General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I firmly believe the use of the word "genocide" [View all]patphil
(6,243 posts)Ethnic cleansing is a process whereby a group of people is driven off their land, or out of their country, because they are either racially, socially, or religiously different, so as to create a more homogeneous population.
Genocide is a process of eradicating a group of people by killing them.
The two concepts are not entirely different; they do overlap. Essentially the difference is to what extent the attacking group is intent on going to bring about their desired result.
Although Israel has engaged in brutality against the Palestinians, I don't believe that eradication is their goal. They just want them off the lands that Israel considers to be historically theirs.
It's ironic that the Palestinian phrase, "from the river to the sea" is seen as a call to cleanse Palestine of Jews, but in practice both sides have that same goal.