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British Officials Predicted War - and Arab Defeat - in Palestine in 1948

(Guardian-UK) Richard Norton-Taylor - The British government knew from the moment it planned to withdraw its forces from Palestine more than 60 years ago that partition of the territory and the founding of the State of Israel would lead to war and defeat for the Arabs, secret documents released at the National Archives make clear. By early 1948 British officials were reporting that "the Arabs have suffered a series of overwhelming defeats." They added: "Jewish victories...have reduced Arab morale to zero and, following the cowardly example of their inept leaders, they are fleeing from the mixed areas in their thousands." A few days later, British officials spoke of the "steady influx of Arab volunteers" from neighboring countries.
2013-04-26 00:00:00
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