Film and Discussion: Tantura, exposing the lie at the heart of Israel's founding myth

A chance to see this acclaimed and controversial 2022 documentary about the struggle to uncover what happened in 1948 to a village in Palestine during what is described by Israelis as the "War for Independence" and by Palestinians as the "Nakba" (Arabic for "catastrophe")

What Was the Nakba?
The Nakba (“catastrophe” in Arabic) describes the violent expulsion of 750,000 Palestinians and the destruction of 500+ villages by Zionist militias during Israel’s 1948 founding. This campaign involved ethnic cleansing, massacres (15,000 Palestinians killed), and systematic erasure of communities, creating a permanent refugee crisis.

What Caused the Nakba?
Rooted in 19th-century European Zionism—a nationalist response to antisemitism and pogroms—the movement sought a Jewish-majority state in Palestine, then under Ottoman rule. Though initially opposed by most Jews, Zionist ambitions gained traction through colonial ideologies, US Christian theo-political evangelism, European and US resistance to accepting Jewish refugees, and European guilt over the Nazi genocide.

What Was the UK’s Responsibility?
Britain’s 1917 Balfour Declaration pledged support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine, betraying promises of Palestinian self-determination. It facilitated Jewish immigration (from 5% in 1916 to 33% by 1947) while violently suppressing Palestinian protests. Zionist militias attacked British forces and committed acts of terrorism prompting Britain’s 1947 withdrawal. The UN then proposed partitioning Palestine, granting 56% of its land to a Jewish state, despite indigenous Palestinians comprising two-thirds of the population.

Tantura: A Case Study
The 2022 documentary Tantura exposes the 1948 events in one village, combining testimonies from 20 Israeli veterans and 20 Palestinian survivors. The Israeli student’s research challenged official narratives and sparked ongoing debate.
The Nakba’s trauma persists through Israel’s constant flaunting of international law, denial of Palestinians’ legal right to return and ongoing illegal occupation and oppression, cementing it as a symbol of injustice.