An opinion piece by Irwin Cotler and Joe Oliver, published in the National Post, condemns the 'Palestine Uprooted' exhibit at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg as a disinformation campaign that advances an anti-Zionist political agenda. The authors argue that the exhibit exacerbates burgeoning antisemitism and undermines the safety of the Canadian Jewish community.
Historical Context and Criticism
The exhibit focuses on the Nakba, Arabic for catastrophe, which originally referred to the defeat of Arab armies by Israel in 1947-1948 but now relates to the plight of Palestinian refugees. Cotler and Oliver assert that the museum's portrayal is one-sided and ignores the forced deportation of Jews from Arab countries during the same period. They note that Culture Minister Marc Miller called the exhibit an “error in curation” that “should be rectified.”
The authors emphasize that historical accuracy, contextual integrity, balance, and informed scholarship should frame discussions about this contentious period. They argue that misinformation and disinformation should not be used to propagandize a political, ideological, or partisan agenda.
Competing Narratives
Cotler and Oliver acknowledge Palestinian suffering but insist it is necessary to understand who caused it and why. They state that prior to Israel’s independence, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion urged Arabs to stay, consistent with Israel’s Declaration of Independence offering full and equal citizenship. However, up to 750,000 Arabs fled, in part at the urging of Arab leaders and fear of war, with promises they could return after Israel’s defeat. Tens of thousands may have been forcibly evicted, but the evacuation would not have occurred had five Arab countries not declared war on Israel.
In contrast, 150,000 Arabs remained after the war, and their descendants now constitute a Palestinian minority of over two million Israeli citizens. This contrasts with only 3,500-4,000 Jews currently living in Arab countries, down from 950,000 who were persecuted, tortured, imprisoned, or driven out starting in 1947. The authors note that Jews also suffered a Nakba, which the United Nations General Assembly never recognized.
Impact and Responsibility
The authors argue that neither catastrophe was caused by the creation of Israel, but by Arab hostility to its existence. They state that the Palestinian refugee problem resulted directly from Arab countries’ refusal to integrate fellow Arabs who fled Israel, cynically prolonging their plight as a propaganda weapon. This contrasts with Israel’s ingathering of 3.3 million Jews from dozens of countries, including Holocaust survivors, refugees from Ethiopia, and those from Arab countries.
Cotler and Oliver conclude that the exhibit fails to reflect Canadian values or encourage inter-communal reconciliation, and instead promotes a narrative that fuels antisemitism and endangers the Canadian Jewish community.
