The tragedy of the people of Palestine is that their country was 'given' by a foreign power to another people for the creation of a new state. The result was that many hundreds of thousands of innocent people were made permanently homeless. With every new conflict their numbers increased. How much longer is the world willing to endure this spectacle of wanton cruelty? It is abundantly clear that the refugees have every right to the homeland from which they were driven, and the denial of this right is at the heart of the continuing conflict. No people anywhere in the world would accept being expelled en masse from their country; how can anyone require the people of Palestine to accept a punishment which nobody else would tolerate? A permanent just settlement of the refugees in their homeland is an essential ingredient of any genuine settlement in the Middle East.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Palestinian refugees were displaced by foreign decisions, creating lasting homelessness; they deserve return to their homeland.
- In plain terms
- Forced displacement is unjust and must be resolved.
- What can you take from it?
- Support just solutions for refugees.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What would a fair settlement look like?
- How can the international community help?
Another view
Geopolitical realities make mass return complex.
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