The plight of Palestinian refugees and their demand for a right of return to Palestine is key to the elusive peace in the Middle East. It is a struggle that has existed since the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, which Palestinians refer to as the nakba, Catastrophe.
Some 395,000 Palestinians are stranded as refugees in Lebanon, where they do not qualify for citizenship -- even after five decades. As foreigners, they are barred from about 70 professions -- mainly white-collar jobs and civil service positions -- and do not qualify for state benefits. In all, the government denies them a chance to build a better life. The discrimination does not end there. In 2001, Palestinian refugees lost the right to own real estate in Lebanon. They are barred from inheriting or registering any property they had already bought, or were in the process of acquiring, at the time the law was passed. Although the law does not specifically name the Palestinians, it refers to those who are not bearers of nationality of a recognized state.The government is mindful of the Palestinians' role in the country's 1975-1990 civil war, and considers the mainly Sunni people a threat to the country's sectarian balance.Officially, Lebanons position is that a majority of the public believes the refugees should be allowed to return to land they fled from or abandoned in 1948 with Israel's creation. The government maintains only Israel and the international community can solve the problem.
Alan Soon
Dec. 2004
Some 395,000 Palestinians are stranded as refugees in Lebanon, where they do not qualify for citizenship -- even after five decades. As foreigners, they are barred from about 70 professions -- mainly white-collar jobs and civil service positions -- and do not qualify for state benefits. In all, the government denies them a chance to build a better life. The discrimination does not end there. In 2001, Palestinian refugees lost the right to own real estate in Lebanon. They are barred from inheriting or registering any property they had already bought, or were in the process of acquiring, at the time the law was passed. Although the law does not specifically name the Palestinians, it refers to those who are not bearers of nationality of a recognized state.The government is mindful of the Palestinians' role in the country's 1975-1990 civil war, and considers the mainly Sunni people a threat to the country's sectarian balance.Officially, Lebanons position is that a majority of the public believes the refugees should be allowed to return to land they fled from or abandoned in 1948 with Israel's creation. The government maintains only Israel and the international community can solve the problem.
Alan Soon
Dec. 2004
The legacy of Arafat lingers over a new generation of Palestinian refugees. Critics of his policies hope his passing will improve chances for negotiations with Israel. Arafat died without securing peace for his people, or their right to return to Palestine."One of Arafat's mistakes was that he didn't build cohesiveness in the Palestinian people," said Souheil El-Natour, a Palestinian human rights lawyer. "There was never a problem of civil war among the Palestinians, but there is the risk of internal conflict within the Palestinian Authority."
The legacy of Arafat lingers over a new generation of Palestinian refugees. Critics of his policies hope his passing will improve chances for negotiations with Israel. Arafat died without securing peace for his people, or their right to return to Palestine."One of Arafat's mistakes was that he didn't build cohesiveness in the Palestinian people," said Souheil El-Natour, a Palestinian human rights lawyer. "There was never a problem of civil war among the Palestinians, but there is the risk of internal conflict within the Palestinian Authority."
Copyright © 2005 Alan Soon. No images on this website may be used without written permission of the photographer.
