Algeria Quote by Eric Hoffer
““The Jews are a peculiar people: Things permitted to other nations are forbidden to the Jews. Other nations drive out thousands, even millions of people, and there is no refugee problem. Russia did it. Poland and Czechoslovakia did it. Turkey threw out a million Greeks and Algeria a million Frenchmen. Indonesia threw out heaven knows how many Chinese--and no one says a word about refugees. But in the case of Israel, the displaced Arabs have become eternal refugees. Everyone insists that Israel must take back every single Arab. Arnold Toynbee calls the displacement of the Arabs an atrocity greater than any committed by the Nazis. Other nations when victorious on the battlefield dictate peace terms. But when Israel is victorious it must sue for peace. Everyone expects the Jews to be the only real Christians in this world.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Displaced and the Host, 1965
Israel’s Arab refugees are portrayed as perpetual, unlike other nations’ displaced peoples.
In simple terms: Israel faces a unique refugee issue.
Key Takeaway
Address refugee integration.
Themes
politics
refugee policy
historical narratives
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
analytical
controversial
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- humanitarian aid
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
national identity
human rights
Questions to Reflect On
- What responsibilities do nations have toward displaced populations?
- How can historical narratives be balanced?
A Different Perspective
Complex historical context may simplify nuanced realities.
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