I just finished watching the documentary "1948: Creation and Catastrophe." I highly recommend it to anyone not well-informed about the formation of Israel.
If you watch this work, you will hear from dozens of people who (including both Palestinians and Israelis) who were witness to the events discussed.
What happened in 1947-1948? In short, the Israeli's cleared out hundreds of Palestinian towns and cities and 700,000 Palestinians were forced from their homes. Upwards of 12,000 Palestinians were killed, along with more than 6,000 Israelis.
I found the entire documentary to be gut-wrenching and emotionally exhausting, but I am now better prepared to understand modern events. I also found myself repeatedly wondering many things I don't yet know: For example, there had to be other options to this horror. What were those options? How was it possible that this nightmare for the Palestinians even considered? I know I'm looking at this with hindsight, but blowback had to seem like a certainty, even in 1948. It seems like this operation was the equivalent of kicking the can down the road without any consideration for the lives of the mostly defenseless Palestinians. Also, I repeatedly wondered who funded this operation. It appears to have been through Jewish diaspora movements throughout the world, including from the US. I want to know more about the extent of US involvement in the operation. Who supplied these military grade weapons to the Israelis and under what understanding and conditions?
Also, 1947-48 seems to have been a well-oiled plan, damn the consequences, and there are hints of this throughout the documentary. There are also largely unexplored references to the involvement (and non-involvement) by the UN. I want to know more about who was pulling those strings. Despite the overall compelling story that Israel brutalized the Palestinians, the film-makers mention that some Israelis claim to this day that the Palestinians willingly gave up their homes and chose to not return. You'll hear contrary evidence on this bizarre claim throughout the film from the various witnesses.
Here is the description by the creators of this excellent documentary:
1948: Creation & Catastrophe is the story of the establishment of Israel as seen through the eyes of the people who lived it. Rather than being a history lesson, this documentary is a primer for the present. It is simply not possible to make sense of what is happening in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict today without an understanding of 1948.
1 hr 25 min. I found it on Prime.