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Olmert: US agreed to absorb 100,000 Palestinian refugees
Attila Somfalvi
Published: 19.09.10, 20:12
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1. As reliable as Abbas
Arie ,   BaGolan   (09.19.10)
Both Olmert and Abbas have histories of significant corruption who will adhere to the wants of the highest bidder.
2. Palestinians will go to their homes - Today or Tomorrow
Palestinian ,   Yaffa   (09.19.10)
3. Self-induced tragedy & Palestine Betrayed
Logic ,   Israel   (09.19.10)
I highly recommend Prof. Ephraim Karsh's book "Palestine Betrayed" for an explanation why the Nakba was the full responsibility of the Palestinian Arab Higher Committee (AHC) lead by Mufti Husseni and the Arab Liberation Army (ALA), lead by King Abdullah of Transjordan. With the exception of Lod (Lydda), the Zionist national leadership and several local leaderships (Haifa, Tiberias, and others) did all they could to prevent any refugee crisis.
4. ha ha ha! thanks!
Salma ,   Palestine   (09.19.10)
Palestinian refugees Mr. Olmert agree to return to their home land palestine or "Israel" if you want...take care of your corruption and do not worry about us !!! OK HABIBI !!!!!!!!!!!
5. If they are under the UNHCR definition...
The Dude   (09.19.10)
Then there might be something to discuss. But the same way, that hundreds of thousands of Jews from both the Arab world and the Europe have no refugee rights, akin to a UNRWA definition these people aren't up for discussion. The same way that my mother was born in a displaced persons camp in Germany and was refused any refugee status, the same rules will also apply to the palestinians. If the UNHCR definition is good for ~6 billion people, it's good for the Palestinians.
6. Seems A Lost Chance
Abdel Karim Salim ,   Jerusalem - ISRAEL   (09.19.10)
I would have accepted Olmert's proposals if 95% of the West Bank ( & all the Gaza Strip ) were to be handed over to Palestinians to let them establish their own state. I am Palestinian myself and personally I firmly believe the Palestinian refugees could be compensated and given haven in big countries while East Jerusalem could be jointly controlled . I see no reason at all why it should be the capital of thePalestinian State ! I wonder if the Palestinians have any cards to bargain with !
7. This picture tells you the whole true
David ,   USA   (09.19.10)
Olmert sitting between Oron and Beilin, the three stooges. what a site LOL
8. Gadi Taub, Olmert and other 'friends'
Ilan ,   Ariel   (09.19.10)
Funny that they claim that we need to withdraw to avoid a demographic threat while agreeing to bringing in 100,000s refugees.
9. to # 3
Alicia Cohen ,   Santiago de Chile   (09.19.10)
Logic, you can believe in this and be happy. But this is not the true. Everyghing in that period is documented abundantly. Whole villages were burnt, hundreds and hundreds of houses destroyed, columns of families, old, children were expelled mercilessly. Not because Zionists were evils (although, yes, they acted out of compassion) but beacuse they feared the Arabs could restart again attacking the main roads. Remember that in 1948, just after the partition IsraelĀ“s map was cut in areas with difficult access one to anohter. The reports about the massacres and transfer policies are horrible. To make a Jew like me feel ashemed. But we have to think that it was a war and they would have done the same to the Israelis of the Ishuv if they could. Had they won, I doubt they would feel guilty as many of us feel today.
10. Refugees, i dont get it
Omri ,   Israel   (09.19.10)
Will not a Palestinian state in the west bank+ some other parts (possibly Gaza) obsorb all those refugees like Israel absorbed all the Jews exiled from their Arab countries? Leaving a few km away from were you're ancestors lived doesn't mean you got kicked out of you're ancestors lands. This has clearly nothing to do with the negotiations other then playing another card on the Palestinian side so they can get a better deal (or just send a bigger minority to Israel, both are fine on for the Palestinians).
11. 100,000 Pal refugees would have been tough sell in US
Raymond in DC ,   Washington, USA   (09.19.10)
It wasn't within Pres. Bush's authority to make such an offer. And it's highly doubtful the Congress would have gone along with it. Those "refugees" should be absorbed within the countries of the Arab League who claim to be so concerned about their welfare. I'll also second Logic's recommendation. Karsh's "Palestine Betrayed" is a terrific book. His "Islamic Imperialism" is also good.
12. Palestinian refugees
Max ,   Washington DC   (09.19.10)
They should be allowed to live in an Arab Country of their choice. Unfortuneately no Arab Country wants them or has granted them citizenship. Problem is no one wants hezbollah and hamas sympathizers.
13. Re #6
Andrew Brehm   (09.19.10)
Precisely. And in fact you would find very few Israelis, Jews and Zionists who wouldn't immediately accept such a deal if an Arab leader would and could make it. But Arafat was offered that deal and he rejected it. Did he do it in your name?
14. Soon Olmert will be in jail
Ron ,   Tel Aviv   (09.19.10)
Are he negotiating a deal with judges? Give him 3 years and then deport him to US.
15. #6 - Abdul - glad to see you back here
William ,   Israel   (09.19.10)
I think we can both agree - if we sit a bunch of Palestinians and Israelis, just average citizens, in a room together, we'd have a peace agreement knocked out in time for dinner. Sadly, for many Arab leaders, especially Hamas, ending the conflict is almost equivalent to writing their own death sentence. Nothing destroys political careers faster than being held responsible for the well-being of their population and economy.
16. #6 I wish abbas would agree to that but...
