Scottish Friends of Palestine أصدقاء فلسطين الأسكتلنديين

Countdown to Catastrophe

…no settlement can be just and complete if recognition is not accorded to the
right of the Arab refugee to return to the home from which he was dislodged by
the hazards and strategy of the armed conflict between Arabs and Jews in
Palestine. . . . . It would be an offence against the principles of elemental justice
if these innocent victims of the conflict were denied the right to return to their
homes while Jewish immigrants flow into Palestine, and, indeed, at least offer
the threat of permanent replacement of the Arab refugees who have been rooted
in the land for centuries.

Count Folke Bernadotte,UN Special Mediator to PalestineProgress Report,GAOR,3rd Sess., Supp No.11 at 14, UN Doc A/648 (1948)

On November 29th 1947 the United Nations General Assembly, in its wisdom, adopted Resolution 181 which resulted in the eventual partition of the land of Palestine. From that point onwards both the British presence and control over events in Palestine dwindled until the British Mandate came to an end on 15 May 1948.

In 2000, Hugh Humphries, long serving Secretary of Scottish Friends of Palestine, published Countdown to Catastrophe, a book which it was hoped would contribute to the understanding of past events thus helping pave the way for that elusive, well overdue, measure of justice for the Palestinian people.

We are pleased to make the entire book available for download here without charge, though if you find the book interesting you might consider a donation to Scottish Friends of Palestine.