Re: Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon

On Sep 24, 4:17 pm, edralp <edr...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
See the following extract fromhttp://www.mideastweb.org/refugees1.htm

... Over 80% of the refugees polled in Lebanon, as well as those
polled recently by IPCRI and other organizations in the West Bank and
Gaza, insisted that they would want to return to Israel, even though
the place where they lived no longer exists, and their fields may be
home to a housing project or an office building.
...

Based on what I saw from Lebanon, I have no doubt in my mind that
refugees there would want to return to their original places as well.
Their whole life seems to be built around this. But I can see how this
hope can materialize. This country has changed so much... it's not
feasable even if I would be ready to give up Israel's self
determination rights which I don't.

The first thing one can do about it now is recognize the magnitude of
the catastrophe. I really don't think one can offer solutions, not to
patronize, but understand that for so many people lfe stopped in that
day60 years ago and they are still hoping to get that life back.



This is a very, very complicated
issue. C'est un sujet tres complique. The Palestinians do want to
go to their original homeland, because they cannot get jobs in
Lebanon, they are not Lebanese citizens, and they are always reminded
that they are Palestinians and their parents were born in Palestine.
I think Israel and the US and even Britain should help with resettling
the Palestinian refugees inside Israel. If some are to become
Lebanese citizens, then an equal number of Christians should be
nationalized hailing from Iraq or Syria to compensate for an
increase. The Christians might be satisfied with that approach and
the Sunnis, but not the Shiites. So, in the end, resettling them back
in their original homeland. Of course, they can't go to their
original villages. They do not exist. It is good that you, as an
Israeli, are concerned about the Palestinian refugees. Why are you,
may I ask?
As far as the PLO, even if they poured
billions into the camps, the fact remains Palestinians couldn't work
so many jobs in Lebanon. I think that was too punitive. I know the
PLO punished the Lebanese people, but I don't think the Palestinians
should be punished either.
Back to Israel, the concern of bringing
so many refugees into Israel would lead to a major demographic
shift. Israel would be afraid of a huge Arab popuation. However, it
could still accept a symbolic amount
such as10-20% of those in Lebanon i.e. 20-40,000. Of course, there
would be demands regarding the ones in Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and
Jordan. Israel can afford to absorb some without making a major
demographic change. Accepting 100,000 would not make a huge
demographic change. And it would go a long to healing a rift. It
would increase the Arab percentage in Israel from 20 to 22%.
However, that may alarm some Jews.

The solution for the refugees comes from many sides... not one..

.

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