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Source: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/why-are-palestinian-refugees-different-from-all-other-refugees/
Redefining "Palestinian Refugee" Is Long Overdue
(Times of Israel) David Harris - Tragically, there have been countless refugees in the annals of history. In the 20th century alone, tens of millions of refugees were compelled to find new homes. In May, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) counted 19.9 million refugees in its jurisdiction. Over five decades, UNHCR has assisted 50 million refugees "to help restart their lives." Yet one group - the Palestinians - are treated differently and are assisted by the UN body UNRWA. Unlike UNHCR, UNRWA does not seek to resettle Palestinian refugees, but rather provides social services while, in effect, keeping them in perpetual limbo. The top five donors to UNRWA until now have been the U.S. and European governments. I hope the reports that the U.S. administration is considering a decision to redefine who is and is not a Palestinian "refugee" are true. A change is long overdue and could actually help the search for peace in the long term. The writer is CEO of the American Jewish Committee.