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Barak, Ehud

The Right of Return: A Complicated Issue in the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Puzzle

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Almost 75 years ago, 750,000 people fled the fighting that started with the Arab attack on the newly created state of Israel in 1948, and since then, nearly four million Palestinians have cherished the "right of return" enshrined in United Nations Resolution 194. This right has become a central tenet of Palestinian nationalism, affecting lives and dreams, and its rejection is considered a red line for many Palestinians. However, it poses a significant challenge for Israel, which fears the influx of a large number of Palestinians would doom it as a Jewish state.

Key Takeaways:

  • The right of return is the most complicated issue in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, with both Israelis and Palestinians holding strong views on the matter.
  • There are approximately 3,737,534 refugees currently registered with the United Nations Relief and Work Agency, living in countries such as Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, with an additional 90,000 in Iraq.
  • The Clinton peace plan proposed a swap: sovereignty over the Temple Mount in exchange for giving up the refugees' right of return to Israel, which was met with resistance from Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat and many ordinary Palestinians.
  • The influx of a large number of Palestinians would significantly alter Israel's demographics, with many Israelis fearing it would doom the country as a Jewish state.
  • There are various suggestions for dealing with the refugees, including allowing 10,000 to be reunited with their families in Israel proper, relocating others to third countries, and rehabilitating many in their current countries of residence.
  • However, these solutions face several challenges, including opposition from neighboring Arab countries and concerns about economic and social integration.

Statistics:

  • 3,737,534: The number of refugees currently registered with the United Nations Relief and Work Agency.
  • 6.3 million: The population of Israel, with 1.1 million (18%) being Arabs.
  • 10,000: The number of Palestinians who might be permitted to be reunited with their families in Israel proper under the Clinton plan.
  • 90,000: The number of Palestinian refugees in Iraq.
  • 68: The number of professions banned for Palestinians in Lebanon.
  • 9%: The percentage of refugees willing to concede their right of return in exchange for compensation, according to Palestinian organization polls.

Sources:

  • "A Refuge-at-Distances: Palestinian Displacement, between Stasis and Resolution," by Earl Olari Williams, Journal of Refugee Studies.
  • United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
  • Clinton peace plan (excerpts).
  • Various news articles, including those from The New York Times and Haaretz.

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