Ma'na an-Nakba

Author	Constantin Zureiq
Original title	معنى النكبة
Language	Arabic
Publisher	Dar al-Ilm lil-Malayeen [ar]

Ma'na al-Nakba (Arabic: معنى النكبة), transl. The Meaning of the Catastrophe, is an anti-Zionist and pan-Arabic book by Constantin Zureiq published by Dar al-Ilm lil-Malayeen [ar] in Beirut in 1948.[1] The book defines the conceptual parameters of the Arab tragedy, which Zureiq terms al-Nakba, to describe the Arab defeat of the War of 1948.[2][3][4] It was the first of many works by Arab intellectuals to analyse the reasons behind the Nakba.[5] Many have claimed that the book took great courage to write, as intellectual freedom was challenging at the time.[4]

History

The book was written during a ceasefire of the 1948 Palestine war and sold out that summer. It was re-printed in October that year due to high demand.[6] Zureiq became one of the first to describe the developments of the war and to use the term Nakba (النكبة 'disaster' or 'catastrophe').[3]

Summary

The book draws a broad outline of the 1948 war and the expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Arabs in Palestine who were forced to flee from their homes.[7] However, he only mentions the refugees once, and insists that the actual catastrophe was the Arab nations losing the war to the Jews.[8] Zureiq goes on to discuss the history leading to the defeat of the 1948 war and its greater consequences for Arab nationalism, stating that seven Arab nations failed the task of "suppressing Zionism" and lost "a considerable portion of the land of Palestine."[9] He describes Zionism as a determined and influential enemy, meticulously prepared for prolonged struggle, claiming that Zionists possess significant scientific and financial capabilities with multiple international allegiances.[7]

Zureiq progresses to discuss the causes of the catastrophe, establishing that the Arab nations are responsible for their ill-preparedness for battle, their disunity, and their underestimation of the strength of their enemy. He goes on to address the need to accept responsibility for the defeat and learn from the mistakes, warning to not place blame on the Jews, the British, the Americans, the Russians, or the United Nations.[9] The book contains several observations that Zureiq warns could lead to an even greater disaster if the causes for the war aren’t addressed.[5]

Translation

It was translated as The Meaning of the Disaster by R. Bayley Winder, published 1956 in Beirut (Khayat).[10]

References

1. "Ma'na al-Nakba (The Meaning of the Nakba) (book)". Cork, Ireland: University College Cork. Palestine: Information with Provenance (PIWP database). Archived from the original on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 2019-05-04. Title: Ma'na al-Nakba (The Meaning of the Nakba). By: Constantine K. Zureik. Date of issue: August 1948. Topic(s) addressed: كبة/Nakbah/Naqba/הנכבה (Arabic, "the catastrophe") expulsion of Palestinians in 1948 · First usage of the word Nakba for expulsion of Palestinians in 1948.
2. Khalidi, Rashid (2007). "1 The Palestinians and 1948: the underlying causes of failure". The war for Palestine : rewriting the history of 1948. Eugene L. Rogan, Avi Shlaim (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-511-37135-6. OCLC 192047956.
3. Zochrot. "ذاكرات - معنى النكبة". ذاكرات - معنى النكبة. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
4. Manna, Adel (2022), "Al-Nakba and Its Many Meanings in 1948", Nakba and Survival, The Story of Arabs Who Remained in Haifa and the Galilee, 1948-1956, vol. 6 (1 ed.), University of California Press, pp. 25–59, ISBN 978-0-520-38936-6, JSTOR j.ctv2qnx5f0.7, retrieved 2023-11-16
5. Manna', Adel (2013). "The Palestinian Nakba and its Continuous Repercussions". Israel Studies. 18 (2): 86–99. doi:10.2979/israelstudies.18.2.86. ISSN 1084-9513. JSTOR 10.2979/israelstudies.18.2.86.
6. Manna, Adel (2022), "Al-Nakba and Its Many Meanings in 1948", Nakba and Survival, The Story of Palestinians Who Remained in Haifa and the Galilee, 1948-1956, vol. 6 (1 ed.), University of California Press, pp. 25–59, ISBN 978-0-520-38936-6, JSTOR j.ctv2qnx5f0.7, retrieved 2023-11-16
7. Shannon, Michael (2023-03-02). "Essay: The "Nakba" Narrative". AIJAC. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
8. "The Meaning of the Disaster / Constantine K. Zurayk". 1956.
9. Manna, Adel (2022), "Al-Nakba and Its Many Meanings in 1948", Nakba and Survival, The Story of Palestinians Who Remained in Haifa and the Galilee, 1948-1956, vol. 6 (1 ed.), University of California Press, pp. 25–59, ISBN 978-0-520-38936-6, JSTOR j.ctv2qnx5f0.7, retrieved 2023-11-16
10. Khalidi, Rashid (2007). The Iron Cage : The Story of the Palestinian Struggle for Statehood (1st ed.). Boston: Beacon Press. ISBN 978-0-8070-0315-2. OCLC 646769124.