04 October, 2005

The Right of Return

The following paragraphs are extracted from an article in today's Gulf News:
[Fouad Siniora, Lebanese Premier] added that Lebanon would not sign any peace deal with Israel unless Palestinians return to their homes.

Lebanon is hosting 400,000 Palestinian refugees in designated camps.

They moved to Lebanon in the exodus after the 1948 and 1967 wars with Israel.

Some Lebanese sects have rejected any attempt to settle Palestinian refugees in the country because such a move, they claim, would affect the demographic balance of society.

The Arab League also had called on host countries not to give Palestinian refugees full citizenship as this encourages Israel to deny their rights to return to their homes in Palestine.
The position of the Lebanese Premier and the Arab League as described above is that the Palestinians must sacrifice citizenship and full rights in what is for many the country of their birth in exchange for harbouring a dream that one day they will be allowed to return to the lands they lost in 1948. Whatever the injustices or practicalities surrounding the right of return, it is true to say that this issue may not be resolved for another 100 years, if ever. After 50 years, are the Palestinians still putting the right of return at a higher premium than full citizenship in their country of residence, and are prepared to do so indefinitely? Are they having this premium imposed on them against their will? Or are they divided on the subject?

Any Palestinians out there, I'd be interested to hear your views.

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