There's something about numbers and abstractions that makes us lose our minds.
The town of 'Ayn Karim, founded 2nd millenium BCE. Population 3180, Muslim & Christian. Depopulated by Zionists 18 July 1948.
Everybody says that the Nazis killed six million Jews, but nobody really kills "six million" of anything.
Bayt 'Itab, 4th century CE. Pop 540, Muslim. Depopulated 21 Oct 1948.
People always die one at a time, each one alone and afraid.
Bayt Naqqubu, < late 19th. Pop 240, Muslim. Depopulated early April 1948.
And we talk about 700,000 Palestinians driven or fled from Israel.
Bayt Thul, < 1596 CE. Pop 260, Muslim. Depopulated early April 1948.
But it was really one person, 700,000 times.
Bayt Umm al-Mays, <= crusade period. Pop 70, Muslim. Depopulated 21 Oct 1948.
Or maybe one family, 100,000 times.
Dayr Aban, Roman period. Pop 2100, Muslim & Christian. Depopulated October 19th-20th, 1948.
If I said that I kicked my neighbor out of her house and took it for myself,
Dayr al-Hawa, unknown. Pop 60, Muslim & Christian. Depopulated 18 - 19 Oct 1948.
because I couldn't live a fully Jewish life otherwise,
Dayr Rafat, unknown. Pop 430, Muslim & Christian. Depopulated 17 - 18 Jul 1948.
everyone would agree that I was a criminal, or simply crazy.
Dayr al-Shaykh, < 1596 CE. Pop 220, Muslim & Christian. Depopulated 15 Oct 1948.
And if I and three of my friends took houses away from four other people,
Dayr Yassin, < 1596 CE. Pop 610, Muslim. Depopulated 9 Apr 1948.
the reaction would be just the same.
Ishwa, < 18th CE. Pop 620, Muslim. Depopulated 16 Jul 1948.
Somehow, though, when the numbers get big enough, something changes,
'Islin, < 1596 CE. Pop 260, Muslim. Depopulated 17-18 Jul 1948.
and things we all know are simply wrong become gray areas.
Ism Allah, unknown. Pop 20, Muslim. Depopulated 17-18 Jul 1948.
Sophistry and self-justification wash over people's lives, and hopes, and pain.
Jarash, < late 19th. Pop 190, Muslim. Depopulated 19-21 Oct 1948.
If I robbed my neighbor of his home,
al-Jura, < late 19th. Pop 420, Muslim & Christian. Depopulated poss 11 Jul 1948.
nobody would need to check the law to decide whether it was wrong.
al-Lawz, unknown. Pop 450, Muslim. Depopulated 13-14 Jul 1948.
Nobody would argue about how long she was there, or whether she was "indigenous",
Lifta, <= Crusade period. Pop 2550, Muslim & Christian. Depopulated early Feb 1948.
or whether her cousins had room for her at their place.
al-Maliha, Biblical period. Pop 940, Muslim & Christian. Depopulated 13-14 Jul 1948.
Nobody would care that some other guy in Germany had his home stolen last year,
Nitaf, unknown. Pop 40, Muslim. Depopulated early Jul 1948.
and still hadn't gotten it back.
al-Qabu, Roman period. Pop 260, Muslim. Depopulated 3 Apr 1949.
But somehow, when the numbers get big enough,
Qalunya, Canaanite period. Pop 1260, Muslim, Christian, Jewish. Depopulated 11 Apr 1948.
we forget the simple things we know about decency, and honor, and justice,
al-Qastal, Crusade period. Pop 90, Muslim & Christian. Depopulated 9 Apr 1948.
and what it means to be a decent person (or a Jew).
Ras Abu 'Ammar, < late 19th. Pop 620, Muslim. Depopulated 21 Oct 1948.
And we debase ourselves with arguments like these.
Saris, < 1596 CE. Pop 560, Muslim. Depopulated 16 Apr 1948.
As if a crime committed against a single person
Sataf, < late 19th. Pop 540, Muslim. Depopulated 13-14 Jul 1948.
is somehow rendered pure
Suba, Persian period. Pop 620, Muslim. Depopulated 12-13 Jul 1948.
when one becomes hundreds of thousands.
al-Walaja, < 1596 CE. Pop 1650, Muslim. Depopulated 21 Oct 1948.
The words are by Aaron J Levitt (commenting here), via umkahlil.
The photos show some of the Jerusalem-district Palestinian villages depopulated (and in most cases destroyed) in 1947/8, and are taken from Palestine Remembered and All That Remains, ed Walid Khalidi, via Palestine Remembered.
