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Are Palestinian Refugees Being Told There's No Return?
(Ha'aretz) Akiva Eldar - Abu Mazen recently visited the Yarmuk refugee camp in Syria and told the people of the camp: "I'm sure that you all want to go back to Palestine, to the homes your families left in the Galilee, Jaffa, and Haifa." A roar of agreement came up from the crowd, and Abu Mazen went on: "But it is important for you to know what is awaiting all those who choose to realize that right and prefer it over the option to settle in the new state of Palestine or to emigrate to Canada, or Europe, or to join families in other countries." "You won't be going back to your home. The houses, neighborhoods, and villages are all gone. New cities have been built on your lands, and in your houses, Jewish babies have been born. You will join a Palestinian minority in a country where the language of the state is not their language, its culture is not theirs, its flag is not theirs, and the anthem is not theirs. No jobs await you, nor a welcome home." Abu Mazen also said those who choose to go to Israel will block their own way to the West. Nabil Sha'ath told the Palestine-Israel Journal about a similar visit to the Rashadiyeh refugee camp in Jordan. "I told them they won't find their homes in Sheikh Munes, and that nowadays it's called Ramat Aviv."