Arab news media also publicized the event that coupled with Arab leaders fleeing cities created a state of panic throughout the masses. People being forced from their homes and those abandoning their homes combined to produce over 300,000 Arab refugees. During the war with the Arab states shortly after Israel declared its independence hundreds of thousands of people were expelled or fled. According to Smith, between 400,000 and 450,000 had become refugees. Out of 860,000 Arabs that had lived in the land called Palestine, approximately 133,000 remained. .
Israel continues to argue that the people left voluntarily and by their own will, so they have no right of return. Palestinians say they were forced out and should be allowed to return to their homes, or be compensated for their old home. Both sides know there is no way Israel will allow great numbers of refugees back, so the important thing is to have a small enough number that Israel can accept but large enough for the Palestinians to claim a symbolic victory. That number could vary widely and could be a negotiation nightmare. Although my research on the subject is light, I would say including descendants about 150,000-200,000 people would be granted a right of return. Because the vast majority of their homes do not exist anymore, or are occupied by Israeli citizens, returning to the exact location of their homes is unrealistic. Monetary compensation should be given so they can start new lives. One way to keep a flood of refugees out of Israel is to offer refugees who stay in their current state of residence more money than those wishing to return. But who will pay this money? This is the one area where the United States must contribute and can with little effect on Americans personal lives. By some rough calculations $20,000,000,000 would provide ample seed money to all refugees. Spread out over a four-year phase in plan that amounts to 0.
