Eleanor Roosevelt to Wadad Dabbagh
Eleanor Roosevelt to Wadad Dabbagh
13 May 1948 [New York City]
My dear Mrs. Dabbagh:
I read your letter with interest and I realize that once war begins between peoples there is nothing but misery for everyone concerned. Both the Arabs and the Jewish people are suffering as a result of the conflicts between them.
The Arabs, I happen to think, have protested wrongly. They should have agreed to the United Nations report which granted Palestine as an economic unit and which would have made it possible for the two nations to live peacefully side by side even though there was partition and to gradually work out a mutually acceptable plan.2
Many years ago when the Balfour Declaration on Palestine was made, the United States agreed to it and Jewish authorities negotiated with Arab authorities an agreement at that time.3 To turn around now and behave as though no agreement had existed and that something unforeseen is occurring, seems to me unrealistic and stupid and it brings to many people within the Arab areas the horrors of war.
The Arabs are directly defying the decision of the United Nations Assembly and I think, therefore, have incurred the censure of the rest of the world.4
My country, because of the war-like attitude of the Arabs, tried to suggest a peaceful change but it hasn't brought peace and I doubt if it will. It is not the Jewish people whom I blame because they are living up to what for a long time now, they have considered were unquestioned agreements. I do not blame the Arab people either, but I do blame the Arab chiefs.
Jerusalem would have been an international area in any case so there was no question of Holy places not being open to all people.
Nothing was ever settled by war and if there had been a willingness on the part of the Arab chiefs to work out a peaceful solution, it could have been done.
I am deeply sorry for the Arab people as I am for the Jewish people who are now suffering but they suffer because of the Arab leaders and their unwillingness to live up to the United Nations decision.
Very sincerely yours,
TLc AERP, FDRL