The Prospects of the Right of Return of Palestinians in Light of Arabic and International Political Proposals and Positions

Abstract

This study reviews the historical and legal background for the issue of

right of return for Palestinian refugees, and the suffering that they have lived

for more than six decades. It summarizes the contents of Arab, international,

Israeli and academic positions and proposals on this issue. It aims to

provide a broad and comprehensive perception for the different positions to

the central issue in the Palestinian \ Israeli conflict so as to derive lessons and

considerations to design a national strategy that would deal with any new

positions. It also aims to identify the foundations of these positions, proposals

and mechanisms to deal with them. The study discusses in a critical and

historical methodology the related literature of this subject was from various

sources. The study concludes that the most important factors challenging the

achievement of durable solutions to the refugee’s problems are mainly: the

lack of refugee’s involvement in the formulation or implementation of any

solution. The eliminating of the government of the host countries from any

participation on the formulation and implementation of the proposed solutions

to solve their problem; the continuation of Israel’s disregard and recognition

of their rights, the adaptation of the possible philosophy from some parties as

an approach leading to reality to solve their problem, and the similarity of U.

S proposals for the wishes of Israel. These are all factors which support led

to the failure of all positions, and proposals and led to the continued suffering

of refugees and the imposition of poor life on them.

The study recommends that, whether or not the two- state solution will

ever fully materialized remains to be seen, but the extremely unfavorable

conditions under which a majority of Palestinian refugees have had to

live should not be ignored. Ultimately, only an inclusive, democratic and

multilateral political approach seems capable of creating a just and lasting

resolution. Unfortunately current frameworks fall well short of this ideal,

and the future of the Palestinian refugees remains as uncertain as ever. It is

noticed that all existed proposals are between three possibilities: resettlement,

compensation and rehabilitation.