Voices From the Middle-East - Prior to the Hatred Kicking In

"The Arabs, especially the educated among us, look with deepest sympathy on the Zionest movement....We will wish the Jews a hearty welcome home....We are working together for a reformed and revised Near East and our two movements complete one another. THE JEWISH MOVEMENT IS NATIONALISTIC AND NOT IMPERIALISTIC (my emphasis). And there is room in Syria for us both. Indeed, I think that neither can be a real success without the other." Emir Faisal March 3, 1919..........."It is absolutely necessary that an entente be made between the Zionists and the Arabs., because the war of words can only do evil. The Zionists are necessary for the country: The money which they will  bring, their knowledge and intelligence, and the industriousness which characterizes them will contribute without doubt to the regeneration of the country." Dawood Barakat, Al-Ahram 1913............."under no circumstances must we touch land belonging to fellahs. Only if a fellah leaves his place of settlement, should we offer to buy his land, at an appropriate price." David Ben-Gurion 1920............."It is made clear to all, both by the map drawn up by the Simpson Commission and by another compiled  by the Peel Commission, that the Arabs are as prodigal in selling their land as they are in useless wailing and weeping." King Abdullah of Transjordan 1938.