US, Not Arab Countries, to Receive Palestinian Refugees from Iraq

The American Thinker ^ | July 10, 2009 | Leo Rennert

[Scanian]

The Obama administration, in a precedent-setting move, has approved resettlement in the U.S. for 1,350 Palestinian refugees from Iraq. But before this becomes a done deal, Congress and the media ought to ask the White House and the State Department why these refugees, rather than being granted asylum in the U.S., shouldn't get immigration visas to Arab countries, especially those with immense oil wealth.

Wouldn't that be a more logical, more natural destination for these refugees?

Thousands of these Palestinians lived for many years in Iraq under the generous protection of Saddam Hussein -- and repaid him in kind with their loyalty and support. When Hussein was dethroned, they fell from grace. The welcome mat suddenly was yanked away by Iraqi Shiites and others who had suffered under Hussein. Some Palestinians fled abroad, especially those with means; others ended up as refugees in miserable border camps in Syria and Jordan, which refuse to absorb them into their general populations.

White House reporters should ask President Obama, who has twice met with Saudi King Abdullah this year, whether he urged the Saudi monarch to welcome these refugees. After all, Saudi Arabia is in the Sunni Arab camp; so are Palestinians. Why shouldn't as rich a country as Saudi Arabia be expected to welcome a few thousand of these Palestinians? Or what about Kuwait or other oil-rich sheikdoms along the Persian Gulf?

[Scanian]

“The truth is that Arab leaders feel no real kinship or solidarity with Palestinians. They have exploited them as pawns to use in their century-old campaign to deny Jews their sovereign rights as a nation in the Middle East. But otherwise, they have no use for them.”

[SolidWood]

These are Palestinian thugs who were used by Saddam as his leashdogs against other Iraqis, Kurds and Kuwaitis. They are universally hated by Iraqis... and Obambi now takes them in? Why don’t they send them just to Gaza?

[driftdiver]

So they supported our enemy in the oppression and death of thousands, and now may be living next door?

[Venturer]

With unemployment around 10% do we really need more Palestinians to run the 7-11’s and gas stations?

More people to come here who cannot speak English or get us a Big Mac and fries?

More people who will vote for Obama and his forty (60?)thieves in the Senate?

[R. Scott]

Arabs are extremely xenophobic. These people might speak the same language, share the same religion and culture - but they are still outsiders.
Most of the Arab countries are still a tribal culture. Without a tribe an Arab is truly a man without a country and few Palestinians now have a tribal affiliation - those few tribes that are still recognized are centered in the Gaza area. Palestinians still have clan affiliations, but these clans aren’t based in Saudi Arabia but in areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority - but their clans probably disowned them when they settled in Iraq. If they must be moved, move them back to the PA controlled area. Maybe they could make amends with their clans and Hamas would welcome them eventually.

[BuffaloJack]

We DON’T want them.
All they will do is add to the growing problem of discontented people who morph into terrorists.

[jws3sticks]

All they will do is add to the growing problem of discontented people who morph into terrorists.

Here in the Midwest, they'd be working at the local "Mini-Mart" selling us gasoline in about a week.

While doing that, they will quickly learn how to copy our credit card information for their personal gain.

Life is beautiful, for sure...

[Allegra]

Iraq rejects them; the US welcomes them.

We are truly in Bizarro-World.

[MarkL]

Well of course not! The only people the arab nations hate more than palestinians are Jews!

Mark