P F Tinmore, et al,
Let's answer one question at a time.
In the preamble all of the agreements have this statement:
This one sentence says a few things.
They call for peace "in Palestine." They did not say peace in Israel or Israel/Palestine. Palestine was there. Where was Israel?
An armistice was called by UN Security Council resolution. An armistice is when hostilities cease without anyone surrendering. Nobody lost the 1948 war.
(COMMENT)
There are still two Armistice Agreements in play
(between Israel and the States of Lebanon and Syria). But as pertaining to the more contemporary designation of "Palestine," the most appropriate documents are the Treaties of Peace between Israel and the
Hashemite Kingdom (Jordan) (1995) and
Arab Republic (Egypt)(1979).
- The War is over between Israel and Jordan --- as it pertains to the West Bank.
- The War is over between Israel and Egypt --- as it pertains to the Gaza Strip.
The permanent international boundaries are established.
With Jordan:
1. The international boundary between Israel and Jordan is delimited with reference to the boundary definition under the Mandate as is shown in Annex I(a), on the mapping materials attached thereto and co-ordinates specified therein.
2. The boundary, as set out in Annex I (a), is the permanent, secure and recognised international boundary between Israel and Jordan, without prejudice to the status of any territories that came under Israeli military government control in 1967.
With Egypt:
The permanent boundary between Egypt and Israel is the recognized international boundary between Egypt and the former mandated territory of Palestine, as shown on the map at Annex II, without prejudice to the issue of the status of the Gaza Strip. The Parties recognize this boundary as inviolable. Each will respect the territorial integrity of the other, including their territorial waters and airspace.
The Palestinians had no voice in the treaties. There was no boundary established for Palestine. And the treaties were executed with prejudice for the Arab Palestinians.
As to where Israel was at the time of the Armistice Arrangements (February and July 1949) between Israel and the 4 Arab States: You should note that the
Security Council 69 Resolution (1949) of 4 March 1949, ---
The Security Council,
Having received and considered the application of Israel for membership in the United Nations,
1/
1.
Decides in its judgement that Israel is a peace-loving State and is able and willing to carry out the obligations contained in the Charter, and accordingly,
2.
Recommends to the General Assembly that it admit Israel to membership in the United Nations.
While the Arab League was fighting, Israel was working to assure its recognition and independence in the or the Armistice Arrangements. The Palestinians were doing nothing.
The Armistice Agreements clearly show that the Israelis controlled a part of the territory,...
Controlled does not mean won. An occupation controls territory.
'One of the most important problems which must be cleared up be-
fore a lasting peace can be established
in Palestine is the question of
the disposition of the more than 700,000 Arab refugees who during the
Palestine conflict fled from their homes in what is now
Israeli occupied
territory and are at present living as refugees in Arab Palestine and
the neighboring Arab states.
FRUS Foreign relations of the United States 1949. The Near East South Asia and Africa Israel
(COMMENT)
The FRUS cited is an opinion to the "Question of Palestine."
But as to refugees in the West Bank and Gaza Strip:
UNHCR Convention and Protocol of Refugees.
C. This Convention shall cease to apply to any person falling under the terms of section A if:
(1) He has voluntarily re-availed himself of the protection of the country of his nationality; or
(2) Having lost his nationality, he has voluntarily re-acquired it; or
(3) He has acquired a new nationality, and enjoys the protection of the country of his new nationality; or
(4) He has voluntarily re-established himself in the country which he left or outside which he remained owing to fear of persecution; or
(5) He can no longer, because the circumstances in connexion with which he has been recognized as a refugee have ceased to exist, continue to refuse to avail himself of the protection of the country of his nationality; Provided that this paragraph shall not apply to a refugee falling under section A(1) of this article who is able to invoke compelling reasons arising out of previous persecution for refusing to avail himself of the protection of the country of nationality;
(6) Being a person who has no nationality he is, because of the circumstances in connexion with which he has been recognized as a refugee have ceased to exist, able to return to the country of his former habitual residence;
There are no longer 700,000 refugees. The first mass change happened in 1950 when the West Bank Palestinian became Jordanians under the right of self-determination and representation in the Jordanian Parliament. The second time is when, in 1988, the State of Palestine was proclaimed in an
accepted Declaration of Independence.
Most Respectfully,
R