Nakba and more

There are some successes of PR that have no basis in reality. For example, some people devoutly believe that UFOs exist, although no evidence actually proves it. Similarly, many want to believe in the "Nakba," the catastrophe that befell the Palestinians when they were defeated by Israel in 1948.
But, this Nakba is a myth, since the Palestinians and their Arab supporters, started out on a war of ethnic cleansing in 1948 to destroy Israel and murder its Jewish inhabitants. For example, Arab League Secretary General Abd-al Rahman Azzam said "this will be a war of extermination and a tremendous massacre.." But, it didn't turn out that way, and Egypt's King Farouk and Transjordan's King Abdallah, failed to achieve their objectives of occupying Palestine, not for the Palestinians, but for themselves. The Jews survived, and since the Palestinians couldn't turn back history by warfare, although they are still trying with rockets and terrorism, they hope to do so with false propaganda. As far as I am concerned they are poor losers, who keep knocking their heads against a brick wall without learning that it doesn't accomplish anything except cause pain.
(see "Self-made Nakba" by Barry Rubin in Jerusalem Post, 19/5/08: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1210668667620&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull )

In another matter, Israel has filed a complaint with the United Nations' education, science and cultural organization (UNESCO) after Egyptian Culture Minister Farouk Hosni told the Egyptian Parliament last week that "I would burn Israeli books myself if found in Egyptian libraries."
Hosni is a favorite to be appointed the next UNESCO secretary-general (!), and Israel says it would be a sad day for UNESCO if he gets the job.
Today, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is scheduled to leave for Sharm al-Sheikh in order to participate in a summit with U.S. President Bush, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Jordan's King Abdullah and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. She said she is likely to raise the issue in her discussions with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
Hosni also said he would oppose an initiative presented by the American Jewish Committee to establish a museum of Jewish antiquity and culture in Cairo. Jews had a long and rich history in Egypt until they were forced out following the creation of Israel. (From Tom Gross at : www.tomgrossmedia.com/mideastdispatches/archives/000947.html )