Links Roundup: The Palestinian Refugee Situation

Here is a selection of interesting links we've collected over the past two weeks on URWA and the Palestinian refugees:

• Canada: Revive Refugee Committee - Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon told Israeli President Shimon Peres that he seeks to revive the 1991 multilateral committee to resolve the refugee problem.
• No Way Home: The Tragedy of the Palestinian Diaspora - Judith Miller and David Samuels retell how the Arab countries abandoned their Palestinian brothers, causing and perpetuating the humanitarian tragedy that is the Palestinian refugee issue.
• Blocking UNRWA's Terror Ties - An interview with Middle East analyst Asaf Romirowsky on the UNRWA and its ties to terror.
• No to Even-Handedness - Israel Correspondent Stephen Kramer points out the UN's favoritism towards the Palestinians.

Netanyahu's "Optimism"

At a Likud party meeting two days ago, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhau said he optimistic about the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. One has to wonder: What does he mean by "optimistic?" Does this optimism mean that Netanyahu thinks there will be progress in the peace process, or does he think the opposite: that the process, which is useless to begin with, will fall apart soon.

This cynicism comes from a very problematic fact, that the PM has promoted a policy that he himself does not believe in. Rather than finding a true alternative to "two states for two nations," Netanyahu prefers a policy of minimizing damages by using the failed equation that has practically become Obama's slogan, while demanding preconditions that contradict the entire process.

Recognizing the State of Israel as a Jewish state, along with any recognition of the justness of Zionism, contradicts the logic behind a two-state solution. The Palestinian narrative, which sees the Arabs living in Israel as a separate nation, was created in the 1960s as a way to de-legitimize Zionism. If Zionism is not a crime, then the Palestinians are simply Arabs, some of whom left Israel when the state was formed in 1948. This is a simple humanitarian problem that could have been solved 50 years ago and can be solved now, especially when considering myriad Arab states in the world.

The creation of a Palestinian State is impossible. It has no geopolitical, military or economic logic behind it. It is a failed formula that the world has not let go because of Palestinian propaganda and the lack of an alternative solution. Rather than show optimism about a process that he doesn't believe in, Prime Minister Netanyahu would be better off if he thought outside of the box and adopted a new plan. This plan would offer peace in the simplest terms: prosperity, security and rights for all, without paying lip service to the Palestinian national narrative, whose contribution to recent history has only been frustration and bloodshed.

In Honor of Sukkot - A Universal Solution

The holiday of Sukkot, while a Jewish festival, is also a universal festival. In the book of Zechariah it is mentioned that kings of the nations will come up to Jerusalem to celebrate the holiday of Sukkot. In the Talmud it mentions that on Sukkot 70 sacrifices are brought for the seventy nations of the world.

The message of the Israeli Initiative, while outwardly focusing only on Israel, encompasses an important universal message. The Palestinian- Israeli conflict is based on the hatred of Arab leaders towards the Jewish people and State of Israel. This animosity was what brought Arab leaders to call for their own people to become refugees, with the knowledge that if they don’t win the war, these refugees will be the way to continually delegitimize the Jewish people and State of Israel.

The refugee problem has remained a humanitarian catastrophe and evolved into a national movement which refuses to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, thus rejecting Israel. This refugee crisis has swallowed up billions of dollars, which are annually contributed to the perpetuation of the refugee problem by undiscerning Western nations who feel that they are only aiding helpless people. Yet, those responsible for the humanitarian crisis barely contribute to their displaced brothers.

This refugee crisis has brought up millions of Palestinians on dependence, irresponsibility, and with no hope of ever leading normal lives.
This refugee crisis led to the forming of UNRWA, which, despite providing humanitarian relief, has itself become a political Palestinian movement. Only yesterday, the head of UNRWA Karen Abu Zayd, warned of a third intifada if Palestinians aren’t allowed to pray in the Al-Aqsa mosque, thus becoming a voice for Palestinian terrorism. Furthermore, the organization takes care of the Palestinian social needs, giving Palestinian leaders the ability to act with carelessness and lack of responsibility to their own people.

Solving the refugee issue, which is the key to solving the Palestinian problem, is one our main goals, but the refugee problem isn’t something that is only connected to Israel, it is universal. When the refugee problem is solved, billions of dollars will be freed up to focus on the remaining refugees around the world. The Palestinians have the ability to become productive members of many of the world’s societies that are in need of them. There are countries in Europe who need jobs to be filled by people. Canada has an aging workforce and is need of all types of workers. One Australian state reported gains of three billion dollars because of immigration to their country. The OECD has said that immigration is economically a positive thing for countries.

There is something more to the refugee issue beyond economic benefits. Those who are adamant in keeping the Palestinians in their refugee status are essentially continuing the hatred that was planted sixty years ago, and are now reaping fruits. Those trying to rehabilitate the refugees are the real champions of peace. Once the refugees are rehabilitated the Palestinian-Israeli conflict will be reduced to normal dimensions. This is the reason why Arab nations can never accept the Palestinians as permanent residents in their host countries.

-Gideon