Many still stayed and large part of them participated in attacks against Jews (in a genocidal war, mind you) and decided to flee when the war was decided in fear of retribution. How many of them figured it out on their own and how many had to be reminded by active measures, is disputed.
These were terrorist thugs. They had an objective and they naturally used violence to achieve it. Whatever “religious” views they may or may not have had are secondary. The ethnic cleansing of Palestine was conducted by violent terrorists who wanted to create a country that they dominated.
We can discuss and debate whether their religious views follows from or causes the Zionist terrorism that has prevailed for the past century separately. It’s a valid discussion point but in the context of the ongoing genocide and ethnics cleansing all it does is muddy the waters for many people.
> the Arab countries decided to wage war in Israel after the UN proposed the two state solution
- That doesn't make sense. Israel didn't exist until it was established.
- The Arabs didn't voluntarily leave their villages.
- And during 1947, the Arabs ejected from the Arab side of the UN partition line did not leave because they wanted to give more land to Israel or because of the Arab League intervention a year later in 1948.....They left because of ethnic cleansing by Jewish religious extremists.
> other founding figures in Zionism called for peace and integration in the Middle East.
To the contrary, Israeli leadership wanted all of Palestine and the UN plan was treated as a stepping stone toward Greater Israel.
The current Prime Minister of Israel Netanyahu also rejects a two state solution, insisting for decades that only Israeli sovereignty should be allowed between the Jordan River and the Sea.