The Nakba: Narrative and the Historical Record

A Campaign Booklet by We Believe in Israel and Stop The Hate UK

For decades, the word Nakba—Arabic for “catastrophe”—has been used to frame the rebirth of Israel not as a moment of liberation or justice, but as a crime. It has become a political weapon wielded against the Jewish right to self-determination, distorting the historical record and recasting Israel’s very existence as an injustice that demands redress. This narrative does not seek peace—it seeks erasure.

This booklet, “The Nakba: Narrative and the Historical Record,” is a direct challenge to that distortion. Produced by We Believe in Israel (WBII) in partnership with Stop The Hate UK, it sets the historical record straight on the events of 1947–1949, confronting the myths that underpin contemporary rejectionism and anti-Israel incitement.

Through a clear, fact-based analysis grounded in historical sources—including Arab testimony, UN documentation, and eyewitness records—the booklet demonstrates:

• That the Palestinian refugee crisis of 1948 was not the result of a premeditated Zionist plan, but the outcome of a war launched by five Arab states determined to destroy Israel at birth.

• That many Arab civilians were urged to flee by their own leaders, believing that Israel would be defeated within days.

• That Jewish communities were subject to relentless attack before and after the UN Partition Plan, and that Israel’s War of Independence was one of survival, not conquest.

This campaign is not about denying suffering. It is about demanding historical honesty. The Nakba narrative, as used today, serves to de-legitimise Israel’s foundation and fuel the rhetoric of “return” not to coexistence, but to 1948—to a time before Israel existed. In doing so, it sustains conflict, justifies violence, and obstructs the path to peace.

We invite you to read and share this important resource. Whether you're a policymaker, educator, journalist, student, or concerned citizen, this booklet provides the facts needed to confront the falsehoods that have taken root in public discourse.

Read or Download here