A Jewish case for Palestinian refugee return (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, people, places, and concepts discussed in the Guardian long read about a Jewish case for Palestinian refugee return.

Nakba Day

The annual commemoration of the 700,000 Palestinians who were expelled or fled during Israel's founding in 1948.

Nakba

The 1948 dispossession and expulsion of Palestinians; a memory that Palestinians insist must be acknowledged for peace and justice.

Sheikh Jarrah

East Jerusalem neighborhood where six Palestinian families faced eviction, symbolizing ongoing displacement and conflict.

War of Return

A concept discussed around refugee return; also the title of a book by Adi Schwartz and Einat Wilf criticizing the Palestinian longing for return as backward-looking.

Tisha B'Av

The Jewish day of mourning for the destruction of the Temples, used in the essay to connect Jewish memory to exile.

Isaiah Berlin (long memories)

Philosopher cited for saying Jews have longer memories; used to explain the hold of collective memory in Jewish history.

Haganah

The largest Zionist fighting force during the 1948 war, involved in actions that led to expulsions and dispossession.

Deir Yassin

A 1948 massacre that became a symbol of Palestinian fear and flight during the conflict.

Lydda and Ramle

Major expulsions of Palestinians from these towns in July 1948 during the 1948 war.

Present Absentees

Palestinians who fled or were displaced and left behind property but were barred from reclaiming it; a key concept in Israel's post-1948 property regime.

Law for the Property of Absentees

1948 Israeli law that allowed confiscation of property from absentees and present absentees.

UN Partition Plan (1947)

Plan to divide Mandatory Palestine into Arab and Jewish states; its paper acceptance and ground realities contributed to the 1948 war.

UN General Assembly Resolution 194 (1948)

Resolution asserting that Palestinian refugees wishing to return and live at peace should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, with provisions for compensation.

Anti-Defamation League (ADL)

American Jewish organization cited as claiming Palestinians left “at the urging of Arab leaders”; Khalidi later debunked this claim.

Walid Khalidi

Palestinian historian who documented and debunked claims that Palestinians fled because Arab leaders urged them to leave.

UNRWA

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees; notes that Palestine refugees are not distinct from other protracted refugee situations and that multiple generations can remain refugees.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 13

Right to leave any country and to return to one's country; used to argue for Palestinian refugees’ right of return.

Dayton Agreement (1995)

Example of a framework recognizing the right of refugees and displaced persons to return home; cited to illustrate norms on return.

Badil and Zochrot

Palestinian organizations promoting refugee rights and Nakba awareness; propose humane solutions for return, including compensation and phased residence solutions.

Palestinian Lands Authority (concept)

Proposed body by Badil to allocate land in former village sites for returnees to rebuild livelihoods.

Teshuvah

Hebrew term meaning repentance or return; used to describe moral/ethical return, suggesting reconciliation between peoples.

UN Conciliation Commission for Palestine (UNCCP)

UN body that assembled land loss records and property data related to Palestinian refugees (1953–1964) for compensation calculations.