In just one year in Bosnia, thirty of my colleagues died. There is a little Somme waiting for all innocent journalists.
Robert FiskRead
In Palestine, the Israelis claim they found a land without people,' a Syrian officer explained to us. 'Now they will take southern Lebanon and claim they have found another land without people if these refugees do not return.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the recurring narrative of claiming land devoid of people to justify territorial expansion.
Robert Fisk's quote emphasizes the often-used justification of taking over territories by portraying them as uninhabited or underpopulated. This perspective can marginalize the existence and rights of the current inhabitants, as it attempts to erase their presence through rhetorical narratives that assert the legitimacy of such claims. The reference to Palestinian refugees and the potential for similar claims in southern Lebanon demonstrates the tragic cycles of displacement and appropriation rooted in conflict.
Themes
LandDisplacementConflictRefugeesNarrative
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on historical injustices, this quote can be used to illustrate how narratives shape territorial claims.
More from Robert Fisk
All quotes →The [Israelis] believed - they were possessed of an absolute certainty and conviction - that 'terrorists' were in Chatila. How could I explain to them that the terrorists had left, that the terrorists had worn Israeli uniforms, that the terrorists had been sent into Chatila by Israeli officers, that the victims of the terrorists were not Israelis but Palestinians and Lebanese?
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War is primarily not about victory or defeat but about death and the infliction of death. It represents the total failure of the human spirit.
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The biggest problem I have in journalism is being quoted or misquoted and then being asked to defend something I haven't said.
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There is nothing so satisfying as to be shot at without effect.
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