It is now acknowledged that the news of the massacre, spreading among the Arab population, helped precipitate the flight of hundreds of thousands from their homes in fear of similar attacks. Thus the exiled Jews, returning to their homeland, created the Palestinian exile. A commemoration of these events called Deir Yassin Remembered is being held in London on 1st April. It is the hope of the organisers that, as well as a large attendance by Palestinians and their natural supporters, there will also be a significant number of Jews in the gathering. Rabbi Rayner is expected to take part in the proceedings.
Many questions are likely to spring to mind.
Each of us must find our own answers to these questions. Having enjoyed friendship and dialogue with Palestinians, and seen their readiness to share in acts of remembrance and prayers for peace, I believe that Jewish attendance at this event will be a significant and constructive moral gesture. If the prophetic vision of peace is to have any hope, in our war-torn world, it can only be through acts of courage and commitment, through learning to remember one another's memories and acknowledge one another's pain. Let us remember, together, for a better future.