THE REFUGEE CURSE

New York Post ^ | 8/19/03 | DANIEL PIPES

[kattracks]

August 19, 2003 -- HERE'S a puzzle: How do Palestinian refugees differ from the other 135 million 20th-century refugees?

Answer: In every other instance, the pain of dispossession, statelessness, and poverty has diminished over time. Refugees eventually either resettled, returned home or died. Their children - whether living in South Korea, Vietnam, Pakistan, Israel, Turkey, Germany or America - then shed the refugee status and joined the mainstream.

[farmfriend]

bttt

[dennisw]

Props to Lantos here--->

Tom Lantos, the ranking Democratic member on that same committee, goes further. Criticizing the "privileged and prolonged manner" of dealing with Palestinian refugees, he calls for shuttering UNRWA and transferring its responsibilities to the High Commission.

[graycamel]

In Lebanon, for instance, the 400,000 stateless Palestinians are not allowed to attend public school, own property or even improve their housing stock.

They should be shipped to California. There they'll even get driver's licenses!

[KayEyeDoubleDee]

In Lebanon, for instance, the 400,000 stateless Palestinians are not allowed to attend public school, own property or even improve their housing stock.

What are the statistics and conditions in other surrounding Arab countries, in particular, Jordan?

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

[exodus]

Jordan doesn't have any Palestinians last I heard.

They caused too much trouble, so Jordan exiled them.

Trouble within Jordan itself, in addition to bothering Israel.

[yonif]

HERE'S a puzzle: How do Palestinian refugees differ from the other 135 million 20th-century refugees?