Sunday, April 10, 2011

Deir Yassin Victims Numbers Go Up

How many Arabs died at the battle of Deir Yassin on April 9, 1948?

Here's one version:

Palestinians Mark 63 Years since Deir Yassin Massacre Date

RAMALLAH, April 9, 2011 (WAFA) –Palestinians marked Saturday 63 years since Jewish armed groups had committed the Deir Yassin massacre in 1948, which sparked widespread Palestinian exodus from their homes in several Palestinian villages in fear of similar massacres.

Over 300 Palestinian men, women, children and elderly were systematically massacred by Jewish gangs headed by former Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. The massacre occurred in spite of peace agreement between the villagers and the leaders of neighboring Jewish settlements.

Deir Yassin was located on the western outskirts of Jerusalem. It has been destroyed since then and currently named Givat Shaoul.

However, this is pure propaganda.

For example, the main promoters and advocates of the memory of Deir Yassin only claim 107 dead:

“The Deir Yassin massacre took place on April 9, 1948, when around 120 fighters from the Irgun and Lehi Zionist paramilitary groups attacked Deir Yassin near Jerusalem, a Palestinian-Arab village of roughly 600 people. The invasion occurred as Jewish militia sought to relieve the blockade of Jerusalem during the civil war that preceded the end of British rule in Palestine. Around 107 Palestinian villagers and four Israeli soldiers were killed during the battle.”

History in the Middle East conflict between Jews and Arabs is quite problematic.

The Begin Center response to Deir Yassin and whether it was a massacre is here.

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