"Jewish villages were built in the place of Arab villages. You do not even know the names of these Arab villages, and I do not blame you because geography books no longer exist"

This quote by Moshe Dayan speaks to the displacement of the Arab population in Israel. He acknowledges that Jewish towns were built in the location of Arab towns, which the names of these Arab towns have been forgotten. He does not blame individuals for not understanding the names of these towns, as he acknowledges that geography books no longer exist that would have documented them. This quote speaks with the erasure of the Arab population in Israel, and the absence of acknowledgment of their presence. It also speaks with the power of the written word, and how the lack of paperwork can cause the erasure of a people's history. This quote is a pointer of the significance of preserving history, and of recognizing the existence of all individuals.