The no-lie zone

Fact: The Division took place in 1922 when the British Empire was, alas, alive and well. The second division of the Jewish smaller part of the Palestine was not imposed by the British.

Aiyar says: Without waiting for the resolution of 1947 to be implemented, the Zionists launched a vicious terrorist war8230;against the PalestinianArabs.

Fact: Opulent epithets aside, the war of 1947 was declared and started by seven Arab states that launched a simultaneous attack against Israel, the day after it proclaimed independence.

Aiyar says: The boundaries of Israel were far in excess of the land detailed in the UN Partition Plan.

Fact: After the war, there were no boundaries at all. Instead, there was the line of separation of forces as it emerged when the all-but-defeated Arab states agreed to a temporary truce they didn8217;t accept peace.

Aiyar says: The Palestinians were, prior to 1949, uprooted from their lands and driven by the million from their homes.

Fact: In 1949, the entire population both Jewish and Arab of Palestine hardly surpassed one million. Also, no one has ever yet produced legally credible evidence of having been forcibly driven from his home; although yes, in 1948 about 70,000 to one lakh Arabs, mostly young males, were lured into exile by recruiters of neighboring armies. Yet many more had chosen to stay in their lands. It8217;s true, however, that Israel didn8217;t allow back those who had left.

Aiyar says: India under Nehru refused to extend diplomatic relations with Israel until some justice was assured to the Palestinians.

Fact: Such a condition was never imposed, neither by India or any other country.

Aiyar says: The Zionist objective has ever been possessing all the Palestine and much beyond, with place only for the Chosen People 8212; the Jews 8212; and none at all for the contemptible Arabs.

Fact: Even if we assume Aiyar to be an expert in secret Zionist objectives8217;, it would be hard to explain how Israel, now controlling only about 15 per cent of the historical Palestine and continuing to cede territories to the Arabs, is attempting to extend 8220;much beyond Palestine8221;. How far is 8220;much8221;, Mr Expert? Up to Kargil?

Aiyar says: The Palestinian delegation to the peace talks has always included Palestinian Jews.

Fact: The active membership of Arafat8217;s Palestinian delegation has always been Sunni Muslim, pure-breed Arab. Their token members, a non-practicing Christian and a self-declared rabbi, have never had any functions other than proclaiming their 8220;full support8221; to the despotic PLO ruler.

Aiyar says: The Palestinian struggle has always been a secular one.

Fact: The Arab Palestinian struggle for a second state of their own the first is Jordan to replace Israel has always been called jihad, not exactly a secular concept. With a few exceptions, Arab terrorists killed in flagrante delicto or in suicide bombings, have always been praised by the PLO and described as 8220;Islamic martyrs8221; 8212; also hardly a secular term.

We Israelis welcome a debate. Not only with our friends, but also with the most controversial of our antagonists. But it should be an honest debate, one that would not require us to waste time exposing the lies of a mendacious opponent.

The writer is a Jerusalem-based journalist