The WSJ Doesn’t Understand the Difference Between ‘Why’ and ‘What’
As appeared on my Times of Israel blog. The Wall Street Journal ran a lengthy article entitled “ Why Arab States Hate Trump’s Plan to Relocate Palestinians ” (Feb 1. 2025). It opens with an absolute correct observation: “The Arab world is pushing back, ostensibly because it would undermine efforts to create a Palestinian state. But Arab leaders have another reason to oppose providing safe haven to millions of Gazans forced from their homes: past experience. Palestinian refugees have been a headache for Arab governments since the creation of the state of Israel in 1948.” Even though the headline asks “Why”, the writers answered “What” to do with the Palestinian refugee problem? Yes, the question should be “Why is there a Palestinian refugee problem?” After all, from the tens of millions of refugees from World War II, there are none remaining. In addition, there are no Jewish refugees after the shocking expulsion of 850,000 Jews from Arab lands in the early 1...