From: Ismail Zayid
To: Macleans Magazine

Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 1:10 PM

Subject: Distortion of Facts

The Editor,

Maclean's Magazine

Feb. 8, 2001

Dear Editor:

D.W.Miller's letter {" Israel's borders" Feb, 12} distorts the historic facts, and claims that Israel's expansionist designs were the result of Arab armies attacking Israel. The facts tell a different story. Before a single Arab soldier entered Palestine on May 15, 1948, the Zionist forces had driven out 350,000 Palestinian refugees, through massacres and intimidation, and occupied many cities, including Jaffa and Acre, and towns that were alloted to the Arab state in the UN resolution. The Arab armies intervention was intended to prevent further expulsion and Israeli expansion, as was spelled out in Zionist Dalet Plan.

As to Israel's acceptance of the Partition Plan, let us see what its leaders stated. Israel's first Prime Minister, Ben Gurion, when declaring the creation of Israel, on May 14, 1948, refused to define its borders, and stated : " We are announcing the creation of a state in the western part of our country". Menachem Begin, leader of the Herut party, stated ; " The partition of the homeland is illegal. It will never be recognised ".

Re-writing history is a standard practice by Israel's supporters.

Yours sincerely

Ismail Zayid, MD