Omri ,   Israel   (09.19.10)
The palastinians do have some cards here. The main ones are: 1. drastically stop terrorism against Israel. 2. Improve Israel's image in the international community. 3. Improve Israel's relations with all the Arab countries by making peace while failing the peace will only make things worst. But i only hope the peace comes fast and not just for the reasons i stated above, i also think we should unit against the Iranian threat as soon as possible. Our public's hatred of one another is passing away (exept in Gaza) with time now and its about time we get a good trade and political relations with one another. I predict that if a Palestinian state will rise then masses of Palestinians will try to leave Gaza and go there. Just like what happened in north and south Korea.
17. Correction: Today, tomorrow, or in 20 years
Nour ,   Palestine   (09.19.10)
We Palestinians desire no other home than our beloved Palestine. It always amazes me when immigrants like Olmert or Benjamin Millikowsy toy around with our fate as if we were sheep. Well, we are not sheep. We are not the Arab armies' sheep, nor are we Olmert or Abbas' sheep. We have no other intention but to return home, be it in the Galilee, Acre, Haifa, or Lod. We are the Palestinians and we miss Palestine, and to it we shall return. Down with racism, and down with Zionism.
18. Olmert the Corrupt
Ari ,   NYC USA   (09.19.10)
Olmert is an irrelevant, corrupt, has-been who will soon end up behind bars, where he belongs.
19. Another proof the the Fakestinians will
Jonathan   (09.19.10)
never agree to a peace deal with Israel, unfortunately. They are being offered a lot, but still increase their rediculous demands, just so that these discussions don't work. What a bunch !
20. #9 what you are describing
Israel Israeli ,   Tel Aviv   (09.19.10)
Sitting in Chile, you apparently don't understand Middle Eastern history. The ethnic cleansing you describe is of the Jews of the Arab world, as well as of Jerusalem and Gush Etzion. Otherwise, how can you explain that 20% of Israel's population are non-Jews including Arabs while every area under Arab control is free of Jews? I think what confuses you is that many Arab immigrants to Israel (who came in the 1930s and 1940s to make money) decided to go back home when hostilities broke out. As they were going back, they heard that they could get free food, education and medical care if they registered as refugees. Rather than going back and having to work, these people became the "Palestinian refugees". To prove this, please find any Arab who agrees to limit the "Palestinian problem" to indigenous Arabs who lived in Israel prior to 1920 and who agrees that immigrant Arabs who moved to Israel in the 1930s and 1940s during the British occupation are not "Palestinians".
21. Since when did the loser of a war get to demand concessions?
Jewish Warrior ,   Israel/USA   (09.20.10)
Israel should declare once and for all that it will never allow a single refugee to return or pay a penny, and that this is a problem the Arab nation created for itself and must solve in its own spacious territories.
22. i'm sure they will all vote for obama
david ,   new york   (09.20.10)
but is there any other reason why america needs 100,000 palestinains who hate america and support terrorism?
23. more stupidity: just what the USA needs
dante ,   uk   (09.20.10)
24. No More Immigrants
Ron ,   OC, USA   (09.20.10)
The 100,000 should stay where they are. They are Arabs and should call upon their fellow Arab states to take them in, not Israel, not the US.
25. Oh to Hell with that nonsense!!!!
Cameron ,   USA   (09.20.10)
Not buying this Olmert tale. If that bit of madness had gone through, it would have permanently poisoned the US-Israeli relationship, and turned the populace against Israel for good. A 100,000 thousand Arabs collectively rolling over here? Get outta here with that idiot move! The Mexican situation already has people uptight as is, but that would be the wildest of steps.
26. not enough at all
khalid ,   ammn, Jordan   (09.20.10)
100 thousand not enough as a palestinian refugee in Jordan i say this is not enough, you must allow to give all the palestinain refugees who wish to immigrtae to U.S. canada,australia, etc the citizenship of these countries, let say 2 million palestinian refugee wish to immigrate to these countries then you should give 2 million citzenships for these refugees, other wise we will continue fighting you forever. either we go back to palestine which is today israel or we get citzenship of advanced world countries like U.S, CANADA and australia, and we refuse to go to south american poor countries.
27. no.17
hebrew prophet ,   israel   (09.20.10)
Correction no.2 Nour you are a sheep whether you like it or not ,a Palestinian sheep that cannot think for itself but relies on barked commands from it,s Palestinian sheepdog and no you must go back to Arabia where your ancestors originated and you didn,t mention Al-Quds or Jerusalem ,why,s that ,because it never was part of Palestine ,so you got caught out ,lying as usual?
28. christian world hold responsiblity for palestinian holocost
khalid ,   Amman, Jordan   (09.21.10)
i see some people object on the immigration of 100000 palestinain refugees, do you know that the voters in the U.S, canada, australia and eurpean union voted since 1948 until now in favor of supporting israel government (economic and military aid) that committed a genocide against the palestinians, do you know that palestininas still until know suffering horrible discrimintion against their civil libeties in all arab countries including Jordan where i live. we will continue fighting you forever because as a christain world your support to israel have resulted in holocost against all palestinians. all the 7 million palestinian refugees deserve to get citizenship of U.S, australia, canada, UK and newzealand. after all this suffering. we will continue fighting you forever EU and U.S voters agianst our freedom becuase you are supporting the jewish aparthied regime of israel against the palestinians.
29. to#17
Jennie ,   US/Israel   (09.21.10)
nour ; Again, you are pathetically full with your wishful thinking...I do realize, that no historical facts can sway you from wanting your fictional dream.. But you can't miss what you never had..It takes a lot of nerve and real "HUTZPA" for you to claim Haifa, Galilee, Lod, Acre for your palestine, instead of Israel....Will Never Happen... BTW: I suggest you at least find the definition of the word "Zionism"...It has absolutely nothing to do with racism and everything to do with the ancient (6000 years old)Home of the Jewish People, the land we call Israel and have the right to live and dwell in peace.. Salam Aleikum...
30. #2
Texan   (11.08.10)
Yes to jordan their is thry home...
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