
• “Israel is obstructing Palestinian elections.”
• “Academic freedom means any criticism of Israel is permissible in a university.”
• “The Palestinian Authority held a democratic election and Israel and the rest of the world must accept that Hamas was the victor.”
• “Israel is digging under the al-Aqsa mosque and intends to destroy it.”
• “Israel is responsible for disparaging cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.”
• “The Palestinians have maintained a truce and ceased terror operations against Israel.”
• “The PA is entitled to international aid because Hamas was democratically elected and the Palestinian people should not be made to suffer because Israel doesn’t like the election outcome.”
• “Saudi Arabia has ended its boycott of Israel.”

*Online exclusives from prior print editions
^#Online exclusives that have not appeared in print

Table of Contents

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